Community members who have installed new swimming pools and spas on their property in time for summer are reminded of their responsibility to do their bit to protect children and reduce the risk of a drowning.
Between January 2000 and May 2019 in Victoria, 27 children tragically drowned in a private pool or spa. The barrier didn’t meet safety standards in 20 of those cases.
As a result, state legislation introduced in 2019 requires pool and spa owners to register and certify their structures with their local council , and have their barrier inspected by a registered pool inspector.
It’s an owner’s responsibility to register their newly-installed swimming pools or spas with us within 30 days from certification under a building permit. They only need to register once.
When registering, community members will receive information about which Australian Standard their safety barrier will need to comply with. If a pool and spa use separate barriers, each structure must be registered separately.
If you have purchased a property with a pool or spa, you can check with us if the structures are already registered.
Safety barriers are required to be maintained and inspected every four years.
Owners who fail to register and/or have their safety barriers certified within the required time frame face penalties should the matter proceed to the Magistrates Court and they are found guilty.
Placemaking Executive Director Tennille Bradley
The City is there to support pool and spa owners through the registration process.
There are more than 8,000 registered privately owned swimming pools and spas in our region.
Owners are reminded that they have mandatory responsibilities when it comes to safety and reducing the risk of drowning on their property.
Don’t forget to register and certify your pool and spa, and have the barrier inspected by a registered pool inspector.
Once registered, the City will let you know when you’re due to have your pool and/or spa barrier inspected and when to lodge your compliance certificate with the City.
