Safety reviews for NSW and Queensland
October 20th, 2010
The NSW Department of Local Government put out an options paper relating to the review of the Swimming Pools Act 1992requesting input from the general public – but the industry was not approached to offer their input.
The report covers a number of recommendations including the removal of existing exemptions for pool barriers, mandatory inspection of pools, a requirement for councils to keep a pool register, an increase in penalties for non-compliance and a provision for councils to undertake remedial work.
While the Department has said “all stakeholders” had been approached for their input, that didn’t seem to include the swimming pool and spa industry. Some recommendations could impact heavily on the design and construction of swimming pools. SPASA NSW has indicated it will be making a submission by the deadline. The department will assess the level of support before implementing amendments to the Act.
There is more infomormation at the Department’s website. The closing date for submissions was 5pm, Friday 12 June 2009.
And also in Queensland
Queensland is undergoing a similar review, with SPASA Queensland CEO David Close saying he is not unhappy with the recommendations in general.
“It’s a reasonable compromise and a safe way to make sure swimming pool fencing complies,” he says. “At the moment, our local legislation provides 11 standards of swimming pool fencing depending on what year the pool was built in. This will rationalise it down to probably two standards.
“The original idea that pools be checked every year has been turned around. The recommendation now is that when you sell your home you’ll need a certificate to say the pool complies. For rental property, the landlord should always have a certificate.”
Close also says that while people need to become qualified to be able to inspect the pools, there are already five licence classes that have that in the scope of works, and that he hopes the situation will arise where someone in every pool shop will be qualified to inspect a swimming pool fence.
“Anything other than just the testing of water, you do need a licence, following the coroner’s recommendation that only licensed people deal with pool equipment,” he says. “With this process coming in – that means someone at the pool shop could also maintain and repair the pool fence – and by extension, also check that it complies – so after they’ve done the work they can issue the certificate.”
Click here for a copy of the review documents. The date for close of input for the Queensland review was Friday 5 June.
The report covers a number of recommendations including the removal of existing exemptions for pool barriers, mandatory inspection of pools, a requirement for councils to keep a pool register, an increase in penalties for non-compliance and a provision for councils to undertake remedial work.
While the Department has said “all stakeholders” had been approached for their input, that didn’t seem to include the swimming pool and spa industry. Some recommendations could impact heavily on the design and construction of swimming pools. SPASA NSW has indicated it will be making a submission by the deadline. The department will assess the level of support before implementing amendments to the Act.
There is more infomormation at the Department’s website. The closing date for submissions was 5pm, Friday 12 June 2009.
And also in Queensland
Queensland is undergoing a similar review, with SPASA Queensland CEO David Close saying he is not unhappy with the recommendations in general.
“It’s a reasonable compromise and a safe way to make sure swimming pool fencing complies,” he says. “At the moment, our local legislation provides 11 standards of swimming pool fencing depending on what year the pool was built in. This will rationalise it down to probably two standards.
“The original idea that pools be checked every year has been turned around. The recommendation now is that when you sell your home you’ll need a certificate to say the pool complies. For rental property, the landlord should always have a certificate.”
Close also says that while people need to become qualified to be able to inspect the pools, there are already five licence classes that have that in the scope of works, and that he hopes the situation will arise where someone in every pool shop will be qualified to inspect a swimming pool fence.
“Anything other than just the testing of water, you do need a licence, following the coroner’s recommendation that only licensed people deal with pool equipment,” he says. “With this process coming in – that means someone at the pool shop could also maintain and repair the pool fence – and by extension, also check that it complies – so after they’ve done the work they can issue the certificate.”
Click here for a copy of the review documents. The date for close of input for the Queensland review was Friday 5 June.
By The Splash Team
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