Pool fences to be inspected
Porirua’s pools will be in the spotlight this year as the city’s council prepares to inspect every one.
With 438 known private swimming pools and spas in the city, new rules require the council to check every three years that they’re properly fenced and, if not, demand they are.
Porirua City Council manager building compliance Kelvin Newman said the first inspection would be free but a fee of about $170 would be charged for followup checks.
‘‘It’s about keeping young people safe which normally falls within council priorities anyway but it is now a requirement of legislation.’’
Newman said although fencing rules had been in for a long time, councils used to have a bit of discretion when it came to enforcing them but the legislation now made the rules mandatory.
Any pool containing water to a depth of more than 40cm and not protected by high sides would need to be fenced but spa pools could be covered with a lockable safety lid, he said.
Pool doors must be self-closing or be fitted with alarms that sound if they aren’t closed.
Owners of unfenced pools risk a $5000 fine if local council inspectors find an unsafe pool
POOL RULES
Drowning figures have reduced in the past 30 years since the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act, with the average of 10 children drowning every year dropping to two, according to the MBIE website.
Houseswith no children aren’t exempt from the rules, with research showing young children were six times more likely to drown when visiting someone else’s home than they are at their own.
There are around 60,000 inground swimming pools and more than 100,000 spa pools in New Zealand. area. Failure to fix when ordered to do so can mean a $200,000 fine, and $20,000 a day for every day it is not fixed.
Wellington City Council was aware of 821 pools in the city and already undertook swimming pool inspections, a spokesman said.
‘‘The only difference now is we have the ability to issue a Notice to Fix for pools that are not compliant.’’
The council issued six notices for non-compliant pools last year and was working with owners to address the issues.
It was not pursing people with paddling pools but did have an obligation to enforce legislation.