A $530,000 facelift to the Mount Hot Pools is being sought by operators Bay Venues Ltd.

In a report to be discussed the first open council meeting of the year, the council controlled organisation says the plea is motivated by customer criticism, and a desire to lift the tired and dilapidated pools to a ‘must visit' status.

A facelift is being sought for the Mount Hot Pools.

Independent customer surveys taken in 2014, found the weak spots are the changing rooms and the pools failure to capitalise on the wider surrounds.

The intention is to demolish the existing reception area, and refurbish it to provide a more user-friendly, functional and welcoming space. Re-tile the floor, install a wind lobby for entry into the pool, repaint the ceiling, and construct a new reception counter and screens.

Landscaping work includes schist concrete columns, upgrade and install new gardens and planters, new outdoor furniture, re-paint surround walls and pool bulkheads, add more lockers, and re-tile outdoor showers.

The changing rooms also get an upgrade. Wall screens will be added. Existing seating will be replaced, vanity sinks and add vanity benches replaced and shower walls re-tiled and the ceiling painted.

The family changing room is to be converted into two separate areas, the floor and walls of new cubicles re-tiled.

Councillors will met today to discuss the proposal to put the project to public consultation.

There is $300,000 to upgrade the Mount Hot Pools allocated as a 'ballpark' figure included in the 2015/16 budget after the original $5M budget was removed from the Ten Year Plan.

Bay Venues Ltd says $200,000 originally included in the 2016/17 budget for solar panels at Baywave could also be available as the solar panels project didn't pass the business case test and will no longer continue.

Over the last three years, revenue from the hot pools has grown 23 per cent from $1.02M in 2012/13 to $1.25M in 2014/15, despite a four week closure.

The increase in revenue is a result of average revenue spend per customer increasing as a result of more tourists frequenting the facility – plus the introduction of several innovative ideas by the current management.

These included the ‘soak n the sounds' promo last August where pool visitors could listen and watch concerts on screen.

Also over the last two years there's been a steady drop in expenses from $807,000 in 2012/13, to $649,000 in 2014/15, with staffing requirements being carefully managed and new cost-reduction initiatives implemented. There is also less money being spent on chemicals with chlorine now being made in-house.

The Mount Hot Pools receives no operational grant from the city council. It contributes most to venues and programmes earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.

In 2012/13 that totalled $216K which last year grew to $640,000.