It is a debate that has caused a considerable amount of community unrest, following on from a decision by councillors last year to shut down the pool.

The move galvanised the Black Hill community, with many voicing there had been a severe lack of consultation undertaken by the council.

Others, including spokeswoman for the Black Hill Progress Association community action group, Polly Walters, said the consultation, to date, was flawed.

But on Wednesday night, Ballarat councillors look set to vote to endorse a new Engagement Plan, which includes an online survey that is identical to the one used to form the much-maligned 2014 Aquatic Strategy.

It raises the question of why the council would use the exact same model of consultation to retest the council’s Aquatic Strategy – a method that has not appeased residents in the past. Already, the concept has been rejected by local community groups, who consider it a token gesture incapable of forcing change.

Of the 18 questions in the survey, four related to the age, gender and location of the respondent.

Another three related to aquatic play spaces, what the purpose of the respondent’s visit to the pool was, and a further three related to the implementation of an indoor pool.

Other questions were about the Aquatic Strategy specifically, including whether residents wanted a 50-metre indoor pool.

Minimal questions related specifically to the Black Hill Pool, other than to ask residents which was their favourite outdoor pool. 

Residents have called on the council to consider going back to the drawing board and begin the process from its bones.

Yet, across the state, the future of community pools so often comes under threat.

In Ballarat, we are seeing the same trend that has moved through other regional centres – from a small and geographically located outdoor pool to a central hub such as the Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre.

Decision-making would be much simpler if all that was under consideration was the figures, but the complexity of outdoor pools is so much deeper.

While the pools run at a loss financially, they are simply embedded so profoundly into the heart of the community. 

A report following the second round of surveys is expected to be presented to council in April.