Lambert report leaked: four-yearly swimming pool inspections mooted for NSW
Although the industry has not been informed of the contents of the Lambert Report into swimming pool safety, Fairfax senior writer Tim Barlass has been briefed by the report’s author, former Secretary of the NSW Treasury, Michael Lambert.
The report is currently with the Minister for Local Government Paul Toole and the industry is keenly waiting to hear about the contents. A spokesperson said the Minister is considering the report and will update the industry in the coming weeks.
According to the report in Fairfax publications, Lambert has recommended:
- Four-yearly swimming pool inspections by councils or E1 certified inspectors of all residential swimming pools
- Any drowning incident brought to the attention of a hospital or an ambulance service is immediately centrally recorded and the council does a follow up inspection of the pool in question
- Phased streamlining of the current situation where relevant legislation applying to any pool varies depending on when the pool was built and other factors, eventually moving to a single standard
The legislation is due to be enacted on April 29, 2016, after two years of successive delays, and Lambert recommends that date should be adhered to, followed by further changes down the track.
Lambert did not comment on the suggestion that a Pool Advisory Council (as in Queensland) be set up to advise the BPB and the OLG, which had been expected to be one of the key recommendations of the report.
Four-yearly inspections
In recommending four-yearly inspections, Lambert is attempting to emulate the successful Western Australian system which has been in place since 1991 and has been credited with considerably improving compliance (from less than 20 per cent to more than 80 per cent) and also reducing the actual drowning rate of under-fives – one of the key considerations in any pool safety regime.
However, there are some key differences between WA and NSW. As well as the larger number of pools, cost is an important difference.
The WA inspections are largely carried out by council inspectors for a fee of $55 which is included on the rates notice. Royal Life Saving inspectors also carry out inspections for a similar fee. These fees have not changed since the program’s inception in 1991.
SPLASH! understands there are more than 120 E1 certifiers currently available in NSW and these (and more) will be required to inspect the 350,000 registered swimming pools in the state.
Anecdotal evidence suggests the average rate for an independent inspector would be between $350 and $400 plus GST, plus another fee 50 per cent of the first fee if a second inspection is required – which would be expected for the vast majority of pools, considering that councils are saying up to 90 per cent of pools may not comply. This may see pool owners facing fees of up to $600 plus any charges for remedial work.
In fact, tabloid commentator Miranda Devine is already stirring up the fears of pool owners by stating the fees will be $850 per pool.
SPLASH! understands the WA regime keeps fees down in part by having inspectors visit many pools in a single area or street within the one day, and keeping paperwork to a minimum.
SPLASH! will update this story when more information becomes available.
