Projects earmarked for overhaul or review in the council's newly adopted four-year plan include AquaZone, art gallery, Flagstaff Hill and the animal shelter.

Cr Ben Blain said he was looking forward to seeing some of the "really exciting projects" that were under way across the city being completed but he said the council needed to be working hard and looking at what the future opportunities are going to be.

"We've got a state-of-the-art sports complex coming in - in Reid Oval, a new library which will be great for everyone and the Lake Pertobe redevelopment," he said.

"But the next four years the council needs to be working hard. We need to be working at what are our next projects. What are our next ideas and what are our next aspirations?

"I really do hope the council is shovel-ready because there will be opportunities presenting themselves for funding."

When the council plan was first unveiled in May, Cr Blain said some of the big exciting projects that the council could hopefully bring to fruition over the next four years was the possibility of a "new bigger better art gallery, an overhaul for AquaZone, getting Flagstaff Hill to be a better attraction again and try and do something with our animal shelter".

A $150,000 feasibility study for the art gallery is currently under way and relocating it to Cannon Hill is just one option being considered.

The council has also drawn up plans for a new $900,000 animal shelter that the city hopes would become a regional facility.

No decision has been made on a plan for the city's ageing pool facility, but a plan reveals the council wants to develop and implement an aquatic strategy.

That plan would include a new business model for AquaZone "to guide the improvement and strategic use of facilities to increase community participation in physical activities".

Whether that would include any upgrades at the site - or any of the ideas Cr Blain campaigned on to turn it into a state-of-the-art facility with water slides and spa floated - has yet to be decided.

But while Cr Blain called on the city to be ready to capitalise on any post-COVID funding state and federal governments were preparing to dish out, others spoke out about the need to be careful with the city's finances.

Cr Richard Ziegeler said while the city had some exciting things happening, it also had to be "careful husbands of the finances".

"We have to keep it affordable," he said.

"Without going overboard on huge projects and big spending, we've got to be quite careful about the way we look at our aspirations for the future."

Cr Angie Paspaliaris said the new councillor group was focused on a conservative approach to the use of council resources

"And whilst we are mindful of being aspirational, some of the projects that Cr Blain has referred to, we do have to be responsible on a limited budget but we'd also like to see the basics done well overall," she said.

"Part of our council plan, a part that is important, is a hope to focus on more advocacy for our community and region when it comes to funding and addressing projects and issues."

Cr Paspaliaris pointed out that the plan also strived to create more opportunity for not only summer-based tourism and events but promoting the city and the region as a winter getaway and tourist attraction.

Cr Max Taylor said the city was in for an exciting time over the next four years.

"The upgrade of the Stanley Street bridge will be significant for Warrnambool, the possible saleyards upgrade, the new library hub and the completing of the Lake Pertobe masterplan," he said.

"I think we have a lot to look forward to over the next four years," he said.

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