Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in Queensland for children under the age of five years old. Supervising young children, teaching them to swim and having effective pool fencing can save lives.

Pool safety needs to be taken very seriously to limit any unfortunate and avoidable drownings.  This is why pool safety laws were introduced.

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Douglas Shire Council General Manager of Operations Paul Hoye said Council takes pool safety very seriously.

“Council has a responsibility to investigate and take enforcement action when a pool immersion has occurred.  In the past 12 months Council has investigated four pool immersions.

“Pool immersions are incidents that involve the immersion or partial immersion of a young child who has died or suffered serious injury.

“In addition, Council officers investigate all reports of breaches to the pool safety standard including from a licensed pool safety inspector, and takes the necessary enforcement action to ensure the pool complies with the standard.

“Council encourages pool owners to engage licensed pool safety inspectors to conduct regular assessments to ensure compliance with the standard,” advised Mr Hoye.

Pool safety laws are overseen by the Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC), an independent statutory body set up by the Queensland Government.

All regulated pools within Queensland are required to meet a pool safety standard, and from 1 Dec 2015 both new and existing pools must comply with the standard.

The standard applies to pools in houses, unit complexes, accommodation premises such as resorts, hotels/motels, mobile homes, caravan parks and home stay pools.

Short term accommodation and unit complexes require a yearly pool safety certificate issued by a licensed pool safety inspector.

Pool safety basics regarding what you need to do as a pool owner are:

• register your pool
• make sure our pool barrier complies with the law
• get a pool safety certificate

Further information relating to pool safety is available on the QBCC website at QBCC Pool Safety