SPASAVIC’S OFFICIAL TRADE MAGAZINE FOR THE POOL & SPA INDUSTRY
For the industry, by the industry
SPASAVIC Awards of Excellence 2020
Bipin Gangadharan Pentair EDITION 2 : NOV / DEC 2020
Jenny Anderson Endless Pools & Spas Nick Markogiannakis Nemcon Pools Brett Fitzmaurice PoolSafe Inspections Victoria
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For the industry, by the industry Recovering from the pandemic
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Smart & Sustainable Water Solutions Bipin Gangadharan, Pentair
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‘Endless’ by name & nature Jenny Anderson, Endless Pools & Spas
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SPASAVIC’s 2020 Best Residential Concrete Pool Under $1000 Award Winner ~ Nick Markogiannakis, Nemcon Pools 12 Making safety a priority Brett Fitzmaurice, PoolSafe Inspections
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Swimming Pool and Spa Barrier Inspection training 16 SPASAVIC Calendar of Events
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Introducing the new Water Witch Smart Sense 19 Swimly - Beware!
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Our industry’s night of nights goes viral SPASAVIC 2000 Awards of Excellence
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Pool and Spa Expo Co-Located with Backyard & Garden Show 2021
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Cover Image: SPASAVIC’s 2020 Remco Pool of the Year, by Out from the Blue
Recovering from the pandemic Kathryn Barres | Communications / Marketing Co-ordinator, SPASAVIC
Welcome to our second edition of AQUA – the only digital trade magazine made for the industry, by the industry! Thank you to every contributor that helped make our launch edition such a huge success. As we all recover from the aftermath of a global pandemic, it is a good time to reflect on how our industry has withstood the many challenges that were presented during this crisis, and how – as an industry – we have pivoted to find solutions and ensure the continued viability and sustainability of each of our businesses. It is during times like this where the resilience and tenacity of everyone is tested, but where we are also given the opportunity to grow. The restrictions imposed on our industry due to COVID-19 also created the opportunity to strengthen our alliance with government bodies and advocate strongly on behalf of our members. Consistent lobbying over many weeks, by firmly placing the issues in front of relevant decision makers, resulted in a heightened awareness of the smallscale construction and pool maintenance sector. To add to this, SPASAVIC joined with Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers (LVML) to add weight to our ever-present voice that has been advocating for our industry since 1961. Another positive outcome of the pandemic has been an intense movement towards the ‘Stay-cation’, with home-owners redirecting their arbitrary spending to the upgrade of their backyards. With international travel not possible for the foreseeable future, the safety and security of a backyard oasis has seen thousands of Australians injecting unprecedented amounts of money into home renovations.
“...it is a good time to reflect on how our industry has withstood the many challenges that were presented during this crisis, and how - as an industry - we have pivoted to find solutions and ensure the viability and sustainability of each of our businesses.” This has also created a huge bottleneck of work that continued to bank up throughout the restricted work period. With consumers wanting pools and spas more than ever before, this has ensured that our members are busier than ever, with many expanding their businesses and take on extra staff to cope with demand. SPASAVIC’s annual Awards of Excellence program has again showcased the worldclass standard of our members’ work and puts a spotlight on the great Australian dream of backyard pool and spa ownership. We hope you enjoy our very special awards feature and we congratulate every entrant and thank them for helping us grow the industry by selling the dream of owning a magnificent backyard pool or spa. AQUA wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of SPASAVIC members and sponsors and we are again delighted to showcase everything that is unique, innovative and informative about our great industry. As always, if you have something to share or would like to advertise in AQUA, please contact kathryn@spasavic.com.au Please enjoy!
As fantastic as this is for our industry, it has
Subscribe to AQUA Magazine! Visit https://www.spasavic.com.au/aqua-subscribe Published by SPASAVIC November 2020 Contact: Kathryn Barres, Communications / Marketing Co-ordinator ABN 66 076 867 091 Reproduction of the contents of this magazine is strictly forbidden unless approved in writing by the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Victoria (SPASAVIC) The material contained in this publication has been compiled by the Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Victoria Ltd (SPASVIC) for the benefit of its readers. SPASAVIC does not warrant or represent that the material is free from errors or omission, or that it is exhaustive. The material is provided without SPASAVIC assuming a duty of care to readers. SPASAVIC is not in the business of providing professional advice and gives no warranty, guarantee or representation about the accuracy, reliability or timeliness or otherwise, of the information contained in this publication. SPASAVIC disclaims, to the full extent permitted by law, all warranties, representations or endorsements, express or implied, with regard to the material including but not limited to, all implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. The material is made available on the understanding that SPASAVIC and its employees and agents shall have no liability (including but not limited to liability by reason of negligence) to readers for any loss, damage, cost or expense whether direct, indirect, consequential or special incurred by, or arising by reason of, any person using or relying on the material and whether caused by reason of any error, omission or misrepresentation in the material or otherwise. Readers of this publication are responsible for making their own assessment of the material and should verify all relevant representations, statements and information with their own professional advisers.
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Contents
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Bipin Gangadharan | Pentair
Smart and sustainable water solutions Could you give me a brief history of Pentair and how it has become the water solution giant of today?
SPASA VICTORIA
Pentair was founded in July 1966 in Arden Hills, Minnesota, as a five-person partnership with the purpose of manufacturing highaltitude research balloons. Penta means 5 and that’s how the company was named Pentair. The business slowly evolved into newsprint and then into power tools. Pentair exited the tools business with the sale of its power tools group in October 2004 to Black & Decker for nearly $800 million. The company has evolved and grown through acquisition and continued to acquire and invest in new businesses which were related to water. In 1997, Pentair acquired the General Signals Pump Group and various water related companies, then after the acquisition of Essef in 1999 and Wicor in 2004, Pentair took its first step into the Pool business.
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Pools are only one part of Pentair’s business. Commercial pumps, residential food and beverage filtration also form a large part. Pentair supplies the water filters to McDonald’s, Starbucks and 7 Eleven to name a few. Everpure is now one of Pentair’s leading brands in water filtration. In Australia, we have around 280 employees presently under various business functions and globally, Pentair has 12,000 employees. In Australia our business is mostly related to residential/commercial pumps, filtration and pools. Pentair also owns the iconic Australian commercial pump brand Southern Cross pumps.
When did you enter the pool and spa industry? I started my career in 1998 in the Pool/HVAC industry. I was involved in the sales and construction of swimming pools in Oman in UAE. It was a big commercial pool market rather than residential and mostly high end. That’s where I learnt about commercial pool fountain design and construction. After that in 2001, I joined a global pool equipment manufacturer as their South Asia and Middle East representative. I was based in India, promoting pool filtration equipment and above ground pools in the assigned region.
Then I joined Pentair in 2006 as the Head of South East Asia, Japan and Korea, for the Aquatic division. A lot was happening at Pentair and my job was to establish Pentair in the growing market. I enjoyed many successes in my region. While in the Asian market, I worked on various key projects like the Marina Bay Sands Casino sky pool and Lego Land Malaysia, where we supplied Pentair pool equipment. I’ve had some fun along the way! Especially working across so many cultures. This market taught me a lot. It was time for me to settle down and that’s when Pentair offered me a transfer to Australia in 2012. Initially I was head of the pool division, but my role has expanded and now I manage Residential / Irrigation pumps (Onga) in addition to the Aquatics business. My current title is Head of Sales for ANZ. I have learnt a lot across my career working in various countries. I have met so many types of customers and learnt about different cultures. In the end, it’s all about building trust and delivering on your promise. There are so many different ways to do business but in the end, if you can win the trust of a customer, you’ve got a customer for life, and also a friend.
