Pool registrations

THE Victorian Government has given people more time to register their pools and spas due to the hardships many are facing because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pool and spa owners will now have until November 1 to complete the registration, rather than the original June 1 deadline.

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said while he understood some people would need the extra time, the regulations were still important.

“We know many people are doing it tough and this gives owners and councils more time to comply with the new regulations ahead of next summer.

“Pool and spa ownership is a choice and with that choice comes the responsibility of making sure they are safe.

“These regulations are necessary to prevent children continuing to drown in backyard pools with non-compliant safety barriers.”

The state government introduced the regulations in December 2019, after the Coroner found since 2000 there had been at least 20 young children who had drowned in instances where there were non-compliant safety barriers.

Registration requires a one-off $79 fee to the owners’ local council.

Once owners have registered, local councils will inform them of a date by which they must have their pool or spa inspected and their barriers certified.

People who do not register their pools or spas by the November 1 deadline face $330 on-the-spot fines.

For more information on registering a pool or spa head to vba.vic.gov.au.