New Victorian pool and spa safety standards to come in from December

From December 1 this year, councils in Victoria will register all backyard pools and spas in their local government areas, with property owners being required to submit a current certificate of compliance for their pool or spa safety barrier.

SPASA Victoria CEO Chris Samartzis has applauded the Andrews Government for bringing in the new legislation.

Local councils will take charge of this mandatory registration scheme from December, with all pool owners required to contact their council by April 14 next year and pay a $37 registration fee.

Inspection certificates for all pools built before 1994 must be lodged by 30 October 2020. For pools built between 1994 and 2010, owners will have until 30 April 2021, with all pools built after 2010 requiring to be certified by 29 October 2021.

Councils will charge pool and spa owners a maximum of $20 to lodge their inspection compliance certificates, a process they will be required to undertake just once every three years. Households will have 20 days to bring their pools into compliance if an inspector identifies any safety concerns.

Have your say on the amendments

Industry members can have input on these new measures in the Building Amendment (Swimming Pool and Spa) Regulations 2019 by making a submission by 6 September 2019.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has prepared draft Regulations and a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) that examines the costs and benefits of the proposed Regulations and alternative options that were considered. The RIS and draft Regulations have been released for public consultation so that the Victorian community and relevant stakeholders can provide input on the proposed regulatory changes.

How to make a submission

The public consultation period is an opportunity for anyone interested to have their say on the proposed Regulations before they are finalised.

Responses to the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) can be completed in the following ways:

• Online Option - Note: Online questions are not as wide-ranging as written option

• Written Option - Questions listed within Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS)

Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 6 September 2019