Throughout Victoria, the design and construction/installation of swimming pools, spas and their safety barriers is regulated according to strict requirements under the Building Regulations 2018.

All pools and spas that can hold more than 30cm of water are required to have a safety barrier.

A building permit is required for the construction or installation of the required barrier in all instances.

All swimming pools and spas must now be registered

The Victorian Government introduced new safety standards on 1 December 2019, in an effort to prevent drownings of young children in home pools/spas by improving the maintenance process of safety barriers.

Under the new safety standards all pool and spa owners are required to:

1. Register your pool or spa with Warrnambool City Council by 1 June 2020 or within 30 days of completion if the installation is under construction at this date.

Download and complete the registration form on the Council website and submit with the one-off lodgement/information search fee of $79 at the Council office, 25 Liebig Street.

2. Follow the mandatory certification regime

Every 4 years, you will be required to organise an inspection by a private building surveyor or inspector, obtain a certificate of compliance and lodge it with Warrnambool City Council with a lodgement fee of $20.40.

After the initial registration, Warrnambool City Council will notify the date you need to lodge your first certificate of compliance and the applicable barrier standard for the swimming pool or spa barrier. The lodgement date will depend when your pool and/or spa was constructed:

Failing to register a swimming pool and/or spa with Council by 1 June 2020 is an offence under the Building Regulations 2018 and carries a penalty (this fine amount is currently $330.44). Other penalties may also apply.

If your pool and/or spa has been removed from the property, please contact Council to arrange a site inspection in order to update our records.