For over 30 years AIS Water has been a leader in designing and manufacturing water disinfection technology for swimming pools.
Since 2000 we have manufactured our own quality anode material that forms the heart of our award-winning residential and commercial chlorinators.
AIS Water’s commitment to quality is not negotiable and means that our products, in particular our electrolytic cells, are renowned for their longevity.
We believe in collaboration, not competition. With the opening of our new, dedicated anode production facility in 2022, we can now proudly offer our Australian made anode material to fellow industry partners.
Please contact us today for all your anode material requirements, and make your supply chain issues and exorbitant freight costs a thing of the past.
Our new anode facility is further proof of AIS Water’s longterm commitment to our industry. It’s yet another reason to choose AIS Water.
The Evo Edge-i offers the very latest in design innovation. Its space saving design means it can be installed almost anywhere!
The Evo Edge-i inverter heat pump is our latest innovation in domestic pool and spa heating and cooling. Ideal for tight installation locations, the Evo Edge-i can be conveniently installed in almost any location.
Designed with the latest stepless full DC inverter compressors, fans, and control systems – all working in perfect harmony to provide optimized heating and cooling with minimal operating costs.
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All material in this publication is copyright to the publisher and/or its contributors. No material may be reproduced without the express permission of the publishers.
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Disclaimer: This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”) on behalf of SPASA Australia. Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.
Disclaimer: This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”) on behalf of SPASA Australia. Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.
This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (Intermedia) may contain magazine or subscription; offers, competitions, forms and surveys (Reader Offers) which require you to provide information about yourself, if you choose to enter or take part in them. If you provide information about yourself to Intermedia, Intermedia will use this information to provide you with the products of services you have requested and may supply your information to contractors that help Intermedia to do this. Intermedia will also use your information to inform you of other Intermedia publications, products, services and events. Intermedia may give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give it to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information Intermedia holds about you, please contact Intermedia’s Privacy Officer at The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, PO Box 55, Glebe, NSW 2037. Copyright © 2023 - SPASA Australia.
This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (Intermedia) may contain magazine or subscription; offers, competitions, forms and surveys (Reader Offers) which require you to provide information about yourself, if you choose to enter or take part in them. If you provide information about yourself to Intermedia, Intermedia will use this information to provide you with the products of services you have requested and may supply your information to contractors that help Intermedia to do this. Intermedia will also use your information to inform you of other Intermedia publications, products, services and events. Intermedia may give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give it to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information Intermedia holds about you, please contact Intermedia’s Privacy Officer at The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, PO Box 55, Glebe, NSW 2037. Copyright © 2023 - SPASA Australia.
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Sporting endeavour is never too far away from the Australian consciousness. Whether it’s cheering for swimming superstars at the Olympics, celebrating as our Test team retains the Ashes, hoping for the Wallabies to get a win up at the Rugby World Cup, or barracking for your favourite rugby league or Aussie rules footy team throughout the winter.
This year Australia found a new team to enthusiastically support –the Matildas, who became the first Australian football (AKA soccer) team to make it to a semi-final of a FIFA World Cup.
The Intermedia Group takes its Corporate and Social Responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers. This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody. PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests.
Chris Maher Managing Editor chrismaher@ intermedia.com.auBut few people realise the role swimming pools and water therapy played in the team’s success, and the success of most high level sporting teams around the country and the world.
To find out more about this we went into the dressing rooms and recovery facilities of a number of major stadiums as well as the centres of excellence for a variety of sports – and discovered that recovery pools are becoming essential, while also learning a few idiosyncrasies of elite recovery. That story is on page 76.
We also look at pool renovations, including tips on how builders can add value to their bottom line; we continue our series on Australian manufacturing with a Queensland company renowned for innovation that has recently completed a facility that is a first for the Southern Hemisphere; and we list all the winners and runners up of the State Awards of Excellence.
As I write this, the National Awards have just been held. But we’ll save delving into them for the next edition where we can dedicate a bit more space to the winners.
I hope you did well in the awards if you entered, and I hope you enjoy this edition of SPLASH!
The cover shows the cliff-hugging cantilevered infinity pool on the edge of the Derwent River, designed by Studio Ilk Architects and built by Lane Group. There is more on this pool on page 62.
Image credit: Anjie Blair Photography.
Oasis
23 The pitfalls of fixed price contracts – an accountant’s view Senior accountant Gulshan Gupta discusses the challenges of fixed price contracts, while Spiros Dassakis describes some useful clauses to mitigate price fluctuations.
All the winners and runners up from New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Territories of ACT and NT as well.
With so many pools built around Australia during the 70s, 80s and 90s, there is ample stock waiting to be renovated. Veda Dante looks at ways to really enhance a renovation, and make some money at the same time.
We look at an amazing cliff-hugging home with its stunning cantilever infinity pool perched on the edge of Tasmania’s Derwent River.
The latest in our Australian manufacturing series looks at AIS Water and their commitment to innovation that led to the establishment of the only water disinfection anode factory in the Southern Hemisphere, built in Brisbane for the local industry as well as for export.
We toured several top level facilities to have a look at the recovery pool phenomena, including the state of the art amenities at Accor Stadium where the Matildas played group and semi-final matches, and also looked at their post-training recovery facilities in Melbourne.
Following the 2018 discovery of a structural issue in the 62-year-old, 33m Goulburn War Memorial Pool, a $30 million refurbishment plan was put in place. We check out the updated facility, which has become a focal point for the town and the surrounding community.
Global water treatment and pool equipment manufacturer Waterco Limited has acquired Davey Water Products, cementing its position as the largest Australian-owned and operated entity in the water industry.
The transaction to purchase Davey from GUD Holdings Limited was completed in early September 2023, with a sale price of $64.9 million.
With a combined 131-year history in the multi-billiondollar global water industry, the acquisition enables Waterco to expand its reach while providing increased market presence and growth opportunities.
Waterco, established in 1981 with a single pool pump store in Sydney, has since become a global brand recognised for designing and manufacturing filtration and sanitisation innovations for the swimming pool, spa, aquaculture and water purification sectors.
Davey has been manufacturing water pumps and other water treatment products in Australia for nearly 90 years, a tradition Waterco intends to maintain.
Waterco founder, executive chairman and chief executive officer, Soon Sinn Goh, says the acquisition aligns with Waterco’s long-term strategic vision of becoming a global leader in the water technology industry.
“We are excited about the potential synergies between Waterco and Davey,” says Goh. “By working together, we believe we can create a stronger and more competitive water treatment and pool equipment business.”
Goh says having both brands continue in the market will be less disruptive than a full merger or integration, but will still lead to significant benefits for both companies.
“Davey is an iconic Australian brand; we are respectful of its long heritage and understand the need for careful planning and execution in order to minimise disruption to the company’s operations and reputation.”
He says they can’t see an immediate need for any staff restructuring or any redundancies, but the CEO, the CFO and the GM of HR will not be joining them.
“We did a fair bit of due diligence, but that doesn’t mean we know all about Davey at this stage. So we need to understand much more,” he says.
Davey COO Peter Wolff says the company is confident that this combination will be successful.
“We are committed to working with Waterco to create a winning team and leverage the strength of both brands,” he says.
“By adopting a long-range outlook, Waterco is positioning itself for success in the years to come,” says Goh.
“It positions the company for sustainable growth and enables us to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the market,” he says.
The acquisition brings together complementary strengths and capabilities that will benefit
Waterco’s customers across various sectors.
“One outcome of the acquisition will be increased share of global water markets across pool and spa, water transfer and water treatment categories,” says Goh. Growth opportunities include leveraging geographical strengths across developing markets in Europe, USA, Africa and the Middle East.
“Waterco’s extensive distribution into North America and the European Union will further enhance Davey’s preexisting reach in Europe,” he says.
“The Middle East has good potential, and in Europe, our office and warehouse is sited in the UK, theirs is sited in France. So now we would have a division in France – and because of Brexit, that will fit us well.”
He says another benefit is that both companies will have access to each other’s customer bases as their products are complementary.
Davey also has a large team in Australia involved in engineering and product development with a strong focus on water scarcity, energy efficiency, and smart connected products. The combined R&D expertise of both companies will help accelerate innovation and foster the development of premium differentiated products.
Additionally, Davey possesses unique patents, proprietary technologies, and intellectual property that can be leveraged by Waterco to strengthen its product offerings and gain a competitive edge.
Goh says acquiring a company of Davey’s size was a major investment for them.
“Clearly, we do not wish to go in and take them over – we can work side by side – because the size of the company is equal to ours. In fact, in Australia, their presence in different areas, as a brand, is stronger than ours. And they have more staff in Australia compared to Waterco. They have slightly under 200 in ANZ (not including production staff) and we have about 120.
“The Davey brand is strong, and it’s been around for such a long time – even longer than ours,” he says.
While there is some overlap, the brands are complementary to a large degree.
“We though there would be a lot of overlap, but it didn’t turn out to be that way,” he says.
“To describe it in one line, we are good in filters, they are good in pumps.”
Waterco definitely has a very strong name in filtration, especially in the commercial sector. Dovetailing with that is Davey’s very good reputation in large commercial pumps.
“Davey do very large commercial pumps,” says Goh. “Our commercial pumps are up to 12 and a half horsepower; theirs are up to 50 horsepower!”
Davey also makes pumps for use outside the pool industry, and they will still be well supported.
“We understand pumps very
well,” says Goh. “In fact, in this area we will be learning a lot from them. At the same time, having said that, they do not have plastic commercial pumps.”
Waterco has plastic commercial pumps from five horsepower up to 12 and a half horsepower, geared towards the growing needs of the seawater environment and commercial pools using salt chlorination.
Goh is committed to the Davey manufacturing facility in Scoresby, and says not only will it be supported, they hope to extend it.
It may even mean producing some Waterco products for the Australian market in Victoria.
“I wouldn’t rule it out, to bring some of the products here. But we need to have a very close look before we decide what to do going forward,” he says.
Similarly, they may potentially also make some Davey products in Malaysia for the Asian market after considering all factors closely.
Goh says he is excited about some of the Davey products they’ll be bringing into their portfolio. One such product is the Silencer.
“I think they have a very good pump in the Silencer,” he says. “And they have a commercial chlorinator in place as well –we’d like to have a very close look at that.”
He says that Waterco chief operating officer, Bryan Goh, has made up a list of the synergies where Waterco can help Davey and Davey can help Waterco.
“It’s a pretty good list,” he says. “And that’s very encouraging to see that there are areas where there’s good synergy, and very few areas where there are clashes.
“For example, Davey is particularly strong in regional areas. And I believe we can help on the filtration side of things. Not just in aquatics, but also in households in the regional towns. We have a strong interest in rural water supply. We understand filtration and we’d like to apply that knowledge to that region as well.”
Currently there are no plans for Waterco-owned retail network Swimart to pick up Davey products, as their needs are already met with Waterco products.
Waterco had minimal or zero debt before acquiring Davey. Despite the borrowings associated with the acquisition, the debt level remains at a low gearing level, indicating strong financial health. The projected combined revenue for FY24 will surpass $200 million, making Waterco the largest Australian-owned manufacturer of water transfer and water treatment products.
Goh says he has no plans for other acquisitions at the moment.
“I think we have a fair bit to go through right now without thinking about more acquisitions,” he laughs.
“Having said that, never say never! Something may drop from the sky and land at our feet. But if you asked me, Do I have plans?
Definitely no.”
Contact: www.waterco.com.au; www.daveywater.com
Comparing the available pool DA figures for the 12 months to August with the same period last year, annual applications were down by 12 percent nationally. South Australia was up by 43 per cent and Victoria was up 25 per cent, but all other states were down: Queensland by 20 per cent, New South Wales by 25 per cent and Western Australia by 28 per cent. The numbers over the most recent three months were down by 15 per cent nationally when compared to the same period last year. The June-August numbers from Cordell show South Australia up by a massive 180 per cent, but all other states down: Western Australia by 31 per cent, Queensland by 26 per cent, New South Wales by 25 per cent and Victoria by 13 per cent.
While these figures give an indication of the way the market is trending, they are not comprehensive and don’t include all pools built or even all DAs lodged. By some estimates, the total national numbers including all types of pools could be almost double these figures. They do not include pool projects that are approved as part of a new home, smaller projects under the cost threshold, renovations that don’t require a DA, or some aboveground pools. Additionally, not all councils are forthcoming with data or report on time; councils in some states such as Queensland and Victoria are particularly reluctant. For further information, call Cordell Information on 1800 80 60 60.
The 2023 National Business of the Year went to Aquify Pools, a well-deserved win for brothers Tim and Matt Ranieri who are celebrating their 15th year of pool installations.
● Best Supplier - AGent Pool and Spa
● Best Spa Retailer - Endless Pools & Spas
● Best Pool Store - Poolwerx Upper North Shore
● Best Mobile Service Business - Halogen Pools
He first came to Australia in 1957 as a 17year-old from Pollutri, Italy, and worked at a number of trades before entering the pool industry in 1959 with Pine Valley Pools.
A stunning pool by Graziani Pools + Landscapes elevated nine metres above the ground has won the 2023 National Pool of the Year.
The SPASA National Awards of Excellence were held on September 2 at the iconic Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney, providing a prestigious backdrop for the highlight of the season.
The awards were presented by a unified SPASA Australia as the culmination of a highly successful awards season. The event not only recognised the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations but also served as a testament to the unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation.
Chief information officer Luke Daly says the event surpassed all expectations, boasting record-breaking attendance to cap a highly successful awards season.
“What an extraordinary night,” he says. “The event highlighted the exceptional standard that our industry operates at. It was a delightful experience for all attendees, and I extend my immense congratulations to all the deserving winners.”
It was a bittersweet award for Graziani Pools + Landscapes as the company was still mourning the loss of founder Don Graziani, who passed away in August.
● Best Prefabricated Composite Pool BuilderPrestige Plunge Pools
● Best Fibreglass Pool Builder - Aquify Pools
● Best Concrete Pool Builder - Elite Pools and Landscapes
● Best Vinyl-Lined Pool Builder - Pleasure Pools
● Best Professional Service Business - Carter Marketing Project Management
● Commercial Product of the Year - Aquarius Pools & Paul McQuillan Landscapes
● Product of the Year - Poolside Connect, Maytronics Australia
● Professional of the Year - Steve Taylor, COS Design
● Pool of the Year - Graziani Pools + Landscape
● Business of the Year - Aquify Pools
See all the winners at www.splash.online/ articles/links149
Tragically, Graziani Pools + Landscapes founder Don Graziani passed away in a boating accident, only two weeks before the awards night. His family said he passed away doing what he loved – boating and fishing. He had retired in 2016 after dedicating 54 years to the swimming pool industry.
He quickly saw that with his skill set and work ethic he could do the job of four men within the company and set about starting his own pool business – the business that then became Don Graziani Swimming Pools.
He began developing his reputation amongst the industry and became sought after by Perth’s best architects and builders. He hired a team of loyal employees, most of whom stayed with him for over 20 years. Of particular note is Viktorio Di Virgilio, who worked for him for more than 40 years.
Don’s son Anthony worked in the business from the young age of about eight years old, and was on site with Don helping each weekend, in the school holidays and throughout his electrical apprenticeship.
In 1999 Anthony began working full time with Don in the pool industry. In 2008 Don and Anthony became business partners, and Graziani Pools was created. They worked together until Don’s retirement in 2016, at age 74.
Kai Linke joined Don and Anthony at Graziani Pools in 2012 and after Don’s retirement, he became partners with Anthony in 2018. Don remained a regular visitor on the work site and as an advisor to the business until his tragic death.
The next edition of SPLASH! will feature a full rundown of the national awards, as well more on Graziani Pool + Landscapes, and the amazing winning design.
Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter.
Graziani Pools + Landscapes
The gala night for the industry’s best nationwide awarded Graziani Pools the top accolade for National Pool of the Year.
The online stories that made the news over the past two months.
Waterco Limited completes acquisition of Davey Water Products Global water treatment and pool equipment manufacturer Waterco Limited completed its acquisition of Davey Water Products from GUD.
The hunt is on for aquatics staff Aquatic centres and public pools around the country geared up to fill staffing shortages in preparations for a hot summer season.
The latest Small Business Matters report showed that profits for small and medium businesses are declining.
Waterco Ltd buys Davey Water Products for $65 million
Waterco announced its acquisition of Davey Water Products for $64.9 million, cementing its position as the largest Australianowned and operated entity in the water industry.
Oct 11-13
Oct 13-15
Oct 20-22
Oct24-27
Nov 29-30
Nov 1-3
Aquafun, Istanbul, Turkey
Sydney Home Show
Aqua Summit, Gunyama, Sydney
Aquanale, Cologne, Germany
Engineers Australia Climate Smart Engineering Conference, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Recreation Aotearoa Conference, Wellington
Nov 9 NT SPASA End of Year Event, Darwin
Nov 27-30
Piscina & Wellness, Barcelona
Dec 1 WA SPASA End of Year Event, Perth
Dec 4-7
2024
Canadian Pool & Spa Conference & Expo, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Jan 16-18 ISSA International Swim School Spectacular, Dubai
Feb 2-4
Feb 17-18
Mar 2-3
Mar 23-24
May 11-2
May 18-19
Aug 20-22
Aug 21-22
Melbourne Pool & Spa Show
Perth Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo
Sydney Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo
Adelaide Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo
New Zealand Pool & Spa Expo 2024
Brisbane Pool Spa and Lifestyle Expo
Australian Swim Schools Association National Conference, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
More details at splashmagazine.com.au. Dates are subject to change and should be checked with the relevant organisation. Send calendar submissions to info@splashmagazine.com.au
An Auckland coroner has reminded swimmers about the dangers of breath-holding games after respected royal and celebrity photographer Anthony Clausen drowned in July, after holding his breath underwater.
He held his breath for three minutes in a two-metre deep apartment pool, and the next day attempted to break that record. He was a victim of shallow water blackout, according to the Coroner who advised people to never hyperventilate before entering the water, ignore the urge to play breathholding games and don’t swim alone.
Fluidra has begun construction of a new distribution warehouse between Girona and Barcelona, Spain. The project is headed by leading Europe logistics company Logicor, with the aim of centralising stock and enhancing product delivery services. The construction is set to finish in March 2024 and be operational by April.
South Australia’s acting commissioner for consumer affairs Fraser W Stroud says Consumer and Business Services received a number of complaints about unlicensed builder Joshua Jones trading as 111 Earthworks and Landscapes. Consumers told them they engaged Jones to do building work and paid substantial deposits. In at least two cases the work was never started, with another two cases the work was incomplete and substandard. He suggested people looking to hire a builder to check the CBS register to ensure they were licensed to do the job.
