Council focuses on pool safety this summer
Mon 10 November 2008
Deminique Buxton, Journalism
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council are attempting to reduce pool drowning on the Coast this summer with the implementation of the latest technology and an inspection campaign.
Children under five are most at risk of drowning, with at least five toddlers dying every year in Queensland pools.
Pool compliance inspector Phil Montague said that the council is doing everything possible to prevent deaths.
“It’s important to ensure all pools are safe,” Mr Montague said.
“We will be conducting back to back pool audits every three months, targeting 50 pools from four different areas at a time to ensure this is the case.
“Our priority is targeting older pools, anything over ten years.
“We then target pools that are four to ten years old, as these pools cause lots of problems.”
Mr Montague said the new state of the art recording equipment introduced by former Noosa Shire Mayor Bob Abbot enables council inspectors to give a clear report to the pool owner.
“Bob pushed for better pool safety precautions to be taken,” Mr Montague said.
“As a result, the Noosa shire has had an effective pool program in place for the past ten years, and is now operating pool inspections with the very latest technology.
“The hand held device allows the inspector to do a thorough review of the pool and surrounding structure, attach photographs and also provide relevant legislation.”
Sunshine Coast Regional Council Development Response team leader Peter Jephcott said the pool programs vary between the former council areas on the Sunshine Coast.
“With the recent amalgamation of council on the Sunshine Coast, a proposal is still in progress for a council-wide merge to ensure all pool inspections are moderated across the region,” Mr Jephcott said.
In the meantime, former councils will be conducting inspections in their relevant areas.
“The most alarming thing is that 90 per cent of first inspections result in a fail,” Mr Montague said.
Fines between $A75 and $A525 may apply if pool owners do not react to a failed report within 20 days.
However, council are working with pool owners to ensure compliance is achieved, and have taken an educational response rather than one of enforcement.
Council explain that ensuring the structural security is only one component of pool safety, and that parental responsibility is another important factor in reducing the number of deaths.
Swimming coach Marie Hasemann stresses the importance of swimming classes for children, and believes it is never too early to ensure your child is water confident.
“It only takes 30 secs for a child to be in danger, but if they are water confident then they can get themselves to safety,” Mrs Hasemann said.
“There are swimming programs in place for children as young as six months old.
“The children learn to put their head underwater, and how to effectively make their way to the edge of the pool.”
However, Mrs Hasemann believes that vigilance and watching children around the pool is the key to safety this summer.
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