An environmental group has questioned why the National Sports Centre Trustees have not taken advice from swimming experts in their design of the new Aquatics Centre.

The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) yesterday backed the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association's (BASA) calls for a stainless steel pool rather than tile and concrete.

BASA has claimed there are several design flaws in the proposed project and that these were brought to the NSC Board's attention early in the Planning process.

Despite this, the design still consists of concrete and tile, with the diving pool situated in the main pool itself rather than a separate location.

BASA has recommended a 'Myrtha' pool be constructed, consisting of stainless steel with polycarbonate coating to prevent corrosion. This is now the standard in many international Olympic-sized pools and is more energy-efficient.

BEST yesterday released a statement questioning why a Myrtha pool has not been pursued, and backing a review of the design.

The group said the NSC Board's current proposal would not only waste energy but significantly add to the running costs.

"Public funds should be spent so that the public gets the most benefit from the least expenditure.

"It has come to our attention that proposals for the Aquatics Centre at the National Sports Centre may not make the best use of public funds," said BEST.

"Upon further investigation, it appears that the Bermudian taxpayer may once again foot the bill for an overly-expensive, outdated and inefficient project, designed with limited foresight by foreign consultants and which, due to inherent design flaws, will have limited practical use, unreasonably high running costs and an unnecessarily large carbon footprint."

The organisation added: "BEST understands that the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association, who will be the primary scheduled users of the facility, would prefer to see nothing built, rather than the current proposal being pursued by the Trustees of the NSC."

Government gave the NSC Trustees $15 million in 2008 to start the project. The first two phases of the outdoor aquatics centre have now been granted planning permission, with groundbreaking expected shortly.

The NSC Trustees' planning application consisted an eight-lane concrete and tile pool with a diving well.

Research by BASA however, claims Myrtha pools need less energy for heating and cooling, and are 40 percent cheaper to run per annum. BASA also pointed out that locating the diving pool in the lap pool not only created scheduling problems for swimmers but heating/cooling costs would increase by ten percent compared to a separate diving pool.

In April 2008 BASA presented its master plan for the aquatics centre to the NSC Board of Trustees, after years of research.

This consists of a ten-lane, 50 m pool, plus an eight-lane 25 m pool for diving/water aerobics/water polo/swimming, and a shallow water pool for swimming lessons/rehabilitation/access for the physically challenged.

A Myrtha ten-lane 50 metre pool, including electrical and mechanical systems, would cost $4.58 million to build, compared to $7.58 million for concrete and tile. BASA also pointed out the Myrtha package would offer a 30-year warranty, as opposed to one year for a concrete pool. The construction timescale would be 18 months.

"This represents significantly better value than the equivalent concrete construction, as evidenced by the minimum bid of $5.3 million for the NSC single pool mechanical contract alone," said BEST.

Bayside Mechanical, a Canadian firm, submitted the lowest bid for the NSC's pool one of seven firms competing for the mechanical contract.

BEST said yesterday: "The estimated cost for the development and construction of the entire BASA master plan has been quoted at just under $17.4 million, inclusive of consultant fees, using local contractors in addition to the Myrtha pool package.

"In addition the architect anticipates that costs would easily be reduced to within the $15 million budgeted, while still providing a useful and effective aquatic facility.

"Why are the NSC Trustees opting for only a portion (Phase One and Two) of a scheme costing far beyond their budget, when a complete turnkey facility could be had within their budgeted funds and within an advantageous time frame?

"The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce strongly urges the NSC Board of Trustees to reconsider their stance before creating an underutilised aquatics centre that neither Bermuda's sporting bodies nor the Bermudian taxpayer would afford to run."