At the end of August, the ACT Government introduced new regulatory reforms to make it mandatory for all home swimming pools to comply with modern safety standards.
Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction, Rebecca Vassarotti, says the reforms bring the ACT in line with other jurisdictions that have already introduced swimming pool barrier reforms in recent years.
The reforms are proposed to start from 1 May 2024 with a four-year transition period to ease the pressure on property owners to comply with the modern safety standards.
Under the reforms:
• All pool owners will be required to maintain their pool barriers.
• Residents who have a swimming pool on their property will be required to make sure that all doors and gates providing access to the swimming pool are kept securely closed at all times when they are not in use.
• Homeowners with a pool that applies to the reforms will have to bring swimming pool barriers up to compliance with the prescribed safety standards or seek an exemption, which can be considered in limited circumstances.
• Homeowners will also be required to inform prospective tenants and purchasers of the new requirements and the compliance status of their pool. The reforms will apply to all home swimming pools and spa pools that are capable of containing water to a depth greater than 300mm.
SPASA Australia has appointed Wendy Donaldson as general manager of the Institute of Research & Learning (IRLearning), the pool and spa industry’s dedicated registered training organisation.
She will be based in SPASA’s NSW office in North Parramatta.
Donaldson was most recently global head of operations for Narellan Pools, and had previously headed up the Asia Pacific arm of a global training and communications software company, and the Australian operations of local and global franchise networks.
Chief policy officer, Spiros Dassakis, says SPASA is excited that Donaldson is joining the IRLearning team, where she will be able to apply her industry experience and passion into expanding and upgrading qualifications across all sectors.
“Wendy’s experience with Narellan Pools demonstrates her ability to improve operational efficiencies, foster relationships with key stakeholders and establish internal and external partnerships,” he says.
IRLearning recently implemented new business systems to improve students’ online learning experience and better enable qualifications to be delivered to members.
Dassakis says Donaldson has relevant experience to help these new systems drive enhanced delivery of important training in the pool and spa industry.
“Wendy has a successful track record in managing the implementation of digital and data driven
solutions across varied industries,” he says. “And I know she is very excited to bring this knowledge to our SPASA members.”
He adds that IRLearning is well positioned to support the growth of the industry’s standards, which is crucial to the continued professionalisation of the pool and spa sector.
Donaldson benefited in her early career from a number of vocational education and training opportunities, which gave her an intimate understanding of career pathways.
“That training also showed me how these pathways can provide students with hands-on experience in the workplace, while adding value to the employer by having a trained and engaged employee on their team,” she says.
Donaldson is already assimilating into the team and is happy to discuss ways IRLearning can help SPASA members work with them to provide essential knowledge via accredited training and workshops, licensing pathways and continued professional development opportunities.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with our corporate partners to see how we can support their existing training programs, provide an education roadmap and align their training offerings with accredited education pathways, to help improve the overall professionalism of the industry, which of course is one of SPASA’s pillars.”
Contact: irlearning.com
Industry movesWhen your customers are deciding on the products best suited to their pool - think Davey. Our products are designed and manufactured with energy efficiency and connectivity in mind. Where your customers depend on sparkling pool water, you can Depend on Davey with the ChloroMatic Lifeguard.
daveywater.com
In August, Hayward Australia hosted its annual conference for its Totally Hayward Dealers (THD), bringing together more than 100 customers from across Australia to celebrate the accomplishments of 2023 and set the stage for a promising 2024.
The picturesque backdrop of the Shangri-La Marina set the scene for a series of engaging business sessions and presentations by the Hayward team.
Robert Emmett, managing director of Hayward Pool Products, took the stage to share his vision for the company’s future, with a focus on short and long-term plans, as well as the tools and facilities available to Hayward dealers to help grow their businesses.
Another highlight was the expert panel discussion featuring national sales manager Phil Fitzgibbon, Dryden national sales manager Julian Quinn, SPASA chief information officer Luke Daly, Irene Hughes from Poolwerx and Troy Camilleri from Achievable Pools and Spas.
The panel dived deep into industry trends and regulations, sharing their wealth of experience and candid insights, leaving attendees better empowered to navigate the evolving landscape of the pool and spa industry.
“The genuine and open discussions that took place during the panel session were a testament to the sense of community that defines the THD network,” says Emmett. “Hayward extends its sincere gratitude to these
experts for their valuable contributions and their unwavering positivity.”
The conference wasn’t all business, as the delegates explored the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and the charming Kuranda village. These excursions provided the opportunity to relax, connect and discuss what might have been left unsaid during the formal sessions. Hemingway’s brewery and Salt House played hosts for memorable dinners.
Emmet expressed heartfelt appreciation to everyone who joined the trip, and says the team is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
“With such a dedicated and supportive community by our side, we are confident that the coming year will be one of growth, success, and even closer collaboration. Together, we will continue to elevate the pool and spa industry, making it a source of joy and relaxation for countless more families across Australia,” he says.
Contact: www.hayward-pool.com.au
Sunlover recently hosted its national sales and training conference in Melbourne, where managing director Steve Rickard led the team to address challenges head-on and drive positive change in the market.
He says the sales teams, which came from every state, shared their expertise and experience to pave the way for a brighter and more innovative future for Sunlover and its stakeholders.
“The three-day event provided an opportunity for staff to delve into the cutting-
SPASA chief information officer
Luke Daly has been nominated for 2023 Young Executive of the Year in CEO Magazine’s prestigious Executive Awards. CEO Lindsay McGrath says Daly’s nomination proves age is not a barrier to business acumen and maturity.
Daly has been in the industry since his teens, providing him with a diversity of aquatics and industry experience. “We are lucky to have
such a talented young leader who drives innovation and engagement in the industry,” says McGrath. “SPASA Australia would not be where it is now without the dedication of young people like Luke and elder statesmen like Spiros, as well as all the staff who make up a highly dedicated team.” McGrath has also been nominated in the awards as Not-For-Profit Executive of the Year.
The MPBAA awards were held in August with the Pool of the Year going to Apex Pools and Spas, the Spa of the Year going to Aqua Dreamz
edge features and technology of the new Oasis iX heat pump,” he says.
“Through specialised training sessions and hands-on demonstrations, the team gained invaluable insights into the game-changing product that will pave the way towards a future of excellence and growth.
“This united effort from coast to coast showcases the commitment of the entire team to elevate Sunlover’s brand and its impact in the industry," he says.
Contact: www.sunloverheating.com.au
and the Product of the Year going to the Walkston Pump. For the full list go to www.mpbaa.com.au
A fibreglass repairer has been fined $8000 by Perth Magistrates Court for breaching the Australian Consumer Law by taking deposits from three consumers and failing to supply goods and services within a reasonable time.
Marcello “Marc” Maddaloni of Joondalup was handed down the fine and full compensation orders were made to repay the three deposits totalling $6050.
● The Shane Doyle Rising Star Award, Poolwerx Mill Park, Melinda and Matthew Wyper, Vic
● Most Improved, Poolwerx Lower North Shore, Kerry and David Cameron, NSW
● Commercial Business of the Year, Poolwerx Wavell Heights, Sonia and Pat O’Keefe and Carolyn and Mark Ellison, QLD
● Employer of the Year, Poolwerx Dubbo, Jane and Adrian Driscoll and Leah and Daniel Maziuk, NSW
● Employee of the Year, Poolwerx Upper North Shore, Aiden Jarvis, NSW
● Employee of the Year, Poolwerx Happy Valley, Darren Faehrmann, SA
Poolwerx held their convention and awards event in August, and the winners are:
● Retail Store of the Year, Poolwerx Turramurra, NSW
● New Retail Store of the Year, Tauranga, Poolwerx Bay of Plenty, NZ
● Retail Team Member of the Year, Poolwerx Albury, Jack Culhane, VIC
● Technician of the Year, Poolwerx Dubbo, Tim McDougall, NSW
● Brand Excellence, Poolwerx Upper North Shore, Prue and Malcolm Price, NSW
● Innovation and Entrepreneurial Excellence, Poolwerx Kalamunda, Soibhone and Alessandro Nascimento, WA
● Top Sales Over $3 Million, Poolwerx Upper North Shore, Prue and Malcolm Price, NSW
● Top Sales Under $3 Million, Poolwerx Blackwood, Jillian and Trevor Wirkus, SA
● Top Mobile (Single Territory), Poolwerx Wavell Heights, Sonia and Pat O’Keefe and Carolyn and Mark Ellison, QLD
● Top Retail Sales (Single Unit), Poolwerx Dubbo, Jane and Adrian Driscoll and Leah and Daniel Maziuk, NSW
● Franchise Woman of the Year, Poolwerx Kurri Kurri, Megan Goode, NSW
● Business Development Manager of the Year, Western Australia, Tony Campbell, WA
● Poolwerx Support Centre Team Member of the Year, Poolwerx, Lisette Wingelaar
● Courage Award, Poolwerx Lennox, Alexandra and John McAuley, NSW
● Courage Award, Poolwerx Noosa, Michelle and Conrad Reed, QLD
● Partner in Profit Representative of the Year, Fluidra, Jade Pearce
● Regional Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Albany Creek, Alison and Andrew Pearce, QLD
● Regional Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Mt Gravatt, Hilary and Richard Kelly, QLD
● Regional Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Shepparton, Rosie and Craig Henry, VIC
● Regional Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Happy Valley, Natalie and Jason Simms, SA
● Regional Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Kalamunda, Soibhone and Alessandro Nascimento, WA
● Regional Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Upper North Shore, Prue and Malcolm Price, NSW
● Regional Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Waikato, Prue and David Kimber, NZ
● Franchise Partner of the Year, Poolwerx Kalamunda, Soibhone and Alessandro Nascimento, WA
● National Partner in Profit of the Year, Fluidra
The latest Small Business Matters report published by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman shows profits for small and medium businesses are declining. According to the data, 43 per cent of small business are non-profitable, which is the lowest proportion since 2012-2013 when the number was 48 per cent. This compares to 15 per cent of medium and large companies which were non-profitable. This is the lowest proportion since the Global Financial Crisis.
The report shows that the majority of small business owners are earning less than wage earners, in some cases less than their own employees. Three-quarters of self-employed small business owners working full-time earn less than the average full-time adult wage, and 55 per cent of small business owners working full-time with 1-19 employees earn less than the average full-time adult wage.
As the total personal income of small business owner-managers increases, so does the
proportion whose main source of income is from their own unincorporated business income and investments. For those on an income of $10,000 or more, 48 per cent received most of their income from their own unincorporated business and 34 per cent from investments. The report also indicates small business owners are working more hours. Forty-five per cent of self-employed businesses owners or those with less than 19 employees work more than the Australian median of 38 hours per week.
Meanwhile, Beyond Blue has launched a guided self-help mental health coaching program for small business owners who may be experiencing increased stress at the current time.
The NewAccess for Small Business Owners is free, confidential and convenient. It is available nationally by phone or video call, and no GP referral is required.
It is funded by The Treasury and delivered by Richmond Fellowship Queensland. Over six sessions, your mental health coach will work with you to manage stress and using straightforward problem-solving approaches. All mental health coaches are specially trained and have a small business background so they understand small and medium business owners’ unique challenges.
For more: www.splash.online/articles/links149
According to a recent report, profits for small and medium businesses are declining
When yo� Pool Lighting is looking a bit dated –be the one to stand out.
Milestones
Leading pool cover and roller manufacturer Daisy Pool Covers is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Daisy was founded in October 1983 by Bob and Joan Prince with Joan’s son Mark Goddard starting in 1986. In 1997, the company welcomed Derek and Janine Prince to the Daisy family, who brought fresh ideas and expertise, propelling the company to new heights.
The following year marked a pivotal moment when Daisy ventured into manufacturing rollers and expanded its distribution nationwide, reaching a broader market across the country.
“Throughout its journey, the company has been at the forefront of cover and roller design, introducing groundbreaking products and pioneering advancements in the commercial industry,” says managing director Derek Prince.
A significant turning point in Daisy’s history occurred in October 2000, when the company acquired the Sydney Cover & Roller conversion business from their supplier Sealed Air. This strategic move solidified Daisy’s presence in the eastern states and granted access to a wider network of customers, strengthening the company’s position in the market.
In 2005 Daisy’s revolutionary long-life Ultradome product won Product of the Year, helping sales take off.
In the lead up to their 40th birthday, Daisy is having 40 days of discounts where every order that is placed through the dealer portal has the chance of receiving anything from a four per cent to a whopping 40 per cent discount. The promotion will run until their 40th anniversary on October 14.
Prince says reaching 40 years is a remarkable achievement for the familyrun business.
“Daisy has become a household name here in Australia and throughout the world, thanks to revolutionary products like the Ultradome solar pool cover range. Of course, our success would not have been possible without the help of our passionate network of Daisy Dealers and the wider industry,” he says.
“In recognition of this fact and to show our appreciation, we are offering our valued dealers the chance to ‘spin the wheel’ for randomised discounts of four per cent, 14 per cent, 24 per cent or even a massive 40 per cent off their order!”
Contact: www.daisypoolcovers.com.au
Poolwerx’ matchmaker program involves facilitating conversations with existing or emerging franchisees to take over the established bricks-andmortar stores.
Poolwerx CEO Nic Brill says store acquisitions offer unique business opportunities for those seeking immediate entry to pool retail industry.
“While this program benefits independents looking to sell, it also offers exceptional opportunities to passionate franchise partners to expand their current footprint or immediately progress from mobile operations to a retail offering,” he says.
He expects this type of acquisition to become more popular as franchise partners seek immediate economic growth by taking over an established retail store.
“While Australia is experiencing turbulent economic conditions there is still an appetite
for business growth and Poolwerx is seeing increasing interest for established retail opportunities with the support of the Poolwerx network,” he says.
He believes franchising is often viewed as a “recession-proof” business model due to smaller outlets having the support of a
Spin and win, Daisy’s forty day promotion runs until October 14
network, and that the pool and spa industry is less volatile due to the nature of products not able to be “turned off”.
Franchisee Shauna Brigden and her husband started as mobile-only after seeing how under-serviced the Grafton area was, then decided to trial a pop up at the local shopping centre.
“Due to such high demand, the temporary shop lasted five months and we knew we needed something more permanent,” she says.
When an independent store became available with high foot traffic and loyal clientele, they took it on.
“Within 10 months we had 110 regular monthly clients and a further 150 ad hoc clients per month, which is just phenomenal, we were so surprised and humbled by the response.”
Contact: www.poolwerx.com.au
Gulshan Gupta is a senior manager for Brisbanebased accounting firm Inspire. Here he discusses the challenges of fixed price contracts.
By Gulshan GuptaIwork with small business owners, helping them make well-informed decisions so they can pull more money, time and happiness from their businesses.
Recently, many businesses have faced tough times and notably business owners have struggled to keep their heads above water. In this article, I’ll be addressing the key issues of fixed price contracts affecting the pool industry, offering an alternative to fixed contracts and sharing my insight on how to overcome the challenges of fixed price contracts with the help of your suppliers, clients and advisors.
The swimming pool industry has experienced its fair share of challenges in recent times, particularly regarding fixed-price contracts. Traditionally, fixed-price contracts provided stability and reassurance to pool builders and clients.
However, the unexpected disruptions caused by the covid-19 pandemic exposed a significant flaw in this system. Fluctuating material costs and supply chain disruptions created a perfect storm that left many pool builders grappling with unanticipated losses. The situation was exacerbated by the sharp increase in the cost of materials and subcontractors, driven by supply disruptions and an environment of price increases
Fixed price contracts have long been favoured in the construction industry, including the pool building sector. They offer clients a clear understanding of the project’s total cost and protect them from unexpected expenses arising from material price fluctuations. Additionally, fixed-price contracts made it easier for clients to secure bank loans as they can accurately plan for the project costs.
These contracts were favoured not only by clients but also by builders for the predictability of cash flow, which is vital for any business’s livelihood.
The crux of the issue lies in the rigid nature of fixed-price contracts, which do not account for unforeseen circumstances or fluctuations in material costs. Pool builders, bound by these contracts, are left in a precarious situation, as they cannot adjust the contract price to reflect the increased expenses.
Consequently, builders find themselves in the difficult position of completing projects at a loss, eroding their profit margins and causing many sleepless nights. Many business owners have simply absorbed the costs and others have attempted to negotiate a reprice which clients can simply refuse or reluctantly agree that can turn a loyal client into a difficult client over the length of the project.
However, it is not all doom and gloom. Businesses in the past have faced worse conditions and survived. It is a matter of adapting. Even in such hard times, there are things you can do to improve profitability and keep your business flourishing. Below are some of the tips I have to offer.
[Also see the box on page 24, which outlines some ways to manage rising costs through a SPASA fixed price contract – Ed]
One potential solution is the adoption of variable price contracts, where the contract price is adjusted based on fluctuations in material and labour costs. These contracts allow for a more accurate reflection of the project’s true expenses, providing builders with the necessary flexibility to navigate the volatility of the market. You can reach out to lawyers to assist in drafting contracts that allow for the possibility of variations.
To mitigate the impact
and ensure the financial viability of projects, it is crucial for pool builders to establish strong relationships with suppliers and subcontractors. By fostering open communication and collaboration, builders can proactively address potential issues, negotiate better pricing, and minimise the risk of sudden cost escalations. Behind all businesses are people, and in
ABOVE: Gulshan Gupta
challenging times, how your relationships are with your suppliers – and also your customers –is the single most important factor. So focusing on building that from the start is important.
In an industry reliant on fixed-price contracts, educating clients about the challenges posed by material cost fluctuations becomes paramount. By setting realistic expectations from the outset and explaining the potential risks associated with fixed pricing, pool builders can help clients understand the need for flexibility in contracts. Over-communicating is key here. If customers are more aware of why a change is happening then they are much less likely to react negatively. At Inspire, for instance, we are on a mission to educate our clients as much as possible on new business concepts, so they have a solid knowledge base when running their businesses. I have seen that more education equals more trust and brand loyalty.
The business owners I work with often emphasise the significance of having a strong network of trusted advisors. In these challenging times, it has become more critical than ever to surround yourself with a reliable circle of individuals whom you can lean on for support and advice. I encourage you to take the initiative to build and nurture the network of people around you as they could be vital in helping you navigate uncertainties and make wellinformed business decisions. Apart from your accountant, your supportive network can include but is not limited to lawyers, financial advisors and business owners who have faced similar struggles in the past.
I hope the above information has provided valuable insights into how you can enhance your existing practices to optimise your business and address the cash flow challenges you may be experiencing with fixed-price contracts. n
Contact: www.inspire.accountants
SPASA contracts include a rise and fall clause (also referred to as a cost escalation clause). This is a provision within the contract that allows the builder to be paid an increased or decreased sum if certain costs rise or fall from a prescribed point in time.