Pictured Left to Right: IntelliCenter Automation, IntelliFlo VF Console, Onga IntelliFlo
The market has become much more professional and knowledgeable. The internet has really changed things and the way we traditionally did business in the past. Nowadays the customer already knows what they want. They are more educated and they have done a comparison between products and brands, so it just comes down to pricing, quality and service. The market is far more tech-savvy. In Australia, Internet of Things (IoT) is a big thing. Everything is based on an app and home automation is the new word. We will see a lot of changes in the coming years. There is good potential for growth as a supplier or manufacturer, as long as you can keep up with the changes in technology. We are all forced to be innovative. Technology can change within a few months. Change is expensive and investment in technology involves a lot of time and money. But that’s how business grows. So the changes are mainly technological, but also the customers’ buying behaviour has changed. Good brands and well known products are now what the customer demands. The consumer is looking for quality and energysaving products.
What have been the biggest challenges as a supplier? In Australia, we are geographically far away from our factories and key component suppliers. We need to plan in advance because it takes time to get the components in. It can take up to two months to receive what we need.
With COVID-19, we have been fortunate that it was over our Winter time which has traditionally been a lean season. In the US, they are struggling to keep up with demand because they are already into Summer. Procurement is based on forecasting and lead time. We can’t just order 200 pumps and hope they sell. We have systems in place with the team continuously running demand and forecasting.
“The market is far more techsavvy. In Australia, Internet of Things (IoT) is a big thing. Everything is based on an app and home automation is the new word. We will see a lot of changes in the coming years.”
With COVID-19, we had a few issues because some supplies were coming from Europe and Europe went into total lockdown, so that really affected the supply chain. America and Europe are really struggling because of the demand. With everyone working from home, the backyard pool becomes hugely important. So that’s why supply chain is our biggest challenge, as well as raw material cost increases. The dollar keeps fluctuating. We manufacture pumps and most of our equipment is assembled here in Australia. Pricing is a real challenge but it’s all about keeping the overheads low so that the business is profitable. Pentair’s policy is ‘Lean’. This has always been part of our strategy.
What opportunities does the current climate present to suppliers such as Pentair? During COVID-19, our business has grown due to the situation. We have done very well so far. We have seen good growth this year. It’s also about relationships between my team and customers too. I am proud to say that I have a very good team and they have done a fantastic job.
How do you see the industry pivoting and innovating in the future? I see the industry pivoting towards energysaving products and being ‘greener’. We need to be mindful about energy consumption, as the cost of energy has gone up so much. If we don’t keep investing into new ‘green’ products and IoT innovation, we will fall behind in the game.
What is on the horizon for Pentair? Do you have any new products in the pipelines? We want to increase our business and build relationships with our customers. We seek two-way partnerships with our customers. We are changing and innovating which does take time, but we are doing it one step at a time. We build most of our products in-house, which follows Pentair’s guidelines and procedures. Yes, we have a lot of new products in the pipeline. They are mainly in sanitation, energy-saving products and automation solutions. Look out for them in the market soon.
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
What changes have you seen over the years?
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Mitcham 1985
‘Endless’ by name and nature “Endless Pools & Spas is our generic name. We have two separate businesses – ‘Endless Spas’ and ‘Endless Pools’. We promote lifestyle and the benefits of water therapy in both”. - Jenny Anderson
When, where and how did Endless Pools & Spas begin? Our original history began many years ago when my husband, Warren Anderson, purchased a spa from Alpine Spas. He asked the owner Russell Pearce if he would sell the business to him. Warren was doing bathroom renovations at the time and had bought the spa to relieve aches and pains caused by years of floor and wall tiling. It certainly helped him to recover after a hard day’s work. Warren and a friend commenced working together, taking over Alpine Spas around 1980. It was a partnership between two new friends, one worked in administration and the other – Warren - did all the sales. The Alpine Pools showroom was on the corner of High St and Warrigal Rds, Ashburton. I was on maternity leave from the education department at that time.
SPASA VICTORIA
Unfortunately this business venture only lasted about 18 months. Warren reverted to working at our bathroom renovation business in Hawthorn. As we all know, business partnerships can be fraught with difficulty, especially when partners do not have the same goals in mind! Warren still wanted to continue selling spas, so he started looking for another spa supplier and eventually came across an in-ground fibreglass spa shell company in QLD.
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While we were in Hawthorn, Warren said that if we are to sell spas, we needed a point of difference, so he invented the first swim spa in the world! It was also made of fibreglass. We made our first television ad and did a photo shoot with Marianne Dorslar (Tattslotto host for 22 years) and Dermott Brereton. It took a while to get the new swim spa off the ground, so we kept doing bathroom renovations and we were known for a short time as ‘Adapt Bathrooms and Spas’. Our Hawthorn location was a single fronted two storey terraced house with a small backyard. We used to plumb customer’s spas in the side street on the nature strip. We installed several display spas, including the swim spa in the open-air backyard. Warren and I would work every weekend with our two young children playing in the spas. That was the beginning of ‘Endless Spas’
We set up in a large modern showroom in Mitcham and negotiated a big distributorship with a Sydney company called ‘Stylus Bathrooms’. They supplied us with a large range of acrylic spas while we continued to manufacture the fibreglass swim spa. We eventually found a moulding company with a machine capable of forming this large sized vessel, however the vacuum tank was inadequate. With a bit of creative thinking, we found an old petrol storage tank and welded it up to strengthen it to hold the vacuum. We now had the system and the mould came next, as this was going to be the largest vacuumed formed vessel in the Southern Hemisphere.
Within the first 6 months of selling the fibreglass models, we encountered a small percentage of surface problems; the resins were not coping with hot water. We decided that despite being a great product, we needed to improve the quality, so we decided to manufacture a vacuumformed acrylic mould. This would be a very expensive process and presented a lot of challenges, as no vacuum former was capable of handling anything as big as a swim spa. Sales were growing and we needed more room for plumbing, so we left Hawthorn in 1985. First mould Endless Swimming Spa
Waterco’s Head Office, Sydney
The Anderson Family
We were true trailblazers. Warren was the entrepreneur and I was very much the support person. This has been a good partnership because we have complimented each other. We were always good friends, and we got to know each other well before we married. This is probably why we have stayed together for 46 years.
The Mitcham showroom however proved a winning combination, with many spas on display and plumbing done in-house (no more on the nature strip!). The swim spa was becoming well known through home shows, radio and television, and there was only one fibreglass swim spa competitor - Gericho Spas (Tom van der Haar) - and only two spa companies, Caesars and Alpine Spas.
“We faced enormous obstacles a stagnant economy, no internet or websites as yet - and without a showroom to display our spas we would hold our own mini spa shows in vacant warehouses and advertise a weekend sale.”
Unfortunately, times became hard during the recession (you know the one Australia had to have?!) We could not survive. People just stopped buying spas. Again we cut our losses, as we could not afford to pay the high rent anymore for the main road exposure and we were forced to retrench most staff. We opened up in a small factory/warehouse in the back streets of Ringwood. Interest rates were 18% at that time. First spa bath mould with handrails and headrests - Bridgestone
The business began to grow and by 1986 we had 10-12 employees plus installers. There were no portable spas in those days, all in-grounds with no permits and no builder licenses. We decided to expand our business model and set up a branch in Sydney. The Sydney landscape was totally different to Melbourne. Poor access, the delays in delivering building materials for installation and the weather were all factors contributing to less swim spas being installed. After a season of continuous rain and staffing issues, we decided to cut our losses and closed the store.
