The two pools face immediate closure, with councillors expected to endorse the move despite strong community opposition.

The controversial proposal would save the council about $1.2 million in operating costs over the next 10 years and comes in response to dwindling attendances.

However, Cr Peter Innes plans to launch a counter proposal in a bid to save Buninyong pool. The Buninyong councillor is in discussions with neighbouring Moorabool and Golden Plains Shires and believes a three-council community management deal could keep the facility's gates open.

Cr Innes wants a working party established to investigate the plan and report back to the council in June 2006.

"I am hoping to broker enough support in council to get that accepted. It's taken a lot of work to get to this stage and I'll be disappointed if we don't pull it off," he said.

Caledonian Cr Stephen Jones is fighting to save the Brown Hill pool and is pushing for the facility to remain open for one more season to enable an alternative community management plan to be considered.

The closures are part of a Ballarat Aquatics Development Plan, which proposes scrapping the two pools and investing more money into improving the Ballarat Aquatic Centre and Eureka Pool. The strategy aims to increase aquatic

participation in Ballarat by 500,000 people to 3.8 million over 10 years.

Recreation Cr Des Hudson said he would listen to Cr Innes' proposal but stood by the original plan. He believes closure is the only option for Brown Hill pool.

"I still believe that the direction of the aquatic strategy is sound in that where we want to be in future is about having better aquatic facilities that a very broad cross section of the community can use."

Cr Hudson said if closed, the Buninyong and Brown Hill sites would be redeveloped for community use, with a water playground one option open for discussion.

Petitions containing more than 3500 signatures have been lodged against the closures.

The pool debate comes as the Eureka Pool yesterday opened its gates to swimmers for the first time this season.