Essential Pool Safety to Protect Your Family This Summer

As temperatures rise, many families opt for portable swimming pools to beat the heat. To keep everyone safe, remember that any pool with a height of 300mm/30cm or more must be fenced, just like a permanent pool. 

Wingecarribee Shire Council urges residents to prioritise safety and follow pool safety guidelines to prevent tragic accidents. 

Pools that exceed 300mm/30cm in depth, including spas and portable/inflatable pools, must be registered and enclosed by an Australian Standard approved, child-resistant compliant fence or barrier.  

Additionally, if your pool exceeds a depth greater than 300mm/30cm and holds more than 2,000 litres of water, Council development approval is required.  

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant penalties (listed below). More importantly, you’ll be putting young children around your home at risk of drowning. 

Swimming pools are the leading cause of drowning deaths for young children. Between 2014 and 2024, 92 children aged 0-4 lost their lives in a swimming pool.    

Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick emphasised that a few simple precautions could make a significant difference in preventing tragic accidents. 

“It’s crucial to remember that drowning can occur silently and rapidly, even in shallow water. Portable and inflatable pools pose the same risks as permanent pools, making safety measures essential,” said Mayor Fitzpatrick.  

“To keep your children safe around water this summer, always supervise them closely and follow essential safety guidelines,” he said.                                               

• Pool fencing requirements: www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Plan-and-Build/Development-Support/Pool-Fencing 

• Learn about the Royal Lifesaving Australia Keep Watch Program: www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/campaigns-and-programs/keep-watch    

• Register your pool for free at: www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au

For more information or to book a pool inspection, please contact Andrew Morrison, Building and Pool Inspector on 02 4868 0888.   

Penalties:  

• $1,500 if there is no development consent  

• $550 if the pool is not fenced  

• $220 if the pool is not registered on the NSW Swimming Pool Register  

• $110 if there is no compliant CRP chart.