We faced enormous obstacles - a stagnant economy, no internet or websites as yet and without a showroom to display our spas, we would hold our own mini spa shows in vacant warehouses and advertise a weekend sale. After each weekend sale, we would have to move all the spas out again and transport them back to the factory. During this time, we were a three man team with two plumbing helpers.
Portable spas became the new way of hydrotherapy and we needed more room, so we rented a second factory across the road to assemble and plumb shells into portables. After Bridgestone was sold, they closed down the spa manufacturing division, so we found a new local manufacturer, took our moulds back and began a new trading relationship that is still current today. We soldiered on, finally building up our cash flow again and purchased a property in Heatherdale Rd, Ringwood in 2000. We continued to grow, so we purchased another property around the corner off Heatherdale Rd and used it for dispatch and storage. We also opened a new store in QLD. Unfortunately, we had problems with staffing - again! In hindsight we should have known better. Our daughter, Rachel, was sent to find a new manager, but instead she set up the business herself and worked there for 3 years. Our son, Joel, was already heading up our service division business down here in Melbourne. They both learnt essential customer service and business skills during these years. Rachel came back to have children, so we sold the property and closed the QLD business. Having two locations in Ringwood was proving difficult and was not cost-effective or efficient, so again we went looking for a new location.
We eventually outgrew the small factory and moved around the corner to a larger factory. We were able to set up a primitive showroom. During this time, Endless Spas found a local manufacturer – Bridgestone. Warren began designing moulds for our exclusive use and even developed the first range of spa baths with incorporated headrests and grab rails – very entrepreneurial! New property - Heatherdale Road, Ringwood
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
We approached the Government for a research and development grant. After 6 months of presenting designs and technical challenges in development, we received a grant worth 50% of the costs to develop the mould. This was a real help, but it was still awfully expensive for a small company. We had to import oversized acrylic sheet from the USA which was another huge cost, however sales took off, and we were soon selling 80-100 acrylic swim spas a year, which was a real success story.
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‘Endless’ by name and nature continued from previous page
Photo shoot - 1984
We ended up buying our current premises at Lynbrook, which was 14 years ago now. It’s huge and was purpose-built for what we needed. We were originally going to set up franchises and training facilities on the second floor. I even set up my own gym franchise for a while, but then hard times hit (the GFC) and I went back to work with Endless and here we are now, running two successful spa and pool companies.
Any particular highlights? What achievements are you most proud of? We are really proud of what we have achieved and especially of the SPASAVIC awards we have won. Back in 2003, there were only two spa awards – Best Customer Service and Best Spa Outlet. We used to win BOTH every year. We now have won over 42 awards, including multiple product awards, employee awards, best spa retailer and business of the year awards. We are proud to have been involved in enhancing the lives of so many people – suppliers, employees and customers - with our offerings. I am especially proud of my husband who set up the Endless Foundation. We were proud to start ‘Endless Pools’ and operate out of the same location, offering consumers both pools and spas.
SPASA VICTORIA
We are proud of our kids - Joel (son) has become our business entrepreneur and Rachel (our eldest daughter) is currently working part-time in admin and sales. Our youngest daughter (Jaclyn) is currently on maternity leave. Our children are keen to keep the business going.
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What have been the biggest challenges? The economy, the weather, the introduction of portable spas and swim spas, technology and also the ability to offer unique products. In the good old days, you required building experience to install spas in the ground.. That’s when Warren’s building experience was an advantage. Major portable spa manufacturers now make it extremely competitive. To sell a portable spa is much easier than selling an in-ground spa, so the expertise was no longer a major selling feature. We were famous for selling in-ground salt water swim spas and spas and salt was not available in portable spas. We still had real points of difference – we had Australian made products, good customer service, were a family business and we offered excellent value for money. We were called the ‘80’s spa company’ by a major spa manufacturer, despite selling more spas from a single outlet than their multiple Victorian sites. Technology was the problem as the manufacturers were using the latest American control systems. Our only option to retain our unique offerings was to import from overseas. Warren and I had been travelling to America each year to find spa manufacturers who were interested in supplying to Australia. Now we partner with ‘Artesian Spas’. The downside of importing is the fluctuating Australian dollar and its conversion rates. We also have to pay upfront, so there can be cashflow issues, but we’ve always had good support with our banks for financing. We tried importing Chinese spas to compete with the cheaper imports coming into Australia, but then we changed to American made portables, as we’d rather be known for quality than for cheaper products.
The biggest challenge for a retail business is the economy. Every time an election is held, down go the sales. Another challenge is marketing and its associated costs. Endless are really the only ones consistently using radio, television and print to advertise. Our competitors benefited from our expensive advertising. The last five years has seen a drop in sales. The estimate is that it had dropped by 30%. People were buying caravans and going overseas instead, but I think the market has picked up again now with no travel currently allowed.
“We tried importing Chinese spas to compete with the cheaper imports coming into Australia, but then we changed to American made portables, as we’d rather be known for quality than for cheaper products”.
What opportunities does the current climate present to retailers and builders? The current climate has forced us to reassess our offerings and the way we were responding to customers’ needs. We now offer virtual sales presentations and customer classes. It was okay during Stage 3 restrictions as we could still do installations and people were still buying. COVID-19 did however cause problems during Stage 4 restrictions, as lots of people asked for refunds and no spas could be installed. During this downtime, we have also improved our online store. As a high-end retailer, we face a lot of competition online from cheaper alternatives.
Christmas in Ringwood - 1994
What have you learned from your years as small business owners in Victoria and also your time in the pool and spa industry? Lots of lessons – mainly positive ones! The two most important things are to never give up and only focus on what you can control. I am not normally a negative person, but I think you must be crazy to go into any bricks and mortar retail business today, to be honest! There is so much red tape and too much competition with online stores.
How do you see the industry pivoting and innovating in the future? Endless offers truly unique products and being well-known in the industry will stand us in good stead to survive in the future. We will continue to offer unique, value-formoney products to meet consumer needs. In regards to innovation, this has already begun with environmentally friendly products and automation.
What is on the horizon for Endless Pool & Spas. Do you have any new products in the pipeline? Warren and I have thoroughly enjoyed providing people with the benefits of water and hydrotherapy.
“The current climate has forced us to reassess our offerings and the way we were responding to customers’ needs. We now offer virtual sales presentations and customer classes.”
Warren has always loved a challenge and It was not always about the money. I think we are now just ready to retire and COVID is not helping life to be easy. The kids however are keen to take the business to greater heights, just like we were at their age!! We will introduce a new product soon, but it needs new registration so I can’t say too much yet. We are changing our moulds to keep up with consumer demand and new technology, and there are other business ventures that we looking to take up, but I’m supposed to be retiring so I’ll leave that up to the kids! We‘ve got some new marketing and branding ideas, and we have other new products in the pipeline but for now, they remain top secret It just never stops with us. It is truly endless we are truly ‘Endless’!
Endless Spa hire - 1997
Contribute to YOUR magazine For the industry, by the industry
Do you have a story to tell? A product to showcase? A service you’re proud of? Advertising space and submissions for articles are now available! Contact Kathryn Barres for further details, pricing and deadlines for material: 03 8526 7799 | kathryn@spasavic.com.au
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Photo shoot - 1984
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Everything needed for effortless pool & spa control
WINNER - NEMCON Pools
Nick Markogiannakis Managing Director NEMCON Pools
SPASAVIC’s 2020 Best Residential Concrete Pool Under $100,000 Award Winner Award sponsored by
How did NEMCON Pools begin – where and when?
