Splash Aug/Sept 2014 Issue-95

Underwater living Beneath a turquoise pool

Review of the biggest ever SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show

Award winners

From the Gold Coast Night of Nights

Gym junkies

Balancing wet & dry in aquatic centres

Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health

PUMPS

Super® Pump

The original swimming pool pump, introduced in 1975 remains the most popular single speed circulation pump in the world.

FILTERS

SwimClear

CLEANERS

Navigator Pro

Save up to 94% water with Hayward cartridge filters. 40 years in design and manufacture experience delivers reduced operating costs by minimising hydraulic losses in all models.

SmartDrive® program steering moves the cleaner silently in a predetermined series of turns for quick and concise cleaning and is powered by the exisitng filtration system.

PUMPS

TriStar®VS Pump

The new energy solutions variable speed TriStar© Pump has all the features of our popular TriStar© with the added benefit of variable speed control.

or call 1300 POOLS1

HEATERS

Universal H-series

These low profile, lightweight, low NOx heaters come standard with cupronickel heat exchangers and industry leading superior hydraulic performance.

For more information on the amazing range of Hayward Energy Solutions products visit www.hayward-pool.com.au

For more information on the Totally Hayward loyalty program contact sales@hayward-pool.com.au

SANITISATION

Salt & Swim 3C

This low profile plug & play, salt chlorine generator works on a low salt level of 3200ppm and low flow requirements down to 60 lpm so that you can sanitise on low energy saving pump speeds.

CLEANERS

TigerShark QC™

These rugged robotic cleaners utilise a true pleated cartridge filtration system and a large debris canister and will run for the normal 4 hour cleaning cycle or 90 minute Quick Clean (QC).

HEAT PUMPS

EnergyPro

These high-efficiency heat/cool units with durable titanium heat exchangers, operate silently, at low ambient temperatures and are easily controlled with a digital touch pad.

Contents

28 Fibreglass pioneer passes on the baton

After playing a significant part in modernising the fibreglass pool industry, Ian Mewett has retired.

32 Gotta keep the customer satisfied

No matter how difficult they may be, the customer is the life blood of your business. Cal Stanley offers some advice to keep them onside.

34 SPLASH! Pool & Spa Show Review

We look at the biggest, and by all conceivable measures the best, pool and spa trade show ever held in the region.

46 The 2014 SPLASH! Environmental Awards

The winners of the only awards in the world solely dedicated to environmental efficiency in the swimming pool and spa industry.

49 The inaugural SPASA Australia Awards Gala

For the first time, SPASA Australia held an awards gala, celebrated at the Night of Nights on the final night of SPLASH! 2014.

52 The inaugural SPRAA Awards

At the same time as the SPASA Australia and SPLASH! awards were announced, SPRAA announced their first ever retail award winners.

55 SPASA Queensland & Western Australia Awards

The next series of state SPASA Awards were also announced, and we detail the 2014 winners.

72

58 Living underwater

We look at an amazing Spanish residence, where the pool in the roof creates an amazing visual effect and a stunning architectural feature.

60 Fixing leaks with vinyl conversions

One way to fix a cracked concrete pool is with a vinyl liner, and we look at a few successful examples.

72 Gym junkies

Veda Dante investigates how balancing wet and dry spaces in aquatic centres can increase clientele and extend the profitable part of the season.

78 Indoor waterpark get golden gong

Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia’s new indoor waterpark has won a 2014 Golden Pony Award.

80 Waterparks use UV to fight crypto

UV is being used more often as a form of secondary disinfection in public pools and waterparks, largely to combat cryptosporidium.

Join BioGuard Poolside®, voted best pool and spa shop by SPASA since 2004. Remain independent. Don’t pay franchise fees.

