Rotorua pool owners face new inspection charges

New rules around the safety of swimming pools will see the council having to inspect pools every three years. Photo/File

Rotorua swimming pool owners will soon have to pay for safety inspections under new rules put in place by the Government.

However, those inspections will be carried out by the Rotorua Lakes Council, which has had to employ another staff member specifically for the job, with costs falling on pool owners.

The new rules apply to all pools, private and commercial, in the Rotorua district, including spa pools and temporary pools with a depth of 400mm or more.

Some spa pool owners could be exempt from the rules - if their pools have a lockable rigid cover, have a surface area of less than 5sq m, are more than 760mm off the ground and are not climbable - but will still have to pay to have them inspected.

Council compliance solutions manager Neven Hill said the council had no choice regarding the new rules under the Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016, which replaced the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987, and came into effect on January 1.

He said even though the Government had not yet released its final performance standards, the council was starting the inspection process in early April.

He said the new rules would not be retrospective and anyone with a pool that complied with the previous safety standards would be okay, but would still need to be inspected every three years.

The new rules also mean that from September 1, manufacturers and retailers must supply notices with pools informing customers that the pool must have barriers to restrict access by young children.

Initial inspections will cost $110, with any follow-up inspections $55.

The council can also issue infringement notices to people who do not comply with the new rules.

"The intent of the new act is to protect the safety of children. Even though since the legislation was originally introduced the number of deaths of children in swimming pools has dropped, one death is one too many."

Mr Hill said Paul Mullen, the council's new building compliance officer - pools, will be doing all the inspections and the council will be running a public awareness campaign and contacting all 1644 pool owners on its records.

He said pool owners would have to ensure safety barriers were compliant at each three-yearly inspection and the council would inspect the safety features of pools including safety barriers and fences, gates and latches, and doors and windows of buildings adjacent to pools.

"Pool owners will be notified by letter about upcoming inspections and be asked to provide a suitable time for an officer to call at their property."

New safety rules for pool owners
- Were introduced from January 1 by the Government
- Compliance inspections must be carried out by local councils every three years
- Rotorua Lakes Council inspections starting early April
- Council records show there are 1644 pools in the district
- Government is yet to release its final "performance standards" to pool owners
- Rules apply to all private and commercial pool owners and spa pool owners
- Inspections will cost $110 including GST. Follow-up inspections $55
- The council has employed a new staff member specifically for pool inspections
- For details visit www.rotorualc.nz