Ipswich residents are being encouraged to put safety first when trying to beat the heat this summer.
Just like with permanent pools or spas, store-bought portable swimming pools and spas must adhere to local council safety regulations.
“With the weather warming up, it may be tempting to cool down by purchasing an affordable store-bought portable blow up or above-ground pool or spa,” Mayor Teresa Harding said.
“However, it is important that residents are aware of the regulations that apply, [and] when factoring in fencing requirements and approvals, it can get costly quite quickly.”
Pools or spas that can be filled to a depth of 300mm or more, or have a volume of more than 2,000 litres or a filtration system require a building approval and must have a compliant pool fence.
“That building approval must be issued by a Building Certifier and you need to obtain a final inspection certificate before filling the pool and using it,” Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said.
“You can only remove your pool fencing when you are lawfully decommissioning your swimming pool.”
Pool safety laws also apply regardless of whether you have children and if you are a homeowner or tenant.
Penalties apply for not having compliant fencing or for not following pool and spa safety laws, with infringements starting from about $1,000.
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in Queensland for children under the age of five.
In addition to compliant fencing, active adult supervision, swimming lessons, and learning basic CPR can save lives.
Cool alternatives
An inexpensive alternative to a portable pool is taking advantage of local public pools or free water parks, such as Orion Lagoon in Springfield Central.
Community pools can be found at Goodna Aquatic Centre on Brisbane Terrace, Goodna, or the Bundamba Swim Centre on Brisbane Road, Bundamba.
There is also Bob Gamble Park, off King Edward Parade, and the zero-depth water feature at Tulmur Place, in the Nicholas Street Precinct – both free to the public and located in central Ipswich.
And Greater Springfield residents of all ages can enjoy the heated indoor facilities at the brand new The Swim Factory Springfield, adjacent to the newly opened Spring Mountain Village shopping centre.
Ipswich City Council also hosts a series of free water safety programs designed to build water confidence and teach lifesaving skills through its SEAL Pool Safety Program.
For more information about local pool regulations, click here or visit the ‘Swimming Pools, Spas and Safety Barriers’ page on the Council website – search “pools” at ipswich.qld.gov.au.
For more information about the SEAL program and learn-to-swim classes, visit ipswich.qld.gov.au/seal.
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