Pennant Hills NSW Pool Safety Inspections and Certifications

Pool Certification Pennant Hills NSW

Pennant Hills homeowners with swimming pools have responsibilities they must comply with for the safety of their family and public.

Under current regulations all swimming pools that are being leased or sold require a pool certification certificate.

In recent inspections we have noticed that many swimming pools in the suburb of Pennant hills have had unsafe pool fences and pool gates requiring extensive work to make compliant and we were unable to issue a pool fence barrier compliance certificate.

Pennant Hills – NSW Swimming Pool Register

Before you put your toes in the water, it’s essential to know if your pool poses hidden hazards. Recent changes to laws in New South Wales mean that a home or property with a pool or spa cannot be sold or rented until it has a valid certificate of safety compliance.

These legal revisions highlight the utmost importance of having a pool certification in Sydney. Getting your swimming pools certified is no longer optional—it is mandatory. We take on a safe, cost effective and timely approach to the entire process.

For more info, visit the NSW Pool Register website.

Once you have registered your pool you can now arrange an inspection to have your swimming pool fence checked and if all ok Certified.

Here at Clear View Property Inspections, we provide free advice and also have a swimming pool consultancy service, weather you have an existing pool that needs a new updated pool barrier or if you a building a new pool and want to ensure your new swimming pool barrier is compliant and safe. 

We at Clear View Property inspections are Swimming pool Certifiers and Builders and can help you through every step of the way in making your swimming pool compliant and ensure your Pool Safety!

Swimming Pool Act of NSW

Pennant hills is a suburb in the upper north shore region of Sydney, NSW located 18 km from the North West Sydney Central Business district in the local government of Hornsby Shire.

West Pennant hills is a separate suburb to the west and is part of the Hills District.

The common age for kids who have drowned is 1-5 years of age, so you can understand that at this age the kids still don’t understand the danger that surrounds swimming pools and pool safety.

This is why the Swimming pool act of NSW has introduced stringent rules along with the regulations and Australian standards to try maintain high pool safety and safe pool fencing.

There are many local swimming pools that can be utilised if your swimming pool is not safe to use. Consider using Cherrybrook Aquatic centre, Western Sydney Aquatics, Waves fitness and Aquatic Centre to name a few.

2012 AS1926.1 Standards

I will tell you a few requirements you can check for pool gate latch and pool gates yourself as this is extremely important as this is the easiest way for children to access swimming pools.

I will use the 2012 AS1926.1 Standards as this is the most regularly used standard and current version.

• Swimming pool gates must always open outwards, away from the pool!
• Gates to be located so they are clear of any building or door way.
• Minimum gap under the gate is 100mm from finished floor level.
• The gates must be self-closing from any position stand still.
• Check the gate when closed with force it does not release the latch or unhinge.
• The Pool gate latch must be self-latching when door is closed position.
• The Pool gate latch must not be able to be locked in the open position.
• The pool gate latch must be higher then 1500mm from finished floor level or higher then 1400mm from the highest lower horizontal member.
• Pool gate latching device below 1500mm or below 1400mm above the highest horizontal member requires latch to be on the inside, be in a position that the release requires to reach over or through a fence at a height not less than 1200mm above finished floor level or not less then 1000mm from the highest lower horizontal member, be at least 150mm below the top gate and latch shall be shielded @ radius of 450mm from operating parts.

I hope this information has given some insights on Pool fence regulations and provided information you could use to check your Pool fence requirements, Pool gates and Pool gate latch.

If you would like to get your swimming pool barrier checked and certified in the suburb of West Pennant Hills or surrounds you first need to register your pool on the NSW pool register.

To all home owners the first thing you must do is go the swimming pool register and register your pool. 

A little bit about Pennant Hills

Commercial Areas

Pennant Hills is one of the major commercial centres of Hornsby Shire. Several dozen shops are located at the north-west of the railway line, along with the local Pennant Hills Library. Several restaurants and cafes are located around Yarrara Road. Pennant Hills Marketplace, a local shopping centre, is located along Hillcrest Road. Residential houses are found in all areas in Pennant Hills, with recent modern apartments and office towers found along Pennant Hills Road. A significant commercial/industrial area can be found along Pennant Hills Road.

Pennant Hills is home to several entertainment venues including the Pennant Hills Hotel.

Parks and Reserves

Camellia sasanqua in Lilian Fraser Garden

Pennant Hills is surrounded on two sides by large swathes of bushland. To the east, the suburb is bordered by the upper reaches of the Lane Cove River and its associated national park, whilst in the north-west, Pennant Hills borders Berowra Valley National Park. Both of these reserves contain extensive walking tracks within the boundaries of the suburb, with some linking to the Great North Walk. 

Pennant Hills also contains many public parks, the largest being the Pennant Hills Park sportsground. This complex hosts many sporting facilities consisting of the Ern Holmes Oval for Australian Football and cricket, tennis and netball courts, a rugby union field, a football pitch, two hockey fields and an archery range. The Ern Holmes Oval was the home ground of the Pennant Hills Demons Australian Football Club until 2011. 

Lilian Fraser Garden is also located in Pennant Hills. Originally maintained for many years by the noted government biologist Dr Lilian Fraser, after her death in 1987 her collection of rare and exotic plants was passed on to Hornsby Shire Council. Open free of charge to the public for viewing, the garden can also be hired for special events for a fee.

Sport and Leisure

Pennant Hills, due to its wide array of sporting facilities, plays home to a large number of sporting organisations. These organisations include the Pennant Hills Football Club, which was established in 1957, and the Pennant Hills Demons AFC, which has seen nine players go on to compete in the AFL. Although the Ern Holmes Oval is no longer the home ground of the Demons premiership team due to its size, many of the club’s junior teams still compete in Pennant Hills.

Pennant Hills is also home to the Baden Powell Scout Centre, which borders the Lane Cove National Park. Opened in 1929, it initially served as a permanent camp for the unemployed during the Great Depression, and was visited by the Lord Baden-Powell himself in 1931. Situated on 36 acres of bushland, the centre is now home to the John Hill training centre and provides accommodation, catering and conference facilities for large groups, as well as activities such as high-ropes and rock climbing for camps.

The Pennant Hills area is home to the Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Rugby League Club affectionately known as the Stags. Whilst originally based at Pennant Hills Park the club now plays out of Greenway Oval at Cherrybrook. The club competes with distinction in the North Sydney District Junior Rugby League competition.

Do I need a pool barrier inspection and certification for a rental?

If you own a rental property in NSW, then yes, you are responsible for obtaining a pool safety inspection and certification for any pool or spas on the property.

However, if you are a renter in NSW and the property you rent has a pool or spa, you do not need to do a pool safety inspection and certification. The owners of the property are the ones responsible. As renters, it’s important that you maintain proper pool safety protocols.

The NSW Government has announced that starting 29 April 2016, all properties in NSW with a swimming pool or spa pool CANNOT be sold or leased without a valid swimming pool compliance certificate or relevant occupation certificate. Failure to attach the certificates may allow the purchaser to rescind the contract within 14 days of exchange, unless settlement has already occurred. (Source: fairtrading.nsw.gov.au)

Landlords and real estate agents must ensure that any residential tenancy agreement entered on or after 29 April 2016 for any property with a pool facility has a valid certificate of compliance.

For more info, please read the NSW Pool Safety Compliance Regulations.