We are expanding our rapidly growing store network and are looking for new operators, throughout Australia and New Zealand, particularly in these locations:

AUSTRALIA: QLD Bayside, Chermside, Gold Coast, North Lakes, Rockhampton, Springfield NSW Batemans Bay, Bathurst, Baulkham Hills, Forbes, Northern Beaches area, Parkes, Penrith, Port Macquarie, Sutherland, Wagga Wagga VIC Ballarat, Bendigo, Brighton/ Sandringham, Geelong, Hoppers Crossing, Keilor/Niddrie, Knox/Rowville, Mildura SA Port Augusta, Port Lincoln NT Alice Springs WA Broome, Geraldton, Perth metro TAS Hobart

NEW ZEALAND:

Tauranga, Bay of Plenty; Palmerston North, Manawatu; Ashburton, Canterbury

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editorial Walking tall amongst his peers

Chris Maher Editor chrismaher@ intermedia.com.au

I’ve been fortunate to see some true sporting champions blitz the opposition on various fields of endeavour. When I was a kid, I stood watching the legendary Graeme Langlands ignite the park with swerving runs and diving tries. Later I saw Tony Lockett kick the behind that put Sydney into their first AFL grand final, Adam Gilchrist smash six after six in a losing Ashes test just for the fun of it, Lionel Messi mesmerise the opposition with stuttering sprints, the ball seemingly glued to his foot.

But I think the most natural athlete I’ve ever seen was Ian Thorpe. The ease with which he moved through the water belied the intense effort and gruelling training regime. It transpires he was fighting not just the competition in the pool and his physical limits, but other demons, making his achievements all the more remarkable. Also remarkable is that certain sections of the media and others felt it appropriate to constantly question the sexuality of a swimmer who was only fourteen years old when he hit the limelight. It’s hard enough being a teenager, let alone one who may not be sure about his orientation. For all that to be played out on the international stage is a horrifying thought. I’m glad he’s managed to finally put an end to those questions, but I can’t help wondering how much better a swimmer he would have been without that pressure, and importantly, how much happier a person.

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This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia

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The

It was good to see Thorpie back on TV compering the Commonwealth Games. Following the Games, the next big event for swimming is the Pan Pacs on the Gold Coast, being contested as this magazine is being printed. Visitors to the 2014 SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show already had the chance to tour the facility, and we’ll have a close look at the new centre in the next edition.

I won’t say too much here about the biggest ever SPLASH! Show –there is a lengthy review from page 34 – except to apologise to all the people I wanted to speak to and didn’t get a chance. It was hectic the entire time, which might sound like an excuse, but it’s exactly the way you want a show to be.

Pool Corp buys into Australia

The world’s largest wholesale distributor of pool equipment and related outdoor supplies, Pool Corporation (Pool Corp), has leapt into the Australian market, buying a 60 per cent interest in Pool Systems Pty Ltd.

As part of the deal, Pool Systems acquired Niagara Pool Supplies. (See story below.)

The multi-faceted arrangement sees Pool Systems become the largest trade distributor of swimming pool supplies in Australasia.

The current management remains in place with Adrian Wischer (currently executive chairman) remaining as managing director; Rob McDonald (general manager) and Anthony Ramsay (commercial manager). Dave Cook (Group VP) and Mark Joslin (CFO) from Pool Corp will join the Pool Systems board. Local decisions will be made by the Australian board.

Following the sale, Pool Systems company founder Warwick Heathcote retired as a director and is no longer a shareholder. However, he will remain a con-

sultant for another year.

Adrian Wischer says that he believes this transaction will be beneficial not only for Pool Systems’ growth over the long-term, but for the Australian swimming pool market as a whole.

“The investment by Pool Corp demonstrates their confidence in this market and to a greater degree, their commitment to the industry,” he says.

Wischer says the company’s aim is to be more relevant to customers, reduce their cost of doing business and promote business growth by offering unique products and programs.

“Yes, we may be the largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment and related leisure products, but our aim is to provide the most extensive range at the lowest possible cost, while at the same time maximising supply logistics to deliver the best value to our customers,” he says.

While Pool Corp has a majority share in Pool Systems, the Pool Corp brand will not exist in

the Australian marketplace. Pool Systems branded products will continue and the Niagara brand will remain as is.

“Pool Systems’ portfolio of leading brands and Niagara will coexist throughout Australia and New Zealand,” says Anthony Ramsay. “However, there will be customer integration during the season within New South Wales and Victoria.”

