The days are getting longer, the air is getting warmer, and somewhere in your street a sprinkler, an inflatable pool or a backyard swimming pool is about to get a whole lot more attention from the kids. Before the season kicks off, there’s one job worth putting at the top of the to-do list: checking that your pool area is as safe as it can be.
Logan City Council is urging pool owners to take a few simple steps now, before swimming season is in full swing, to reduce the risk of drowning and water-related incidents.
A few minutes that could matter most
Mayor Jon Raven says the message is really about being proactive. “We know plenty of people will be spending time around pools over the coming months,” he said. “A quick check of your fence, gates and pool area might seem like a small thing, but it could make all the difference when it comes to keeping kids safe around water.”
It’s a point that will resonate with any parent who has turned their back for a moment and found a toddler already halfway across the yard. Pool safety standards exist for exactly that reason: to minimise the chance of young children getting into a pool area unsupervised and to help avoid a drowning tragedy.
The Mayor is clear that this isn’t about paperwork. “Pool safety isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about protecting our kids,” he said. “Taking a few minutes to check your pool area now could prevent an accident later.” He also stressed that pool safety is a shared responsibility for everyone who owns, manages or visits a pool.
Check the safety of your backyard pool fence every year
Your guide: The Pool Safety Checklist
The easiest place to start is Council’s Pool Safety Checklist, which walks you through your pool or spa area step by step.
You can complete it online, and if you don’t finish in one sitting, you can save your progress and receive an email with a link to return later.
Prefer paper? There’s also a printable one-page PDF you can stick on the fridge and tick off with a pen.
Logan City Council printable pool safety checklist
It’s worth knowing what the checklist is and isn’t. It’s a guide only and doesn’t guarantee that your pool meets every relevant law. But it’s a practical way to spot problems early: if you can’t mark every item complete, you’ve found an area to fix. Council encourages owners to check that barriers, gates and signage all meet current requirements.
Don’t forget the portable and inflatable pools
Think the rules only apply to in-ground pools? Think again. Portable and inflatable pools also need fencing if they meet any of these conditions:
- The water is more than 30 cm deep
- The pool holds more than 2,000 litres of water
- The pool has a filtration system
That covers plenty of the blow-up and pop-up pools that appear in backyards every summer, so it’s worth a quick look at yours.
Maintenance is on you
If you own a pool or spa, keeping the fence in good shape is your responsibility, and it’s not a one-off job. Gates that no longer latch properly or barriers that have seen better days can quietly undo the protection your fence is meant to provide. Doing a regular check is the simplest way to stay on top of it.
When you want an expert to take a look
If you’d like the full official sign-off, you can engage a Pool Safety Inspector for a fee to carry out a pool fence inspection and check that your pool or spa complies with the safety standards. They can provide a Pool Safety Certificate (Form 23). You can find a licensed inspector in your area through the Queensland Building and Construction Commission website.
A house in Logan with a backyard pool securely protected by a pool fence
The bottom line
A safe pool is one of those things you hope you never have to think about, which is exactly why it’s worth thinking about now. Set aside a few minutes this week, grab the Pool Safety Checklist, and walk your pool area with fresh eyes. Check the fence, test the gate, look at the signs. If something’s not right, fix it before the first hot weekend arrives.
Because when it comes to keeping our kids safe around water, safe pools really do save little lives.
For more on pool safety requirements, visit Logan City Council’s pool safety page.
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