Contact your local council online to register your pool barrier. You will need to pay a one off fee to the council of up to $78 for this process.
Council will determine the relevant date of the pool & barrier 'construction date' and will send you a letter of registration with a nominated 'construction date'. This date determines which Australian Standard applies to your pool barrier.
Note: If you have had additional building works/alterations done to your barrier since the pool was installed then please advise council as they will need to determine if multiple standard apply. This process can take many weeks.
A professional 'on site' inspection will be conducted by a registered, licensed and insured inspector. Includes a Compliance Certificate if barrier complies.
Cost - From $340* (*remote areas may incur an extra fee)
A thorough 'on site' inspection will be carried out by our Pool Safety Inspector which will assess your barrier against the requirement of the applicable Australian Standard. This will determine compliance or non- compliance of the barrier.
This process involves checking your pool safety barrier including fencing, gates, windows, retaining walls, boundary fences and any items that are climbable. This will be documented on a detailed electronic report.
If the standards are met you will be issued with a Certificate of Barrier Compliance (CBC). The pool owner will lodge this with the local council (Council admin fee payable).
Where the barrier is determined to be Non-compliant, the inspector will determine whether the barrier could be made compliant on the day of inspection by brief work that can be done on the spot, such as:
If compliance is not possible on the day of inspection, you will provided with a detailed electronic report that outlines the exact requirements to meet compliance.
Note: All reasonable efforts will be made to assist the pool owner in achieving compliance on the day. Should this not be possible, a notice will be issued, requiring the faults to be remedied within 60 days and a re-inspection will be required.
All repairs need to be completed within 60 days of initial inspection.
Where the barrier is determined to be Non-Compliant but can be made compliant on the day of inspection by minor work by the owner while the inspector is present then a CBC can be issued on the spot.
These items would typically include:
For other significant works, you will need to engage a suitably qualified and insured tradesperson, alternately you could do the works yourself if you possess the competency. These rectification works needs to be completed and a re-inspection conducted within 60 days.
NOTE: If you have made attempts to fix the barrier in this 60 day period, then an additional 7 days can be granted. (This is the maximum period allowed by law)
If your pool /spa barrier still does not comply on a re-inspection for whatever reason, then a 'Certificate of Non-Compliance (CBNC) will be issued. This will be lodged with the local council by the inspector and you will be required to pay a fee to council to remove this non- compliance.
Local council will then contact you to discuss your safety barrier compliance with you.
If a re-inspection is required the Inspector will:
If made compliant then a Certificate of Compliance (CBC) will be issued. This certificate must then be lodged with the local council by the pool owner within 30 days of being issued & pay the required fee* to council. (Fee $20.44 - may change so please check with your local council)
If the barrier remains non-compliant but progress has been made by the owner to make the barrier compliant, the inspector may provide a further period up to 7 days, prior to a further re-inspection required (additional cost).
If progress has not been made to make the barrier compliant. A certificate of barrier non-compliance must be issued. This certificate will be lodged with the local council and they will make contact with you for further action.
Find more information at Victorian Building Authority.
Select your checklist based on when your local council determined your pool/spa was constructed or installed. The checklist is designed to provide guidance to assist homeowners with maintaining safety around pool and spa areas, including guidance to determine if pool or spa barriers are in good working condition and adequately restrict access by young children to the pool or spa area.
Note: The checklist is not exhaustive and the use of the checklist will not amount to legal compliance.