Media Response |

From City of Ballarat Director Infrastructure and Environment Terry Demeo:

The state government has introduced mandatory requirements in relation to domestic/backyard pools that requires every pool to be registered with Council and to meet the compliance requirements in relation to pool barrier fencing, gate and door latches and the like. This requirement is to ensure the safety of every pool across Victoria in response to the tragic events over recent years of infant and children drownings in backyard pools. As a result, the City of Ballarat has commenced the process of ensuring that all pools are registered, with the owners responsible to demonstrate that the pool barriers are in compliance with the law of the day.

The City of Ballarat has approximately 1,600 pools identified through building approvals. However, there are many pools and spas that have not been formally issued building permits, and we would expect that anyone in these circumstances would seek to rectify this situation by registering the pool and having a compliance check undertaken. 

The City of Ballarat has no intention to fly drones above residential areas.