An update on Council’s Pool and Spa Registry

Published on 09 September 2021

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With summer fast approaching, Council is reminding property owners they must register their private pool or spa.

On 1 December 2019, new laws to improve swimming pool and spa safety came into effect in Victoria. They introduce new registration, inspection and certification requirements for property owners.

The Central Goldfields Shire Building Services department are working with our community to progress the mandatory requirement to register all pools and spas.  The program aims to make pools and spas safer by undertaking checks on barriers and surroundings.

To ensure a community member has a safe and compliant pool or spa barrier, owners must:

  1. Register your pool with your local council by 1 November 2020
  2. Organise an inspection of your pool barrier by a registered swimming pool inspector
  3. Rectify any issues identified by your pool inspection
  4. Submit a certificate of compliance to your council by the due date

We encourage people who have not registered their pool or spa to get in contact with Council’s building staff as soon as possible to start this process Council’s General Manager Infrastructure, Assets and Planning Rebecca Stockfeld said.

“This will provide a safter environment for us all to live in, particularly our smallest community members. Unfortunately there are also fines for those who have not registered and rectified any issues found with their pool or spa.”

After owners have registered their pools, they will receive a letter from the Shire confirming the next step.  This is to have the pool or spa barrier checked by a qualified building surveyor.  The letter will also confirm details of when your pool or spa was constructed and the due date for lodgement of the compliance certificate.

Owners are required to engage a registered building surveyor or building inspector to inspect and certify the compliance of their safety barrier every four years. The fee to lodge the Certificate of Compliance with the Shire has been set by the Victorian Government and is $20.40. 

More information is available on the Victorian Building Authority website:  vba.vic.gov.au/consumers/safety-guides/swimming-pools

The Central Goldfields Shire Building Control team are available on 5461 0619.