common sense for pool owners is a must when little people are around, you must prioritize their safety, but I have to say some of the rules around this with gov and local councils are absurd, it should be the one , steadfast rule

just might be that small kids are more likely to be unsupervised around backyard pools in their own backyards

We had a great pool inspector...sent photos first, she told us what needed fixing..indoor swim spa, it already had locked cover, in a room with locked door, but had to move the lock up so kids couldnt reach handle. ..the door shuts automatically, so if a kid does get in. ..they cant reach the handle to get out....dumb idea....by even dumber people who make the rules...oh, and we have an unfenced dam, as does everyone else round here

I thought all pools require a safety fence. The interesting thing about pool fences is that despite them being mandatory the rate of downing has not changed in all these years and I have no idea why that is. I can't swim. Not a single stroke so I don't go near the water, but I grew up with a dam in the backyard. My husband once asked me why I didn't ever go near the dam, I told him because I couldn't swim. From the age of 5 I knew not to go to the dam unless the rest of the family went for a swim, and even then I didn't go into the water. I made sure all of my children had swimming lessons and are competent swimmers, but not me.

A fence around the pool is absolutely necassary for safety

Definitely believe they SHOULD have the proper fence around them. I can't believe they don't. Outrageous I say.

Adelaide needs safety fencing and gates and a special height

on the sunshine coast they need a fence or no pool

Dont know exactly, but zoning and public law just haven't had a tragedy to the point where they enact a law to protect our most vulnerable and innocent. It always takes a bad event to get a law or regulation put in place. Just pray it's not your child or loved one that has to set the example. But even a fence is no substitute for a parents supervision. 5 pt

I think it should be mandatory for all man-made pools to be fitted with safety barriers.

I recently got new neighbours. The previous owners had a pool for their kids but it was really just a big sized bath.The new neighbours were told to have a pool inspector come and the result was that we had another metre of timbers added to our back fence. This took the fence to 8 metres tall and we can't get any sunlight from the east these days. This is local Government gone mad!

A pool is a pool and as such all should have the same requirements.

Teach all to ?????

Yep, teach your kids to swim

If a pool needs a fence so should man lakes and pools in

I think it would have to have a fence in Victoria...

Over a certain size, all pools (including above ground pools) are required to be fenced.

I own a fish farm on 30acres with 20+dams, moved here when our oldest was 6 years old and have raised 5 children here. WE taught our kids how to swim, plus swim school (thru primary school swim program), plus we loved going to the beach, husband surfs and taught the kids that too. Over the years with kids' birthday parties and their friends coming over, we always made sure to talk with their parents and have permission for them to swim, and that the kid could actually swim confidently. Yet, the only incident was when one day I was hanging the washing up and my 2nd daughter was 1 year old and playing in the garden. We had a small blow up pool, that we would use in summer and she slipped in to it.... just 2ft behind me and not even a small splash, no noise whatsoever. It was only that her constant baby babbling had stopped, I turned to look at her and see why she stopped talking and she was at the bottom of the 2ft pool, eyes wide open and scared. Never moved so fast in my life, scooping her out. She was fine as was underwater for only a few seconds. Drowning can happen so quickly and silently too, and we need to be there supervising them, and also teaching them to swim, so they can also save themselves. This also applies to the bath, never leave them alone.

I think so.

Not true in Brisbane. All pools require appropriate fencing. But what about dams, rivers and beaches?

Never expect bureaucrats to make any sense whatsoever it is as simple as that.

Why don't parents pay for swimming lessons for their kids, then we wouldn't require the ugly things at all. It would be cheaper in the long run.

I was under the impression all swimming pools require safety fences

very expensive to have a pool

It’s called government rip off. Only see what they want to see and blind to other things. Should be 1 rule for all.

A friend of my parents turned his swimming pool into a fish pond but it still needed to be fenced. A dam on a rural property doesn't need to be fenced either and there are some very large dams around. It really is democracy gone mad and I get that they are trying to save children from drowning but hey how about educating the parents to watch the child in the first place. Surely there are other measures when a child does drown like not being taught how to swim and then being around water. The two just don't mix.

I had a 6 foot brick fence around the back of my property but had to build another pool fence inside the fence. Does not make sense. Why aren't lakes at parks not fenced if homeowners have to have them? Pools are an enormous cost I would never have another one.

we had an outdoor spa and had to do the same thing, the cost was getting ridiculous, so we pulled it out and filled it in.

In Australia now you need a fence. When we put ours in the whole back yard was fenced with locking gates and we had to put a lock on the 2 doors leading to the outside. We sold that place and no longer have a pool. Too much upkeep and we are too old to use it and clean it.

a nice big spongey cover helps. Rescued Grommie once when he jumped on one. He's never done it again. Who says a hound can't learn?

Just another rule that needs to be made and enforced

Government make up fun rules change each year. I don't understand them at all. Always changingEdited 15-Sep-22 11:30am

Never really thought about it before. Just assumed that all pools, in or above ground, had to be secured in some fashion because it just makes sense for safety reasons.

