Council wishes to remind all swimming pool owners of their responsibilities under the Swimming Pool Act 1992. Any body of water which is greater than 300mm in depth used for human aquatic purposes is considered a swimming pool. Many of the temporary inflatable swimming pools currently being sold and erected in our Council area are required to comply with the provisions of the Act.
The owner of the premises on which a swimming pool is situated must ensure the swimming pool is at all times surrounded by a child-resistant barrier. A child-resistant fence is:
- to separate the swimming pool from any residential building and from any place adjoining the premises;
- to be a minimum height of 1.2 metres above finished ground level and the height of any opening between the fencing and finished ground level shall not exceed 100mm; and
- gate/s must be capable of closing and locking when the gate is opened only 50mm from the latch on the gate post.
In addition, a resuscitation poster must be erected and well maintained in a prominent position in the immediate vicinity of the swimming pool. Further information can be found on the Swimming Pool Compliance page. Council officers will be undertaking spot compliance inspections of swimming pools throughout the coming months. Penalties will apply to owners of swimming pools which do not comply with the requirements of the Swimming Pool Act 1992.