The Victorian Government has announced it is extending the deadline for the mandatory registration of privately-owned pools and spas due to the impacts of coronavirus.
The initial deadline of 1 June 2020 has now been extended five months until 1 November 2020.
The new deadline is an acknowledgement of the extra pressure on families and the increased workload on councils due to the pandemic.
The new registration requirements introduced by the Victorian Government in December 2019 come as a result of Coroner findings suggesting that at least 20 of the 27 drownings in private pools or spas across Victoria since 2000 were likely due to non-compliant safety barriers.
The regulations are necessary to prevent children continuing to drown in backyard pools with non-compliant safety barriers.
City of Ballarat is still accepting registrations via its website and recommends owners of private pools and spas lodge their registrations as soon as possible.
Residents can lodge their registrations via Council's eServices website to ensure compliance with the regulations by the new due date.
The Victorian Government has stated owners who fail to register their pool or spa with their council by 1 November 2020 may face an on-the-spot fine of $330.
For anyone who has already registered with Council, the date by which you must organise your first barrier certification compliance certificates will also be extended by five months.
The Victorian Government's full media release can be read here
To organise registration of your private pool or spa, head to https://eservices.ballarat.vic.gov.au/, and click 'Permits and Registers' and select 'Register your Pool/Spa'.
