Make sure your pool is safe this summer

Published on 24 January 2019

The City of Swan is urging residents to make sure their pools are safe ahead of summer as staff keep on top of inspections for more than 7,800 private pools throughout the region.

All local governments in WA are required by law to inspect private pools in their area at least once every four years to ensure they have compliant fences or other safety barriers.

The City currently conducts between 3,000 and 4,000 inspections every year.

City of Swan CEO Mike Foley said three swimming pool inspections had resulted in prosecution in 2018.

“But we don’t want it to get to this point,” he said.

“We want to work with our residents to ensure their swimming pool barriers are compliant, and children are as safe as possible around private back yard pools.

“However, when reasonable efforts have not resulted in compliance, the City has no other option than to commence legal action.

“It is the responsibility of property owners and tenants to make sure their pool fence abides by the rules.

“If you have concerns about whether your swimming pool barrier complies, please contact the City and we will help you.”

According to Royal Life Saving Australia’s 2018 National Drowning Report, home swimming pools are the leading location for drowning fatalities for children under the age of five.

In fatal drowning cases, the most common means of access to the pool are faulty fences or gates (38%), lack of fences (26%) and having a gate propped open (24%).

The largest proportion of drowning deaths occurred in summer.

Mr Foley said the risk of drowning in an unfenced home pool is nearly four times higher than in a pool that is properly fenced.

“While supervision is the most critical element in ensuring kids are kept safe around the pool, a compliant pool safety barrier is essential,” he said.

“This applies to inflatable pools and above-ground spas as well – any swimming pools containing water deeper than 300mm must also have a safety barrier that complies with laws.”

Penalties for non-compliance are $5,000 as per the Western Australian Building Regulations 2012.

For more information, visit The Swimming Pools, Spas and Pool Fences page on the City's website.