The 5 Most Common Pool Safety Issues We See in Ballarat

At Country VIC Pool Inspections, we pride ourselves on helping Ballarat families enjoy their pools safely and legally. Through our inspections, here are the five most common safety issues we find—along with quick fixes you can act on today.

1. Gates Not Self‑Closing or Self‑Latching from All Openable Positions

One of the most frequent fails: gates that don’t close and latch securely from every angle. Sometimes the gate gets stuck on uneven ground, garden edging, or turf—leaving it propped open unintentionally and creating a serious safety risk. Other times the latch does not pull in when left ajar a finger width.

Fix Tip: Ensure the gate frame and surrounding ground are clear from anything that could catch. Adjust hinges or realign the gate so it swings and latches smoothly no matter how little you open it. Trim down surround surfaces.

2. Gaps Exceeding 100 mm Under the Fence

Australian Standard AS 1926.1‑2012 mandates that gaps under the pool fence must not exceed 100 mm to prevent a child from squeezing under the pool fence. Anything larger is non-compliant and compromises safety.

Fix Tip: Add a bottom rail or infill panel where needed. Add paving around and under the fence line.

3. Gate Hinges Closer Than 900 mm Together

If a gate’s top and bottom hinges are spaced too closely (i.e., less than 900 mm apart), this can create hand and foot holds which are easy to climb. The fix for this is generally simple by installing a hinge cap with at least a 60° chamfer can effectively reduce that risk while maintaining compliance. They can be purchased at pool shops or online.

Fix Tip: Check hinge spacing— fit a chamfered hinge cap if closer than 900mm.

4. Vertical Gaps Over 100 mm Where Metal Bars Meet Posts

Inspectors often discover vertical slits between bars and posts exceeding 100 mm—wide enough for little people to wriggle through. This is another common non-compliance that frequently comes up during inspections.

Fix Tip: Install a metal filler strip or plate to fill gaps larger than 100 mm. Rail infill can also help tighten the spacing.

5. Items Within the Non‑Climbable Zone

In Victoria, the non-climbable zone is the area measured downwards from the top of the fence—either 900 mm or 1.2 m depending on your barrier’s applicable standard. We regularly spot things like garden ornaments, chairs, planter boxes, or nearby tree branches that provide footholds into this zone. Thankfully these common culprits are usually easy to fix.

Fix Tip: Keep the zone immediately outside your fence clear—whether it’s pushing furniture back, trimming tree branches, or relocating decorations away from the barrier.

Why This Matters in Ballarat

In Ballarat and across Victoria, all pools and spas with water deeper than 30 cm must be registered with Council and have barrier inspections every four years. Passing an inspection not only gives you peace of mind—it issues your Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance, legally required and valid for four years.

Being proactive about these five common issues sets you up for a smooth inspection and protects little ones from accidental access.

Vertical spacing especially next to posts is a common non-compliance item.