With the swimming season upon us, Central Coast Council is reminding residents to ensure their pool fences are up to standard to keep young children safe.

Council Manager, Environment and Certification, Mr Jamie Loader, said with over 20,000 backyard swimming pools across the Central Coast, pool safety is a major community safety issue.

“Pools are a great way to cool off during these hot spring and summer days, but it is vital residents are certain their pools meet safety standards,” Mr Loader said.

“This includes making sure the pool fence is secure, has a functioning self-closing and self-latching gate, there is a resuscitation chart displayed as well as keeping items clear of the fence that young children could use to climb over, such as pot plants, barbeques, or even tables and chairs. 

“It is also a good idea to keep the pool area clear of toys or anything else that could attract children to the water and never prop gates open even if you only intend to do this for a short period of time.

“Even if you do have a properly installed pool safety fence, remember nothing replaces adequate supervision of children.”

Resuscitation charts are available to purchase from Council’s offices in Gosford and Wyong.

Mr Loader added that people need to be more aware of the dangers posed by cheap temporary pools available from many department and toy stores. 

“We understand why the temporary pools are an attractive option, however, any pools that hold a depth of thirty centimetres or more of water requires a fence and Council approval,” Mr Loader advised.

“Young children can drown in a very small amount of water so extra vigilance is required around any pool.

“Other than significant fines, it is not worth putting a young child’s life in danger.”

It’s also important for pool owners to remember that prior to the sale or lease of a property, owners are required to apply for a Certificate of Compliance to determine if pool fencing complies with legislative requirements. This Certificate can be issued from Council for a fee of $150.

Visit http://www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au/checklists  for more information including self-assessment checklists.