Wed 22 September 2010

Inspectors coming to a pool near you

: Queensland's pool laws are set to become the toughest in the country.

Pool safety inspectors will be enforcing tough new pool laws this summer, and $100,000 has been allocated to help train the local government inspectors, Member for Cook Jason O’Brien MP said.

Mr O’Brien said funding for more local government pool inspectors followed the passing of stage two of the State Government’s new laws in Parliament recently.

“Nothing replaces adult supervision of children when children are near the water,’’ Mr O’Brien said.

“But these new laws aim to improve the safety of swimming pool barriers, particularly fences and barriers around older pools to help protect young children.

“What we will see is more trained and licensed inspectors, with more powers inspecting more swimming pools in the Cook Electorate."

Stage two of the pool laws includes mandatory pool inspections at the sale and lease of a property, with strong penalties where compliance certificates are not in place within 90 days after the sale is completed.

A pool safety inspection certificate will last for two years for a non shared pool (e.g. houses) and one year for a shared pool (e.g. units) regardless of how many times it is re-leased or sold in this period.

Stage two also includes the fencing for all portable pools deeper than 300mm, doors that form part of the pool barrier to be replaced with a fence and the removal of the ability for councils to create local pool laws where state laws apply.

Pools that fail to comply with the new standard will have five years to adjust, unless the property is sold or leased first.

“The new mandatory pool safety certificates and inspections for Queensland pools will help save lives and make the state’s pools the safest in the country," Mr O'Brien said.

Have your say !

Dane Beatty, 26-10-10 20:24:

These laws are designed to saves lives and that is what they will do. You can't put a price on a young life. If the government was to start making exceptions for people who don't have kids or have friends with no kids, every Tom Dick and Harry would be trying to screw the system so they didn't have to comply. This would render the new legislation unenforceable. We don't another Batt installation government scenario.

There is no way the government can save lives without putting their foot down and applying the new laws to EVERY POOL. It just won't work otherwise. However i do agree that it's not fair for those who don't have kids, but hey there will never government legislation that everyone agrees with or that affects everyone equally.

The new pool laws are designed to save lives and this is simply the best way in doing so.

If you live in Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman, Mareeba areas you can pre-book your pool inspection with BE SAFE POOL FENCE INSPECTIONS - they are a locally owned company based in Cairns, their website is: www.cairnspoolinspections.com.au - They service the whole NQ region and can provide you with inspections, reports and repairs if required.

pool dilemma , 22-09-10 14:22:

pool fencing - don't get me started. kids quickly learn how to climb over a fence, parents/carers quickly get used to this false sense of security. people who do not have children need to obey to these rules too, fencing in their pool, fencing in their yard on the off chance that children (in or out of nappies) wander in off the street and might enter their property - i see a high probability that that will never happen. i do not see a fence around cairns lagoon, sheraton lagoon (does not have one either i think). i know, i know most accidents happen at home, but not at mine - i do not have kids.... i do not have friends with young children.... i think it is outrageous that if i want a nice looking backyard, i need to fork out $$ for a nice looking fence to not obstruct my view, remove trees, the houses skirting dickson inlet in reef park need a pool fence but no fence in front of the crocodile infested waters of the inlet... ??