There are several regulations and policies that pool owners must consider and complete to ensure the safe, compliant installation and maintenance of a swimming pool. Owners of swimming pools in the Parkes Shire are required to adhere to the Swimming Pools Act 1992.
For further information on the installation and maintenance of private pools in our area, please contact the Council's Planning and Environment Department at 02 6861 2373 or follow the link to the Service NSW website.
Swimming pools may be constructed as complying development if the proposal meets the relevant development standards set out in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) and 2008 (the State Policy)
To ensure the installation meets the complying development standards, contact Council's Planning and Environment Department at 02 6861 2373.
In line with the Public Health Act 2010 and Public Health Regulation 2012, Pool owners in the Parkes Shire must register their pool online at the NSW Swimming Pool Register.
If you cannot lodge your registration online, contact the Office of Local Government Hotline on 1300 922 310 or by emailing pools@olg.nsw.gov.au, and Council can register on your behalf (fees may apply).
Parkes Shire Council is required to implement a program of swimming pool inspections. Following the site inspection, either a certificate of compliance or non-compliance will be issued depending on whether the pool barriers comply with the relevant pool safety requirements.
A pool certificate is valid for three years. However, your pool may be inspected more frequently if Council receives a complaint or there is reason to suspect the pool no longer complies with pool safety requirements.
For more information, refer to the Parkes Shire Council Swimming Pools Inspection Program.
Pool owners must ensure the following:
- child-resistant safety barriers are appropriately installed to separate the swimming pool(s) from any residential building and any place adjoining the property
- gates and doors that provide access to the swimming pool are kept closed
- fences surrounding pools are designed, constructed, installed and maintained under the relevant Australia Standards.
Pool owners may also request an inspection of their Swimming Pool Barrier by Council Officers by submitting the Request for Pool Barriers Inspection form to the Planning and Environment Department.
Request for Pool Barrier Inspection.pdf
Once a registered pool is found to have a compliant barrier, Council will certify this on the NSW Swimming Pool Register, and a Compliance Certificate will be produced.
Non-compliant barriers will result in the issue of a Notice of Non-compliance Inspection report. A Certificate of non-compliance will then be issued from the NSW Swimming Pool register.
Properties sold with a pool must have either:
- A certificate of compliance; or
- A relevant occupation certificate and a certificate of registration; or
- A certificate of non-compliance.
When you buy a property with a non-compliant pool, you will have 90 days from settlement to fix any areas of non-compliance.
Properties leased with a pool must have either:
- A certificate of compliance; or
- A relevant occupation certificate and a certificate of registration.
When a residential tenancy agreement is entered into for a property with a swimming pool or spa, the landlord or real estate agent must provide the tenant with a copy of the certificate of compliance or occupation certificate.
A certificate of non-compliance can only be used for a rental property in a strata scheme or a community scheme with more than two lots.