SPASA VICTORIA
I’ve been in building and construction for over 25 years. I’ve done a lot of commercial building - supermarkets, shops, retail, houses - I’ve done it all! About 10 years ago I went back to school to do some OHS training and I ended up working for a pool company (that will remain nameless). I stayed there for six months and saw how the customer was definitely not “front of mind”. Wanting to change that, I went out on my own and for the past 8 years, I’ve built my own pools.
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It has been great. I just fell into the industry and my business grew and grew by word of mouth only. I do the right thing by people. It’s not complicated, as long as you do the right thing by people, treat them well and don’t rip them off. Sometimes you have to cop it on the chin and wear a few extra expenses. I didn’t want to be one of those builders that rorted people, because that is exactly what has given the industry a bad name. There are quite a few people and businesses, unfortunately, who are still following bad practices. We often get called to many jobs to take over and fix up other’s mistakes. But because of this, and our attitude towards our clients, we’ve got a good reputation.
“The contemporary design of the pool enhances the courtyard and combines superbly with modern house design... Travertine tiling in pools is relatively new. This pool stands out the most because it’s different due to using full size house tiles inside the pool.”
The industry has really grown. Like many industries, the internet has made it more accessible for people to investigate. Google is a good tool but also a bad tool if you do the wrong thing by your clients. If you don’t do the right thing by people, you can get ripped apart on the internet. We’ve seen it in the past. Happily, it seems that the rogues are slowly starting to get pushed out of the industry. Consumers are more savvy now and will be picky. We go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. We build rapport with them and that builds our reputation. It will take time for the industry to get rid of the rubbish, however it has already started to move in the right direction.
What do you like best about our industry? Coming from a construction background, where I’ve dealt with every type of person, trade and labourer – comparing it to that, the pool and spa industry is a walk in the park! I’ve been using the same trades for the past ten years. I trust my guys and their work, they do a great job for me. We’re quite pedantic about how we do things and we make sure the customers’ demands are met. It has become an industry where we can have that face-to-face contact and change people’s homes for the better. People enjoy watching how we transform their spaces and we can make people happy. This industry created a different lifestyle for me as well. It’s not the hustle and bustle that I had before. The registration of trades coming in will be great. I can’t wait for it. Bring it on!
What challenges have you faced? Overall, our margins have dropped as a result of the individuals that are out there that don’t pay. We pay registrations, insurances, Association fees. Everything has gone up and we can’t pass on these increases to customers. We work harder for our money and we make less profit. I’m sure all industries are facing similar challenges at the moment, however we don’t see it as fair to pass it on to our clients.
What’s the hardest thing about running your own small business? As with most businesses, scaling up to a larger company has been a challenge. We used to be seasonal but now we’re working all year round. We don’t get that Winter break anymore, so it doesn’t allow us much time for holidays. However in the current circumstances, we may be unable to get away for a holiday for a while regardless! The paperwork has become unbelievable lately – councils, permits, COVID-Safe docs. We go on-site with a folder full of paperwork now. 25 years ago, we’d go onto a commercial site with one bit of paper and a JSA, now we’ve ended up with whole folders for OHS!
What do you consider your best pool build? We have completed many, including negative edges with and without windows, and wet decks with negative edges, but recently I’ve completed a build in Kew. This pool is wet deck fully tiled with travertine tiles. The contemporary design of the pool enhances the courtyard and combines superbly with modern house design.
Featuring a unique graded beach entry and square set cornered floor, the use of 800 x 400 travertine tile within and around the pool generates a seamless flow into the pool and creates a perfect wet edge. Travertine tiling in pools is relatively new. This pool stands out the most because it’s different due to using full size house tiles inside the pool.
What is NEMCON Pools’ unique selling point? We’re personal and we have a very personal touch. We don’t bombard our customers with salespeople. I personally ensure that the client is comfortable and completely in awe of the final product.
What are you doing that is new or innovative in new pool design and building? We try to design something to suit everyone’s individual needs. We build for them. What the customer wants is what they will get. People vary in the way they think and what they want. If the customer gives us the design, we’ll build it. Sometimes the process starts from even just a picture or an idea that came to them in a dream. Proudly, we can make it happen. I always say to my customers – “You’re paying, so whatever you want, we will make it happen. You just need to tell us what you want”.
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
What have you seen change in the pool & spa industry over the years?
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Making safety a priority Brett Fitzmaurice | PoolSafe Inspections Victoria How and when did you get into pool barrier inspecting? My background is working with local government. I finished my academic qualifications and went to work for Melbourne City Council for 5 years, then at Banyule City council for a further 5 years. My experience with the building inspection industry has been about 15 years. Building surveying, inspections, permits with council, audits, prosecutions and taking people to task on legal structures. That was more with Banyule council. When the wall collapsed in the city of Melbourne, we did the audits on that incident. Mostly high-risk work.
SPASA VICTORIA
With swimming pools, I first came into that via an auditing program. I was part of a team of 7 or 8 initially. Banyule council didn’t want the risk of pool audits back then and didn’t want to get involved. I always knew I wanted to start my own business, so in 2015 I registered PoolSafe Inspections Victoria while I was still working for Banyule council. I used the time to do my research and I saw what was happening in QLD. At the start, I thought what was happening in QLD with their pool barrier regulations was great. I thought that the rules would change down here too.
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When the Andrew Plint story came out of QLD, it really tugged at my heartstrings. Knowing how easily toddler drownings can happen, I wanted to get involved. We were failing 99% of audits, and I knew our system had to change. The old building regulations only referenced Building Regulations 1220 ‘The homeowner must maintain their barrier at all times. 50 penalty units’. We could apply enforcement but there was no obligation. So properties would switch hands all the time and people would lease properties out, but there was really no onus on the owner. They were left to do what they wanted and they didn’t understand the dangers. You could sell a house and six months later a toddler moves in and it’s no longer safe, so I didn’t think that was good enough. When I started, I planned to build up my business on the side. Any money I earned, I put back into the business. It wasn’t until 2017 when journalist Kate Ashley-Griffiths from the Leader newspaper contacted me after finding me via my very basic website. She asked me if I’d like to get involved in her pool safety campaign. We organised to meet up at a property in Hurstbridge and do a photo shoot about pool barrier safety, then the next day Neil Mitchell called me, then Channel 9 news got on board and did a segment. It really snowballed from there. Then DELWP got involved and it all grew from there. I still feature these articles on my website.
What certification/ credentials do you have? I’m a registered INU with the VBA and I have an advanced diploma of building surveying.
What do you like about the pool and spa industry? I like how its very large but its quite closely knit, especially through the Association. From your pool installer to your pool cleaner, everyone ties in together. For a specialised market, having an Association means that everyone is held under professional account. The building industry is far more broad, whereas the pool and spa industry is smaller and more unique.
What changes have you seen over the years? I’ve seen the pool barrier laws change recently of course, but other than that, there is far more liability and accountability these days. When I came into the industry, it was regulated, but much more relaxed. Regulations are being enforced much more heavily. People are fearful of doing the wrong thing now, which wasn’t always the case. Our industry is certainly becoming more regulated and people’s skill sets are being held to account more. In QLD they have every trade registered and I think that’s the way to go.
