Wyndham City Cracks Down on Unregistered Pools.

According to State Government legislation, pool and spa owners are required to register their pools and have them certified as safe. The certification must be renewed every four years by a registered inspector, a process managed by Local Government Councils.

Despite multiple requests and reminders from Wyndham City, these two property owners refused to comply with the legislation, which required pool registration by November 1, 2020. They also failed to follow a court order issued in February of this year. In response to this, Wyndham City CEO Stephen Wall stated, “This legislation is about preventing backyard drownings. Pool and spa barriers are just one of the ways we can work towards reducing the number of drownings.”

Wall also expressed satisfaction with the Werribee Magistrates Court’s support of the city’s commitment to community safety. He emphasized the importance of registering pools and having safety barriers inspected and certified to prevent drownings and keep children safe. Currently, there are 3,877 registered pools and spas in Wyndham, with 90% of them having undergone safety barrier inspections and received certification of compliance. However, the remaining 10% of property owners who still require certification are advised that their certificates are now overdue.

To ensure the safety of their pools and spas, property owners can hire a private or Council swimming pool inspector, who must be registered with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA), to conduct the necessary inspections and certifications every four years. More information on this can be found on the VBA website and Wyndham City’s website. Wyndham City also stated that they will continue to follow up with property owners who fail to comply with these requirements and may refer matters to their lawyers for prosecution if necessary.