The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has launched a campaign focussing on pool safety and compliance.
QBCC Commissioner Brett Bassett said drowning remained as one of the leading causes of death for children aged under five years old and vigilence was necessary.
“The compliance crackdown is about helping to improve safety and minimize immersions. One drowning fatality is one too many,” Mr Bassett said.
Mr Bassett said several key areas of compliance had been identified for this year’s pool safety campaign.
“Property transactions have been the focus of a state-wide audit by the QBCC’s pool safety unit. This includes property sales and leases, and it puts property owners, landlords and real estate agents squarely in the firing line for enforcement action, if they’re caught doing the wrong thing,” he said.
“If a real estate agent facilitates a lease at a non-shared home with a pool that doesn’t have a safety certificate, the QBCC can refer them to the Office of Fair Trading and there could be grounds for disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the Property Occupations Act 2014.
“This means that if you’re a landlord, you need to ensure your pool has a safety certificate before you start a new lease, or if you’re a tenant you need to be aware that a safety certificate is current when you sign a lease at a new place.
Tenants are being urged to contact the QBCC if the pool doesn’t have a safety certificate when the new lease starts, as required by law, and landlords will be investigated. This can attract an on-the-spot fine of more than $2000. Bodies corporate who fail to obtain a pool safety certificate face fines of more than $6000.
Mr Bassett said pool safety inspectors also faced fines and disciplinary action if pools were incorrectly certified.
“Since the pool safety laws started in December 2010, the QBCC has received 551 complaints against pool safety inspectors. Of these, 308 complaints were upheld. Since January 2017, 60 complaints have been received and 27 of these have been upheld,” he said.
Also targeted are pool fencing and gates, particularly around inflatable pools. The law states that permanent and compliant fencing is required for all pools with the capacity to hold water more than 300mm deep.
“These pools are a drowning risk for children, and people who install them without the appropriate fencing, can be hit with on-the-spot fines of more than $800.
Additionally gates that are propped open can attract fines of more than $500 and $1500 for bodies corporate.