You were a great supporter of our ‘mandatory barrier inspection campaign’. How do you think the new regulations will affect our industry? I think it will affect the industry in that it will make the industry better and safer, now and into the future. The pools that are built today will still be safe in 20 years. Now they are being built on permits and building work is more official. I also think it will create jobs and more work in our industry.
Do you have anything to say about the new pool barrier inspector course written by the VBA? My concern is the amount of qualified inspections required to be completed as part of the training. It is very complex. For the people that want to do the course, they may get to the end of the assessment and the VBA may throw their application out because they don’t have the background experience. When I worked with the council, it took years to work out the different requirements for each different standards and regulation, so there is a lot to it that people don’t always understand. The number of inspections performed before they go out on their own is the issue. My other concern is, will the VBA just rubber stamp a lot of applicants so that they can fill the numbers? We’ve never had this before. This is a very relaxed category of building inspector. Relaxing it and pushing it through to get the numbers up is my concern. If you’ve done the three day QLD course, you can make an application in Victoria to be an inspector here. I know of someone who was approved down here because we didn’t have a course here yet.
Compliance achieved at Freshwater Place, Melbourne.
We’re auditing the four different standards here in Victoria. There are a lot of people getting through without having a true understanding of what the real requirements are. There is such a lot more involved. What is the ultimate outcome and worst case scenario here? Litigation from neardrownings and fatal drownings obviously. They will need to be able to demonstrate at least six months of experience and sit the test. A lot of people ask me why I do such risky work, signing off on safety barriers and the consequences that can come from that. I think people are not realising the seriousness of the qualification. This new system is mandatory and regulated. If I get to be involved with the training course that SPASAVIC hopes to run, I’ll certainly be explaining all this to trainees.
Do you have any career highlights? Definitely having been an advocate and campaigner with a good friend of mine Jenette Gage is something I am proud of. I haven’t shied away from that. Also the day I got registered was one I’m very proud of. Achieving the studies was hard, so it was such a validating moment.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever inspected? A rental property in Northcote once had 13 non-compliant items. The mother showed me how her young daughter could fit through a 140mm gap in the fence and get into the pool. I couldn’t believe a child could fit through a gap so small. The worst ones are where there are no barriers at all. Up until 2010, you could access the pool directly from the house. Those older laws still need to be signed off under our current system. One good thing is that we’re not failing as many items per inspection these days.
Geographically, my market is grandparents. Most people have improved their barrier over the years and have independently made it safe. The council don’t have a record of it, but they have chosen to be responsible even when they weren’t required to be by law. Most people understand the responsibility now, especially once children or grandchildren come along. A lot of people try to argue with me about barrier laws for rivers, dams and oceans but I don’t even enter into the conversation any more. A body of water 30mm or deeper, designed for swimming, is required to be fenced. I’ve banked all my responses over the years! One that stands out is that the Local Council is just making money from this - they’re not! They just have the responsibility to manage the register. Pool barriers are still not required to be certified prior to sale or lease in Victoria yet, unlike in QLD, but conveyancers are requiring it now and so are the banks, which I think is great.
Where do you see the Victorian industry heading in the future? I see the industry growing and I see so many new pools going in. The fibreglass pool market has made it cheaper for people to own a pool. Now with safer barriers too, I can see the marketplace growing. I can also see standard fence heights changing from 1.2m to 1.5m over the next few years. We’re all getting taller. Children may be getting taller earlier too. I think the Australian Standard may change and they may put it up by 300mm. Let’s wait and see.
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
An example of a non-compliant barrier
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Swimming Pool and Spa Barrier Inspection training SPASAVIC is delighted that our preferred Registered Training Organisation, Masters in Building Training (MIBT), has been endorsed by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) to deliver the new Victorian Swimming Pool and Spa Barrier Inspection training course VBAISP2020 Building Inspector (Pool Safety). The total cost of this course is $2,990 with RPL set at $1,495 and is GST-exempt. You can enrol in this course for an initial deposit of $500. This investment includes one year’s membership with SPASAVIC as a Pool Barrier Inspector Member, with membership being optional once you have completed the course and have attained registration with the VBA.
In Victoria, recent new legislation dictates that owners of land where a swimming pool or spa is located must have registered their swimming pool and/or spa by 1 November 2020 with their relevant council. Pool and spa owners are also required to obtain and lodge a compliance certificate for the safety of their pool or spa barrier every 4 years. Once a pool or spa is registerd, the local council will notify owners of the due date for the first certificate of pool barrier compliance. Owners are required to arrange an inspection and lodge the certificate with their local council by the due date.
For more information and enrolments, visit MIBT’s website by clicking here.
Only an appropriately registered building surveyor, building inspector (pool safety) or municipal building surveyor can certify the compliance of a pool or spa safety barrier and issue the compliance certificate. Find a registered, qualified and insured SPASAVIC Pool Barrier Inspector HERE.
SPASAVIC Calendar of Events Image by Pexels from Pixabay.
2021 Friday 23 April
Chris Dorrity Memorial Member Golf Day
Friday 14 - Sunday 16 May
Pool & Spa Expo Co-Located with Backyard & Garden Show
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
SPASAVIC’s AQUA magazine is proudly brought to you by our sponsors who value the pool & spa industry in Australia:
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Familiar Water Witch
Early 1980’s pool
Product Support Introducing theGuide new
Water Witch Smart Sense
What is it? It’s the Water Witch electronic water leveller- a product with a reputation for being Australia’s most reliable and dependable leveller, since being introduced to the market more than 27 years ago. The Water Witch is a descendant of the Neptune’s Mate. Both levellers were developed by Cliff Cooke, the founder and Managing Director of both Cookes Pools & Spas and Cooke Industries. Both businesses have flourished since Cooke built his first concrete pool in Mildura during the early 1980s. Mildura is an extreme climate for swimming pools, with overnight lows plunging to -2° in winter whilst maximum daytime temperatures through summer are consistently more than 40°. A product designed and developed for this climate was always going to be suitable for the full range of Australia’s demanding environs. “Our customers were losing a lot of water from their pools through evaporation and were needing to fill them with a hose at least twice a week,” Cooke Said. “We started looking for an auto leveller to improve the pool ownership experience and found there was nothing suitable on the market.” That’s when Cooke and his team decided to develop something themselves. Cooke explains that developing an auto leveller in-house was a logical decision. “Pools were a lot of work for their owners back in the early 1980s and all the pool equipment relied on there being a minimum water level in the pool. We were looking to automate pool ownership and remove the work required by pool owners,” he said.
Through careful consideration of the problem and many long nights tinkering away his garden shed, Cooke developed Fullin Electrical Certification the Neptune’s Mate leveller. Inside & Outsideautomatic use “Neptune’s Mate was the most advanced (ESV160204) levellerC-Tick at the Approval time and it was a world beater in terms ofN11116 technology. It was far more advanced than anything else being offered at the time,” Cooke said.
Original Neptune’s Mate Sensor
The team at Cookes Pools and Spas began installing the Neptune’s Mate on their new pools and interest from industry friends created the prospect of it being sold to a wider audience.
The Water Witch has gained a strong reputation within the swimming pool industry and during the last decade, that reputation has transcended into other fields. Several units have been used in agricultural and mining projects to both maintain minimum and maximum water levels in tanks, dams and other water holdings. “We were using the Neptune’s Mate as a tool to sell more pools, because an easy pool to own is going to be a more enjoyable experience for the owner, and that’s going to help build business through referrals.” Cooke said. “We soon discovered many within our industry held similar thoughts.” Interest from the trade increased and orders started coming in from distributors such as Lincoln Pool Equipment in Melbourne and Chadson Engineering in Perth, two businesses that have maintained a close distributor relationship with Cooke Industries for three decades.