Wischer says there will be no job losses. In fact, he says there will be more jobs and career opportunities adding that Pool Corp is committed to staff development and training, and they plan to bring that dedication to Pool Systems and Niagara.

Ramsay says that while no change is planned with the Pool Systems export program, the Pool Corp OEM relationships and connections will no doubt open doors around the world, supported by their leading product development program. Additionally, there is the potential for inventory expansion from the US and other markets.

Pool Systems buys Niagara

Pool Systems, the Brisbane-based supplier of pool accessories, equipment and chemicals, has finalised its acquisition of Sydney-based wholesaler Niagara Pool Supplies.

The acquisition comes as the world’s largest supplier of pool equipment Pool Corporation (Poolcorp) has taken a majority interest in Pool Systems. (See story above.)

Pool Systems has been a part of the Australasian swimming pool and spa industry for more than 30 years, while Niagara has been in business for more than 40 years.

The new consolidated businesses will now have a product range approaching 10,000 stock keeping units (SKUs).

Although new to the pool industry, joining Pool Systems in 2013, Pool Systems general manager Rob McDonald is broadly experienced in market and channel development.

“Initially Pool Systems and Niagara Pool Supplies will trade as two separate entities and identities to ensure that service to cus-

tomers is not disrupted,” says McDonald. “New South Wales and Victorian customers will see improvements in their service levels as the warehouses are optimised.”

McDonald says staff are all very excited by the acquisition and future prospects.

“The Niagara brand has supported the industry for more than 40 years, and is further enhanced by this acquisition. Niagara’s enormous range is supported by the imminent release of a 464 page product catalogue which is the most comprehensive whole product and parts release in a decade,” he says.

Last year, Pool Systems relocated to a new 10,000 square metre site to provide scope for growth.

“Plans are in place to improve this site and increase service levels to our customers,” says McDonald. “However, the vacant space is shrinking fast.”

The additional location in Sydney should help with that issue as well as improve distri-

Pool Corp president and CEO Manny Perez de la Mesa says he is excited by the opportunities of this important investment in the large Australian pool market.

“Pool Systems has a national presence, broad market penetration and is an established distributor with proven sourcing relationships,” he says in a statement. “Niagara is a longstanding distributor of pool products in New South Wales and its distribution relationships will be a key to our success in this new venture. This is a chance for us to pursue the opportunity to provide value as a value-add distributor and build a network to serve professional trade and retail customers.”

Pool Corporation is the largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related backyard products. Currently, Pool Corp operates 329 sales centres in North America, Europe, South America and Australia, through which it distributes more than 160,000 national brand and private label products to more than 80,000 wholesale customers.

bution efficiency. McDonald says the consolidated business will have one of the largest sales teams in the industry to support customers with merchandising and marketing programs, and well-known industry manager Anthony Ramsay has recently been appointed to lead the Pool Systems commercial team.

Niagara directors Nelleke Gilhuys and Dennis Baxter will stay on for four months as part of the handover to assist in the transition of ownership, after which time they plan to retire.

Pool Systems chairman Adrian Wischer with Niagara directors Nelleke Gilhuys and Dennis Baxter

Zodiac clarifies filing question

Zodiac Pool Solutions has moved to clarify a situation they believe may be causing some industry confusion relating a series of loan extensions in England, which in turn led to a filing in the US.

In a statement issued by Zodiac in the United States, the company said the filings will have no negative impact and are similar to refinancing a loan with the same lender.

The confusion may have come about by some financial news services sending out alerts with limited detail.

“On July 31, 2014, it was reported that Zodiac Pool Solutions SAS, and several of its subsidiaries had filed for protection under Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy code. Zodiac would like to thank the news services for their brief coverage of the filing and clarify several facts, in plain English, for the 99 per cent of our valued customers and suppliers who (like us) may not be experts in such things.

“The most important point to understand is that these filings will have no negative impact on our customers, suppliers or employees.

“Zodiac is not seeking to liquidate the company (which is typically done under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code), or restructure our debts (which is typically done under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code).

