Swimming pool registry back with amnesty
The NSW swimming pool registration deadline has been pushed to November 19 after the online registry crashed.
On the original deadline for all swimming pools in NSW to be registered, the online pool registry was inundated with 45,000 householders attempting to register their pools, resulting in the new website crashing.
At the time, more than 155,000 people had registered their swimming pools according to NSW Local Government Minister Don Page, but the fear of facing a $220 fine if they missed the deadline sent a surge of pool owners to the site. Many pool owners reported they couldn't get through and when SPLASH! attempted several times on the day the website stalled.
In response, the Local Government Minister Don Page asked councils not to impose fines on people who had not registered their pools for a three-week grace period until November 19.
“The Division of Local Government, which administers the pools registry, has informed me that there have been technical problems with the register because of the large number of people attempting to register their pools at the last minute,’’ he said.
He said that more than 2500 people an hour successfully registered their pools and that more than 200,000 people had successfully registered their pools in total, which meant 45,000 had done so on the day of the crash.
“Because of this I have asked councils not to issue infringement notices for three weeks after the deadline to register backyard swimming pools closes at midnight tonight. This exercise was never about fines but always about safety, so I’m sure people will agree that issuing penalty notices would not be appropriate under the current circumstances.’’
At the time of writing the website was back up and operating normally. However, the DLG advises householders to email them if they can't get through or call the Swimming Pools Hotline on 1300 922 310.
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