2nd Generation Naptune’s Mate
“Selling the Neptune’s Mate opened our eyes to the importance of product development and understanding your marker,” Cooke Said. “The first model was a great product, but it wasn’t suited to our market because the builder was required to join and solder wires and apply heat shrink to waterproof the join.” Recognising the limitation of this process, Cooke set about developing an improved model that was easier to install and delivered great reliability. There are still many Neptune’s Mate auto levellers installed Across Australia and it is common for Cooke Industries to receive a call from pool owners enquiring about parts for their Neptune’s Mate. The emphasis on quality and reliability that were built into the Neptune’s Mate laid the foundations for the Water Witch that our industry has now become so familiar with. (cont...)
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
There’s a simple, unassuming product nestled in the equipment area of more than 20,000 Australian and international pools. Its responsibility is to maintain the pool water level, but for many pool owners, they don’t even realise it’s there.
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Cooke Industries
Introducing the new Water Witch Smart Sense continued from previous page
The first Water Witch was launched in 1993 and despite some cosmetic changes, the same model has existed for 27 years. The Water Witch is a great solution for maintaining the water level in pools, but it comes into its own for projects such as infinity edge troughs, balance tanks, pool and spa combinations and other unique projects. These projects require unique functionality from an operational perspective. Troughs and balance tanks have water levels that fluctuate more wildly than what you’d see in a standard pool, so the Water Witch is the perfect option for these projects. The Water Witch has gained a strong reputation within the swimming pool industry and during the last decade, that reputation has transcended into other fields. Several units have been used in agricultural and mining projects to both maintain minimum and maximum water levels in tanks, dams and other water holdings. Customer expectations continue to evolve and Cooke Industries realised it was time to improve on the Water Witch. The Water Witch Smart Sense is being launched in January 2021 and will offer a host of exciting new features, whilst the new model will also be easier to install, commission and operate.
“We’re privileged to have had extensive feedback over many years about the different applications our customers use the Water Witch for and what they wish it could do,” Cooke said. “We’ve been able to incorporate enormous flexibility into this new model as it includes settings for commercial and domestic pools, spas, balance tanks, other water bodies and a new feature to pump water out of troughs and balance tanks when the water level is too high. The new technology makes it perfect for every project.” “We did consider options such as an app, but they offered very little benefit to the home owner,” Cooke said. “It was technology for the sake of technology and all that does is add to our production costs. It was important to us that we keep production costs as low as possible because we’re proud to be a small Australian manufacturer and it’s pleasing that we can launch a new model with improved features, yet maintain existing pricing.” The Water Witch has gained a loyal following with customers as far away as Europe and North America. This is despite the current model not being directly compatible with the electrical plugs in those continents.
Early Neptune’s Mate Production
The Smart Sense can easily be installed in any country across the world, as the internal transformer hard-wired to an Australian power plug has been replaced with an external power pack. “We’re excited about the opportunities this new model will bring and we hope to expand the Water Witch name across the world,” Cooke Said. Will the next model be sold for 27 years? “I’d think not,” said Cooke. “Our world and technology are changing more rapidly than ever. We’re excited about the Water Witch Smart Sense and what it will do for pool owners, but we’re already well down the path of planning our next model and considering available and emerging technologies to further enhance the system.” The Water Witch Smart Sense will be launched Australia-wide on 27 January 2021 and Cooke said they are looking forward to celebrating the launch with a promotion that will appeal to local customers.
Swimply - beware!
SPASA VICTORIA
SPASAVIC has noticed that the US-based pool sharing company ‘Swimply’ is currently being promoted in South Australia and other parts of the country.
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Dubbed the “Airbnb of pools”, Swimply is a pool hire app that charges guests an hourly rate for a variety of backyard arrangements.
Before deciding to hire out their backyards, pool owners in South Australia should be familiar with the Public Health (General) Regulations 2013.
Swimply acts as an ‘introductory’ service to connect hosts with guests and claims no liability for negligence by homeowners or guests, or responsibility for damages.
Unlike others, SPASAVIC does not support this initiative in any way due to potential safety and liability concerns, as well as the potential for this initiative to detract from our members’ businesses.
This legislation states that if homeowners are hiring out their properties for monetary gain, water quality and safety must be maintained to a commercial standard.
Home owners need to be aware of the commercial guidelines compared with domestic rules.
SPASAVIC will always put the interest of our pool and spa builder members first, along with the safety of the community and the viability and sustainability of our industry.
If the regulations are not satisfied in the event of an injury or death, home owners could still be liable, regardless of contracts with Swimply.
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Pool Lighting. Made smarter.
LiT YARD is only compatible with MULTI PLUS version 2.0. For more information contact Spa Electrics.
www.spaelectrics.com.au | info@spaelectrics.com.au |
We’ve got you covered this summer. Designed to provide long lasting durability, the 100% Australian made Henden Solar Pool Cover is an effective solution to getting the most out of a swimming pool. All year round, it protects, retains heat and reduces maintenance.
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Our industry’s night of nights goes virtual In a year that some may otherwise care to forget, SPASAVIC was determined to put on a world-class virtual industry event, our annual Awards of Excellence. The Awards are traditionally the largest industry event of its kind in Australia, and the most anticipated industry event on the Victorian calendar. This year, the dazzling array of spectacular swimming pools and spas was projected into living rooms, brilliantly brought to life by virtual event studio ‘Scene Change’, accompanied by Sam Kekovich as Master of ceremonies.
SPASA VICTORIA
Professional caterers Tommy Collins were delighted to provide viewers with delectable ‘at home’ dining experiences delivered to the door. These gastronomic delights allowed a true feast for the senses.
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CEO of SPASAVIC, Chris Samartzis says “Our world class Master pool and spa builders have once again taken the humble backyard swimming pool and spa to a new level. Not only is the dream of owning your own backyard oasis more affordable than ever, but these artistic creations from our members embrace a level of bespoke mastery construction that adds enormous value to homes and lifestyle living. Now more than ever - the vibe of ‘stay-cation’ will ensure that our members are highly sought after. No other group of pool and spa builders can deliver an artisan project like a SPASAVIC member.”
With hundreds of members of the pool and spa industry riveted to their screens, SPASAVIC members again proved that they are among the very best in the world in terms of standard and innovation in their work.
The following pages provide a list of all our award winners. Special congratulations goes to the following:
This virtual festival of pools and spas once again demonstrated to the world the undeniable skill and capability of SPASAVIC members to create, innovate and deliver on the great Australian dream of backyard pool and spa ownership.
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2020 Remco Pool of the Year winner, Out from the Blue, 2020 Spa of the Year, Neptune Swimming Pools, and 2020 Product of the Year, Maleco Pool & Spa Cover.
Sam Kekovich - Master of ceremonies, 2020
“Now - more than ever - the vibe of ‘stay-cation’ will ensure that our members are highly sought after. No other group of pool and spa builders can deliver an artisan project like a SPASAVIC member.”
