New pool legislations require all homeowners with backyard swimming pools to register their pools online by 29 October 2013, or face paying a $220 fine from Council. Pool owners will also be required to provide a valid compliance certificate before being able to sell or lease a property with a pool as of 29 April 2014.

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age, with more than 50 children admitted to hospital each year following a near-drowning incident. In many cases these accidents could have been avoided with well-maintained swimming pool fences and vigilant adult supervision. In Wagga Wagga, more than 1000 pools have been inspected since June 2011, with many more yet to be inspected.  Common problems that need to be addressed include:

• ensuring gates are self-closing
• displaying a current CPR chart
• ensuring boundary fences are at least 1.2 metres high

If you are renting a property with a pool, it is the landlord’s responsibility to provide maintenance to the premises in a reasonable state of repair. It is up to the tenant to notify the landlord if any urgent repairs need to be carried out.

The Wagga Wagga City Council is currently sending out letters to all home owners who have a backyard pool. This letter outlines when an inspection will be carried out on your pool. If your pool complies with the standards set out, council will issue a compliance certificate that will be valid for 3 years. Residents who have not registered their pool through council, are required to lodge a development application. A comprehensive swimming pool safety checklist can be found here.