Paddle pool fencing confusion in South Australia

Pump-up plastic paddling pools fitted with a filtration system and a depth of 30cm or more fall under Planning SA safety regulations which classify "paddling" pools as "swimming pools".

According to the Planning SA Pool Safety Checklist, a pool - such as the $89.90 Intex Easy Set available from toy stores - would either need to be surrounded by a "minimum 1.2m-high permanent fence" or any gates and doors providing direct access to the pool would need to be "self closing". And under SA Government changes to regulations by year's end, all new "swimming pools" will require a mandatory safety fence.

Any pool which has a depth exceeding 300mm and a filtration system also requires the owner to contact their local council regarding approval.

None of these regulations, however, were advertised on the many temporary or do-it-yourself pools the Sunday Mail found for sale at major retail outlets across SA this week.

Child safety experts say there is a good reason to take safety regulations for temporary pools seriously because youngsters can, and do, drown in pools as small as this. Kidsafe SA said many people "have no idea these safety laws apply" to such collapsible pools.

"It's a timely alert coming up to Christmas when parents purchase inflatable pools, that those with more than 30cm depth need to meet the same safety regulations as regular above and in-ground pools," Kidsafe SA CEO Helen Noblet said.

"Drowning can be very quick and very quiet, so adult supervision should also be provided at arm's length - including pools like these." The Swimming Pools and Spas Association of SA said it feared the temporary nature of these pools meant the danger they posed was not being appreciated.

"I don't think people pay the same safety respect to collapsible pools because they see it as a kids' toy," association spokesman Fred Frede said.

The Royal Lifesaving Society SA said while supervision of children in pools was paramount, regulations requiring safety barriers are also essential.