Swimming Pools

Swimming Pool Safety

Private or backyard swimming pool safety is legislated by the Swimming Pools Act 1992 and the Swimming Pools Regulation 2018. The following is a short excerpt from a brochure from the Department of Local Government and Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The Act and Regulation apply to all swimming pools (both indoor and outdoor) on premises where there is a residential building, a movable dwelling (eg caravan), a hotel or a motel.

If you are the owner of premises on which a swimming pool is situated you must ensure that the pool is at all times surrounded by a child-resistant barrier consisting of fencing of a height no less than 1.2 metres and/or your house wall. You must always keep your barrier, gates and doors in good working condition. Doors and gates providing access to the pool area must be kept securely closed at all times when not in actual use.

The requirements for child-resistant barriers on premises where there is a residential building vary according to when the pool was constructed and where the pool is located.

More information can be found in the relevant Act and Regulations which can be found on the NSW Legislation Website: Swimming Pool Act.

Swimming Pool Register

The NSW Division of Local Government amended the Swimming Pools Act 1992 in October 2012 to improve the safety of children around swimming pools in New South Wales.

As a result, all swimming pools are required to be registered with the NSW Government by October 2013. Failing to register a swimming pool results in penalties of $220.00.

As part of the swimming pool register, pool owners are required to:

• Register their swimming pool on the Swimming Pool Register
• Self-assess and state in the register that, to the best of their knowledge, their swimming pool complies with the applicable standard when registering their pool.

Public Access to Swimming Pool Standards

To further assist swimming pool owners in association with NSW legislation, Council has the following documentation available for public inspection at the Council office during ordinary business hours (not available for download or viewing online):

• Building Code of Australia
• Australian Standard 1926
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guideline