The NSW Government has released the final report of Mr Michael Lambert’s Independent Review of Swimming Pool Regulation, along with its response.
With more than 300,000 backyard swimming pools in NSW, swimming pool safety is a serious issue that affects the whole community.
Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in very young children in NSW.
Mr Lambert’s report recommendations will result in, among other things:
An amendment to the Swimming Pools Regulation 2008, which will maintain the fee cap of $150 for an initial swimming pool inspection but allow councils to charge pool owners up to $100 for each subsequent inspection, if and as required, until a certificate of compliance is issued.
New guidance material will be developed to assist council certifiers with their legislative and regulatory responsibilities.
An increased public education campaign will be delivered in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society, focussing on active adult supervision and promoting the concept of a “designated supervisor’’.
Key points to emerge from the review include:
Councils will be able to charge pool owners up to $100 for the third and any subsequent inspections required until a certificate of compliance is issued;
Councils will be encouraged to actively promote swimming pool safety awareness within their local government areas.
The response reinforces the Government’s long-held position that responsible adult supervision of young children in and around backyard pools at all times is the first line of defence against drownings and near drownings.
However a well-maintained child-resistant pool barrier is also key to preventing small children’s unsupervised access to backyard swimming pools and spa pools.
• In NSW, the owners of properties with a swimming pool and/or a spa pool are required to register their pools and spas on the NSW swimming pool register here.
• To read the full Michael Lambert report, the government response and supporting documentation, visit the Office of Local Government website here.