“Instead, Zodiac Pool Solutions SAS and its subsidiary companies have asked our financial lenders to change some of the terms of the loans they made to us in 2007 when The Carlyle Group and company management bought the company. The primary change is to extend the dates that the loans are due to be repaid to our lenders (similar to refinancing your mortgage with the same lender – but with about 30 lenders).

“We did this because we, as managers and owners, believe we will continue to grow the company in the future and it is in their best interest (and ours) to extend that debt. We proposed these changes through a legal process in the UK (because our debt is issued under English law).

“It is also important to note that the proposal relates only to our financial lenders included in that legal process. This proposal does not involve our many valued trade suppliers and other third parties, whose rights are not altered by the changes. As an aside, the changes we proposed to our financial lenders were overwhelmingly approved by the affected lenders, and were subsequently sanctioned (i.e. approved) by the court in London.

“We are extremely pleased with the widespread lender support of the changes, which demonstrates their confidence in Zodiac’s businesses and prospects.

“Although the changes were approved by the English court, Zodiac also felt that it was best to make sure that the changes would be legally binding in the US. Zodiac determined that the best way to do that would be to file with the court under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy code, which allows changes like this to be recognized in the US legal system.

“Although this is a procedure under the US Bankruptcy Code, it is not an insolvency procedure. The US court is simply being asked to recognize and give effect to the changes that were approved by the lenders and the English court. Regrettably, the negative perception and press that often comes with this type of filing can overshadow the very positive outcome.”

In summary, Zodiac said they believe this is a very positive move for the company, their customers, suppliers, employees and lenders, whom they wish to thank for their continued support.

“We look forward to continuing our strong tradition of leadership in the global pool care industry.”

Dip in July, but year steady

July 2014 swimming pool development application (DA) numbers as reported by Cordell show a dip of seven per cent comparing the reported July numbers from 2013. The three months of May, June and July 2014, when compared with the same period in 2013, show numbers down two percent.

However, the numbers are up one percent when comparing the reported DA numbers for the 12 months to July 2014 with the previous 12 months.

As we religiously remind readers, these numbers are not comprehensive and are only meant to offer a trend indication. The numbers shown here are likely to be considerably lower than the actual number of pools being constructed – look to the disclaimer at the bottom of this column for more information. However, the manner in which both the 2013 and 2104 numbers were collated is similar, so the comparison is worth considering.

While

Alliance applies levy in fencing fight

The Swimming Pool & Spa Alliance is taking a legal fight to the NSW Office of Local Government (OLG) in the ongoing dispute over Out of Ground Pool Walls.

In the latest move, the Alliance is levying relevant members $150 each to pay for legal advice on changes to the Swimming Pool Act.

As well as the issues surrounding out of ground pool walls, the Alliance also has ongoing concerns about structures within the barrier; the non-climbable zone (NCZ); and retrospectivity of new Australian Standard.

Spiros Dassakis says they have been lobbying the NSW

Government on these issues for more than 12 months, but as yet are unsatisfied with the response. They want a definitive position on some important references within the Swimming Pools Act 1992 instead of allowing council inspectors and private certifiers to interpret clauses themselves.

SPLASH! spoke with the new Minister of Local Government Paul Toole in early July regarding these and other issues (see accompanying article). Most of the lobbying carried out by the Alliance and other members of the industry such as Peter Glass occurred during the tenure of the previous Minister, Don Page.

Meet the minister

Following a cabinet reshuffle, New South Wales has a new Minister of Local Government, the member for Bathurst, the Hon Paul Toole.

As a councillor for 12 years and Bathurst Mayor for five years, he has much relevant experience which should come in handy as he oversees the State’s local government bodies.

He has many industries and issues demanding his attention, but was keen to start discussions with the swimming pool and spa industry specifically in an attempt to foster engagement with its participants. He met with SPLASH! in July - only seven weeks into his new jobto discuss issues of concerns to the industry.

One issue of importance is the situation relating to Out of Ground Pool Walls and the NSW variation inserted in the Building Code of Australia (which is referenced in AS1926.1 – 2012) that seems to prohibit walls such as those used for infinity edge pools to be approved as a child safe barrier in that State.

