Pool safety inspectors will be enforcing tough new pool laws this summer, and $100,000 has been allocated to help train the local government inspectors, Member for Cook Jason O’Brien MP said.

Mr O’Brien said funding for more local government pool inspectors followed the passing of stage two of the State Government’s new laws in Parliament recently.

“Nothing replaces adult supervision of children when children are near the water,’’ Mr O’Brien said.

“But these new laws aim to improve the safety of swimming pool barriers, particularly fences and barriers around older pools to help protect young children.

“What we will see is more trained and licensed inspectors, with more powers inspecting more swimming pools in the Cook Electorate." 

Stage two of the pool laws includes mandatory pool inspections at the sale and lease of a property, with strong penalties where compliance certificates are not in place within 90 days after the sale is completed.

A pool safety inspection certificate will last for two years for a non shared pool (e.g. houses) and one year for a shared pool (e.g. units) regardless of how many times it is re-leased or sold in this period.

Stage two also includes the fencing for all portable pools deeper than 300mm, doors that form part of the pool barrier to be replaced with a fence and the removal of the ability for councils to create local pool laws where state laws apply.

Pools that fail to comply with the new standard will have five years to adjust, unless the property is sold or leased first.

“The new mandatory pool safety certificates and inspections for Queensland pools will help save lives and make the state’s pools the safest in the country," Mr O'Brien said.