MAC manager Lyn Celotti said the council had been hiring security guards to protect 150 spaces dedicated for its members since the adjoining centre opened in June, 2006.

The car spaces are next to 300 other 'share' spaces. These can be used by Highpoint shoppers after the shopping centre contributed $5.25million to build the aquatic centre in exchange for a 33-year peppercorn lease.

Ms Celotti refused to say how much the security deal had cost ratepayers over the past three years.

"The security guards are engaged under a commercial contract. The details of contract are not public record."

She said the guards were hired "during peak or busy periods" to monitor the MAC car park. There were no plans to change the arrangement or come up with another solution.

MAC members whom the Mail spoke to said the security guards made it easier to find a car parking spot during Highpoint's late-night shopping on a Thursday or Friday night, during busy Saturdays or in the lead-up to Christmas.

Maribyrnong Residents Association Alan Ross said the situation proved the council had signed a "dud deal" with Highpoint. He said if each of the shared car spaces was worth $10, the 300 of them would be worth more than $1million a year.

"If they were worth over $1million a year, after five years Highpoint has recouped their donation to the aquatic centre and then they'll have the rest of that 33-year lease for nothing - it's a tremendous deal for them."

As the Mail reported, Fitness First muscled into MAC territory in April by opening a gym less than 100 metres away - in Highpoint, on the opposite side of Aquatic Drive.

River Ward councillor Dina Lynch said that when residents had fought the closure of Footscray pool and MAC as a replacement they had warned the council that the MAC car parking would be highjacked.

"We said, 'those car-parking spots are going to be taken over by Highpoint', and that's what has happened."

Describing the situation as far from ideal, Cr Lynch said she would pursue an alternative.