Consider safety around backyard swimming pools

For many of us, the summer holiday period heralds a time of running in sprinklers, visiting the local pool, trips over to the coast for a beachside escape or if you’re lucky, plenty of fun in the backyard pool.

These days, the iconic backyard pool takes many shapes and forms with portable swimming pools and inflatables more accessible and popular than ever.

While fun for small children, it is important to be aware that these types of bodies of water need to be used safely. Drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death in young children in NSW and is one of the biggest killers of children under the age of five.  With over 300,000 backyard swimming pools in NSW and upwards of 500 swimming pools in the Shire, swimming pool safety is an issue that affects the whole community.

The NSW Government has put in place the Swimming Pools Act 1992 requiring that all swimming pools have an appropriate child resistant barrier that restricts access between the residence and the swimming pool.

Any pool that is capable of being filled with water to a depth of 300mm or more is subject to pool fencing laws. It is also important to note that pools that have capacity to hold 2,000L or more require a Development Application to be lodged with Council.

Some useful information is available on the NSW Government’s Fair Trading website

The NSW Government requires councils across the State to ensure compliance with this legislation to the ensure the safety of all our community members, including our youngest residents and penalties are applicable.

Further information on backyard swimming pool compliance

Further information on why children are at risk of drowning and ways to prevent this

Otherwise come and speak with one of our trained swimming pool inspectors.