Swimming Pool Law Changes
SWIMMING POOL LAW CHANGES
Swimming pool law changes – Campbelltown City Council
Swimming pool owners must register their swimming pools by 29 October 2013.Owners who fail to do this risk a $220 penalty.
Your responsibilities as a pool owner have changed
The NSW State Government has introduced changes to swimming pool laws, aimed at reducing the incidence of children drowning in backyard pools.
As a swimming pool owner you are responsible for ensuring your pool is enclosed and access to it is restricted to children at all times. You are also responsible for ensuring it is maintained and that it complies with relevant Australian Standards and laws.
The purpose of the new laws is to promote the need for regular checks and maintenance of pool safety barriers such as fencing.
Summary of changes to the Act
Overview of the State Government’s changes to the Swimming Pools Act
- Swimming pool owners:
are required to register their pools online in a state wideSwimming Pool Register by 29 October 2013* - will be required to self-assess and state in the register that, to the best of their knowledge, their pool complies with the applicable standard
- will be required to provide a valid swimming pool compliance certificate before selling or leasing a property with a pool from 29 April 2014.
*A penalty of $220 can be given to owners who fail to register a swimming pool by 29 October 2013.
- Councils:
are required to inspect all registered pools before issuing a compliance certificate, which is valid for 3 years from the date of its issue.
For further detailed information regarding recent changes to the Swimming Pools Act and requirements refer to the Department of Local Government’s Swimming Pools and Spas information website.
Registering your pool
There are two ways you can register your pool:
- Register online (no cost)
or - Complete a Self-Assessment Checklist and Registration form (PDF, 85KB) and bring them in to Council during business hours, and we’ll register your pool on your behalf ($10 fee applies).
Please call us on 4645 4000 if you would like more information about this service.
Ensure your pool complies
Campbelltown City Council, in line with the changes to the Swimming Pools Act and requirements will be inspecting swimming pools within the city in the near future. Prior to Council’s inspection, we recommend that you undertake a preliminary self-check of your pool safety barrier and rectify any obvious problems.
Fact sheet and checklist
The NSW State Government has prepared a Home Swimming Pool Safety Checklist and Swimming Pools Laws fact sheet to assist pool owners with the self-assessment and registration process and these can be obtained by clicking on the links below.
The NSW State Government has prepared a Home Swimming Pool Safety Checklist (PDF, 102KB) and a Swimming Pools Laws fact sheet (PDF, 93KB) to assist pool owners with the self-assessment and registration process.
Royal Life Saving NSW Fact Sheets
Royal Lifesaving NSW has commenced an education campaign to assist everyone in understanding their responsibilities in relation to registration and compliance.
For your convenience, the links to the fact sheets can be found on the right hand side of this page.
Pool Barrier Exemptions
Between 1 August 1992 to 30 June 2010, the Swimming Pools Act 1992 provided an alternative to the general requirements regarding the location of pool child-resistant barriers. These are referred to as exemptions.
These exemptions apply to the following pools, so long as the means of access to the pool are at all times restricted in accordance with the exemption:
- pools constructed prior to 1 August 1990
- pools on waterfront properties constructed before 1 July 2010
- pools on properties having an area less than 230m², constructed before 1 July 2010
- pools on properties having an area of 2ha or more, constructed before 1 July 2010.
These exemptions do not apply for the life of the pool, which may lead to some owners failing to ensure their pool barrier complies. The exemption no longer applies where:
- access to the pool or pool barrier is substantially altered or rebuilt
- restricted access to a pool or pool barrier is not provided
- restricted access to a pool or pool barrier is not maintained or does not comply
- when pools exempt are fenced voluntarily