Hot weather prompts call for people to check
their pool fences

If it's more than 400mm deep it probably needs to be fenced

Soaring temperatures and the rapidly approaching school holidays have prompted a reminder from Thames-Coromandel District Council that all pool owners need to check that they are conforming with the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.

TCDC pool inspector Theresa Paul says some people think the rules apply only to permanent in-ground pools but, in fact, they cover every pool with a water depth greater than 400mm. This includes most of the plastic above-ground pools and spa pools, unless they are greater than 1.2 metres in height and non-climbable.

"Having a lockable lid on a spa pool does not exempt the owners from having to have an approved pool fence, unless the spa pool meets the 1.2 metre height test and is non-climbable," she says.

TCDC is required to carry out inspections to ensure compliance with the Fencing of Swimming Pool regulations and has a three-year rolling programme to inspect the more than 500 pools on Council's books.

Pool owners are being encouraged to check their pools and attend to any shortcomings prior to being inspected. If pool fencing is found to be non-compliant at the time of inspection, the pool owner will face the prospect of a $140 inspection fee and a further $140 re-inspection fee as well as the costs of bringing the pool fencing up to standard.

"In many cases it doesn't take much for the pool owner to make their fences compliant, so it is well worth their effort. Their real reward, however, is the satisfaction of knowing that they have done their best to ensure a child does not drown in their pool."

ENDS

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