New laws have been introduced to keep young children safe.
Since 2000, 27 young children have drowned in private swimming pools and spas. In at least 20 of those cases, the non-compliance of the safety barrier was a contributing factor.
Pool and spa owners were required to register pools or spas with council by 1 November 2020. This applies to both permanent and relocatable pools and spas.
It was compulsory to register your pool or spa with council by 1 November 2020 by submitting the registration form and paying the fee.
Your application needs supporting information. This is either a copy of the building permit, Final Inspection Certificate issued by a private building surveyor or correspondence from council's building inspector after 2016.
If you supply these documents the application fee is $32.85.
If you don't have these documents the fee is $79.
Ongoing pool and spa barrier inspections and certifications
Under Victorian Government laws, barriers need to be certified as compliant. Dates vary depending on when your pool or spa was installed as follows:
A list of private certifiers is available on the Victorian Building Authority website or contact us on 5153 9500.
The 2011 National Drowning Report shows that 43 per cent of all drowning deaths among children between 0-4 years old occurred in swimming pools. Regulation compliant barriers are essential for all swimming pools. Barriers prevent young children from entering the swimming pool unsupervised.
From May 2011 changes to Australian Standards requires all pool/spa barriers to be separate from the house and boundary fencing. All pool owners are to ensure their barriers are correctly maintained.
Things you need to know when planning or own a swimming pool or spa:
For more information about the new State Government legislation, please visit the Victorian Building Authority Swimming Pools and Spas page.