Note:
In Victoria* and Western Australia#, cost
escalation clauses (also known as a “rise and fall” clause) are prohibited in domestic building works contracts for works valued under $500,000.
• *VIC: Section 15 of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995
• #WA: Section 13 of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991
An increase under a rise and fall clause does not require customer approval in the
SPASA contracts also have provisions that allow for the parties to agree and include specific time frames within the project completion period for projected delays.
Examples include:
• Civil commotion or industrial dispute affecting any of the trades employed on site or the manufacture or supply of materials for the works;
• Delays by the relevant approval authority in granting a necessary consent or approval;
• Unavailability of materials necessary for the continuation of the work;
• Any other matter, cause or thing beyond the control of the builder including latent conditions, where the event or circumstance is outside the reasonable
control of the builder and where builder has taken all proper steps to minimise the effects of the delay.
All delays and extension of time claims must be made in writing and contractors should give notice of the delay event as soon as the delay becomes evident. Contractors should ensure claims and the notification of claims (where triggered) are consistent with the contract for them to be considered valid.
Compensable causes: If an eligible delay is a compensable cause, the contract price may be able to increase by the costs incurred by the builder as a consequence of the eligible delay.
Compensable damages for delay in reaching completion: Pool builders should also consider completion dates and
same way as a cost variation, however the customer MUST be notified, and the builder may be asked to demonstrate how the increase was determined.
The builder MUST also notify the customer of any decrease under a rise and fall clause.
The customer can terminate the contract where any one increase under rise and fall clause equates to more than 10 per cent of total contract price.
costs for delays that may be relevant in specific circumstances.
Variations: If a contract is delayed, a contractor may also be able to claim for delay damages through a validated variation process.
The SPASA contract has a comprehensive variations process on how and when a variation could apply in certain circumstances. These include but are not limited to the following:
• Changes to the project by customer;
• Circumstances beyond the builder’s control;
• Urgent work to protect the works or people.
SPLASH! will have more on managing contracts next edition.
Business of the Year: Rogers Pools
Commercial Project of the Year: Riverdance
Apartments - Mooloolaba, Living Style Co
Pool of the Year: Sutch, Rogers Pools
Product of the Year: ProMaster PM400BT, Davey Water Products
Professional of the Year: Danica Vansleve, Norfolk Pools
Business
Best Concrete Pool Builder
Gold: Rogers Pools
Highly Commended: Norfolk Pools, Queensland Family Pools and Spas
Best Fibreglass Pool Builder
Gold: MFPeasy
Highly Commended: Built Right Pools
Best Mobile Service Business
Gold: Halogen Pools
Highly Commended: Jim’s Pool Care
Thornlands, Peachy Pools
Best Pool Store
Gold: Poolwerx Jimboomba
Best Prefabricated Composite Pool Builder
Gold: Prestige Plunge Pools
Best Professional Service Business
Gold: canibuild
Highly Commended: Building Approvals and Advice (BA&A) Pools Team, Pool Site
Quote (PSQ)
Best Spa Retailer
Gold: Alpine Spas
Highly Commended: Spa World
Best Supplier
Gold: EvoHeat
Highly Commended: Focus Products, Legend Products & Services
Display Pool/Centre
Gold: The Pool Tile Company
New Pool Store
Gold: Halogen Pools
Online Pool Store
Gold: Pool Builders Pool Shop
Single Location Pool Store
Gold: Poolwerx Jimboomba
Highly Commended: Halogen Pools, Poolside Cairns
Person
Acknowledgement of Industry Service
Gold: Mario Lukenda, La Vida Pools and Spas
Qld, Sean Lynch, Ecozen Pools
Construction Tradesperson Award
Gold: Adrian Veti, Amber Aquatic
Highly Commended: Brandon Webb, Queensland Family Pools and Spas, Chris Hoare, Prestige Plunge Pools
In-Field Service Technician Award
Gold: PJ Prendergast, Peachy Pools
Highly Commended: Adrian Veti, Amber Aquatic, Robert Cross, Queensland Family Pools and Spas
Operational Excellence Award
Gold: Michael Barbour, Queensland Family Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: Gaynor Heaven, Building Approvals and Advice (BA&A), Lucy Burley, Pool Fab
Pool Designer Award
Gold: Danica Vansleve, Norfolk Pools
Pool Sales Representative Award
Gold: Terry Nicholls, Queensland Family Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: Chanice Evans, Satori Pools, Danica Vansleve, Norfolk Pools
Retail Service Technician Award
Gold: Simon Martin, Poolwerx Jimboomba, Highly Commended:
Brendan Yates, Clark Rubber Cairns
Gavin Beech, Poolside Cairns
Rising Star Award
Gold: Shannon Greenhill, Norfolk Pools
Highly Commended: Andrew Broad, Clark Rubber, Kathryn Elliott, Queensland Family Pools and Spas
Supplier Salesperson Award
Gold: Lonny Ware, Waterco
Highly Commended: Josh Harrison, EvoHeat, Matt Casey, Pool Controls
Product
Commercial System
Gold: EvoHeat
Education & Training Excellence Award
Gold: Halogen Pools
Highly Commended: Clark Rubber
Innovative Product Award
Gold: Ezarri, Europe Imports Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: LifeGuard App, Davey Water Products, Maytronics Poolside Connect, Maytronics Australia
Marketing Campaign Award
Gold: 2022 Pools Growth Campaign, Reece
Irrigation & Pools
Highly Commended: Drive Water Tests, Clark Rubber, Kreepy Krauly – Marketing Award, Kreepy Krauly
New Product Award
Gold: Hi-Flo Performance (Solar Absorber), That Pool Heating Company Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: Hide Polymer Skimmer
Lids, Skimmer Lids Pty Ltd, V-Lock Lid, Aquea
Portable Spa
Gold: Portable Spa - Qld, Alpine Spas
Sustainable Product Award
Gold: ProMaster PM400BT, Davey
Water Products
Highly Commended: Ezarri, Europe Imports, Nova-Pro290, Supreme Heating
Swim Spa
Gold: Alpine Spas
Vinyl Lined Modular Pools
Gold: Affordable Above Ground Pools
Highly Commended: Classic Pools
Project
Commercial Pool up to $500,000
Gold: La Vida Pools and Spas Qld Pty Ltd
Commercial Renovation
Gold: Living Style Co
Highly Commended: Aqualon Interiors, Just Swimming Pool Renovations Pty Ltd
Commercial Spa
Gold: Living Style Co
Composite Pool over $60,000
Gold: Queensland Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: Queensland Plunge Pools
Concrete Commercial Pool up to $250,000
Gold: Pools By Design
Concrete Lap Pool
Gold: Rogers Pools
Highly Commended: Norfolk Pools, Satori Pools
Concrete Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Ecozen Pools
Highly Commended: Living Style Co, Queensland Family Pools & Spas
Concrete Pool over $240,000
Gold: Ecozen Pools
Highly Commended: Ezy Living Pools, Aqua Living Pools
Concrete Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Rogers Pools
Highly Commended: Pool Fab, Rogers Pools
Concrete Pool up to $180,000
Gold: Living Style Co
Highly Commended: Pool Fab, Rogers Pools
Concrete Pool up to $240,000
Gold: Environ Pools
Highly Commended: Ecozen Pools, Rogers
Pools
Concrete Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Queensland Family Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: Pool Fab, Rogers Pools
Courtyard/Small Pool over $80,000
Gold: Rogers Pools
Highly Commended: Queensland Family Pools & Spas
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Prestige Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: Built Right Pools, Prestige Plunge Pools
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Aesthetic Pools & Landscapes
Highly Commended: Norfolk Pools, Rogers Pools
Fibreglass Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Built Right Pools
Fibreglass Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Built Right Pools
Fibreglass Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Built Right Pools
Highly Commended: MFPeasy, Built Right Pools
Freeform Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Rogers Pools
Highly Commended: Queensland Family Pools & Spas, Placid Pools
Freeform Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Pool Fab
Innovative Project
Gold: Ecozen Pools
Highly Commended: Rogers Pools, EvoHeat
International Project
Gold: EvoHeat
Pool Landscape Design
Gold: Living Style Co
Highly Commended: Aesthetic Pools & Landscapes, Queensland Family Pools and Spas
Prefabricated Composite Pool up to $30,000
Gold: Prestige Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: Prestige Plunge Pools
Prefabricated Composite Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Prestige Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: Prestige Plunge Pools
Renovation over $60,000
Gold: Queensland Family Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Ezy Living Pools, MFPeasy Renovation up to $30,000
Gold: Just Swimming Pool Renovations Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: Aqualon Interiors
Renovation up to $60,000
Gold: Living Style Co
Highly Commended: Rogers Pools, Just Swimming Pool Renovations Pty Ltd
Residential Lighting Feature
Gold: Rogers Pools
Highly Commended: Queensland Family Pools and Spas, Rogers Pools
Residential Water Feature
Gold: Living Style Co
Highly Commended: Queensland Family Pools and Spas, Living Style Co
Safety Barrier
Gold: Ecozen Pools
Highly Commended: Pool Fab, Ecozen Pools
Sustainable Project
Gold: Prestige Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: EvoHeat, That Pool Heating Company Pty Ltd
Vinyl Lined Commercial Pool up to $250,000
Gold: Aqualon Interiors
Vinyl Lined In-ground Pool
Gold: Aqualon Interiors
Highly Commended: Aqualon Interiors
Vinyl-Lined Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Aqualon Interiors
Major Awards
Business of the Year: Aquify Pools
Commercial Project of the Year: The Banya, Dynamic Pool Designs
Pool of the Year: Mollymook Beach, Cloud 9
Pools
Product of the Year: Poolside Connect, Maytronics Australia
Professional of the Year: David McConnell, Fluidra Australia
Spa of the Year: Cronulla I – Audrey Spa, Pinnacle Pools
Business
Best Concrete Pool Builder
Gold: Cloud 9 Pools Pty Ltd
Best Fibreglass Pool Builder
Gold: Aquify Pools
Highly Commended: Kinetic Pools, Local Pools & Spas
Best Mobile Service Business
Gold: Halogen Pools
Highly Commended: Poolside Coastline Pools, Poolside Davison pool and spa
Best Pool Store
Gold: Poolwerx Upper North Shore
Best Professional Service Business
Gold: Bufferzone Systems
Highly Commended: Pool Site Quote (PSQ)
Best Spa Retailer
Gold: Alpine Spas
Highly Commended: Spa World, Just Spas Central Coast
Best Supplier
Gold: Glazed Co. Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: Europe Imports, Stone and Ceramic Tile Wholesalers
Multi-Location Pool Store
Gold: Poolwerx Upper North Shore
Single Location Pool Store
Gold: Poolside Coastline Pools
Highly Commended: Clark Rubber Campbelltown, Davison Pool and Spa Service
Person
Acknowledgement of Industry Service
Carl Yench, Europe Imports Pty Ltd
Chris Ayres, Stone And Ceramic Tile Wholesalers
Christopher Harris, Splish Splash Pools
Pty Limited
Fiona Phelps, Kinetic Pools
Gavin Brooks, Dynamic Pool Designs
Construction Tradesperson Award
Gold: Stephen Kennedy-O’Brien, Aquastone Pools and Landscapes
Highly Commended: Dean Edwards, Wisdom Pools and Landscapes, Greg White, Hawkesbury Pools
In-Field Service Technician Award
Gold: David McConnell, Fluidra Australia
Highly Commended: Brett Singleton, Poolside Davison Pool and Spa, Chris Cullen, Pool & Spa Warehouse Pty Ltd
Operational Excellence Award
Gold: Fiona Phelps, Kinetic Pools
Pool Designer Award
Gold: Fiona Phelps, Kinetic Pools
Pool Sales Representative Award
Gold: Greg White, Hawkesbury Pools
Highly Commended: Jamie Lane, Wisdom Pools and Landscapes
Retail Service Technician Award
Gold: Shannon Lynch, Clark Rubber Campbelltown
Rising Star Award
Gold: Anna-Lisa De Fague, Europe Imports
Highly Commended: Kyle Clement, Alpine
Spas, Paul Sciberras, Vinyl Lined Pools Service
Spa Sales Representative Award
Gold: Toby Nicholls, Alpine Spas
Supplier Salesperson Award
Gold: Anthony Zantides, EvoHeat
Highly Commended: Danny Valk, Hayward, Josh Bethune, InterQuad
Product
Education & Training Excellence Award
Gold: Clark Rubber
Innovative Product Award
Gold: Poolside Connect, Maytronics Australia
Highly Commended: Freedom E80, Madimack Pty Ltd, LifeGuard App, Davey Water Products Marketing Campaign Award
Gold: Wanna Win a Pool, Cronulla Pools
Highly Commended: 2022 Pools Growth Campaign, Reece Irrigation & Pools, Easy As/ Clean As, Kreepy Krauly
New Product Award
Gold: GT560 Robotic Pool Cleaner, Madimack
Highly Commended: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited, V-Lock Lid, Aquea Portable Spa
Gold: Tranquil backyard makeover with Jacuzzi Spa, Spa World
Highly Commended: Quebec Spa, Alpine Spas
Sustainable Product Award
Gold: ProMaster PM400BT, Davey
Water Products
Highly Commended: Ezarri, Europe Imports, Onix Mosaics, Stone and Ceramic Tile
Wholesalers
Swim Spa
Gold: Alpine Spas
Gold: Classic Pools
Commercial Pool up to $500,000
Gold: Freedom Pools
Highly Commended: Endeavour Pools and Spas Pty Ltd
Commercial Spa
Gold: Dynamic Pool Designs
Commercial Water Display
Gold: Endeavour Pools and Spas Pty Ltd
Concrete Commercial Pool up to $250,000
Gold: Dynamic Pool Designs
Concrete In-ground Spa
Gold: Pinnacle Pools
Highly Commended: Aquastone Pools and Landscapes, Jade Swimming Pools Pty Ltd
Concrete Lap Pool
Gold: Cloud 9 Pools
Highly Commended: Premier Pools
Concrete Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Cloud 9 Pools
Highly Commended: Transform Pools and Spas Pty Ltd, Dynamic Pool Designs
Concrete Pool over $240,000
Gold: Cloud 9 Pools
Highly Commended: Premier Pools, Cronulla Pools
Concrete Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Pinnacle Pools
Highly Commended: Cloud 9 Pools, Dynamic Pool Designs
Concrete Pool up to $180,000
Gold: Splish Splash Pools Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: Valente Dolphin Pools, Aquastone Pools and Landscapes
Concrete Pool up to $240,000
Gold: Transform Pools and Spas Pty Ltd
Concrete Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Pinnacle Pools
Highly Commended: Pinnacle Pools, Valente Dolphin Pools
Courtyard/Small Pool over $80,000
Gold: Jade Pools
Highly Commended: Outside Pools and Landscapes Pty Ltd
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Pinnacle Pools
Highly Commended: Transform Pools and Spas Pty Ltd
Fibreglass In-ground Spa
Gold: Local Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Local Pools & Spas,
Conquest Pools Albury Wodonga
Fibreglass Lap Pool
Gold: Local Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Narellan Pools Central West & Blue Mountains
Fibreglass Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Aquify Pools
Highly Commended: Local Pools & Spas, Kinetic Pools
Fibreglass Pool over $80,000
Gold: Aquify Pools
Highly Commended: Local Pools & Spas, Narellan Pools Central West & Blue Mountains
Fibreglass Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Narellan Pools Hills District
Highly Commended: Coastline Pool & Spa, Local Pools & Spas
Fibreglass Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Narellan Pools Hills District
Highly Commended: Aquify Pools, Kinetic Pools
Freeform Pool over $120,000
Gold: KMD Outdoor Spaces
Innovative Project
Gold: Dynamic Pool Designs
Highly Commended: Local Pools & Spas, Aquastone Pools and Landscapes
International Project
Gold: EvoHeat
Pool Landscape Design
Gold: Transform Pools and Spas Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: KMD Outdoor Spaces, Pinnacle Pools
Renovation over $60,000
Gold: Poolside Co
Highly Commended: Aquastone Pools and Landscapes
Renovation up to $60,000
Gold: Coastline Pool & Spa
Highly Commended: Aquastone Pools and Landscapes
Residential Lighting Feature
Gold: Transform Pools and Spas Pty Ltd
Residential Water Feature
Gold: Pinnacle Pools
Highly Commended: julielonginteriors, Transform Pools and Spas Pty Ltd
Safety Barrier
Gold: Transform Pools and Spas Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: Glazed Co Pty Ltd
Vinyl Lined In-ground Pool
Gold: Vinyl Lined Pools Service
Business of the Year: Poolwerx Morphett Vale, Kings Park and North Brighton, Poolwerx
Commercial Project of the Year: Berri Hotel
Pool, Hydrilla
Pool of the Year: Myrtle Bank, Elite Pools and Landscapes
Product of the Year: Genesis, Green Star Solutions
Professional of the Year: Nathe Harkin, Freedom Pools
Business
Best Concrete Pool Builder
Gold: Elite Pools and Landscapes
Best Fibreglass Pool Builder
Gold: Rainwise Pools Adelaide
Highly Commended: Freedom Pools, Outside Developments
Best Mobile Service Business
Gold: Adelaide Aquaboys
Highly Commended: Easy Pool Care, Jim’s Pool Care Glenelg
Best Pool Store
Gold: Poolwerx Morphett Vale, Kings Park and North Brighton
Best Spa Retailer
Gold: Spa World
Best Supplier
Gold: Waterco
Highly Commended: EvoHeat, Reece Irrigation & Pools
Best Vinyl-Lined Pool Builder
Gold: Pleasure Pools
Display Pool/Centre
Gold: Freedom Pools
Multi-Location Pool Store
Gold: Poolwerx Morphett Vale, Kings Park and North Brighton
Single Location Pool Store
Gold: Prospect Pool and Spa
Highly Commended: Everclear Pools SA
SA 2023 Pool of the Year went to Elite Pools and LandscapesPerson
Acknowledgement of Industry Service
Gold: Bob & Rona Biernat, Freedom Pools; Manfred Warmus, Waterco; Sheila du Plooy, Fluidra Australia
Construction Tradesperson Award
Gold: Harrison Hawkins, Rainwise Pools Adelaide
Highly Commended: Daniel Della-Verde, Elite Pools and Landscapes; Mick Zbierski, Elite Pools and Landscapes
In-Field Service Technician Award
Gold: Craig Hain, Everclear Pools SA
Highly Commended: Todd Jones, Prospect Pool and Spa; Wayne Ralph, Easy Pool Care
Operational Excellence Award
Gold: Jay Thomson, Fluidra
Highly Commended: Jean-Paul DeCorso, Elite Pools and Landscapes; Wayne Ralph, Easy
Pool Care
Pool Designer Award
Gold: Ben Dewhirst, Elite Pools and Landscapes
Pool Sales Representative Award
Gold: Todd Bache, Freedom Pools
Retail Service Technician Award
Gold: Gary Gulyani, Clark Rubber Modbury
Highly Commended: Karl Piteo, Advanced Pools; Marc Piteo, Advanced Pools
Rising Star Award
Gold: Jordan Maidment, Everclear Poos SA
Highly Commended: Ben Dewhirst, Elite Pools and Landscapes; Nick Denton, Fluidra
Supplier Salesperson Award
Gold: Dana Whitbread, Fluidra
Highly Commended: Chris Ayres, Stone and Ceramic Tile Wholesalers; Mark Hall, EvoHeat
Product
Commercial System
Gold: Hydrilla
Education & Training Excellence Award
Gold: Clark Rubber
Innovative Product Award
Gold: Genesis, Green Star Solutions
Highly Commended: Freedom E80, Madimack Pty Ltd; Nova-Pro290, Supreme Heating Marketing Campaign Award
Gold: Drive Water Tests, Clark Rubber
Highly Commended: Easy As/Clean As, Kreepy Krauly
New Product Award
Gold: Genesis, Green Star Solutions
Highly Commended: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited
Sustainable Product Award
Gold: ProMaster PM400BT, Davey Water Products
Highly Commended: Genesis, Green Star Solutions; Nova-Pro290, Supreme Heating
Vinyl Lined Modular Pools
Gold: Classic Pools
Highly Commended: Classic Pools
Commercial Pool over $1,000,000
Gold: Hydrilla
Commercial Pool up to $1,000,000
Gold: Hydrilla
Commercial Pool up to $500,000
Gold: South Pacific Commercial Aquatics Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: Hydrilla
Commercial Renovation
Gold: Hydrilla
Commercial Water Display
Gold: Hydrilla
Composite Pool over $60,000
Gold: Plunge by Elite
Concrete Lap Pool
Gold: Elite Pools and Landscapes
Concrete Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Elite Pools and Landscapes
Highly Commended: Adelaide Classic Pools, Elite Pools and Landscapes
Concrete Pool over $240,000
Gold: Elite Pools and Landscapes
Concrete Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Elite Pools and Landscapes
Highly Commended: Elite Pools and Landscapes, Adelaide Classic Pools
Concrete Pool up to $180,000
Gold: Adelaide Classic Pools
Highly Commended: Adelaide Classic Pools, Elite Pools and Landscapes
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Outside Developments
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Everclear Pools SA
Highly Commended: Everclear Pools SA, Elite Pools and Landscapes
Enclosed/Indoor Pool
Gold: Outside Developments
Fibreglass Lap Pool
Gold: Freedom Pools
Fibreglass Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Outside Developments
Highly Commended: Freedom Pools, Everclear Pools SA
Fibreglass Pool over $80,000
Gold: Outside Developments
Highly Commended: Freedom Pools
Fibreglass Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Freedom Pools
Highly Commended: Rainwise Pools Adelaide, Riverina Pools
Fibreglass Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Riverscape Landscaping and Pools
Highly Commended: Riverina Pools, Outside Developments
Freeform Pool over $120,000
Gold: Adelaide Classic Pools
Pool Landscape Design
Gold: Outside Developments
Highly Commended: Elite Pools and Landscapes
Prefabricated Composite Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Plunge by Elite
Renovation over $60,000
Gold: Adelaide Classic Pools
Highly Commended: Adelaide Classic Pools, Pleasure Pools
Renovation up to $30,000
Gold: Adelaide Classic Pools
Renovation up to $60,000
Gold: Elite Pools and Landscapes
Highly Commended: Adelaide Classic Pools
Residential Water Feature
Gold: Outside Developments
Vinyl Lined In-ground Pool
Gold: Pleasure Pools
Highly Commended: Pleasure Pools
Business of the Year: Aloha Pools
Commercial Project of the Year: Alba Thermal Springs, Aquarius Pools Pty Ltd, Rapids Water Feature, Paul McQuillan Landscapes
Pool of the Year: Beaumaris, Personal Pools
Product of the Year: V-Lock Lid, Aquea
Professional of the Year: Steve Taylor, COS Design
Spa of the Year: Port Views, Aloha Pools
Best Concrete Pool Builder
Gold: Aloha Pools
Highly Commended: Apex Pools and Spas, Feature Pools
Best Fibreglass Pool Builder
Gold: Horizon Pools
Highly Commended: Conquest Pools Albury Wodonga, Master Pools
Best Mobile Service Business
Gold: Swimart Mornington
Best Pool Store
Gold: BGs Spa & Pool Care
The Victorian Pool of the Year for 2023 was awarded to Personal Pools
Gold: Wet Edge Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: Swimco Aquatics
Best Professional Service Business
Gold: Carter Marketing Project Management
Highly Commended: Pool Site Quote (PSQ), Australian Pool and Spa Permits
Best Spa Retailer
Gold: Endless Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Alpine Spas, Spa World
Best Supplier
Gold: The Pool Tile Company
Highly Commended: Hayward, Lincoln BWT
Display Pool / Centre
Gold: The Pool Tile Company
Multi-Location Pool Store
Gold: Poolwerx Albury
New Pool Store
Gold: Pool Care Plus
Highly Commended: Poolwerx Bendigo
Single Location Pool Store
Gold: BGs Spa & Pool Care
Highly Commended: Clark Rubber Narre Warren, Poolside Beaconsfield
Acknowledgement of Industry Service:
Daniel Cutugno, Horizon Pools
Paul Jacobson, BioLab
Paul Rice, Clark Rubber
Travis Fell, Aloha Pools
Construction Tradesperson Award
Gold: Jye Armistead, Apex Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: David Thompson, Swimco Aquatics, Jonathan Pittman, Feature Pools
In-Field Service Technician Award
Gold: David Egan, Aloha Plus
Highly Commended: Brendan Garratt, Conquest Pools Albury Wodonga, Poolwerx Bendigo
Operational Excellence Award
Gold: Eddie Assemani, Clark Rubber
Highly Commended: Catherine Goncalves, Horizon Pools, Shaun Watson, Laguna Pools and Spas
Pool & Spa Barrier Inspector Award
Gold: Chris Thynne, Pool Safety
Barrier Inspections
Highly Commended: Dirk Nannes, My Pool Inspector, Jason Tink, Elite Inspections
Pool Designer Award
Gold: Steve Taylor, COS Design
Highly Commended:
Daniel Cutugno, Horizon Pools, Michael Tancredi, Commercial Pool Consulting
Pool Sales Representative Award
Gold: Nathan Kinder, Aloha Pools
Highly Commended: Catherine Goncalves, Horizon Pools, Rhett Sutton, Apex Pools and Spas
Retail Service Technician Award
Gold: Rhiannon Morgan, Pool Care Plus
Highly Commended: Mikeely Walters, BGs Spa & Pool Care, Rachel Eames, Hayward
Pool Products
Rising Star Award
Gold: Chrisanthy Carmen, Laguna Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: Byron Bonner, Aloha Pools, Jake, Feature Pools
Spa Sales Representative Award
Gold: Mary Edward, Alpine Spas
Supplier Salesperson Award
Gold: Michael Kane, Pool Controls
Highly Commended: Amanda Hehir, Fluidra Australia, Chris Ayres, Stone and Ceramic Tile Wholesalers
Product
Commercial System
Gold: EvoHeat
Education & Training Excellence Award
Gold: Clark Rubber
Highly Commended: Swimco Aquatics and Australian Pool Permits
Innovative Product Award
Gold: Maytronics Poolside Connect, Maytronics Australia
Highly Commended: AFM ng, BioLab, Pearl Inverter Heat Pump, Lincoln BWT
Marketing Campaign Award
Gold: Drive Water Tests, Drive Sales, Clark Rubber
Highly Commended: Easy As/Clean As, Kreepy Krauly, Reece Irrigation & Pools, Reece Irrigation & Pools
New Product Award
Gold: V-Lock Lid, Aquea
Highly Commended: Cosmy The Bot Robotic Pool Cleaner, Lincoln BWT; Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited
Portable Spa
Gold: Portable Dream Spa, Wet Edge Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: Portable Spa – Rintoul/ Hall, Swimco Aquatics; Portable Spa –Threlfall, Swimco Aquatics
Sustainable Product Award
Gold: Aspire Pool Solar Panel, Aspire Pool
Solar Heating
Highly Commended: Max-E-Pro XF VS 5HP, Pentair; Nova-Pro290, Supreme Heating
Swim Spa
Gold: Endless Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Swimco Aquatics, Alpine Spas
Vinyl Lined Modular Pools
Gold: Classic Pools
Highly Commended: Classic Pools
Project
Commercial Pool over $1,000,000
Gold: Aquarius Pools Pty Ltd
Commercial Pool up to $1,000,000
Gold: Aloha Pools
Highly Commended: Aloha Pools
Commercial Pool up to $500,000
Gold: Aloha Pools
Highly Commended: Aloha Pools
Commercial Spa
Gold: Aloha Pools
Commercial Water Display
Gold: Paul McQuillan Landscapes
Highly Commended: Aloha Pools
Composite Pool over $60,000
Gold: Swimco Aquatics
Highly Commended: Plunge Pools Plus, BG’s Pools & Spas
Concrete Commercial Pool up to $250,000
Gold: Paul McQuillan Landscapes
Highly Commended: Paul McQuillan Landscapes
Concrete In-ground Spa
Gold: Tanzanite Pools
Highly Commended: Personal Pools, Grange Pools
Concrete Lap Pool
Gold: Aloha Pools
Highly Commended: Laguna Pools and Spas, Striking Pools
Concrete Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Laguna Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: Personal Pools, Laguna Pools and Spas
Concrete Pool over $240,000
Gold: Personal Pools
Highly Commended: Aloha Pools, Laguna Pools and Spas
Concrete Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Apex Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: Laguna Pools and Spas, Exotic Pools
Concrete Pool up to $180,000
Gold: Laguna Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: Laguna Pools and Spas, Apex Pools and Spas
Concrete Pool up to $240,000
Gold: Personal Pools
Highly Commended: Personal Pools, Aloha Pools
Concrete Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Horizon Pools
Highly Commended: Horizon Pools, Peninsula Concrete Pools
Courtyard / Small Pool over $80,000
Gold: Laguna Pools and Spas
Highly Commended: Grange Pools, Feature Pools
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Conquest Pools Albury Wodonga
Highly Commended: Tanzanite Pools, Endless Pools and Spas
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Horizon Pools
Highly Commended: Horizon Pools, Swimco Aquatics
Enclosed/Indoor Pool
Gold: Aloha Pools
Highly Commended: Endless Pools and Spas
Fibreglass Commercial Pool up to $250,000
Gold: Horizon Pools
Fibreglass In-ground Spa
Gold: Aloha Pools
Highly Commended: BG’s Pools & Spas, Swimco Aquatics
Fibreglass Lap Pool
Gold: Conquest Pools Albury Wodonga
Fibreglass Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Conquest Pools Albury Wodonga
Highly Commended: Swan Hill Pool and Spa, BG’s Pools & Spas
Fibreglass Pool over $80,000
Gold: BG’s Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Swan Hill Pool and Spa, Master Pools
Fibreglass Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Conquest Pools Albury Wodonga
Fibreglass Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Horizon Pools
Highly Commended: BG’s Pools & Spas, Horizon Pools
Freeform Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Striking Pools
Innovative Project
Gold: Personal Pools
Highly Commended: Aloha Pools
International Project
Gold: EvoHeat
Pool Landscape Design
Gold: COS Design
Highly Commended: Apex Pools and Spas, Paul McQuillan Landscapes
Prefabricated Composite Pool up to $30,000
Gold: Swimco Aquatics
Prefabricated Composite Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Wet Edge Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: Swimco Aquatics
Renovation over $60,000
Gold: Swimco Aquatics
Renovation up to $30,000
Gold: Peninsula Concrete Pools
Residential Lighting Feature
Gold: Personal Pools
Residential Water Feature
Gold: Conquest Pools Albury Wodonga
Safety Barrier
Gold: Swimco Aquatics
Highly Commended: Peninsula
Concrete Pools, Striking Pools
Sustainable Project
Gold: Horizon Pools
Highly Commended: EvoHeat
Major Awards
Business of the Year: Reece
Irrigation & Pools, Reece Irrigation & Pools
Commercial Project of the Year:
Oatlands Aquatic Centre, Hydrilla
Pool of the Year: Seven Mile
Beach Dream Pool, Greenview Pools and Landscapes
Product of the Year: Aspire
Pool Solar Panel, Aspire Pool
Solar Heating
Professional of the Year: Lisa Marias, Spa World
Spa of the Year: Indoor swim spa, Spa World
Business
Best Concrete Pool Builder
Gold: Greenview Pools and Landscapes
Best Spa Retailer
Gold: Spa World Tasmania
Best Supplier
Gold: Reece Irrigation & Pools
Person
Spa Sales Representative Award
Gold: Lisa Marias, Spa World
Supplier Salesperson Award
Gold: Josh Hellema, EvoHeat
Product
Commercial System
Gold: Hydrilla
Innovative Product Award
Gold: Aspire Pool Solar Panel, Aspire Pool Solar Heating
Highly Commended: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited New Product Award
Gold: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited
Portable Spa
Gold: Balinese Spa Retreat at Home, Spa World
Sustainable Product Award
Gold: Aspire Pool Solar Panel, Aspire Pool Solar Heating
Highly Commended: ProMaster
PM400BT, Davey Water Products
Swim Spa
Gold: Spa World Project
Concrete Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Greenview Pools and Landscapes
Concrete Pool up to $180,000
Gold: Greenview Pools and Landscapes
Fibreglass Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Greenview Pools and Landscapes
Pool Landscape Design
Gold: Greenview Pools and Landscapes
Greenview Pools and Landscapes won the Tasmanian Pool of the Year 2023
Business of the Year
Gold: Passion for Quality, Graziani Pools + Landscape
Commercial Project of the Year
Gold: Bayswater Waves Aquatic Centre, Paragon Construction Solutions Pty Ltd Pool of the Year
Gold: High End Luxury, Graziani Pools + Landscape
Product of the Year
Gold: Pool Concept, Endura Pools
Professional of the Year
Gold: Nick Hubble, Countrywide Pools Spa of the Year
Gold: Hidden Ocean Retreat Dunsborough, Mega Spa Australia
Business
Best Concrete Pool Builder
Gold: Graziani Pools + Landscape
Highly Commended: Imperial Pools, The Concrete Pool Company
Best Fibreglass Pool Builder
Gold: Freedom Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Aquatic Leisure
Technologies, Countrywide Pools
Best Mobile Service Business
Gold: Pool Assist
Highly Commended: AquaServ Pool and Spa, MAHA Services
Best Pool Store
Gold: Countrywide Pools
Best Professional Service Business
Gold: tristanpeirce Landscape Architecture
Highly Commended: Pool Robotics Perth
Best Spa Retailer
Gold: Mega Spa Australia
Highly Commended: Spa World
Best Supplier
Gold: AGent Pool and Spa
Highly Commended: EvoHeat, Reece
Irrigation & Pools
Display Pool/Centre
Gold: Aqua Technics
Highly Commended: Barrier Reef Group Bunbury Pty Ltd, Freedom Pools & Spas
Single Location Pool Store
Gold: Countrywide Pools
Highly Commended: Splash Batavia
Person
Acknowledgement of Industry Service
Gold: Bob & Rona Biernat, Freedom Pools & Spas
Construction Tradesperson Award
Gold: Charles Foster, Paragon
Construction Solutions Pty Ltd
In-Field Service Technician Award
Gold: Garrie Stewart, Pool Assist
Highly Commended: Cory Thomson, Poolwerx Spearwood
Operational Excellence Award
Gold: Nick Hubble, Countrywide Pools
Highly Commended: Tehnille Bott, Agent Pool and Spa, Therese Munro, Freedom Pools & Spas
Pool Sales Representative Award
Gold: Richard (Ric) Geoghegan, Freedom Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Debbie Gibson, Barrier Reef Group Bunbury, Kevin Reay, Aqua Technics
Rising Star Award
Gold: Natalie Horak, Countrywide Pools
Spa Sales Representative Award
Gold: Narelle Bartolone, Mega Spa Australia
Supplier Salesperson Award
Gold: Mark Hall, EvoHeat
Highly Commended: Angela Campbell, Pool Controls, Ty Walter, Fluidra Australia
Product
Education & Training Excellence Award
Gold: Clark Rubber
Innovative Product Award
Gold: Pool Concept, Endura Pools
Highly Commended: Aquaguard X, Allnex Composites, Beach Pool, Freedom Pools & Spas
Marketing Campaign Award
Gold: Easy As/Clean As, Kreepy Krauly
Highly Commended: My Pool Design AR App, Aquatic Leisure Technologies, Pool Armour Protection Technology, Freedom Pools & Spas
New Product Award
Gold: Ozone One, Pool Controls
Highly Commended: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited, Pool Concept, Endura Pools
Portable Spa
Gold: Oceanside Spa, Mega Spa Australia
Highly Commended: City Lights Spa, Mega Spa Australia, Hidden Ocean Retreat, Mega Spa Australia
Sustainable Product Award
Gold: ProMaster PM400BT, Davey Water Products
Highly Commended: Green Star Solutions, Green Star Solutions, Nova-Pro290, Supreme Heating
Swim Spa
Gold: Mega Spa Australia
Highly Commended: Mega Spa, Mega Spa Australia
Vinyl Lined Modular Pools
Gold: Classic Pools
Highly Commended: Classic Pools
Project Commercial Pool over $1,000,000
Gold: Paragon Construction Solutions Pty Ltd
Commercial Pool up to $1,000,000
Gold: Paragon Construction Solutions Pty Ltd
Commercial Pool up to $500,000
Gold: Paragon Construction Solutions Pty Ltd
Commercial Renovation
Gold: Hydrilla
Highly Commended: Paragon Construction Solutions Pty Ltd
Concrete Lap Pool
Gold: Graziani Pools + Landscape
Highly Commended: Busselton Spa & Pool Installations, Imperial Pools
Concrete Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Graziani Pools + Landscape
Highly Commended: The Concrete Pool Company, Boardwalk Pools
Concrete Pool over $240,000
Gold: Graziani Pools + Landscape
Concrete Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Graziani Pools + Landscape
Highly Commended: Boardwalk Pools, The Concrete Pool Company
Updated for 2023
Concrete Pool up to $240,000
Gold: Graziani Pools + Landscape
Concrete Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Boardwalk Pools
Highly Commended: Imperial Pools, Busselton Spa & Pool Installations
Courtyard/Small Pool over $80,000
Gold: Reflection Pool & Spa Care
Highly Commended: Panas Pool Services
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Busselton Spa & Pool Installations
Highly Commended: Countrywide Pools, Freedom Pools & Spas
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Aqua Technics
Highly Commended: Panas Pool Services
Enclosed/Indoor Pool
Gold: The Concrete Pool Company
Fibreglass In-ground Spa
Gold: Mega Spa Australia
Highly Commended: Freedom Pools & Spas, Factory Pools Perth
Fibreglass Lap Pool
Gold: Freedom Pools & Spas
Highly Commended: Freedom Pools & Spas, Barrier Reef Pools Perth
Fibreglass Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Countrywide Pools
Highly Commended: Buccaneer Pools, Barrier Reef Pools Bunbury
Fibreglass Pool over $80,000
Gold: TKL Contractors Pty Ltd
Highly Commended: Barrier Reef
Pools Perth
Fibreglass Pool up to $40,000
Gold: Barrier Reef Pools Perth
Highly Commended: WA Fibreglass Pools
South West, Sapphire Pools
Fibreglass Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Barrier Reef Pools
Highly Commended: Countrywide Pools, Aqua Technics
Freeform Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Imperial Pools
Freeform Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Imperial Pools
Highly Commended: Panas Pool Services, Imperial Pools
Innovative Project
Gold: Factory Pools Perth
Highly Commended: Barrier Reef Pools Perth Pool Landscape Design
Gold: tristanpeirce Landscape Architecture
Highly Commended: Countrywide Pools, TKL Contractors Pty Ltd
Prefabricated Composite Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Villa Plunge Pools
Highly Commended: Villa Plunge Pools
Renovation over $60,000
Gold: Add A Splash Pools
Highly Commended: Busselton Spa & Pool Installations, Reflections Pool & Spa Care
Renovation up to $30,000
Gold: Aurora Pools
Highly Commended: Bluvitalize, Pool Assist
Renovation up to $60,000
Gold: Imperial Pools
Residential Lighting Feature
Gold: Graziani Pools + Landscape
Residential Water Feature
Gold: Graziani Pools + Landscape
Highly Commended: Freedom Pools & Spas
Safety Barrier
Gold: JC Contemporary Fencing
Highly Commended: JC Contemporary Fencing
Vinyl Lined In-ground Pool
Gold: Add A Splash Pools
Highly Commended: Aurora Pools, Add A Splash Pools
Vinyl-Lined Lap Pool
Gold: Add A Splash Pools
Highly Commended: Add A Splash Pools, Aurora Pools
Vinyl-Lined Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Add A Splash Pools
an exciting new range of Australian manufactured pool gelcoats
AQUAGUARD X® GELCOATS are high performance finishes for the manufacture of composite swimming pools that have been designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. These gelcoats have long been the flagship product of our offering to the local and global composite pool markets with over 20 years of proven field history.
