Both new and existing pools must be upgraded and comply within five years unless sold or leased first.

Shared pools must be inspected within six months of the 1st December 2010.

You must have your pool inspected and obtain a compliance certificate. This compliance certificate is valid for two years (sold or leased as many times as you like within that two year period).

No, a certificate will last for two years for a private pool (dwellings and residential unit complexes) and one year for a shared pool (short term accommodation, hotels, motels, backpackers or hostels). The property can be sold or leased as many times as you like in that period and the certificate will remain valid.

The pool owner has a period of three months to rectify the pool fencing once the pool safety inspector has issued a non-conformity notice.

The pool safety inspector must notify the local government within five business days after the expiration of the three month period that the pool fence is non-compliant and give the local government a copy of the non-conformity notice.

If your Form 17 is dated prior to 1st December 2010, then your form 17 does not qualify as a compliance certificate. This means your pool fencing will need to be inspected prior to sale or lease of the property or within five years, whichever comes first. If your Form 17 is dated after the 1st December 2010 then it can be uploaded to the Pool Safety Council website to obtain the compliance certificate. This compliance certificate is valid for two years for a private pool (including residential unit complex) and one year for a shared pool (short term accommodation, hotels, motels, backpackers or hostels).

Shared pools compliance certificate are valid for one year.

A pool safety inspector can only issue a certificate when they have placed the certificate details onto the pool safety register. Pool owners and others, such as real estate agents and solicitors, will be able to search the register. Pool safety inspectors have two business days after the inspection to give the pool owner a pool safety certificate.

Pool owners should check the register after 28 February 2011 to ensure their pool has been registered. If your pool is not on the register after this date, then you have until 4th May 2011 to register your pool. Penalties of up to $2,000 will apply after this time. The Pool Safety Register search function can be found at this address
www.smarteda.qld.gov.au/pools/properties/propertySearch.action

All other shared pools have a two year period from the 1st December 2010.