Pool-fencing ruling unlikely

Press, 8 February 1985, Page 5

Pool-fencing ruling unlikely

The Waimairi District Council is unlikely to impose any legal restriction on access to swimming pools. The council’s town-plan-ning committee decided yesterday to recommend to the council that it discontinue action on the proposed bylaw because of proposed Government legislation. The Minister of Health has written to the council advising it that legislation, probably in the form of a private member’s bi 11,,, will introduced this y?ar. It

will require all territorial authorities to enforce the fencing of private swimming pools to standards prescribed by that legislation.

Although 55 territorial authorities had enacted bylaws requiring the fencing of private swimming pools, the Minister said he was concerned that several major authorities had decided not to adopt a bylaw.

Local authorities wpuld be able to present suhghis-

sions on the issue after the introduction of the legislation, the committee was told. The committee’s chairman, Mr Brian Shackel, said

that in the past the Government had not allowed much time for the preparation and presentation of submissions.

His recommendation that public submissions be sought from Waimairi residents on the fencing of private swimming pools or properties, was approved.

This would ensure that the council had the well documented views of its ratepayers before it presented submissions to the Minister of Health.

Cr R. W. Skjellerup said that the comments of the Minister contrasted with past comments of the

Labour Government about

its intention to take decision-making away from Wellington and bring it down to the local level;disappointed that

he has not said it is up to the local authority to decide on,” Cr Skjellerup said. The committee recommended that the council express its concern to the Minister of Health about the proposal to introduce legislation and draw his attention to the impossible position imposed on residents who meet new by-law regulations only to have , them superseded by Government legislation. J*