Practise pool safety at Christmas

As part of Queensland government legislation, fencing is required around all wading pools and spas, which can be filled to a depth of 300mm or more.

Failure to meet the guidelines can incur penalties.

Councillor Karen May advised residents to avoid buying wading pools unless they had compliant fencing.

“Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children under five,” Cr May said.

“The laws were introduced to help save young lives by preventing children from accessing swimming and wading pools unsupervised,” she said.

“While splashing around in a blow-up pool may seem like a fun way to spend the Christmas holidays, there are serious risks with children having unrestricted access to pools that are often forgotten.

“The last thing anyone wants is for a young life to be lost that could have easily been prevented.”

Residents who do not have access to a compliant pool are reminded that the lifeguard-patrolled Bluewater Lagoon is open from 9am to 5.45pm every day except Christmas day over the festive season.

For more details on pool fencing requirements, visit the Queensland Building and Construction Commission website