For all SPASAVIC 2020 Awards of Excellence Winners visit https://www.spasavic.com.au/awards-of-excellence
2020 Remco Pool of the Year Gold Award
This Award is sponsored by
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Out from the Blue
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2020 Spa of the Year Gold Award
SPASA VICTORIA
Neptune Swimming Pools
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This Award is sponsored by
2020 Product of the Year Gold Award
This Award is sponsored by
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Maleco Pool & Spa Cover
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Best Residential Concrete Pool and Spa Combination Gold Award
Laguna Pools
Out from the Blue
Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
Laguna Pools
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Out from the Blue
This Award is sponsored by
Best Pool and Landscape Combination Gold Award
Goldfish Pools & Landscapes
Horizon Pools
Neptune Swimming Pools
This Award is sponsored by
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Highly Commended
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Best Residential Courtyard / Plunge Pool Gold Award
Laguna Pools
Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
Laguna Pools
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Aloha Pools This Award is sponsored by
Best Innovative Pool and Spa Gold Award
Personal Pools
Laguna Pools
Out from the Blue This Award is sponsored by
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Highly Commended
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Best Landscape Design - Over 200sqm featuring a Pool or Spa Gold Award
Liquidamber Garden Design
COS Design
Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
Sabo Design
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This Award is sponsored by
Best Residential Fibreglass, Acrylic or Vinyl-Lined Pool & Spa Combination Gold Award
Gordon Avenue Pools & Spas
Albatross Swimming Pools (Aust)
This Award is sponsored by
Compass Pools Melbourne
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Highly Commended
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Best Residential Concrete Pool - Under $100,000 Gold Award
Nemcon Pools Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Icon Pools
Best Residential Concrete Pool - Over $100,000 Gold Award
Laguna Pools Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
This Award is sponsored by
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Out from the Blue
Best Residential Fibreglass Pool - Under $60,000 Gold Award
Tanzanite Pools Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Rainwise Pools Melbourne
Best Residential Fibreglass Pool - Over $60,000
Gordon Avenue Pools & Spas Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Compass Pools Melbourne
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Gold Award
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Best Pool by a New SPASAVIC Member Gold Award
Striking Pools Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Striking Pools
Best Residential Enclosed / Indoor Pool Gold Award
Neptune Swimming Pools Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
This Award is sponsored by
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Urban Swimming Pools
Best Residential Concrete Spa Gold Award
Neptune Swimming Pools Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Kingston Pools
Best Residential Concrete Lap Pool
Out from the Blue Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Cantwell Pools and Courts
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Gold Award
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Best Residential Pool Renovation - Up to $25,000 Gold Award
BEFORE
Horizon Pools Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Pools R Us
Best Residential Pool Renovation - Over $25,000 Gold Award
BEFORE
Access Pools Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
This Award is sponsored by
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Laguna Pools
Best Commercial Pool Under $150,000 Gold Award
Aquatic Designs Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Horizon Pools
Best Commercial Pool Over $150,000
Aloha Pools Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Aloha Pools
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Gold Award
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Best Sustainable Pool or Spa Project Gold Award
Maleco Pool & Spa Cover Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Rainwise Pools Melbourne
Best Residential Concrete Pool - Under $60,000 Gold Award
Seaspray Pools Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
This Award is sponsored by
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In the Swim
Best Residential Fibreglass, Acrylic or Vinyl-Lined Lap Pool Gold Award
Compass Pools Melbourne Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Compass Pools Melbourne
Best Fibreglass, Acrylic or Vinyl-Lined Pool by a Country Member
Gordon Avenue Pools Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Tassie Pools & Spas
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Gold Award
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Best Water Feature Gold Award
Formation Pools and Landscapes Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Laguna Pools
Best Safety Barrier Gold Award
Precision Installs Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
This Award is sponsored by
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Aquarius Pools
Best Residential Vinyl-Lined In-Ground Pool Gold Award
ards of Excellence 2020
Pool Store of the year! Albatross Swimming Pools (Aust)
se Pools Melbourne Highly Commended
This Award is sponsored by
Albatross Swimming Pools (Aust)
Pool Store of the Year
Rainwise Pools Melbourne
NWISE new Shop front and Car Park
The Poolstore Warehouse
This Award is sponsored by
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Gold Award
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Best Landscape Design - Under 200sqm featuring a pool or spa Gold Award
Neptune Swimming Pools Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Neptune Swimming Pools
Best Automated System or Convenience Product Gold Award
Maleco Pool & Spa Cover Highly Commended
SPASA VICTORIA
This Award is sponsored by
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Pentair Water Australia - Magic Bowl
Best Paving or Stone Project Gold Award
Liquidamber Garden Design Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
SAI Stone
Best Pool & Spa Service Business
The Poolstore Warehouse Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
Flowtec Leak Detection Services
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Gold Award
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Best Pool Display Centre Gold Award
Apex Pools
This Award is sponsored by
Best Concrete Pool by a Country Member Gold Award
Cookes Pools and Spas
SPASA VICTORIA
This Award is sponsored by
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Best Lighting Feature Gold Award
Out from the Blue
This Award is sponsored by
Best Spa Retailer
Endless Spas
The Extended Showroom
Endless Spas & Pools
Spas
Spas
This Award is sponsored by
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Gold Award
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Best Portable / Relocatable Spa Gold Award
Endless Spas & Pools
This Award is sponsored by
SPASAVIC Training High Achiever Award Gold Award
Beau Van Agtmaal - Domain Pools
Employee of the Year Award Gold Award
Diana Ruiz - The Poolstore Warehouse Highly Commended This Award is sponsored by
SPASA VICTORIA
This Award is sponsored by
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Samantha Sheen Poolside Beaconsfield
SPASAVIC Sustainable Product Award Gold Award
Sunline Australia - Aquavent
This Award is sponsored by
SPASAVIC Water Neutral Pool Program Award
Accredited 21 Pools in 2020 Rainwise Pools Melbourne
This Award is sponsored by
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Gold Award
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SPASA VICTORIA
2020 List of Award Winners
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2020 Remco Pool of the Year Out of the Blue
2020 Spa of the Year Neptune Swimming Pools
2020 Product of the Year Maleco Pool & Spa Cover
Best Residential Concrete Pool and Spa Combination Gold Award (Joint Winners): Laguna Pools & Out from the Blue Highly Commended (Joint Winners): Laguna Pools & Out from the Blue
Best Pool and Landscape Combination Gold Award: Goldfish Pools & Landscapes Highly Commended (Joint Winners): Horizon Pools & Neptune Swimming Pools
Best Residential Courtyard / Plunge Pool Gold Award: Laguna Pools Highly Commended (Joint Winners): Laguna Pools & Aloha Pools