Yes Annette G it is different here and for the better too. All pools whether it be commercial or private have to have a safety certificate which means a fence and other safety measures or no certificate. Life is prescious so I am not complaining about the cost of a safety inspection.

I know each country is different but here in Australia it Is illegal to have a pool that doesn't have a safety fence.

I thought all pools had to be enclosed except where there was a lifeguard on duty

I think swimming should be taught at all schools for free and then perhaps no need for all the safety requirements

I live on the Gold Coast and a lot of the pools here are open and even some dams on one of the roads into the hinterland have no fencing. Its just another way of the government to take your money.

Entries to all pools should be child proof and tipsy adult proof as well. How many drownings of children and even adults do we hear about happening in outback properties that have dams and such like on them.

Yes they need to be fenced as any person could accidently fall in and drown. Small children going for a wander and no one knowing where they are so are not surpervised. Horrible thought!!!!!

That photo reminds me of an old movie- i think Burt Lancaster was in it? He swam his way through his rich neighbours pools- rings bells for anyone?

Even if it wasn't law, wouldn't the people who run the estates want to have a fence up just for piece of mind. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I chose not to put a fence up and someone later drowned in the pool. And not just to protect the kids, but the elderly and the intoxicated too

Rules should apply to everyone.

Because the people that make the rules use our money to buy private estates for themselves

Because the estate is fenced. You don't have to fence dams either.

Why people spend so much money just to have a swim at their back yard Rich people for you

Who knows probably the. Cost

A man made pool could freeze over in winter and it would be classed as safe if the inspector saw it then

I thought it was a requirement for all pools. We had a pool and it was fenced and passed inspection. Cannot understand why it is not that way and it definitely needs to change.

I thought it was a Legal requirement that all pools - private or commercial were required to be fenced. If not, why not? Do the Developers really have so much control of our Governments?

What a load of rubbish. Government make rules to suit themselves

I think they just being too cheap to put a fence around it.

All swimming pools, wherever they are sited, should be subject to the same regulations.

As far as I know, pool fences are mandatory in Australia.

I'm sure it's law in NZ that all outdoor pools must be fenced.

I think it should neighbors children might fall in our the neighbor dog might fall in.

it is in Australia law that all pools or spas have to be fenced. we had a spa (hot tub) in a little hut that could only be accessed by a locked door and was on the side of a 8ft drop but still the windows on the drop side had to have security screens.

I think it is a requirement in New Zealand.

there should be one law for all to abide by....why not complain?

It's mandatory in Australia

I have lived in apartment complexes (all of my life) - there has NEVER been a pool or pools onsite - because of potential liability issues for property owner (or property management company). LOGIC would imply that ALL man-made pools should be automatic fitted with safety barriers (however, I reside in a capitalistic control country - profits over safety concerns)! It is cheaper to build man-made pools without safety barriers - a lawsuit waiting to happen. I do reside in a "lawsuit conscious society" - USA! Edited 15-Sep-22 21:35pm

they just like a turn over of new tenants,,,

And not only that, if you say the wrong thing or the inspector is in a bad mood, guess who suffers?

It not what you know it’s who you know and developers grease the hands of those so called pollies that are supposed to be working for all Australians best interest!!!

This is a difficult one for me...I grew up somewhere where there was no special fencing or rules..if you had a pool...you just had a pool...if that pool is in an enclosed garden..that you own...you have no small children....and there is no danger of small children (or anyone else) drowning in it...why is fencing required and why is someone authorised to enter your property ...without your consent...inspect your enforced fencing...and fail what you have in place?...it doesn't make any sense to me.....you can smoke but you can't do it in your home, garden or on the street...you should be only drinking 4 units of alcohol in a given period...the list goes on and every time the majority accepts it...a new one comes along..you are slowly having all your rights quietly removed from you by experts and people who know better than you and are only here to help...they care about you....or need the job... and no-one seems to be too upset....or even just a little bit angry.....we obviously love you big brother....beware the savage roar of 1984... The obvious place for pool safety would be a communal pool...to ensure the general public's safety Edited 15-Sep-22 01:51am

I have not noticed here any pools remaining unfenced but we have lakes, creeks, drains, rivers, and of course the ocean all unfenced. The fact is we have to be vigilent where children are concerned. Just because there is a pool fence does not mean it is safe. I have seen kids get into them so quickly it made my head spin. You have to teach them to hold their breath, tread water, swim even if it is a dog paddle and show then how to get to the side and hang on and then yell. There is an alarm that sits on the water and if it is disturbed it will sound. Too many people become complacent due to these fences but having said that they do save lives but like many things have to be in conjunction with other safety procedures. Edited 16-Sep-22 00:03am

I wouldn’t know. Seems like all pools should have fences for children.

To the best of my knowledge all pools in Australia must be fenced in completely and have a childproof gate. I do not know about other countries.

They should have gates and surrounding fence. Not sure why they don't. Would only make sense.