High Performance
Surface Coating
High Quality Gelcoat Pigments
A striking and visually appealing cosmetic finish with exceptional durability
The Aquaguard® X technology protects the decorative finishes from harsh effects of the sun
Excellent Chemical Resistance Products are tested extensively for chemical fade resistance to ensure a longer lifespan for the cosmetic finish
Aquaguard® X gelcoats are available in a range of contemporary colours and striking finishes
Performance Advantages:
• Improved chemical (chlorine) & water resistance
• Improved UV resistance, protecting the finish of your pool for many years
• Increased colour retention during outdoor exposure
• Superior aesthetics of laminate during service life which maintains the original cosmetic ap pearance for a longer period
For further information scan the QR code below , contact allnex on 1800 789 607 or visit www allnex com :
Business of the Year: Leader Pools
Commercial Project of the Year: Alligator
Pond – National Zoo & Aquarium, Leader Pools
Pool of the Year: Wallaroo, Leader Pools
Product of the Year: LifeGuard App, Davey
Water Products
Professional of the Year: Chris Ash, Total
Pool & Spa Service Pty Ltd
Spa of the Year: Manteena – Torres St, Leader Pools
Business
Best Concrete Pool Builder
Gold: Leader Pools
Best Fibreglass Pool Builder
Gold: Capital Fibreglass Pools
Highly Commended: Capital Country Pools
Best Mobile Service Business
Gold: Total Pool & Spa Service Pty Ltd
Best Supplier
Gold: Reece Irrigation & Pools
Highly Commended: Stone and Ceramic
Tile Wholesalers
Display Pool/Centre
Gold: Capital Country Pools
Person
Acknowledgement of Industry Service
Gold: Chris Ayres, Stone And Ceramic Tile
Wholesalers
In-Field Service Technician Award
Gold: Chris Ash, Total Pool & Spa Service Pty Ltd
Operational Excellence Award
Gold: Matthew Ellis, Total Pool & Spa Service Pty Ltd
Rising Star Award
Gold: Nicholas Gainey, Capital Fibreglass Pools
Highly Commended: Jared Sillis, Total Pool & Spa Service Pty Ltd
Supplier Salesperson Award
Gold: Anthony Zantides, EvoHeat
Highly Commended: Tony Scarfone, Stone and Ceramic Tile Wholesalers
Product
Commercial System
Gold: EvoHeat
Innovative Product Award
Gold: LifeGuard App, Davey Water Products
Highly Commended: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited
New Product Award
Gold: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited
Sustainable Product Award
Gold: ProMaster PM400BT, Davey
Water Products
Highly Commended: Onix Mosaics, Stone and Ceramic Tile Wholesalers
Swim Spa
Gold: Spa World
Commercial Water Display
Gold: Leader Pools
Composite Pool over $60,000
Gold: Capital Fibreglass Pools
The ACT 2023 Pool of the Year went to Wallaroo, Leader Pools
Concrete In-ground Spa
Gold: Leader Pools
Highly Commended: Leader Pools
Concrete Lap Pool
Gold: Leader Pools
Highly Commended: Ace Pools
Concrete Pool & Spa Combination
Gold: Leader Pools
Highly Commended: Ace Pools
Concrete Pool over $240,000
Gold: Leader Pools
Concrete Pool up to $120,000
Gold: Leader Pools
Concrete Pool up to $180,000
Gold: Leader Pools
Highly Commended: Ace Pools
Concrete Pool up to $240,000
Gold: Leader Pools
Concrete Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Leader Pools
Courtyard/Small Pool over $80,000
Gold: Ace Pools
Courtyard/Small Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Leader Pools
Highly Commended: Capital
Country Pools
Fibreglass Pool over $80,000
Gold: Capital Country Pools
Highly Commended: Capital
Fibreglass Pools
Fibreglass Pool up to $80,000
Gold: Capital Fibreglass Pools
Innovative Project
Gold: Leader Pools
Highly Commended: EvoHeat
Pool Landscape Design
Gold: Leader Pools
Prefabricated Composite Pool up to $60,000
Gold: Capital Fibreglass Pools
Highly Commended: Capital
Fibreglass Pools
Renovation over $60,000
Gold: Leader Pools
Residential Lighting Feature
Gold: Leader Pools
Highly Commended: Capital
Fibreglass Pools
Residential Water Feature
Gold: Leader Pools
Safety Barrier
Gold: Leader Pools
Sustainable Project
Gold: EvoHeat
Major Awards
Business of the Year: Figleaf Pool Products, Figleaf Pool Product
Product of the Year: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited
Professional of the Year: Marcus Jeffery, Fluidra Australia
Best Supplier: Waterco
Business
Best Pool Store
Gold: Figleaf Pool Products
Person
Supplier Salesperson Award
Gold: Marcus Jeffery, Fluidra Australia
Highly Commended: Alan Shaw, Fluidra Group Australia
Education & Training Excellence Award
Gold: Clark Rubber
Innovative Product Award
Gold: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited
Marketing Campaign Award
Gold: Drive Water Tests, Drive Sales, Clark Rubber
New Product Award
Gold: Perox Safe & Clear, Waterco Limited
Sustainable Product Award
Gold: ProMaster PM400BT, Davey Water Products
Leader Pools
ABOVE AND BELOW:
After a complete refurb, new landscaping and the installation of an Aqualux Caribbean liner, the pool has a new lease on life
Well-built swimming pools can last for decades, but they gradually lose their lustre and show signs of weathering and ageing. Coping begins to crack, tiles start to stain, and the diving board installed for the kids no longer gets used now they’ve grown up and moved out of home.
For many existing pool owners, renovating the pool sounds like a massive undertaking –when in reality, it’s a relatively straightforward
process for an experienced team. And while the finished product leads to a brand-new pool, it also gives owners the opportunity to learn about the products and processes that weren’t available when the pool was originally built – providing potential added income for the pool builder.
Prefabricated pools were extremely popular in Queensland and on the New South Wales coast in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, and many are now well-and-truly due for refurbishment. For Abgal managing director Garry Long, this is a timely reminder of what needs to be considered for the pool to remain waterproof.
“It’s extremely important when renovating or restoring prefabricated pools that the vinyl liner waterproofing be replaced with another vinyl liner or PVC membrane, and not an alternative rigid surface finish,” he says.
A common style of prefab pool was constructed with steel fibre-reinforced concrete wall panels. These pools were constructed with pre-cast concrete coping sections around the perimeter secured using a tensioned, galvanised cable, or a poured, steel-reinforced concrete coping to lock the panels at the top of the pool.
Long says waterproofing for these prefab pools is intended to be by a vinyl liner only.
“The reason being that these pool systems were engineered to move and absorb ground
movement in areas with volatile soil and rely on the flexible vinyl internal membrane to keep the structure waterproof,” he says.
“The walls should not be painted, rendered, or plastered with fibreglass, pebblecrete or other cementitious plaster, as these finishes lack the flexibility required by the wall joins. In time, vertical cracks may appear where the original wall panels meet, and such cracks usually leak. These cracks can sometimes occur within a matter of weeks.”
Some pools may be able to take a fibreglass surface, but Long says this the exception rather than the rule, and problems will occur if there is any moisture in the pool wall.
“Moisture affects the long-term adhesion of the fibreglass and, within a few years – or even months – the fibreglass surface may fall off,” he explains.
Another variation on a prefab pool features fibreglass walls and a concrete floor. While a pool with fibreglass walls can be resurfaced with fibreglass or render, it frequently has short-lived results.
“This is because there is no chemical bond between the concrete and fibreglass, so there is a risk of leakage at the joins,” says Long.
“A vinyl liner or PVC membrane will generally give a far more successful result than other alternatives.”
Abgal’s Aqualux, which Long says is guaranteed to keep a pool shell water-tight for at least ten years, can be installed into any brand, size, shape or make of swimming pool
“It’s not unusual for an Aqualux interior to last much longer – just last week one of our customers replaced one which was 33 years old!”
For Tim Davies, managing director at Tim Davies Landscaping (TDL), pool renovations can enhance both the practicality and aesthetic charm of an outdoor area.
“Cosmetic changes could encompass a range of variations from resizing or reshaping a pool to better utilise the space, to re-tiling, re-plastering, or lining,” he says.
Pool renos typically run in tandem with a comprehensive re-design of the surrounding landscape and often include one or more of the following:
Re-shaping the pool: Changing the depth, shape or overall footprint of the pool are common ways to overhaul older pools.
Replacing the interior finish with tiles: Tiles are not only durable and timeless but can range from adding colourful waterline features and custom motifs on the pool floor to tiling the entire pool.
Re-paving the surrounds: Replacing dated or mislaid pavers can make a significant difference to the look and feel of the entire poolscape.
Adding a spa: Integrated spas enhance the way you use your pool, especially in the cooler months and if children are no longer the primary users.
Incorporating shade and seating options: Pergolas, sundecks, and inbuilt benches entice you to spend more time lounging by the pool. Upgrading landscaping: Well-selected poolside planting softens hard elements like concrete and pavers while integrating the pool with the surrounding area.
Successful pool renovations require a tailored approach and for Davies, that means merging innovation and practicality in a way that
“In time, vertical cracks may appear where the original wall panels meet, and such cracks usually leak. These cracks can sometimes occur within a matter of weeks.”
ABOVE: When a pool renovation is in order, it’s a great idea for the whole outdoor space to be reimagined
RIGHT: A renovation can make a marked improvement on the pool’s features – in this case, even adding a premium automatic swim cover. Image credit: Tim Davies
reflects how people use their gardens, as well as their individual preferences. Here’s an outline of TDL’s pool and garden renovation process.
Step 1: Consultation
Usually held onsite at the property, this is an opportunity to explore what can be achieved with the existing pool and landscape.
“During this consultation, we ask questions and listen intently so we can fully understand the client’s needs and expectations,” he says. “We also provide valuable input and insights for how to best utilise the space within the allocated budget.
From this session a design fee proposal including a design brief is prepared.”
Step 2: The sketch plan
The design brief compiled from the initial consultation, together with the site evaluation and plans, enables Davies and his team to develop a sketch plan.
“The sketch plan illustrates the proposed layout of the renovated pool and landscape surrounds. Once this is complete, we provide a series of images, sketch plans and/or 3D representations – depending on the complexity of the project – to communicate our combined ideas for the new pool and landscape. This is also where we provide clients with an estimate for the scope of works.”
Step 3: Concept plan
If there are additions or changes that need to be made after the presentation of the sketch plan, the design is further refined and established in a final concept design.
“Once the design is final, we provide clients with a fixed price construction contract and talk them through the next steps of getting started on the project,” he says.
Step 4: Finalisation and planning approval
To begin the renovation’s construction works, TDL takes care of council planning requirements
including any engineering and building licence submissions and produces a comprehensive set of construction drawings.
“Councils determine design compliance, and every council is different and may have different timeframes and requirements,” he says. “We work with these external parties to ensure the necessary paperwork is completed while keeping clients updated. This approval process can take from three months to six months.”
Step 5: Construction and handover
This is the time for the clients to sit back and let the pool renovation specialists turns their dream into reality.
“As construction draws to a close, we go through the process of resolving the finishing touches. After practical completion is reached, it’s time for clients to enjoy their new-look pool for years to come.”
For the renovation specialists at Mayfair Pools and Spas – considered swimming pool pioneers in New Zealand – there are endless ways to give an outdated design a modern makeover.
Managing director Clint Atkins says any type of pool can be renovated, whether concrete, plaster, fibreglass or vinyl.
1300 498 819
info@spa-craft.com.au
www.spa-craft.com.au
Head O ce: 20 Curtis Road, Mulgrave NSW 2756 VIC Branch: 13 Lieber Grove, Carrum Downs VIC 3201
“We can renovate what is there, or rebuild to incorporate a change in size, shape, steps, depth. Our experienced team can also re-plumb the pool, create a new surrounding area, and upgrade to modern pumping, filtration, control systems, and even incorporate hidden pool cover pits –whatever the client desires, we are able to create from their existing pool shell.”
From a 70-year-old concrete pool that needed leaks fixed to a vinyl liner pool the owners wanted upgraded to fibreglass, Atkins says Mayfair has seen it all since his father, Keith, and uncle, Colin, founded the company half a century ago.
“We’ve even renovated a 50-year-old Mayfair Pool that had no issues, but the owners wanted to change the colour and add a new step configuration,” he says.
When renovating a pool, Mayfair creates a brand-new pool with insulated walls – and floor, if desired – with a new shell within the existing shell.
“With many Mayfair Pools already over 50 years’ old, we know what we handover to the customer will remain usable with very little maintenance for many, many years to come,” Atkins explains.
While there are plenty of DIY jobs homeowners
can do around the house, renovating a pool is not one of them.
“Renovating and emptying a pool, especially an inground pool, should only be carried out by a trained professional,” he warns. “Emptying a pool can result in a pool wall collapsing or the pool ‘popping’ out of the ground, potentially ending up as a pool demolition and rebuild.”
Often part of the reason for a pool renovation is due to pool leakage.
“These leaks need to be identified and dealt with correctly, especially if they are coming from cracked piping or just the pool, which is why a trained professional needs to determine the difference,” Atkins explains.
“Even if the pool only requires re-surfacing, this needs to be executed correctly to ensure it does not cause long-term damage on the pool construction.”
With its legacy dating back to 1973, Blue Haven Pools and Spas has transformed countless pools, including one for TV royalty KerriAnne Kennerley.
ABOVE: Before: This pool in New Zealand’s Northland was in dire need of a complete overhaul
BELOW: After: Mayfair Pools and Spas transformed the swimming pool and surrounds, while the owners revitalised the home to bring everything up scratch
ABOVE: Before: Another New Zealand pool that had seen much better days
The original pool, built by the company’s founder Ray Awadallah 20 years ago, had served its time and was ready for a refresh.
“As we delved into the renovation, we were mindful of the past but driven by the present. Adapting to Kerri-Anne’s evolving lifestyle, we halved the pool size, making the space more manageable yet as luxurious as ever,” says CEO Remonda Rose.
A sleek glass window panel was also introduced, combining aesthetics with utility.
“The glass window, flowing naturally with the elevation of the property, transforms the pool into a stunning visual centrepiece,” she says.
Add to that a sunken lounge for a resort-like vibe, and Kennerly’s backyard is now more a private oasis than just a garden.
Budgeting for a pool renovation varies, depending on the scale and complexity of the project. Up to $30,000 could get basic structural repairs and aesthetic upgrades. A budget of up to $60,000 could cover more comprehensive changes, like resizing or reshaping, adding a spa, or installing energy-efficient equipment. For over $60,000 the owners could reimagine their pool completely, adding luxury features like an infinity edge, waterfalls, or even a fire pit.
Proceed with caution
As exciting as pool renovations are, clients should be reminded to keep a level head. Open and consistent communication with between you and the client is key, and patience is truly a virtue in decision-making.
Navigating the red tape
Council regulations form the backbone of every pool renovation project. Although they vary across Australian states, they typically cover safety measures, fencing standards, water usage, and noise control.
In New South Wales, for example, the compliance process includes potential geotechnical, acid sulphate, and arborist reports, along with surveyor plans.
Moreover, all pool and associated hard surface renovations require permit approvals from local government, a private certifier, and the state water board. The process can take several months, depending on your local council and the type of pool, although a private certifier, if eligible, may speed things up.
BELOW: After: The pool and landscape are completely revamped, providing the owners with a much improved lifestyle, as well as adding to the property’s value Image: Mayfair Pools and Spas
“It’s not just a pool reno – it’s a lifestyle upgrade. These modern features, coupled with a blend of vibrant cushions, lush greenery, and a strategically placed umbrella, transformed the backyard into a private resort. The renovated pool has now become her fur baby’s favourite diving spot, ready for a fabulous summer ahead.”
