No council follow-up on unsafe pool prior to drowning

An Adelaide backyard swimming pool was deemed unsafe by council inspector before a toddler’s drowning, a coronial inquest has heard. The court was told inspectors never followed up their safety concerns.

Deputy state coroner Anthony Schapel is investigating the death of 19-month-old Crystal Trinh, who drowned in her aunt’s backyard swimming pool in January, 2016.

Previously an inspection had found the swimming pool needed a gate that would “self-close” or have a latch 1.5 metres high.

The court was told an inspector from the City of Salisbury Council assessed the swimming pool in November 2014 and deemed it non-compliant with safety regulations. The required changes included that all windows opening into the pool area had a maximum opening of 100mm and that a double gate needed to “self-close” or have a latch 1.5 metres high. The court obtained records appearing to show the council had not followed up on the pool.

The inquest also heard this was not the only non-compliant pool not to be re-checked, and there may have been dozens failing to be followed up.

The inquest will look at how the City of Salisbury Council found the swimming pool non-compliant but failed to provide a date for the work to be completed.

The property was also used for a childcare centre, and the court heard that since the drowning the education department and the council had made a number of changes to their policies.

The inquest continues.

Image: ABC/supplied