HOME SALE POOL PLAN
Sutherland Shire Council has called on the state government to oblige home owners to make their swimming pools child-proof before they can sell the property. A report to councillors said the current legislation and regulations of pool safety was inadequate.
"Furthermore, there are too many pools for councils generally to undertake their own inspection regime", it said.
"Reguiring a certificate of pool safety to be attached to a contract of sale would make it economically desirable for pool owners to ensure their pool safety was adequate at least in the event of the sale of the property.
'New owners would....have a heightened awareness of the need to maintain such measures. Furthermore, such a requirement would create a market for pool safety expertise (which) does not currently exist"
The report said two council staff members would soon give evidence to the NSW Coronoer over the drowning of a child in Caringbah this year.
"Council is not implicated in the incident, however councils records show that this property has changed hands at least once since the pool was installed" it said.
"The proposal for the certification of pool safety attached to a contract of sale, as outlined above, may have captured this pool, and accordingly created a greater level of awareness of pool safety to the owner.
'In the initial report to the Coroner, council staff have reiterated the recommendations, as outlined above, made to the Department of Local Government".
Source: Fairfax community newspapers
Sutherland Shire Council has called on the state government to oblige home owners to make their swimming pools child-proof before they can sell the property. A report to councillors said the current legislation and regulations of pool safety was inadequate.
"Furthermore, there are too many pools for councils generally to undertake their own inspection regime", it said.
"Reguiring a certificate of pool safety to be attached to a contract of sale would make it economically desirable for pool owners to ensure their pool safety was adequate at least in the event of the sale of the property.
'New owners would....have a heightened awareness of the need to maintain such measures. Furthermore, such a requirement would create a market for pool safety expertise (which) does not currently exist"
The report said two council staff members would soon give evidence to the NSW Coronoer over the drowning of a child in Caringbah this year.
"Council is not implicated in the incident, however councils records show that this property has changed hands at least once since the pool was installed" it said.
"The proposal for the certification of pool safety attached to a contract of sale, as outlined above, may have captured this pool, and accordingly created a greater level of awareness of pool safety to the owner.
'In the initial report to the Coroner, council staff have reiterated the recommendations, as outlined above, made to the Department of Local Government".
Source: Fairfax community newspapers
