Circulars

What’s new or changing

• Provisions requiring a property with a swimming pool to have a certificate of compliance before it can be sold or leased will now commence on 29 April 2016.

What this will mean for your council

• Councils should use this additional time to implement their swimming pool inspection program and promote awareness of the requirements that will now commence on 29 April 2016.
• Councils should continue to carry out mandatory inspection of pools in tourist and visitor accommodation and multi-occupancy properties to improve compliance rates and increase child safety around pools.

Key points

• An additional twelve months is being provided to give property owners more time to ensure that their swimming pool is compliant before selling or leasing their property.
• This follows discussions with child safety advocates, councils and industry stakeholders who requested additional time.
• Councils continue to report high failure rates for initial inspections of at least 95%.
• The additional swimming pool barrier repair and upgrade work being generated is placing pressure on pool trades and services.
• The Building Professionals Board has established the E1 Pool Certifier category to provide additional certification services to pool owners. This will complement council inspections and increase the number of qualified people who can conduct swimming pool inspections.
• Councils should use this additional time to inform property owners of their responsibilities and to ensure that the council has appropriate systems, processes and resources to respond to requests from property owners for inspections.

Where to go for further information

• Further information can be found at www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au or contact the Office of Local Government on telephone no (02) 4428 4100.

Steve Orr
Acting Chief Executive