The partners agreed that the following principles would guide decisions related to the capital and operating cost sharing of the facility as well as the program schedules, allocations and other facility use standards.

• The complex would be designed and developed for its end use – to meet community sport, recreation and leisure requirements – and will be adaptable to international competitive standards.
• Components included in the facility's building program would be selected so the complex is capable of accommodating a broad variety of sport, recreation and leisure endeavours. Additionally, elements may be included to generate positive revenue to assist in the financial performance of the complex.
• The aquatic facility and its supporting elements would be equally accessible to able-bodied and persons with disabilities.
• Fairness and equity would underpin all decisions related facility access, program design and the manner in which elements of the complex are allocated to users or groups of users from each municipality.
• An integrated program model would be utilized to maximize the operating efficiency and use of the facility. This model would encourage and/or schedule simultaneous use by individuals and groups from across all three municipalities rather than dedicating time for exclusive use to patrons from any one jurisdiction. The integrated program model would be supported by a mechanism to track the proportion of facility use by individuals from each community to ensure that the fairness and equity principle is upheld.
• Each municipality's proportionate share of the combined tri-municipal population would be utilized as a standard method to determine an appropriate capital and operating cost sharing formula.
• The facility would conform to traditional municipal public recreation service philosophies including the principles of accessibility and affordability.
• The complex would align with and support the recreation service mandates and principles of the three municipalities. Where appropriate and possible, the facility's services and programs would enhance the collective mandates of the municipalities and would augment complementary initiatives such as healthy communities programs, physical activity strategies, etc.