By Casen Bria
Pool barriers, such as dividing walls, are frequently employed as a cost-effective means of complying with pool safety regulations. You should make sure that any new fences you build and any existing pool fences or barriers that you share with your neighbour are compatible with all applicable building codes and regulations.
As long as the wall of a building on a common boundary is compliant, you can utilise it as a common boundary. If any component of the wall does not satisfy the criteria of the pool safety standard, you may be required to construct a separate barrier. In a public pool you may opt to use fence banners as fence banners are great for advertising.
Check If You Require Building Approval
In some cases, development approval may be required to replace or change a border fence. Before beginning any construction project, check with your local government.
Work Together with Neighbours
Before making any selections, talk to your neighbour about the fencing project. If you are unable or unwilling to discuss the work with your neighbour, you must provide them with notice of the intended work with “Form 39 – Notice of proposed fence work for a pool barrier” at least 14 days before beginning any work.
The fence style suggested and the materials to be utilised are listed on Form 39. Unless this prohibits the fence from complying with the pool safety requirement, the proposed pool barrier must be compatible with the existing fence, such as identical materials and colours.
You must obtain permission to enter your neighbour’s property to erect a portion of a pool barrier. Your access request should be reasonable and confined to the area of adjacent land required to complete the fence project.
If your neighbour refuses to cooperate, you can seek an order from the courts. The only exception to this rule is if a broken fence must be repaired immediately. It’s critical that you repair the separating fence as soon as possible to ensure swimming pool fence compliance in Sydney, and getting permission from your neighbour may not be possible.
Who Is Responsible for Costs?
Australia’s pool rules are based on a user-pays model. Where fencing work is necessary for a pool fence to be compatible with pool safety requirements, the pool owner must pay the whole cost. If both sides of the separating fence have pools and both pool owners need to make the barrier compliant, the expense is split evenly. When one pool owner requires fence repair and the other does not, the pool owner who requires the work is responsible for the whole expense.
