But the possible closure of the Alexandra Pool is an indication of everything being on the table when keeping rates rises in check, community leaders say.
The Central Otago District Council has included the closure proposal in its long-term plan, potentially saving $250,000 a year.
The Vincent Community Board first proposed the closure at its meeting in September.
Board chairman Jayden Cromb said rates had gone up a lot last year, and another large increase loomed.
"Our community has told us that they can’t afford for the rates to keep going up the way they have been so our view as a community board has been to put everything on the table," he said.
The outdoor pool at Molyneux Park opened in 2003 and is part of a complex that includes an indoor pool, spa and children’s pool.
Statistics show just over 1500 people had used the pool in just under six weeks up to December 31 last year, an average of less than 50 swimmers a day.
The proposal to close the pool was one of many that had been bought up over time, Mr Cromb said.
"It was brought up by staff who said here’s another list of things you could look at.
"We’re not saying it should close or it shouldn’t. Our view is more we should take this back to the community and let them decide."
Mr Cromb said the discussions to close the Alexandra Pool were not influenced by the proposal for the council to take over the running of the Roxburgh pool.
Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley said the proposal came after elected members and staff were asked for ways to save the community money by reducing costs.
"We don’t want to keep seeing 15 or 20% rates increases," she said.
She did not want people thinking cost-cutting measures would bring rates down, as that was highly unlikely, she said.
"It’s more a case of they won’t increase as much."
There were other places in the district where people liked to swim when it was hot, such as lakes or outdoor pools at Millers Flat and Roxburgh.
"It may well be that people are willing to travel to those other facilities, and they don’t actually feel the need for an outdoor pool as well in Alexandra, or it maybe that they desperately want to keep it and they’re willing to pay for it," Ms Alley said.
The draft long-term plan showed $250,000 would be saved but this figure had to be finalised.
The outdoor pool is usually open from late November until March, depending on the weather.
Last year 67,422 people attended the entire pool complex.
The New Zealand Ice Swimming Pool Championships, which have been held at the pool twice in the past few years, draw swimmers from around New Zealand and overseas.
Wanaka Lakes Swimmers club president Camille Gulick said if the outdoor pool was to shut it would be a massive blow to the ice swimming sport.
"There is nowhere else in the country that would be able to hold this event," she said.
The pool had the facilities, lifeguards and indoor pools to help swimmers recover from swimming in the outdoor pool.
Most other outdoor pools were not connected with other facilities like Alexandra and were totally shut down in winter.
Ice swimming alternated championships between pools and lakes annually, but pool swimming was better as more short distances could be swum as well as different strokes, she said.
Councils were not future-proofing facilities despite the popularity of the sport, she said.
— Ella Jenkins
— Additional reporting Steve Hepburn
