Schrinner said the cost-of-living initiative had saved residents almost $2 million over the two months.

On Tuesday, LNP campaign spokeswoman Fiona Cunningham suggested Sriranganathan had “more chance of dog paddling to the moon and back than paying for all his policies”.

“His plethora of absurd big-spending promises will cost billions of dollars and drive up living costs for every Brisbane household,” Cunningham said.

Labor mayoral candidate Tracey Price also questioned the Greens’ ability to fund the proposal.

“I am also not sure if Jonathan has considered the implications on the organisations that run these pools,” Price said.

“How will they pay for the additional staff needed? Or the additional maintenance and upkeep of facilities?”

Sriranganathan said the funding for pools would be part of “hundreds of millions of dollars of investment” in Brisbane, with most going to transport and housing affordability.

“Swimming pools aren’t among our top priorities, but we do think it’s important for the council to cater to growing demand for free swimming facilities,” he said.

The Greens policy earmarks Toowong, Inala, Mitchelton-Gaythorne, Nundah-Kalinga, and Camp Hill-Holland Park for new pools, with exact sites to be determined after public consultation.

“Toowong and Indooroopilly are some of the fastest-growing neighbourhoods in the city, but there isn’t a public pool in sight,” Greens Walter Taylor Ward candidate Michaela Sargent said.

The party also wants to spend $2 million on investigation into three new outdoor swimming spots similar to Enoggera Reservoir – at Mount Coot-tha Quarry, Pine Mountain Quarry in Mount Gravatt East, and Norman Creek at Arnwood Place, Annerley.

“The cost of formalising natural swimming areas really comes down to a council’s appetite for risk,” Sriranganathan said.

“There are lots of rural creeks where people can currently swim safely without requiring much council investment, but obviously if you want to start putting in lots of safety rails and non-slip pathways, that would drive up the cost.”

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