Blue Haven shares some observations.
For detailed guidelines, visit the NSW Planning Portal or contact your local council.
Signage
For pools under construction a sign must be displayed that states: “This swimming pool isn’t to be occupied or used”. The sign must be displayed at all times while the pool is under renovation and only removed once a certificate of compliance or occupation certificate has been issued.
Today’s homeowners are more proactive in their pursuit of adopting a sustainable lifestyle, whether by supporting brands that have ethical or environmentally friendly practices, or by no longer purchasing products that consume unnecessary amounts of water and electricity.
Add sky high power prices, and it’s no wonder pool owners are adopting ways to reduce their power usage.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to creating a water and energy efficient swimming pool or spa, there are certain steps that homeowners can take to ensure their remodelled pool is more energy efficient and water wise than its predecessor. These include “greener” pumps, filtration, cleaning, and heating systems that are available on the market. For example, while it may be appealing to keep older style equipment such as a fixed speed pump, which uses more energy than a variable speed model, it’s important to balance out the long-term running costs of retaining inefficient technologies.
Just Swimming Pool Renovations company director Rosalee Strachan says early winter is the best time for pool owners to start a renovation, avoiding the rush and the chance of missing out on enjoying the peak swimming season.
“Pools are usually not in use during the colder months, so there won’t be a lot of impact to the family,” she says.
“Believe it or not, most people forget about their pool renovation through winter and our phone starts ringing off the hook towards the end of the season when people are then rushing to get their pool completed for swimming weather. This usually ends up causing delays in tilers’ availability and products in stock, for example.”
With most pool renovations focussed on replacing the interior, coping, and waterline – especially when the house has recently been renovated –this gives ample time to research product choices.
“These are usually replaced either due to deterioration or customers wanting to upgrade their pool for a more modern look,” says Strachan. “The good news is all these things are purely cosmetic, meaning they don’t have to alter the pool’s structure in any way to renovate the pool.”
Any pool builder who is struggling to find new pool leads should consider pivoting to renovations. That’s because for every new pool build, there will be at least ten existing pools that need a renovation. Presuming you’re on board with the idea of selling more renovations, I’d like to offer some suggestions on how you can get more revenue for every new project you undertake.
It starts with a simple question: “How are you currently using this space?”
Let me share with you a real-life example. One of my favourite pool professional clients – I’ll call him John – got a repair request from a homeowner about fixing a leaking pool.
When my client arrived on-site, the homeowner – let’s refer to him as Peter – walked him to the big 180,000-litre family pool that looked like it was built in the mid-70s. Classic red brick coping, and a huge deep end to accommodate the diving board.
A typical pool repair company would simply investigate the source of the leak and prepare a quote for repairs. But that’s not what John did. Instead, he said the magic words: “How are you currently using this space?”
“Well, mostly, the kids just come out here to jump rope on the deck,” Peter replied. “We don’t let them get in the pool. It’s just too deep for them.”
“Did you know we can fix that?” John said. “For example, what if it was more like 900mm at either end, or maybe 1.2 metres in the middle?”
“You can do that?!” gasped Peter.
Back in the 70s, everybody installed a deep pool. Then people started to realise it wasn’t much fun for little kids who couldn’t touch the bottom. Over the years, this led to “make-it-shallower” renovations that give pool owners like Peter and his family a reason to use their pool again.
Before it was all said and done, Peter had agreed to every recommendation, plus the addition of an outdoor kitchen with a bar and a fireplace, and high-end appliances, to really do it right.
What could have been a $15,000 leak repair quickly became a quarter-million-dollar renovation. And the homeowner was absolutely delighted, as were the children who could finally enjoy their own swimming pool.
Pool owners considering renovation can look to the industry-accredited Climate Care Certified brand for assurance: these include pool products, systems and installations that demonstrate excellence in water and energy efficiency, noise reduction, and other innovative measures that help reduce water and energy consumption.
One such Climate Care Certified product is Waterco’s world-first Oxiswim system.
Waterco field service manager Luke Helbig says that the Oxiswim system’s unique blend of salts, known as Perox Safe & Clear, effectively destroy stubborn biofilm – a common problem on old Quartzon pool finishes.
“We recently installed Oxiswim on a pool we figured was around 15 years’ old judging by the old Hurlcon equipment,” he says.
“The pool floor had stains on it, which were caused by biofilm acting as a seal over dirt. Nothing the owners did could remove it. However, only a couple of months after installing Oxiswim, the oxidation had caused the biofilm to disintegrate and the dirt to be backwashed out of the pool water.” n
How do you make an already amazing home blow the minds of award judges? Include a swimming pool that takes your breath away.
This cliff-hugging home with its stunning cantilever infinity pool recently won the 2023 HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year.
Perched on the edge of Tasmania’s Derwent River, the Tinderbox Residence near Hobart features a series of segmented mudstone pavilions meticulously created by local stonemasons.
The transeasonal pool, which sits partially outside the fabric of the building,
is positioned near the centre of the pavilion sequence. This provides swimmers with a bird’s-eye-view of the scenic coastline and surrounding bushland.
To enable use of the pool during all weather conditions – the average temperature in Hobart ranges from 8.7°C in July to 18°C in January – a large, automatic sliding door was installed to create a cosy indoor pool when closed and an indoor/outdoor swimming when opened.
“This is the first time we’ve ever built a cantilever pool and there was a fair bit of engineering involved with it,” says Lane Group founder Michael Lane.
The main challenges involved working close to the cliff face and trying to determine how much the cantilever would deflect once concrete curing had finished and water was added.
“Engineers had devised a certain deflection into it, but until the water was added this couldn’t be exactly determined,” Lane explains. “In the end, we tiled up to within a 100mm of the wet edge and then filled it with water for a month. This allowed the structure to move and then we were able to complete the tiling over the wet edge to ensure a perfectly level edge.”
The infinity pool hangs over the edge of the Derwent River.With the infinity edge pool serving as a centrepiece for the residence, the owners wanted consistently clean and level water, and the temperature comfortable enough to dive in at any time.
“The infinity edge is set up to run twice a day to sustain the water level through a ballast tank but can also be turned on, on demand, if entertaining,” explains PoolQuip managing director Brad Chick.
“It was designed this way to help maintain perfect pool temps year-round.”
Since installing Paramount’s automatic in-floor cleaning system,
the pool has been practically maintenance free.
“The Paramount system was designed in conjunction with using the Pentair Intelliflo VF pump for the filtration and a separate Max E Pro 3hp pump for the in-floor jets,” Chick says.
To help retain heat, reduce evaporation and running costs, and give the clients peace of mind when young children were around, a Sunbather Security cover was installed.
“With the location of the pool being open to the elements, an anemometer was installed on the roof so, when the wind gusts reach a certain level, the cover closes halfway to the inside section of the pool,” he says. n
Tinderbox Residence
Architect: Studio Ilk Architects
Construction: Lane Group Construction
Project Manager: Michael Lane
Foreman: Perry Lane
Pool length: 15m
Pool width: 4m
Pool depth: 1.5m average
Pool construction: Off form cast walls and suspended slab concrete
Interior finish: : Bisazza Tile - Azure Blue 23 mm
Pool surrounds: Bisazza Tile - Black crystal 23mm
Pool equipment: PoolQuip
Heating: Stiebel Eltron Geothermal pool heating by Overeem Hydronics
Sanitisation: Theralux Quantum Purity 110W UV
Filtration: Pentair Intelliflo VF pump with Pentair Glass media filter; separate Max E Pro 3hp pump for the in-floor jets
Cleaning: Paramount in-floor
Pool cover: Sunbather Security
Spa: Sapphire Spas
Photography: Anjie Blair Photography
Lane Group Construction
(03) 6231 4222
47 Goulburn Street Hobart Tasmania 7000 www.lanegroup.net.au
Studio Ilk Architects (03) 6240 5463
284 Davey Street South Hobart Tasmania 7004 www.studioilk.com.au
PoolQuip (03) 6234 5800
185-189 Harrington Street Hobart Tasmania 7000 www.poolquip.com.au
JMG Engineers and Planners
(03) 6231 2555
117 Harrington Street, Hobart 7000
JMG – Engineers & Planners
A large, automatic sliding door creates a cosy indoor pool when closed and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool when openedAlthough AIS Water recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, the original AIS Enterprises started nearly 50 years ago.
Back in 1974, AIS Enterprises was a small pool shop in a shed, with a staff of three people and an annual turnover of $100,000. While they made some of their own chlorinators, the majority of the revenue came from selling chemicals and repairing Clearwater chlorinators.
The modern AIS Water story starts in 1992 when the company was acquired by Kerry Gosse. Three years after that, Kerry’s wife Elena joined the business as a director and company secretary. She was appointed CEO in 2005.
Under the new ownership, the company focussed on innovation, pushing the envelope on new technologies and new markets. The first of these was the AutoChlor commercial chlorine generator, followed by pioneering the production of reverse polarity electrolytic cells.
By 1997 they had a second manufacturing facility and introduced best business practices, making the important decision to stop selling chemicals and focus on product development.
At this time the business focus shifted to ongoing innovation and eco-friendly technology, while also implementing a global expansion plan by commencing export to the northern hemisphere.
The innovations kept coming, including developing the world’s first residential chlorine generator powered by switch-mode power supply, and later introduced the technology to its commercial range along with reversepolarity cells.
In 2001, after experiencing quality control issues with imported anode material, AIS began investing in the development of its own anodes – and today AIS produces thousands each year for its own use and to serve the industry.
In 2004 AIS built their third manufacturing facility and won the first of dozens of business awards for the company and its executive management.
AIS changed its name in 2007 from AIS Enterprises to Australian Innovative Systems (AIS), to reflect its Australian base and its commitment to innovation. Later, the name would evolve to AIS Water, to also highlight its focus on water disinfection technology.
Around this time they developed their flagship product EcoLine, producing in-line chlorine from fresh water, specifically designed for FINA Standard competition swimming pools. EcoLine won multiple awards around the world.
Their latest development is the massive investment in their custom designed state-of-the-art facility, built specifically for the production of anode material –the essential element of every chlorinator.
This development increased their manufacturing staff to 40 employees who work across the three manufacturing facilities in roles including research and development, assembly, sales, technical support and management.
SPLASH! recently toured their new facility and spoke with Elena Gosse and AIS technical advisor Blake Pearl.
Elena Gosse says that for AIS Water’s 30 year history under her and Kerry’s ownership, it has always operated debt-free.
“The majority of AIS Water’s revenue is reinvested back into research and development as part of our commitment to a continuous cycle of innovation,” she says. “Kerry and I as owners never receive any dividends, everything is basically put back into R&D and for local expansion.”
Their latest investment in innovation is the construction of the state-of-the-art anode manufacturing facility at Tingalpa, Queensland, costing approximately $9 million. It is the only facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
This is part of AIS Water’s strategy to remain fully focussed on their area of specialisation: water disinfection by electrolysis.
“During the GFC, companies started to diversify,” says Gosse. “Then you started to see that everyone was a chlorinator manufacturer, a pump manufacturer and a filter manufacturer. But when you try to sit with one bum on ten chairs, inevitably you will fail somewhere. You cannot be good at everything.”
Gosse’s industry vision is that individual Australian companies focus on their area of expertise until they excel at it. Then, she advocates that they collaborate with each other to help build a vibrant local full range offering that can compete internationally.
“If they stick to their core businesses, and bring the manufacturing back to Australia, we can support each other, and put together systems and technologies that are best in the world. So that everyone contributes the best parts, and it’s 100 per cent Australian-made. And no-one around the world can come close to that. That’s my dream.
“We are very proud of what we are doing, and we decided we won’t diversify, we’ll continue our work on electrolysis. But we needed to expand and started looking outside of the box.”
That led to the idea of building their own anode factory, with the security of having quality anodes on hand safeguarding their chlorinator production.
Over the past 30 years AIS Water has been strictly focussed on manufacturing only chlorinators and anodes, gaining global attention and exporting the technology to more than 55 countries worldwide.
When they started manufacturing their own anode material in 2001, following problems with some imported material, it was kept to a small scale.
“We used to produce it at the old factory at the Grenada Street. And a few years ago we reached full capacity. We couldn’t grow anymore, so we decided to build a new factory.”
They were aware building an anode factory would take a considerable investment, but they also had great confidence in their product, and realised the anodes would have an export market as well.
“We offer four years of unconditional warranty, no pro rata, no hidden terms, because we know we can support that claim, we know that our material can last much longer than that.
“And of course, we’re looking for different markets like the USA or expanding even more in Europe. But what we could do first was approach the rest of the industry manufacturers. I want our industry to provide quality product, so our customers’ end-users would have faith in the industry. It doesn’t matter who is buying our material – it’s our contribution for our industry to provide the highest quality products,” she says.
Prior to 2001, AIS sourced their anode material from manufacturers out of Italy, the US and China. Gosse is concerned the material from China can be variable, and that after the initial supply of good samples, the quality can drop dramatically. Making their own anodes on-shore guarantees the quality.
While the original budget for the anode facility was $7 million, it was exceeded by $2 million.
“There was no facility like this anywhere in the southern hemisphere,” she says. “Everything was designed specifically for this factory, so there was a lot of trial and error.
“We were hoping to get some grants from the Federal Government, it didn’t happen. There were a lot of promises and a lot of hope, but we didn’t get the grants, so we just had to cope.”
They have now applied to the Queensland Government for a grant to help with increasing the automation in the factory.
“We want to make it exemplary. So we want to introduce further automation like robotic arms. We try to protect our people as much as possible using all the safety measures available, and use automation to eliminate any potential risks.”
There are only three or four manufacturers of chlorinator anodes in the world, and now AIS Water is one of them.
“When you try to sit with one bum on ten chairs, inevitably you will fail somewhere. You cannot be good at everything.”
While electrolysis is gaining popularity in the commercial sector, Gosse says there is a problem at the moment with less than rigorous maintenance of commercial pools in general.
Blake Pearl agrees, saying it is becoming a burning issue, and that some metropolitan public pools he has visited have people looking after them who have lifeguard training, but no pool maintenance training.
“Pool chemistry training is completely non-existent. You ask very, very simple questions, and they have absolutely no idea. So if an incident happens, they don’t have the skills to react, they don’t actually have the training on what to do.”
He says that while the water chemistry and plant room should be checked three to five times per day, some places only do one test per day.
“I’m a huge advocate for anyone in a commercial pool to have proper commercial training, to make sure they understand the balance of chemistry, understand the importance of chlorine and the correct levels, the way the filters are maintained, the way the pumps are maintained, and what to do in the event of an issue.”
He says having their technology in the plant room helps make things a little bit more autonomous, but they still need that extra training.
“Probes are fantastic,” he says. “They have improved in leaps and bounds in the past couple of years, but you should still be testing three to five times a day, to make sure that everything’s still on target.”
Gosse says that AIS has spent 20 years educating councils about electrolysis, and now it is beginning to take off. However, they now need to be educated about the difference in quality of the systems – saying some new entrants are in the business for quick money, and their inferior products are casting doubt on the whole category. This includes some sales people selling residential systems for commercial applications, which results in an increased failure rate.
“So we need to go into the market and start from scratch, educating the market again that electrolysis is the way to go. But it will take us 10 years before we build this confidence back up. We are not against competition, we love competition. But when people go in and start selling poor quality products, it kills confidence in the technology. That’s what I’m against.”
Pearl says while some new units have a limited life
span, AIS units come with a three year manufacturer’s warranty and a six year lifespan of the cell. Some of their units have been in the field for 20 years.
“Three for four sites have needed to change machines because the pool got too popular and needed to be upsized. So we refurbish, update the cell and reinstall that in a smaller pool. So we have machines that are in their second life.”
In light of this trend, they have started designing their units with a bigger housing and a bigger power supply, so that when a pool starts to get popular and has a bigger bather load, they can simply swap the cell and keep going.
“Swim schools can start off with maybe 50 to 100 people on the books,” says Pearl. “But they have the potential for 2500 kids later on. So they start off small because of capital cost and invest in a machine that’s got big capability.”
He says the cell constitutes about 40 per cent of the cost of the whole machine, so they can put a small cell in a big unit, and then after maybe five or six years, they can reassess and replace the cell, and they instantly have a bigger machine.
“We’re fine tuning that because we are looking at the design of the frames and how to do it. We’ve got 27 different models in commercial with nine or 10 different frames. So we’re looking at making everything more modular.”
Pearl thinks competition is great, but suggests buyers closely check their intended purchase to ensure it is capable of its claimed output, and to also look at the cost of replacement cells.
“We are the only ones in the industry making our commercial grade anode,” he says, adding that the other anode on the market is only rated to 15,000 hours while theirs is rated to 35,000 to 45,000 hours. This comes about because of a number of improved processes including a double-thick ruthenium coating.
“Some use a residential style anode in a commercial application, and the difference is a residential unit would run a maximum eight hours a day.”
Pearl says they now have 160 Queensland schools out of a potential 220 that use their equipment. Their other big commercial markets are council public pools, universities, hotels, resorts; and they are looking at the cruise ship market as well. They are now also working with Swimart and Poolwerx in the residential retail market.
They are basically at full capacity for commercial production, although they also have room to grow.
“We had 27 chlorinators currently in production yesterday,” says Pearl.
When asked about the benefits of manufacturing in Australia, Gosse said that the global pandemic was a great opportunity to prove the value of being local.
“When a business is crippled – literally unable to operate because of a supply chain issue caused by an off-shore supplier or a faulty product or part – this not only damages the business’s day-to-day operations but damages the company’s reputation,” she says.
“With offshore production it’s often the case that there is literally no after-sales service or support, whereas the AIS Water team is available to all customers, via phone or email to answer questions, provide technical support or provide quotes. These are all benefits that overseas manufacturers/suppliers cannot match.”
The global pandemic was advantageous for some Australian manufacturers, AIS included. As a local manufacturer they were able to continue to operate and increase market share as they didn’t have to rely on the international supply chain.
For AIS, the ongoing benefits of manufacturing locally include greater oversight of the entire production process resulting in greater quality control, as well as reduced transportation costs, faster turnaround times, increased flexibility and a greater potential to innovate. On top of that they have greater control over anodes for the manufacture of their chlorinators.
As well as the benefits for their own company, Gosse says there are many benefits for the industry as a whole, including increased employment opportunities, stronger local supply chains and reduced environmental impact.
The customer also gains, as many of the benefits for the business also translate to benefits for them. The improved quality control for example, leads customers to know they are getting a product that has been thoroughly checked. They also know they can have products and parts delivered quickly and can easily trace the supply chain.
