RPAG president Peter Morrissey says the group wants clarification on how the $46.5million project will be funded before the current centre is demolished at the end of June. "They should make it more public and more widely known. It might help us with federal funding in the future," he said.

Mr Morrissey said it would be financially inappropriate for the council to demolish the existing centre without funding in place and construction contracts signed.

"The issue would be if they haven't got funding and contracts in place. Then the public out there might feel that the pool may never be built or there may be a long delay before it is built."

Mr Morrissey said RPAG would meet with the council's chief executive officer tomorrow to get details of financing.

Despite these concerns Mr Morrissey thought the development would be "the perfect precinct" for the community.

When the Weekly asked the council for details on land sales to fund the project, Maroondah Council CEO Frank Dixon remained tight-lipped.

In a statement he said, "a number of potential sites have been identified with information and consultation to take place in due course".

The council's budget forecasts that rates will not rise by more than 5.6per cent over the next four years. Asked how this could be guaranteed, Mr Dixon said the forecast rates were based on a 10-year financial strategy. But he added that rates were reviewed every year and were "a matter for the council of the day".

A $29 million loan for the aquatic centre has also been flagged for the 2013-2014 budget on the basis that it will take 20 years to pay off.