The state government has postponed a requirement that home owners have a compliance certificate for their backyard swimming pool before it can be sold or leased.
This follows a a shortage of qualified certifiers to inspect pool fences and delays being experienced by home owners in getting contractors to carry out remedial work.
Minister for Local Government Paul Toole announced a 12-month extension of the requirement that was due to start on April 29.
He said the decision followed discussions with child safety advocates, local government councils and industry stakeholders.
“The evidence showed there was a high failure rate for initial inspections and a heavy demand to make pools compliant.’’ he said.
Mr Toole said the extension would allow more qualified private certifiers to be trained.
Councils would continue to run risk-based inspection programs including compulsory three-yearly inspections for strata units, tourist and visitor accommodation, to improve compliance rates and child safety around backyard pools, he said.
Are you pleased with the extension?