Customers and end-users are increasingly concerned about environmental matters, and they can also gain confidence that the shorter supply chain and distances travelled by goods will result in less environmental impact.
While there are many benefits, there are also challenges that need to be navigated.
These include the increasing costs of raw materials, relatively high labour costs compared to some other countries, limited economies of scale if selling just to the Australian market, and the current local skills shortage.
Additionally, regulatory burdens are more stringent here than in many overseas manufacturing nations, adding time and cost to the manufacturing process.
Finally, there is the competition from global companies who manufacture overseas.
“Australia faces strong competition from low-cost producers in countries such as China and Vietnam,”
Gosse says. “There is no barrier to entry for low quality products in Australia.
“Despite these challenges, there are also opportunities such as increased demand for locally made products, the growing trend toward sustainability, and the development of new technologies that can improve productivity and efficiency.”
The global pandemic changed the way businesses interact and the logistics of getting products to customers.
“One of the major challenges for all manufacturers is to reduce Australia’s reliance on imported components and raw materials,” she says.
For AIS, this includes vital components such microchips, ruthenium and titanium that are essential in creating anodes for the electrolysis process.
“What saved us during the global pandemic was the company’s debt free operation and ready availability of working capital. AIS was in a fortunate position of being able to remain proactive and positive, and we kept manufacturing and building stock levels.”
She says that AIS always calculates the benefit of lower inventory levels against the potential risks of supply chain disruption, and prefers to be safe rather than sorry, carefully managing risks to ensure it can continue to meet customer demand.
The supply chain crisis significantly impacted the just-in-time logistics model which relies on timely delivery of goods to avoid holding excessive inventory. Gosse says they prefer to keep enough stock for uninterrupted production for a minimum three month period even when considering the current 20 per cent increase in demand for its products.
“This is achieved by having a healthy cash flow and available working capital,” she says.
Anodes can take up to 30 days to produce.
Pearl says they produce different grades of material for standard and reverse polarity cells.
“Everything has been built with the maximum capacity in mind. At the moment we only have three ovens, but the power and the system we have in place is capable of handling up to six ovens – potentially seven.”
In fact, Pearl says there is enough power at the site to run Westfield Chermside shopping centre. There are also backup systems and redundancies including a big generator so the safety systems are still energised if there is a power outage.
“There are 400 litre baths of hydrochloric acid at 70 degrees Celsius for the etching,” he says.
This means it’s important that the safety systems are always online. These systems include having staff in “space suits” with supplied air to avoid breathing any air with acid vapour. All the water and air is captured in a treatment system.
The manufacturing process begins by having the protective oils burned off the titanium sheets at 550 degrees. They are then rinsed, using demineralised water which is made on site.
The sheets then have to be roughened so the surface can accept the ruthenium coating.
“Time is of the essence to get the ruthenium coating on,” he says. “Because once the protective coating is removed, the titanium wants to oxidise.”
“Everything has been built with the maximum capacity in mind…the power and the system we have in place is capable of handling up to six ovens –potentially seven.”
The coating process is exacting and strictly controlled. Between four and seven microns of ruthenium is applied to the sheet per pass – to ensure it binds evenly. The sheet is coated top and bottom in each pass.
“It’s extraordinarily fine; we need to do extremely thin coats and multiple coats to bind correctly. That’s why it takes a month to do. It goes through one process, then it gets baked on. Then it is recoated; this takes time,” he says.
Later, the sheets will be cut into anodes using a special krypton laser which is powerful enough to cut through the ruthenium-coated titanium.
The painting room is kept at 18 degrees and 40 per cent humidity, because just like household paint, if it gets hot, it gets runny; if it’s cold, it gets thick.
“And if it gets really humid it doesn’t dry. So it’s all really tightly controlled and precise, to keep consistency across the batches.”
The ruthenium comes in a very fine powder, and needs to be mixed into a solution. As it is a very fine dust, the air in the room is a fully supplied air system.
A computer controlled system doses the chemicals precisely into the paint mixture, including the ruthenium. Then the paint bottles have to be thoroughly blended in a mixing machine to ensure the ruthenium is evenly spread throughout the mixture, just prior to painting the sheets. It is mixed gently to avoid any exothermic reaction.
All the drains and cleaning and baths in the anode factory are connected to two big underground storage tanks totally 60,000 litres.
“We’ve got to dispose of that waste,” says Pearl. “We can either hire a company to pick it up and pay an exorbitant amount to dispose of it. But we thought, here’s an opportunity because it is essentially just hydrochloric acid. And hydrochloric acid is made from brine. So what we need to do is neutralise that used acid. So we dose it with sodium hydroxide.”
It then goes through a further treatment to drop out all of the heavy metals, and is filtered and polished.
“It ends up at about 90,000 parts brine – three times stronger than seawater – and gets neutrally balanced to pH 7.
“Before getting it approved it will have to match the exact same specs as refined pool salt in town water. Then commercial pools can use this instead of having to deal with 50 or 60 bags of pool salt.
“We’ll just send the tanker trunk to them and top up the water level and the salt level at the same time. So 99 per cent of our waste will be recycled.”
AIS Water has a big hairy audacious goal (BHAG) of being a $100 million company by 2028.
They have the ambition to be the global company of choice when it comes to commercial and residential chlorinators, and commercial grade anode material.
A new residential chlorinator will be released by AIS Water in late 2023/early 2024. They have recently received US certification for its products and are now taking on the US market. n Contact: www.aiswater.com.au
BELOW LEFT: The paint has to be mixed slowly by a specialised machine to ensure a perfectly even blend, and to avoid any exothermic reaction
BELOW RIGHT: The original AIS Enterprises workshop from 1974
“There is enough power at the site to run Westfield Chermside shopping centre.”
Once the protective oils are off, the sheet cannot be touched, or body oils will affect it
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Public pools across Australia are starting to look for their summer workforce now
Royal Life Saving Society Australia’s national training and workforce development manager Shaun Jackson says that the 1300 public pools across Australia are starting to look for their summer workforce now – and young people in particular who are looking for casual work could be the beneficiaries.
“Our recent National Aquatic Industry Workforce Report showed how much people in the industry love their work and enjoy helping people in their community,” Jackson says.
“There are lots of reasons people may not be able to work full-time hours: caring responsibilities, study commitments, and health conditions are common reasons people may not be able to, or want to, work a traditional 9-5 job,” he says.
“The aquatic industry is unique in that it offers genuine flexibility, it pays well, and your qualifications are recognised wherever you are in Australia.”
He says that all aquatic centres and public pools need swim teachers and lifeguards, whether in a capital city or a remote location.
“We know the long, hot summer ahead will make community pools even more important, especially in less affluent parts of Australia where the opportunity to cool off in the pool will particularly help vulnerable members of the community.”
Royal Life Saving analysis shows more than 600 jobs as lifeguards, pool operators and swim teachers are currently available – and that number is growing by 250 every week, even before seasonal pools start gearing up for opening.
To become a qualified swim teacher or lifeguard is a short, relatively inexpensive course which is nationally recognised. There are a range of federal and state-based support programs to help cover the cost.
Both swim teachers and lifeguards regularly have to call on a range of high value skills such as communication, risk management, decision-making, teamwork, customer service and performing under pressure, all of which are transferable to other industry sectors.
To help prepare Australia’s lifeguard workforce for potentially the busiest summer in a decade, Royal Life Saving is rolling out significant updates to the Royal Life Saving National Pool Lifeguard Award – the industry standard in pool lifeguard training for the past 35 years. The course will focus on the latest innovations in preparation, planning, supervision, scanning, aquatic rescue and after care.
Contact: www.royallifesaving.com.au
Swim Australia and Austswim have come together in the name of water safety, partnering for the annual SwimSafer Week.
Working together on a consumer education campaign for the first time, Swim Australia CEO, Brendon Ward says the affiliation would extend the reach of SwimSafer Week by ensuring hundreds more swim schools and thousands of swim teachers and their local communities learned the importance of learning to swim as a major drowning prevention tactic.
“Joining forces in the name of drowning prevention is a step in the right direction for making the focus purely on the solution,” he says.
“The partnership with Austswim came out of a desire to collaborate and form a united front to better our industry and drive awareness for a major safety issue.”
Austswim CEO Bradley Low says the partnership provided an opportunity to promote a strong drowning prevention and water safety message.
“Austswim’s belief is that everyone has the right to be safer in and around water. It is important we come together as an industry to promote this important message,” he says.
“SwimSafer has made a real impact in the community helping encourage more children than ever into learning to swim and we want to contribute further to this effort as well.”
Ward says the campaign has been making a real difference, with research for the showing the number of children participating in swimming lessons increased by 15 per cent over the past three years, but there was still more to be done to reduce the drowning statistics.
“Swimming and water safety are skills for life and we want to encourage all parents to get their kids into lessons as early as possible. And for adults, we want them to continue to build their own water safety and swimming competency skills.”
SwimSafer Week is hosted from November 20 to 26.
Contact: www.swimsafer.org.au
Vitale Mineral Salts are a unique blend of high purity magnesium and salt, combined with proprietary balancing chemicals that reduces pH and Alkalinity fluctuations associated with salt chlorinated pools.
Unfortunately the prevalence of American TV shows has led many children to think if they need help, they should call the emergency number used in the United States: 911.
Of course, in Australia they must call 000 – and that’s if they even think of using a phone to call for help.
Water safety education specialists Kids Alive have released a new Call Triple Zero (000) song that takes young children through the steps needed to deal with an emergency.
Managing director Emma Lawrence says recent research suggests that there is a critical need to support Australia’s two million children aged 3-6 years to learn how to respond in an emergency event.
“In a recent survey only 14 per cent of people were very confident that children they know in the 3 to 6-year age group would understand that help is at hand by calling Triple Zero (000),” she says.
“The new Triple Zero (000) song uses repetition to teach kids to call Triple Zero (000) and reiterates how important learning CPR is for families.”
Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) clinical director Alex Thompson, says that if children know to call Triple Zero (000) and what kind of information they might need to provide to emergency services, they are much more likely to stay calm in an emergency and take the appropriate action.
Statistics show even attempting CPR will have a dramatic impact on the outcome of an emergency, especially in a submersion scenario.
When Sharon Williams collapsed, her 10 year old daughter Charli Johnson called Triple 0 and with help from the operator, performed CPR which saved her mother’s life.
First, Charli had to get into her mother’s phone by accessing he emergency call feature. (Different phones have different ways to access the emergency call number. For iPhone 8s and later you access it by pressing and holding the side button and one of the volume buttons.)
“I don’t remember specifically when we started
LEFT: Kids need to know how to dial 000 but just as important they also need to know their address so they can tell an ambulance or emergency service where to come
talking about what to do in an emergency,” says Williams. “But it’s something she knew how to handle. Kids need to know how to dial 000 but just as important they also need to know their address so they can tell an ambulance or emergency service where to come.
“I think the earlier kids can learn what to do the better, and in my case teaching Charli ended up saving my life."
Charli says a lot of her friends didn’t know what to do in an emergency.
“After it all happened and I went back to school my friends said they saw me on TV and how I had called 911 to save my Mum," she says.
“I told them I didn’t call that number call 000. I was so surprised they didn’t know the number!”
The Australian Government is partnering with local governments to deliver energy upgrades for community facilities like local pools, sporting clubs and community centres. The assistance will help councils cut their emissions and reduce their energy bills. The new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund will co-fund upgrades with councils and has the potential to unlock over $200 million in high-impact energy upgrades to save community facilities on their bills. Contact: www.energy.gov.au
To help tackle rising living costs, Brisbane’s public pool entry fees will be reduced to a flat $2 for both adults and children this summer – a substantial drop from more than $6 for 15-plus and more than $4 for children. The change will be in effect from December 1 to February 29. For an adult who swims once a week, the saving would be up to $57.20. The cost of taking a family of four will fall to $8
from up to $20.15. A family who go to their local pool six times this summer will save up to $72.90.
Also in Queensland, the $4.8 million program to provide greater access to swimming lessons for children aged 0 to 4 has been fully supported by Royal Life Saving Queensland (RLSQ). Eligible families can apply for vouchers valued at up to $150. “Overall, it is a huge $4.8 million investment over a two-year period from the State Government,” says RLSQ executive director Paul Barry.
The third International Swim School Spectacular will be happening in Dubai in January 15-19, 2024, hosted by the International Swim Schools Association (ISSA), the leading global authority in the swim school industry. The week begins with an educator seminar, followed by the two and a half day conference and then wraps up with a unique Arabian desert experience.
Bond University will prepare swimmers from developing nations for the Paris Olympics and beyond under an agreement to establish a World Aquatics Development Centre. The athletes will be mentored by Bond Swimming head coach Chris Mooney who has a track record of coaching swimmers to Olympic medals. World Aquatics, formerly FINA, will nominate athletes for the swimming scholarships in consultation with their national federations.
Jen Baen-Price from Christchurch City Council won the New Zealand Lifeguard of the Year award at the recent National Aquatic Awards. She was commended as having a very customer centric attitude, positively influencing those around her and working hard and fast to constantly achieve high results.
Fresh Pool Parties won the Innovation award for engaging youth and whanau from a high deprivation region of Otautahi.
Could the Matildas have performed as well as they did without proper postmatch recovery? It’s highly unlikely. Nor could any of the World Cup competitors.
All major sporting teams – and some minor ones – now rely on the performance benefits of recovery pools, including hot and cold tubs, spas, and resistance rivers.
SPLASH! recently toured several top level facilities to have a look at this phenomenon, including the state of the art recovery amenities at Accor Stadium where the Matildas played group and semi-final matches.
Other venues include the new Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence, the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) Headquarters, the new Sydney Swans HQ, the Sydney Roosters Centre of Excellence, Allianz Stadium, and the Sporting Club of Sydney, which is the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust members’ pools and wellness centre.
These pools are maintained by Crane Aquatics, and all but one were built by Crystal Pools, with the tight timeline prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup meaning they couldn’t fit the Accor Stadium build into their timeframe. Crystal has another couple in the pipeline, including at the Greater Western Sydney Giants facility at Homebush.
We spoke with Peter Stewart and Andrew Rothery from Crystal Pools, as well as Stuart Crane from Crane Aquatics.
We also spoke with Nathan Kinder from Aloha Pools who built the recovery pools at the Matilda’s training facility in Melbourne, and were also in contact with some overseas facilities to see if they do things differently.
Globally and in Australia, there has been a dramatic increase in the number and the quality of recovery pools in sporting venues and training facilities.
Peter Stewart sees this as the result of a greater focus on muscle recovery and a keen interest in reducing player downtime.
“They’re paying lots of money for these athletes – so the longer they’re off the field, the less return they’re getting from them. So I think there’s a big focus on getting them off a sporting field and straight into recovery, so they’re back up and ready to go again the next day, or two days later,” he says.
The players tend to go into the pools almost immediately after a game.
“There has been a lot of science in the UK over this, and I think the belief now is that the sooner they can get them in for muscle recovery, then the less impact there is.
“Only a couple of years ago, they only put injured players in recovery. Now, it’s all athletes of all grades and disciplines,” he says.
The result of this is that some facilities get “absolutely hammered”. For example, the NSWRL doesn’t restrict the facility to only its own players, but leases it out to a variety of sports, helping improve their return on investment.
“For instance, the Hockey World Cup was on a year ago,” says Stewart. “They leased the whole venue and all of the teams went through there.”
And with its direct underground access to Accor Stadium, that makes it a very convenient facility for a variety of sporting codes.
Most of the pools are dedicated hot or cold, but depending on how the plumbing is arranged, they can be set up to be either/or.
“We can put reversible condensers on,” Stewart says. “So if they want to heat them up, they can use a hot pool. If they wanted to switch into cool mode they can reverse the condenser and cool them down.
“With concrete and tile there’s a few more restrictions regarding the timing for that heating and cooling process. It will affect your finishes if you change the temperature too quickly.
“With fiberglass you can change the temperature much faster, because it’s not going to affect the actual tub.”
Temperatures vary from as low as eight degrees for the cold pools to up to 38 degrees for the hot pools.
“The standards at the moment say we shouldn’t be chilling water below eight degrees. Some teams are requesting six degree water temperatures, but the standard says eight. It’s painful for the players at six anyway.
“So generally they run they run from eight to 11 degrees for cold pools.
“From a heating perspective, they want to run them at 40. But again, the Australian Standard says the max temperature is 38. Anything above 36 there is a risk, particularly for long term exposure – you introduce heart problems if you’re in a 36 degree water for more than 20 minutes. Once your inner core temperature starts to rise, it can create major problems,” he says.
Naturally, there is quite a difference in the way hot water and cold water needs to be treated.
“Cold water is obviously much easier to treat than hot water. We treat the hot water pools like spas, with a very short turnover period.
“We still treating the cold pools with a short turnover period, so the typical ice bath recovery pools have generally got about a 20 to 30 minute turnover period. The hotter pools are generally from 15 to 20 minutes or less.”
Generally the pools are dosed with chlorine and have UV systems as secondary disinfection.
Both concrete and fibreglass have been used for the recovery facilities. The Cricket NSW and Sydney Roosters facilities are fibreglass, while the others are tiled concrete.
Fibreglass costs less than concrete, but there are other factors including life expectancy that brings concrete closer to fibreglass in terms of cost effectiveness.
“My preference is to build concrete and tile, the same as we did at the Sydney Swans and we’re going to use at GWS,” says Stewart.
“It certainly results in a higher quality venue, and it’s a longer term solution. The fiberglass pools are deemed to be relatively short term solutions. The difficulty of putting in fiberglass tubs is that we have to construct a full housing underneath to support
ABOVE: The Remco SwimJet system has up to four speeds and can have the jets positioned vertically or horizontallyTOP: Recovery is essential after a hard training session, like the one the Sky Blues are undergoing here
TOP RIGHT: Each tub is controlled individually
the tub. Then we’ve got to find a way to drop that structure in.
“The concrete tubs at NSWRL are slightly elevated, but that the elevation is more to do with access. If someone is in a wheelchair or has injured legs, rather than having to clamber down into the pool, they’re able to sit on the edge and swing their legs over to get in.”
Stewart also says concrete and tile is easier for maintenance from a long term perspective.
“If there’s an issue with any of the surface finishes or somebody introduces something to the pool that causes a problem, we can simply pull the tiles off, re-membrane and retile and put it back together again. So from a longevity perspective, it’s a very simple process.
“With fiberglass, if anything affects the shell – it’s a rip out and replacement job. There’s very little you can do to rectify the internal lining and fiberglass.
“If you look at the whole of cost, you don’t have all the base build structure underneath that you do with fiberglass. So concrete and tile is not substantially more expensive. Maybe 20 to 30 per cent more.
