FEATURE BEN PONTON ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate SAFER AND STRONGER The ACT Government is continuing to strengthen the regulation and integrity of the ACT building industry. a scheme that will require all pool owners to have their pool barriers meet minimum pool safety standards and continue to be maintained. In developing the details of the scheme, there will be consultation with industry about how a pool safety inspection regime might work and on bringing every pool up to modern standards. THE GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING A SCHEME THAT WILL REQUIRE ALL POOL OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR POOL BARRIERS MEET MINIMUM POOL SAFETY Following community and industry • new licence examinations for new class STANDARDS AND consultation in 2016 on potential A, B and C builder licences applications reforms outlined in the Improving • developing a new auditing system for CONTINUE TO BE the ACT Building Regulatory building approvals and building work. MAINTAINED System Discussion Paper, a program Further consultation on licensing categories, was announced to improve the operation contracting issues and insurance will also be and effectiveness of the ACT building carried out. Industry consultation started in June regulatory system. These reforms are important to improve with a series of workshops covering topics The reforms cover all stages of the design, building and training practices and issues on upgrading existing pools and design and building process and include across the ACT. ongoing maintenance, training, inspections dispute resolution, training and licensing. To stay informed, register your and certification. There will be further A number of these changes have already details on the mailing list at consultation as the scheme is developed. been introduced, including increased EPDConstructionPolicy@act.gov.au or visit Following engagement with industry, the powers of the building regulator to refuse the ACT building regulatory system review government will also be talking with pool or condition a licence for people with a page at www.planning.act.gov.au. owners later in 2018 about what would be a poor compliance history and the extension reasonable timeline. of statutory warranties to all residential Swimming pool safety The process of developing and legislating buildings. In March 2018, the ACT Government an inspection regime is likely to take Further reforms planned over the next announced that it will take steps over the a few years. This will be followed by a year include: coming years to move toward backyard transition period, which will be determined • minimum documentation requirements pools in the territory meeting modern safetyin consultation with industry and the for new building approval applications standards. community to ensure we have a system that •codes of practice for builders and The ACT Government wants swimming is effective and workable for pool owners. building surveyors to improve supervisionand spa pools in the Territory to be as safe For more information on the reforms, and consistency in stage inspections as they can be. A proper pool safety barrierthe ACT backyard lifeguard pool safety during construction combined with close adult supervision is campaign pool safety in the ACT •education and training courses for the best way to keep children safe around and to join the mailing list for updates practitioners on the ACT building backyard pools. on pool safety reforms go to regulatory system The government is currently developing www.act.gov.au/backyardlifeguard P8 BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 3/2018