On 1 December 2019, new legislation to improve swimming pool and spa safety came into effect; introducing new inspection, maintenance and compliance requirements for property owners.
Swimming pool and spa registration and certificate lodgement
Pool and spa owners must register their pool or spa within 30 days of the lodgement of a Certificate of Final Inspection or Occupancy permit for the barrier works. Owners will receive a letter with instructions to register once their building surveyor has submitted the final paperwork with Council.
Additionally, pool and spa owners must get their safety barriers inspected every four years by a private pool inspector. Council will send reminder letters prior to the due date with instructions and information for the inspector. Once an inspection is complete and the barrier is compliant, a Certificate of Barrier Compliance (Form 23) must be submitted to Council within 30 days of being issued.
As a pool or spa owner, you have an obligation to maintain the operation of your swimming pool or spa barrier to prevent access to the pool or spa. Gates and doors must be self-latching and remain closed except when entering the pool or spa.
How do you check for compliance?
You can check whether your pool and spa complies with the relevant legislation by referring to the checklists provided by the Building and Plumbing Commission. Requirements vary depending upon the date that your pool or spa was installed. Please note that these checklists do not negate the need for an inspection by a registered pool inspector. Please view checklists links below:
Safety around pools and spas
To find out more on safety around pools and spas visit the following websites:
Decommission your pool or spa
Permanent In-Ground Swimming Pool
For a permanent in-ground swimming pool to be considered decommissioned, the owners need to satisfy Council that the pool no longer exists or is no longer capable of holding 300mm of water.
Therefore, the swimming pool must either:
- Be completely removed – a building permit may be required for demolition, please contact Council’s Statutory Building Services team on 9524 3333 to discuss, or
- Be completely filled in with appropriate filling - a building permit may be required, please contact Council's Statutory Building Services team on 9524 3333.
Once either of these methods have occurred, please deregister the swimming pool via the following link.
https://forms.gleneira.vic.gov.au/GePool/PoolRegister41
Council will then contact you to arrange an inspection by a Council Inspector prior to removing the permanent pool from the register.
Spas/above ground Swimming Pools
To decommission an above ground swimming pool or spa, the owners need to satisfy Council that the structure of the swimming pool/spa is completely removed.
Once the pool/spa has been removed, please deregister the spa via the following link.
https://forms.gleneira.vic.gov.au/GePool/PoolRegister41
Council will then contact you to arrange an inspection by a Council Inspector prior to removing the swimming pool/spa from the register.
For more information of decommission your swimming pool or spa please refer to the VBA Council and Practitioner Guide.
Please note if the pool or spa is not removed, a Certificate of Barrier Compliance (Form 23) will be required to be provided to Council.
