It is Council’s responsibility to ensure that all swimming and spa pools within the Ruapehu District always comply with the standards of the Building Act.
Every territorial authority must ensure residential pools within its jurisdiction are inspected at least once every three years, and within six months before or after the pool’s anniversary date, to determine whether the pool has barriers that comply with the requirements of Section 162C. Council has a register which will be inspected triennially.
What does the inspection involve?
A Council Officer will undertake an inspection of your swimming/spa pool. Under the Act, the Officer does not need to enter the dwelling in order to undertake this inspection and the pool owner is not required to be on site. Should the owner wish to be on site, please contact Council to arrange a suitable time.
Inspections will incur a fee of $125.00, for which the owner will be invoiced. Written notification of the results of the inspection will be provided. If found to be non-compliant, a further inspection date may be scheduled, and additional fees will apply if conditions are not met.
Pool area safety checklist
Some safety measures to employ to ensure compliance is achieved include:
- Safety gates open away from the pool, are not able to be readily opened by children and automatically return to a closed position.
- Any fence must be at least 1.2m in height above the ground and any permanent projection (for example, steps, raised gardens, etc) or object placed on the ground outside and within 1.2m of the barrier.
- There are no objects surrounding the pool fence that could enable a child climbing over.
- The lock on the spa pool lid is functioning, be able to withstand a foreseeable load, and have signage indicating its child-safe features.
Have you made any changes?
If any changes have been made to the swimming/ spa pool e.g: removal etc, please contact Council on 07 895 8188 or email [email protected].
Please note, it is the responsibility of the pool owner to ensure that requirements are met to ensure the safety of children at all times. A pamphlet, Fencing of Swimming Pools, is available for your information. This outlines safety standards as per the Act.
