Now is the ideal time to maintain your swimming pool barriers

Now is the ideal time to maintain your swimming pool barriers

Residents are encouraged to use the next 2-3 months to ensure their home swimming pool barriers and safety measures are compliant.

Under Victorian laws, it is mandatory for owners of land where a swimming pool or spa is located to register their pool or spa with their local council and arrange it to be inspected every four years.

The laws apply to swimming pools and spas that can hold more than 30 centimetres of water. This includes permanent pools, above ground pools, indoor pools, hot tubs, bathing or wading pools, and some relocatable pools.

"Having your own pool at home is a great way to keep cool during summer, but it is important that measures are taken to ensure those using your pool are safe," Gannawarra Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

"Close to three-quarters of the 35 people who drowned in a swimming pool in Australia between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 did so in a private pool, with almost one-third of these deaths occurring due to an unintentional fall into the water.

"This data highlights that checking your swimming pool barriers for minor issues, such as faulty gates, damaged fencing, or climbable objects near pool barriers, can help prevent a tragedy from occurring."

To ensure private swimming pools comply with safety regulations, residents are encouraged to check their pool fencing is compliant and cannot be climbed over, all gates can self-close and self-latch, and that pool areas are free of climbable objects.

"We can all do our bit to ensure people are safe when using their private swimming pools at home," Mr Rollinson said.

For more information regarding the requirements associated with owning and maintaining a private swimming pool in the Gannawarra, please visit

www.gsc.vic.gov.au/register-your-pool

or phone (03) 5450 9333.

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