Friendly reminder: Pool and spa registration due by 1 November 2020

Private pool and spa owners are reminded that they have until 1 November 2020 to register their pool/spa with Council as part of new regulations introduced by the Victorian Government.

In May, due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian Government announced an extension of the deadline for the mandatory registration of private pools and spas, originally due on 1 June.

If you own a rental property that has a pool or spa, it is your responsibility to register by 1 November 2020.

The deadline for owners to lodge their first pool/spa barrier certification has also been extended.

Under the revised dates:

Existing pools and spas must be registered by 1 November 2020 Pools and spas constructed on or before 30 June 1994 must be certified by 1 November 2021. Pools and spas constructed on or after 1 July 1994 but before 1 May 2010 must be certified by 1 November 2022. Pools and spas constructed on or after 1 May 2010 but before 1 June 2020 must be certified by 1 November 2023. New swimming pools or spas constructed after November 2020 must be registered within 30 days of receiving the relevant Occupancy Permit or Certificate of Final Inspection.

The extended deadline is an acknowledgement of the extra pressure on families and the increased workload on Councils due to the pandemic.

Owners of properties with a swimming pool or spa, including landlords, have a legal obligation to ensure they maintain safety barriers to reduce the risk of unsupervised children gaining access. This includes above-ground, bathing, wading and portable pools and hot tubs capable of holding more than 300mm of water.

New laws introduced on 1 December 2019 by the Victorian Government requires mandatory registration of all pools and spas.

Under the regulatory changes, owners are also required to have their pool and spa barriers inspected and certified by a registered building surveyor or a registered building inspector every four years.

Once registration is lodged, Council will inform owners of the date by which they must organise their first inspection and certification of their pool or spa barrier. This will be determined by the age of the pool or spa, with older pools/spas to be give priority for inspection.

If the inspection finds the barrier is non-compliant, the owner has up to 60 days to bring it up to code.

The cost to register a pool or spa with Maroondah City Council is $79. The cost to lodge a certificate of compliance is $20.40.

While pool and spa barriers can be effective in reducing the risk of drowning incidents, evidence suggests that a large number of drowning deaths are the result of barriers that are faulty, or non-compliant with Australian standards.

Council will maintain a register of swimming pools and spas within the municipality through owner registrations, existing Council records and aerial photography to ensure the database is up to date.

The cost of registration and lodging the certificates with Council are set by the Victorian Government.

For more information on pool and spa compliance and how to register, visit our Swimming pool and spa registration and fencing page or phone us on 1300 88 22 33