The sport and lesiure planning consultancy firm is based in Brisbane with offices throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Port Macquarie Community Aquatic Centre spokesperson Greg Freeman said the appointment of the firm was another step along the path for the replacement of the pool.

"My understanding is that Otium will gather current survey and other related information with the view to looking at the type and scale of facility that suits this area," Mr Freeman said.

"This will include qualitative and quantitative information.

"Our group has been given an assurance by council that we will meet with Otium as part of their consultative process, which we look forward too.

"We want to provide our perspective on the aquatic centre."

The community group has long argued that the project should be considered an infrastructure replacement, rather than a new project.

Mr Freeman said the group and council were looking at a good business model to benefit the community for the next 50 years.

"We want to keep council focused on that," he added.

Issues including visitation rates, demands from schools, swimming school access along with projected residential growth also needed to be integrated into the planning, he said.

The group remains hopeful that a site will be selected by July before moving into the design phase.

Mr Freeman said council's and the committee's survey results would also help form part of Otium's investigation into the project.

"All these results point to the need for a comprehensive facility," he said.

Mr Freeman said the region was one of the fastest growing in NSW.

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