The Tauranga City Council will spend $150,000 investigating the merits of a mulit-purpose aquatic and recreation centre for the city.

Memorial Park has been put up as a possible location and it could be built in four or five years.

Bays Venues, the company which operates Tauranga's aquatic facilities, indoor sports facilities, ASB arena, community halls and centres and Baypark Stadium, proposed the aquatic and recreation centre as part of the Tauranga City Council's long term plan.

TCC has also agreed to provisional funding of $30 million, dependent on the study outcome.

The centre, or 'leisure hub”, would be a multi-purpose recreation facility that could include indoor pools, courts, a fitness centre, a spa and hot pools complex and a community centre.

The feasibility study will investigate a number of issues including whether the centre could replace Memorial and Otumoetai pools, which date back to 1955 and 1968. Both will require significant investment to continue operating.

Bays Venues also made submissions to the long term plan on the establishment of a new events centre at ASB Baypark, rejuvenation of Baywave and improvements to Greerton Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

The long term plan has budgeted $4.9 million for the development of a new multi-purpose exhibition space at ASB Baypark.

The new area will relieve growing pressure placed on ASB Arena by both sporting and commercial events. The funding is subject to a feasibility study.

Nearly $1.7million has been targeted to provide more fun activities and services for recreational swimmers at Baywave, while $1,142,700 has been set aside for renovations at the Greerton Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

The Greerton upgrade will include construction of a new entranceway, reception area and offices, and changing rooms and cubicles.

The Baywave work will focus on more spectator seating, new changing rooms, and reconfiguration of the leisure pool to free up space for recreational users.

Bay Venues operates 24 facilities in Tauranga which are primarily used to facilitate sporting, leisure and recreation, community and cultural activities.