County may require fencing of pools

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 6

County may require fencing of pools

The Heathcote . County Council may introduce a bylaw requiring fencing to be erected around all swimming pools. Such a move was discussed by the town planning committee meeting of the council yesterday. The committee decided that applicants for permits to build swimming pools should be told that a by-law was being considered and that any such by-law should be retroactive. The committee had earlier heard submissions from a county resident. Mr J. B. O'Hara, who with other residents had complained about an .unfenced pool in Sunvale Terrace. Mr O'Hara told the committee that figures compiled by the Water Safety Council

showed that most pool . drownings occurred in private pools and that most of the drownings,.involved children aged under five. Fencing open waterways was impracticable but steps could be taken to protect children from readily accessible home pools. Parental responsibility was important .but was not always sufficient when a child could lose consciousness in as little as 30 seconds. Above-ground pools and- pool covers were not effective safety devices. Young children could easily climb pool walls and they could climb under poolcovers. More and more private pools had been built in recent years and the problem

had been intensified by -the number of cheap back-yard pools, now available.

Mr O’Hara said. “We need to follow the example; ,of Australia and the. Paparua County Council in adopting sensible regulations.”

The committee decided that the county engineer should discuss ’ with .the owner of the Sunvale Terrace pool measures to alleviate the dangers posed by the pools lack of fencing. The question of introducing a by-law will be deferred until pamphlets have been distributed’ to all Heathcote residents inviting their comment on the proposal. The pamphlets' are expected tc be out by early June.