THE money needed to upgrade the Orange Ex-Services' Club pool would pale in comparison to a new pool, a councillor has said.
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As Orange City Council considers a lease over the pool, councillor Glenn Taylor said taking it up could cost as little as $300,000.
"It's an offer too good to refuse," he said.
"We are looking at a minimum $8 million for a 25-metre pool - we wouldn't dig a hole for $300,000."
Cr Taylor said it would give the council an instant pool to relieve pressure on Orange Aquatic Centre.
It's an offer too good to refuse.
"Even if we had to spend $1 million, it would be a cheap option that will give us time to build a new facility," he said.
The council will weigh up the lease against building a facility either at the aquatic centre or as part of the multipurpose sporting complex.
Other councillors had doubted the council would be able to source government grant funding for a facility it did not own or have control over.
But Cr Taylor believed the work could be funded from within the council's budget, without the need for grants.
"I've had a number of conversations with the general manager and senior staff and the timing is exemplary, it's right in the middle of our budget process," he said.
The club offered the lease to the council for $1 a year for 10 years - if the council does not take it up, the club will close the facility on April 29.
Cr Taylor previously announced he would stand for the Ex-Services' board if the issue was not resolved, but emphasised he had not yet nominated and would be working on a resolution within his role as a councillor in the meantime.
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