Best Innovative Pool or Spa Gold Award: Personal Pools Highly Commended (Joint Winners): Laguna Pools & Out from the Blue
Best Landscape Design - Over 200sqm featuring a Pool or Spa Gold Award (Joint Winners): Liquidamber Garden Design & COS Design Highly Commended: Sabo Design
Best Residential Fibreglass, Acrylic or Vinyl-Lined Pool & Spa combination Gold Award: Gordon Avenue Pools & Spas Highly Commended (Joint Winners): Albatross Swimming Pools (Aust) & Compass Pools Melbourne
Best Residential Concrete Pool - Under $100,000 Gold Award: Nemcon Pools Highly Commended: Icon Pools
Best Residential Concrete Pool - Over $100,000 Gold Award: Laguna Pools Highly Commended: Out from the Blue
Best Residential Fibreglass Pool - Under $60,000 Gold Award: Tanzanite Pools Highly Commended: Rainwise
Best Residential Fibreglass Pool - Over $60,000 Gold Award: Gordon Avenue Pools & Spas Highly Commended: Compass Pools Melbourne
Best Pool by a New SPASAVIC Member Gold Award: Striking Pools Highly Commended: Striking Pools
Best Residential Enclosed / Indoor Pool Gold Award: Neptune Swimming Pools Highly Commended: Urban Swimming Pools
Best Residential Concrete Spa Gold Award: Neptune Swimming Pools Highly Commended: Kingston Pools
Best Residential Concrete Lap Pool Gold Award: Out from the Blue Highly Commended: Cantwell Pools and Courts
Best Residential Pool Renovation - Up to $25,000 Gold Award: Horizon Pools Highly Commended: Pools R Us
Best Residential Pool Renovation - Over $25,000 Gold Award: Access Pools Highly Commended: Laguna Pools
Best Commercial Pool under $150,000 Gold Award: Aquatic Designs Highly Commended: Horizon Pools
Best Commercial Pool Over $150,000 Gold Award: Aloha Pools Highly Commended: Aloha Pools
Best Sustainable Pool or Spa Project Gold Award: Maleco Pool & Spa Cover Highly Commended: Rainwise
Best Residential Concrete Pool - Under $60,000 Gold Award: Seaspray Pools Highly Commended: In the Swim
Best Residential Fibreglass, Acrylic or Vinyl-Lined Lap Pool Gold Award: Compass Pools Melbourne Highly Commended: Compass Pools Melbourne
Best Fibreglass, Acrylic or Vinyl-Lined Pool by a Country Member Gold Award: Gordon Avenue Pools Highly Commended: Tassie Pools & Spas
Best Water Feature Gold Award: Formation Pools and Landscapes Highly Commended: Laguna Pools
Best Safety Barrier Gold Award: Precision Installs Highly Commended: Aquarius Pools
Best Residential Vinyl-lined In-ground Pool Gold Award: Albatross Swimming Pools (Aust) Highly Commended: Albatross Swimming Pools (Aust)
Best Automated System or Convenience Product Gold Award: Maleco Pool & Spa Cover Highly Commended: Pentair Water Australia - Magic Bowl
Best Paving or Stone Project Gold Award: Liquidamber Garden Design Highly Commended: SAI Stone
Best Pool & Spa Service Business Gold Award: The Poolstore Warehouse Highly Commended: Flowtec Leak Detection Services
Best Pool Display Centre Gold Award: Apex Pools
Best Concrete Pool by a Country Member Gold Award: Cookes Pools and Spas
Best Lighting Feature Gold Award: Out from the Blue
Best Spa Retailer Gold Award: Endless Spas & Pools
Best Portable / Relocatable Spa Gold Award: Endless Spas & Pools
SPASAVIC Sustainable Product Award Gold Award: Sunline Australia - Aquavent
Training High Achiever Award Gold Award: Beau Van Agtmaal - Domain Pools
SPASAVIC Water Neutral Pool Program Award Gold Award: Rainwise Pools Melbourne
Employee of the Year Award Gold Award: Diana Ruiz - The Poolstore Warehouse Highly Commended: Samantha Sheen - Poolside Beaconsfield
AQUA MAGAZINE | EDITION 2 - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020
Pool Store of the Year Gold Award (Joint Winners): Rainwise Pools Melbourne & The Poolstore Warehouse
Best Landscape Design - Under 200sqm featuring a Pool or Spa Gold Award: Neptune Swimming Pools Highly Commended: Neptune Swimming Pools
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Pool & Spa Expo Co-Located with Backyard & Garden Show May 14th - 16th, 2021 The one-stop-shop for everything pool, spa & outdoor living For over 10,000 Melbournians, SPASAVIC’s Pool & Spa Expo + Outdoor Living is a highly anticipated Summer event and is the biggest and best Consumer Expo in Australia. Whether you are looking to buy a pool or spa, purchase pool/spa accessories and cleaning equipment, or get expert advice and landscaping ideas to create your dream outdoor space, you’ll find it all under the one roof at the Pool & Spa Expo Co-Located with Backyard & Garden Show on the 14th-16th May 2021. And for all those in the trade, whilst the Expo is primarily a Business to Consumer (B2C) based event, it provides a great opportunity to see first-hand the latest products and services – including new design trends and innovations - that the swimming pool and spa industry has to offer. Come along to see for yourself what all the fuss is about. FREE entry for SPASAVIC members!!
SPASA VICTORIA
To find out more and to book your exhibition space, please contact Conrad Patrick on 03 8526 7771 or conrad@spasavic.com.au
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6 Over 80 Exhibitors showcasing ‘Best of Breed’ products and services across many industry categories 6 Interesting and educational seminar program presented by industry experts 6 An inspirational Show Garden Feature, designed and constructed by leading outdoor designer Urban Horticultural Solutions 6 The Outdoor Design Junction is a precinct where visitors can source ideas, inspiration, products and expert advice from industry experts on all matters relating to backyard and landscape design 6 Specialty Kids Zone – a fun, safe and caring environment for the littlies 6 Great Door Prizes, such as a Spa valued at approx $15,000 6 On-site Café 6 FREE give-aways such as Show Bags, Beach Balls and much, much more…
We love you but... you’re paying too much for Builder’s Warranty Insurance.
At AB Phillips, we love the Pool and Spa industry. It’s why we have worked so hard to bring you a warranty product outside of the Victorian government offering, to make sure we are looking after your industry. We’re the only insurance broker that has access to this exclusive facility, which is why we are confident in saying we can look after you. Our rates are often lower than what you’re paying and you can still access and lodge your certificates online. Ask another pool builder insured with us, and they’ll tell you it’s also our advice that sets us apart. Talk with one of our Account Managers. You’ll soon see how much we love you. Call 1300 242 136 or email insurance@abphillips.com.au
abphillips.com.au In issuing this Policy, AB Phillips Pty Ltd act under an authority given by the Insurers. This means that when issuing this Policy AB Phillips will be acting as agent for the Insurer and are therefore not able to consider your personal circumstances. This applies only to this Policy, AB Phillips Pty Ltd are your Insurance Broker on all your other Policies unless stated otherwise. AB Phillips Pty Ltd Australian Financial Services Licence No. 234457 ABN. 91 007 075 934
Cut your homeloan rate and dive into a new pool! Refinance your home with Outdoor Finance and you could save enough to make your outdoor dream a reality! Outdoor Finance are refinancing specialists and know how and where you can make savings to enable you to do more with your loan. The simple process of refinancing your mortgage with us could free up enough money to fund a new pool, spa or landscaping project.
Why Outdoor Finance? After many years working with prospective pool and spa owners, SPASA Victoria and AB Phillips decided there had to be a better finance solution. Outdoor Finance is a collaboration between SPASA Victoria and AB Phillips. It has been developed as a finance solution specifically for funding major outdoor living expenses such as pools, spas and landscaping projects. Using our networks and significant buying power we can negotiate special interest rates and deals for people that refinance their mortgage through us.
Compare your homeloan now. Visit outdoorfinance.com.au
Innovative finance solutions for major outdoor projects.
Exceptional customer service and tailored solutions to meet your needs.
Put together by industry experts. Access to interest rates from more than 50 lenders including the big banks.
Compare your current mortgage using our online calculator and find out if an Outdoor Finance loan could work for you! Visit outdoorfinance.com.au
OUTDOOR
FINANCE
Call 1300 110 072 or visit outdoorfinance.com.au ^Conditions apply - see www.outdoorfinance.com.au for details. Outdoor Finance is a collaboration between SPASA Victoria and AB Phillips Pty Ltd. Credit services provided by AB Phillips Pty Ltd Authorised Credit Representative number 465469 of Australian Finance Group Ltd Australian Credit Licence Number 389087.
