Ararat Rural City's director of council services Neil Manning said an advertisement was placed in The Ararat Advertiser last Friday seeking 'the services of an experienced, competent, innovative and achievement driven organisation to manage and operate the recreation and aquatic facilities' in the Ararat municipality.

"We have just come to the end of a very long contract, something like 21 years with the YMCA," Mr Manning said.

"As part of government policy we are required to tender these major types of contracts on a regular basis.

"We have put in the tender documents that we are assuming this would be a three-to-at-least-five-year term before it was reviewed and put out to tender again."

Mr Manning said the successful applicant would hold a similar role to the current agreement Grampians YMCA works under, including the management and operation of the Ararat Aquatic and Recreation Centre, the Peter O'Rorke Memorial Pool (Lake Bolac) and Willaura War Memorial Swimming Pool.

The soon to be re-opened Ararat Olympic Outdoor Pool will also be discussed once the tender is finalised.

"We have also included in the tender the option of the potential to run the Olympic Outdoor Pool in Ararat," Mr Manning said.

"It is there as an option so that we can discuss that with the (Ararat Olympic) Pool committee and see if that is suitable for them and the rest of the community."

With the application period open until July 21, Mr Manning said Ararat Rural City Council hopes to receive 'a good range of tenders and a good outcome for the community'.

Chief executive officer of Grampians YMCA, Brook LeSueur said her organisation was reviewing the document and assessing the implications before determining the best way to move forward.