Mayor calls for more vigilance around pools

Campbelltown residents are being urged to take extra care with water safety, particularly in relation to backyard swimming pools.

There have been at least 15 drownings around Sydney over the Christmas, both in pools and beaches.

Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic, said it was heartbreaking to see the loss of life, and the impact of that loss on family, friends and the wider community, after the drownings in NSW during the holiday period, and called on residents to ensure their backyard pools were secure.

“There are more than 10,000 backyard swimming pools in the Campbelltown local government area, so it’s vitally important that we take pool safety seriously,” he said.

You can keep your backyard swimming pool secure by:

• Always keeping your fence in good repair and regularly checking that all gates, doors and window locks are in working condition.

• Never leaving objects near the fence as children may use them to climb over.

• Never leaving any gates and doors propped open.

• Always having your filter covered so small children can’t get into it.

• Applying for a Certificate of Compliance with council, to certify that your fence complies with the applicable Australian Standard.

• Completing a pool inspection self-assessment checklist which is available on the NSW Swimming Pool Register website.

Cr Brticevic said a secure pool was no substitute for responsible adult supervision.

[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Children must be watched in and around the water at all times, no matter what their swimming ability, but I would also encourage parents to ensure their children learn to swim at an early age,” he said.[/social_quote]

“The loss of even one person to drowning is too many, and I’m urging everyone to take steps to ensure the safety of their fellow community members, both young and old, in and around the water.”

Residents are reminded that under the NSW Government’s Swimming Pools Act:

• Residential properties for sale or lease with a swimming/spa pool must have a Certificate of Compliance, a Certificate of Non-compliance (applies to properties for sale only) or relevant Occupation Certificate, included with contract documents. Tenants are encouraged to put any concerns about the safety of their swimming pool in writing to the landlord.

• Any pool or spa that can contain water to a depth of more than 300mm (the length of a standard ruler), including temporary/inflatable swimming pools, must have development approval prior to the erection of the pool, and a compliant child resistant safety barrier. Like permanent swimming pools, temporary pools need to be registered on the NSW Swimming Pool Register.

For more information on swimming pool requirements online please click here.

For more information on Council’s Learn to Swim classes, visit the learn to swim website here.