The City of Greater Bendigo is calling on residents to double check fences as they prepare their pools and spas for summer.
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The council’s municipal building surveyor Hans Tracksdorf said the most effective way to ensure children’s safety was to have secure fencing around pools.
“Fencing laws apply to any pool or spa, including inflatable pools, which are deeper than 30cm,” he said.
“Pool fences must be at least 1.2M high and gates must be self-closing and self-latching.”
Mr Tracksdorf said council officers were often alerted to unfenced backyard pools by concerned neighbours.
“We can follow up this information through an aerial photo database and officers can then issue fines of up to $6,000 to property owners who do not have a lawful barrier,” he said.
“Pool safety is very important and it’s critical that residents comply with the rules to ensure the safety of young children in our community.”
A summary of fencing laws:
- If a pool or spa has a depth of 30cm or more it must be surrounded by safety barrier. This includes inflatable pools
- All pools and spas built after 2010 require a four sided barrier (isolation fence), with no direct access from the house or any other building
- Safety barriers must be a minimum of 1.2 metres high
- Barrier gates must be self-closing and self-latching
- It is illegal to leave a pool or spa gate propped open
- Climbable objects such as pot plants, eskies, pool pumps and chairs must be moved away from the barrier
