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NSW online pool register opens

From 29 April 2013, all owners of backyard pools in NSW must register their swimming pool with the NSW Government in order to comply with recent amendments to the Swimming Pools Act 1992.

Following extensive consultation with councils, water safety advocates, pool owners, state agencies, and industry organisations, the NSW Government passed the Swimming Pools Amendment Act 2012 late last year. The Act is aimed at improving compliance with pool barrier requirements, and by so doing increasing the safety of backyard pools and reducing the number of child drownings.

The NSW Government has set up an online swimming pool register, and all pool owners must enter their swimming pool on this register. When registering, pool owners are required to indicate that to the best of their knowledge their swimming pool complies with the applicable safety standards.

Swimming pool owners must register their pool by 29 October 2013. If they don’t register by this date, they risk being fined up to $2200.

The amendments also set out new requirements in relation to the sale and lease of properties with a swimming pool.

From 29 April 2014, where a property with a swimming pool is being sold, a valid certificate of compliance (or an occupation certificate issued within the last three years) must be annexed to the Contract for Sale. Failure to annex the certificate means that the purchaser may rescind the Contract at any time within 14 days of exchange.

In the case of a property for lease with a swimming pool, from 29 April 2014 there must be a valid certificate of compliance in place (or an occupation certificate issued within the last three years) at the time the Residential Tenancy Agreement is entered into and a copy of that certificate must be given to the tenant.

Swimming pools can be registered at the NSW Government’s Swimming Pool Register website. 

Source  :  http://www.reinsw.com.au/NSW-online-pool-register-opens/default.aspx

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