“The filtration and plant are the same. All the surrounding works are the same, your access is the same, your furniture is the same.
“But in the long run, the whole of life costs mean it’s probably line ball, if not better.”
Crystal built the ice baths in the original Sydney Football Stadium in concrete and tile back around 2001.
“They only replaced them when they demolished the stadium,” Stewart says. “So they’ve been sitting
in that stadium for 20 years without any problems. That’s pretty good.”
Resistance training is important, and swim jets supply the current to enable it.. Crystal installed both Badu and Remco swim jets in different river pools.
“We’ve done a couple of different versions,” Stewart says. “At NSW Cricket, we used the Badu swim jet systems and put multiple pumps on those jets. A very powerful system. At the Roosters and NSWRL we used the Remco SwimJets.
“The Remco jets are very good, and give probably just as much control as the Badu jet systems. What we find from a construction issue though is creating the recess where they sit behind the wall. It’s quite a big recess and it’s part of the actual structure we have to build.”
“That’s the beauty of concrete as well,” says Andrew Rothery. “Because you can fit all these different systems and jets to them, while fibreglass is more difficult.
“Building the recess was easier in concrete and tile pools, where it’s just part of the construction, but with fibreglass pools it needs to be moulded into the back of the fiberglass top.”
The jets can also be used with a bungee cord to intensify the workout, and both jets have the ability to adjust the angle to avoid turbulence.
The athlete’s bodies have different requirements in terms of therapy and recovery depending on the sport and the muscle groups they use, but the pools are quite versatile and can suit all sports.
“They may have different muscles to rehabilitate, but ultimately, it’s all in water. It’s all arms and legs, as long as you can get the whole body in there,” says Rothery.
“The pools don’t need to be substantially deep. Recovery pools are about 1.4 metres deep, exercise pools like river pools are 1.2 metres or 1.25 metres. Typically you want your body in the water but not above the shoulders.
“Also, NSWRL have discussed using the jets to push against the treadmills and underwater bikes.”
As a ball park figure, a set up of a hot tub and a cold tub and a river would cost approximately
ABOVE: Two pairs of cold and hot tubs at Allianz Stadium$650,000 in fibreglass and perhaps up to a million in concrete and tile.
One thing Stewart says is important is that clients understand there will be a cost involved, and going too cheap is not going to provide the best solution.
“They need to consider the athlete they’re going to put into it and what the rehabilitation is. And the whole of life cost for the venue and the structure. And they need to consider access pathways in and around these pools, which is a huge consideration.”
While there are some Disability Discrimination Act requirements for access (minimum 1.52 metres) they also must consider that an injured athlete may need somebody to assist them using the pool, and they’ll need room for that.
However, players injured to that extent would be likely to use a hydrotherapy or rehabilitation pool instead – which should have a ramp, lift or some other form of disabled access so they can get in and out more easily.
Whole of life cost for not just the pools, but the whole of the facility is a huge consideration.
“And of course, air handling is a major issue in these venues, because you’ve got hot water and cold water together mixing the same airspace. And in wellness areas you’ve got hot water, cold water, the sauna and steam rooms, all in that one airspace. And they’re hugely different corrosion issues,” says Rothery.
Both Rothery and Stewart say it is crucial to have an air handling expert with specific experience in these areas.
“As well, if the airspace to too hot, it’s trying to heat the cold pool back up again. So the pool water is acting as a huge heat exchanger – it’s trying to change the temperature in the atmosphere as well.
“And that can add to the running costs,” says Stewart.
As part of La Trobe University Sports Park’s expansion, a new world-class facility known as the Home of the Matildas was recently unveiled. This precinct is celebrated for its fusion of teaching, research, community engagement, and elite sports.
Aloha Pools, under FMG’s aquatic engineering design, crafted an elite-level recovery and wet area featuring three distinct bodies of water: hot and cold recovery pools, and an endless river pool equipped with swim jets.
Nathan Kinder, sales engineer at Aloha Pools, says the company meticulously attended to all aspects of the build including the concrete pool shells, hydraulics, finishes, stainless steel work and lighting.
“The concrete pool shell’s advantage lies in its complete customisation, aligning precisely with the client’s vision,” he says.
The pools are fully tiled with Metz tiles, with the addition of a non-slip pool floor, and include a Metroid custom control panel.
The river pool, designed for resistance training, has dynamic, high-velocity end jets to generate a robust river current, putting the athletes through rigorous training regimens at a comfortable 28
degrees. The pool spa operates at 34 degrees, while the cold pool is kept at a brisk 10 degrees.
The cold pool turns over hourly, as does the river pool, while the hot pool turns over every 30 minutes.
Kinder says The Home of The Matildas represents the largest government investment in Australia for a specific round ball project.
“Aloha Pools takes immense pride in playing a significant role in bringing this world-class facility to fruition,” he says.
Crane Aquatics handles the maintenance for the recovery pools at many premium sporting facilities such as the Sydney Swans HQ, the NSW Rugby League, Cricket NSW, the Sydney Roosters, and Allianz and Accor stadiums.
They also manage recovery pools that are not sports related, such as the Holsworthy 2nd Commando Regiment Special Forces recovery facility, which the commandos use after their arduous training and simulation regimes.
LEFT: The control system customised by Crystal
BELOW: The recovery pools built by Aloha Pools at LaTrobe University Sports Complex, also known as the Home of the Matildas, where they trained during the FIFA Women’s World Cup
Director Stuart Crane took SPLASH! through the facilities to explain some of the intricacies of looking after these specialised aquatic environments. All of these facilities were built by Crystal, except for the one at Accor which was built by Smart Plumbing under lead contractor Built.
Most of the facilities we looked at had a combination of hot tubs, chill pools and endless rivers with variable resistance created by state of the art swim jets. Typically, the recovery space links directly to the change rooms.
At Accor Stadium, there are four change rooms and each room has a dedicated recovery facility. This was especially useful during the FIFA Women’s World Cup, when there were a number of teams sharing the facility.
At Allianz, one set of pools is shared between two of the four change rooms. At any one game, a team will have access to its own recovery pools, but for double headers the pools will need to be checked before the second game starts and the alternate change rooms are used.
“At Accor, some days we’ll have a double header, so we’ve got the capacity to give them all their own change room,” says Crane.
At Accor, each team gets their own pools. At Allianz, each team gets their own pools, just that someone may have used it before, but it will be checked in between.
“If there’s a double header at Allianz, a women’s game and a men’s game, the women’s team will come in and use them, then we’ll come back in, check them over and sign back off on the pools again,” he says. “And then the men can come in and use them after their game.
“One weekend we had the Waratahs Thursday, Sydney FC Saturday, and Roosters Sunday – and the pools were fine through it all.”
There are two plant rooms at Allianz, each serving two recovery pool areas.
At the Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence at Silverwater, there are two changing rooms for men and two for women, and they all open up onto one set of pools. Both the Blues and the
Breakers use this as their training facility, as well as the men’s and women’s Sixers and Thunder Big Bash teams. It is also used by development pathways, and during the T20 World Cup Pakistan and India also used it to train.
The recovery facilities are used by a variety of different players (and referees and umpires).
All these groups need to be educated on the best way to use the facilities, not only for their muscle recovery, but for the optimum operation of the pools themselves.
Crane says the most important thing is showering before they use the pools.
“For water quality, the worst thing is not showering,” he says.
“We can actually pick when people are using them during the week when they’re not supposed to be, because there’s sand in the bottom of the tubs. And
TOP LEFT: The spacious plant room beneath the Sporting Club of Sydney members’ pools and wellness area ABOVE: Stuart Crane carrying out maintenance of the Allianz pools LEFT: The stunning lighting in Roosters colours; red for hot, blue for coldAccor Stadium: ProMinent Chemical Controllers & Dosing Pumps, Waterco Sand Filters and Pumps, Waterco Electroheat Heat Pumps. ProMinent UV Systems
Allianz: Prominent Chemical Dosing, Waterco Cartridge Filtration, Pre-Filters Separators and Pumps, International Quadratics UV, Ultratherm Heat Pumps. Remco Swim Jets, Water Witch water leveller.
Cricket NSW: Waterco Pumps and two MultiCyclone 50s, Pentair Onga Filters, ProMinent Chemical Controllers and Dosing Pumps, Badu Swim Jets.
LaTrobe University Sports Park: Aquastar jets (Aqua-thunder model) supplied by Pentair. River Pool: Two Southern Cross pumps at 55 LPS. Waterco filtration; Rheem heat and chiller pumps for pool heating (heat pump system); ProMinent UV system for each body of water; ProMinent ProCal GranHypo for chlorine dosing.
NSWRL: Remco Swim Jets, Viron Cartridge Filters, Ultra UV, ProMinent Chemical Controllers & Dosing Pumps.
Roosters: Pentair Onga Filters and Pumps, Waterlink Controllers, Cyclops Controllers with AOP Systems, Four-Speed Remco Swim Jets.
Sporting Club of Sydney: Chadson Precoat Filters on each of the pools, Ultratherm Heat Exchangers, ProMinent ProCal on the 50m & 25m Pools and ProCal Minis on the Cold Pool and the Hot Tub, Prominent Dialogue Controllers, Southern Cross Pumps from Pentair.
Swans: Chadson Precoat Filters on each of the pools, Alfa Laval Heat Exchangers, Saci Pumps from Chadson, Waterco Heat Boost Pumps, Water Witch water leveller.
TOP: There are two lap lanes and a shallower walking lane in the Sydney Swans recovery pool
ABOVE LEFT: The fibreglass recovery pools at the new Cricket NSW Centre of Excellence (Cricket Central)
ABOVE MIDDLE LEFT: Cartridge filters at the Cricket NSW recovery facility plant room
ABOVE MIDDLE RIGHT: The new cricket centre gets a good workout from both professional and development players
ABOVE RIGHT: The Breakers and the Blue share the Cricket NSW recovery facility, as well as the men’s and women’s Big Bash teams
if they’ve put the top dressing down on the field, it ends up on the players. And if they don’t shower, it ends up in the pools. And you don’t know what organisms are in the sand as well.”
We’ve all seen footy players covered in tape, protecting shoulders or knees or other weak points. But all that tape has glue, and it finds its way into the pools as well, if not washed off properly.
“The glue from the tape gets into the filter – and some of the players have a lot of tape on. It gets everywhere, on the tiles, on the ladders, and in the pool. So we want them to take the tape off in the change room before they get into the tubs.
“They also use WD40 to get the tape off. Most weekends you come in here and there’ll be a can of WD40 lying around. It’s a lubricant that presumably breaks down the glues, but those are things that make life difficult.
“Rule number one, shower. Get rid of the tape and strapping and everything and have a rinse down before you get in the pool.”
Prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, pictograms were installed at the pools to ensure the message got across to all players, even if they didn’t speak English. These pictograms explain they should shower and toilet before going into the pools; and dispose of tape, strapping and bandages prior to getting in the pool. It also warns them that it is safer to have more than one person in the pools at a time.
Even though you think they wouldn’t need to be told, the pictograms also make it clear not to wear your boots in the pool.
The education “showering” signs are now consistent through all the stadiums handled by Venues NSW and Venueslive.
Next door to Accor stadium is the headquarters and high performance centre for the NSW Rugby League. They have a similar set-up to Cricket NSW, except in concrete instead of fibreglass.
This enables the Remco swim jets to be concreted into the structure of the endless river.
The NRL referees also train at the centre, with 180 referees using the facilities and the recovery pools. Volleyball NSW is also sharing the office, and are using the recovery pools every weekend.
Here are a few other examples of sports recovery pools from around the globe.
Image 1: Three-time Super Bowl Champions, powerhouse NFL franchise the Denver Broncos, spent $US9.5 million upgrading its UC Health Training Center to include a SwimEx 1500 T zero-entry pool, and hot and cold plunge pools.
Image 2: The hydrotherapy and recovery pools for US college team, the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines encompass 29 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan.
Image 3: These pools are dedicated to the football program at Troy University in Alabama. SwimEx’s hot and cold aqua therapy pools are used for hip and back protocols, aqua therapy and emergency management.
Image 4: Major League Baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, use hydrotherapy for recovery of injured players as well as to condition uninjured players.
Image 5: and Image 6: England’s Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club relies on its swimming pools for rehabilitation and recovery. Aqua Thermae installed and maintain the SwimEx hot and cold pools which feature Lacron equipment and Waterco Glass Pearl filter media.
As well as Homebush Bay, the second of the two major sporting precincts covered by Crane is Moore Park, where there is Allianz Stadium, the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Roosters Centre of Excellence and the Sydney Swans HQ.
At Allianz they use a Lamotte Waterlink spin tester on game day to test all eight pools.
“This reduces the time to test and then gives us a chance if we have to do something on game day,” says Crane.
He says there is a big difference in chemistry between the hot and cold tubs.
“Because it’s so cold, everything is slower reacting. So if you try to superchlorinate you have to use a lot less, because it happens so slowly, and takes a hell of a long time to come out of the system – it can be as long as three weeks.”
He has also learned from experience to keep the liquid chlorine tanks relatively low.
“It’s such a small body of water in the pools, if something does happen where a pump goes haywire or whatever, you don’t want 30 plus litres of liquid chlorine going into a 5000 litre pool. And because we’re here so often we can top it up as needed, so it’s not an issue.”
The benefits of recovery pools have spread from professional athletes to the general public through wellness centres such as those at the members section of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Next to Allianz Stadium is the Sporting Club of Sydney, a facility for the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust members, including a large wellness centre.
“This is probably the busiest hot tub and chill pool in Australia,” says Crane. “At 5:30 am the jets get turned and its nonstop all day.”
The centre includes a 30 person hot tub running at about 35 degrees, a 20 person ice bath running at 11 degrees, a sauna and steam room, as well an indoor 25m pool and an outdoor 50m pool.
On game days, it is packed with members who enjoy the facilities as well as a pop-up bar.
Education is important for the public as well as the players, but getting them to shower off their sweat between the hot tub or sauna and the ice bath is a work in progress.
Located in the stadium, the Sydney Roosters Centre of Excellence facility is the most visually appealing of the facilities –with the Roosters colours used in the lighting scheme: red for the hot pools, blue for the cold.
Further down Driver Avenue, at the Royal Hall of Industries, is the new Sydney Swans HQ. It includes a large tiled 1.6m deep spa with enough seating and standing room to fit up to 30 players.
The 20 metre pool has two lap lanes and one shallower walking lane. There are a couple of extra features in this facility, as the spa can be topped up from the pool if required, and the wet edge can be turned off if there is a function on, to alleviate the water noise.
After a 6-month full operational caretaking contract and staff training, Crane Aquatics have just been contracted for another two years to continue to operate this facility for the Sydney Swans. n
SPLASH! recently toured the Goulburn Aquatic and Leisure Centre as part of the Country Pool Managers Conference.
Following the 2018 discovery of a structural issue in the 1956, 33m Goulburn War Memorial Pool, a $30 million refurbishment plan was put in place. This culminated in the opening of the new centre in April 2022.
The project included a new eight-lane 25m indoor pool, the refurbishment of the existing indoor pool for use as program pool, a “warm water” hydrotherapy pool, as well as new landscaping, entrance, cafe and change rooms.
There is also an existing outdoor 50m pool that opens in the summer.
Belinda Hall is aquatics manager at Goulburn Mulwaree Council. She worked with Hornsby Shire Council for 23 years, followed by time at Loreto Normanhurst where she ran their aquatic centre and programs.
She has been in Goulburn for a year and loves her new southern tablelands home – and its new aquatic centre.
“It is beautiful place. We are very lucky. I like the people, the country lifestyle, and the involvement from the community,” she says.
One issue she faces at the moment, along with many aquatic centres around the country, is finding enough staff.
“The difficulty finding staff has become a positive in one way; we have commenced upskilling existing staff and training local community members into the aquatic industry.
“This creates more opportunities and involvement from the local community. We have found this to be very positive for the community, the aquatic centre and the aquatic industry.”
The most popular of the centre’s pools is the warm water pool, which offers a warm temperature of 33 degrees. This pool is very popular with the elderly, rehabilitation needs, internal aqua classes and local physiotherapy groups.
“The weather in Goulburn can be a bit cool in the winter. Having an aquatic centre which allows for all year swimming is fantastic for the community and their needs throughout the year,” she says.
“This also allows for continuity of all summer swim programs to continue and greater variety throughout the winter months.”
The outdoor pool opens in the summer months allowing for greater availability and space for everyone using the facility.
“Many patrons do enjoy the outdoor 50m pool
and the pool is very popular in summer when Goulburn warms up again,” she says.
“The aquatic centre is a great community facility for all to use and enjoy.”
Graham Rutherford was operations manager at Goulburn Aquatic Centre for 23 years before moving to Port Macquarie.
“I did everything – plant room, training lifeguards, water tests and lean-to-swim as well,” he says.
His son is Lachlan Rutherford is a senior lifeguard supervisor, but he too is moving on, to take a similar role at the Australian Institute of Sport.
“It’s an exciting challenge, obviously as it’s a really highly respected facility. I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead and the people I can get to meet down there as well,” he says.
While he’s looking forward to Canberra, he still has a strong affection for his home town.
“I like Goulburn because it’s such a close community. Everyone knows each other, and it’s a really warm and friendly environment.
“People really enjoy coming out here and using this facility, and it’s great to see so many people loving this place.” n Contact: www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au
BELOW:
TOP LEFT: Lachlan and Graeme Rutherford ABOVE: The 25m indoor pool BOTTOM LEFT: The spacious plantroom is under the pool, accessed via an elevator
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Recently, the sustainability and innovations lead at MELconnx, Leigh Penney, asked Daisy’s managing director Derek Prince for help developing a bespoke dam cover for use on the Metronet Ellenbrook rail line construction project.
They needed a low cost and rapidly deployable solution for their “turkey nest” dams but no suitable options existed.
Daisy designed a dam cover to suit – resulting in dramatic reduction in evaporation as well as a reduction in algae, which in turn minimised costly maintenance to manage the water quality. As a result, a very pleased MELconnx ordered three additional covers. In a letter of endorsement, Penney said the covers significantly
reduced evaporation and algae growth , estimating a saving of nearly 6 megalitres of water over a dam area of 4,182m2. The client was also pleased the covers were made locally from 30 per cent recyclable material with a 15 year warranty and a modular design that allows them to be reused across multiple projects. It was also noted that the dam covers were low cost, safe and easy to install. Following this success Daisy recently presented information about dam covers to members of the construction industry at a symposium for sustainability in construction.
Contact: www.daisypoolcovers.com.au
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