Cardinia Shire Council reminds residents who have a pool or spa that they're required to have the safety barrier inspected every four years and lodge their inspection certificate with Council.
Pool and spa safety barriers are necessary to help prevent accidental drownings and to create a safe environment for everyone, particularly children.
On 1 December 2019, new Victorian laws were introduced to ensure backyard swimming pools and spas have appropriate safety fencing. Under these laws, it's the responsibility of the owner of the property with the pool or spa to register it.
Anyone in the shire who owns or rents a property with a pool or spa that is capable of holding a depth of 300 millimetres (30 centimetres) or more, requires a compliant fence or barrier around it. This includes around a temporary pool, such as an inflatable pool, that can hold 30 centimetres of water.
All pools or spas must be registered with Council and the safety fencing inspected every four years (from the date of their previous pool certificate of compliance), in line with Victorian Government legislation.
Notices are sent out to pool or spa owners every four years advising that their safety barrier and fencing inspections and certificates of barrier compliance are up for renewal. If the certificate of compliance is not lodged with Council by the due date, a reminder letter is sent and residents may subsequently be issued with an infringement notice if they fail to comply.
In the coming weeks, Council officers will conduct inspections of pools and spas at properties that have failed to submit a current certificate of compliance after reminder notices have been issued. Residents who have still not submitted their certificate of compliance by this time may face further action, including an order to comply and/or prosecution.
Safety inspection services are now available through Council. The service enables residents to request a pool barrier inspection through Council's registered building and pool inspectors, saving residents from sourcing inspections independently. Residents can arrange to have an inspection completed by an independent registered building or pool inspector, or arrange an inspection through Council.