It is considered by some in

In particular, they have lobbied for the Minister to remove any reference to “Out of Ground Pools” in the Building Code of Australia contained under Part 3.9.3 Swimming Pool Access.

The Office of Local Government (OLG) has a legal opinion from the Crown Solicitors stating that an “Out of Ground Pool Wall” could not “ordinarily” be considered a child resistant barrier.

However the Alliance says that while the OLG remains steadfast in their position, they have suggested that they would be happy to consider an alternative legal opinion if provided.

the industry that the variation was put in as a misunderstanding between the difference between aboveground pools and in-ground pools that have one or more walls out of the ground, as is the case in many high-end pools with infinity edges.

Following considerable lobbying by the industry (the Alliance and others including Peter Glass), the Office of Local Government (OLG) released Practice Note 17 which provides advice to councils to consider granting an exemption via Section 22 of the Swimming Pools

Act for “out of ground pool walls” that act as an effective child-resistant barrier.

However, there has been much anecdotal evidence that councils are ignoring the practice note.

The minister said the OLG is keen that the council officers understand Practice Note 17.

“The first thing is to make sure they understand exactly what that means,” he said.

“And if [the practice note] isn’t working effectively I have to be honest, we’re not going to just sit here and have

Initial costs are estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000.

The Minister says they are within their rights to seek independent legal opinion, that he looks forward to receiving it and when he does he will give it due consideration.

Meanwhile, Peter Glass has engaged Bret Walker SC and a junior barrister to provide a complementary two-pronged legal approach.

Peter Glass is requesting support, especially from those not members of the Alliance and therefore not contributing through the levy. Interested people can contact him at pglass@peterglass.com.au.

something sitting on a shelf that doesn’t work. We’ll have a look at it and work out ways we can tweak it or make it more user-friendly to the industry.

“Pressure needs to be put onto the councils that they understand what the code is actually saying, and to make sure they have an understanding of the responsibilities they have been given regarding assessments.”

He said that if a builder had an issue in getting something through the council and they believed the council wasn’t properly considering the practice note, he would expect in the first instance they’d try to work with the council.

However, if that didn’t work, he said there was the option to seek help through the OLG’s investigations team.

It is not known how time efficient or effective that process would be, however.

SPLASH! agreed to get back in contact with the Minister after a few months to check on developments with this and other issues.

Government

Government

Paul Toole, the new NSW Minister for Local Government

New inspectors planned for NSW pools

The New South Wales Building Professionals Board (BPB) is proposing a new category of accredited certifier called “E1 Swimming Pool Certification”. These inspectors will be accredited specifically to inspect child resistant barriers around swimming pools and spa pools, and to certify compliance with the Swimming Pools Act 1992, in addition to the existing council inspectors and private certifiers.

It is currently proposed to include qualified builders and swimming pool builders in the category but not at this stage pool and spa technicians.

Prior to deciding on the make-up of the certifier category, the BPB is seeking comments on the proposed qualifications as well as continuing professional development for pool certifiers.

The new deadline for residential properties and tourist accommodation with a swimming pool or spa pool requiring a certificate of compliance for the pool barrier before the property can be leased or sold has moved to April 29, 2015.

The new category of accredited certifier will help existing category A1, A2 and A3 certifiers and council officers meet the anticipated demand for swimming pool barrier inspections and compliance certificates. Council officers who inspect and issue certificates of compliance (or notices) for swimming pool barriers on behalf of a council do not need to be accredited.

Accredited swimming pool certifiers will be able to inspect barriers around swimming pools and spa pools, and issue either a certificate of compliance under the Swimming Pools Act 1992 or a notice to the owner to comply with the requirements of Part 2 of that Act to provide a child resistant barrier and/or warning signs.

The fee is to become a certifier is proposed to be $1,500 unless you are already accredited in category A4, while A1, A2 and A3 certifiers are already authorised to inspect swimming pool barriers and don’t have to pay an additional fee on top of their regular accreditation fee.

The Swimming Pool & Spa Alliance has been lobbying for the inclusion of swimming pool and spa technicians as well as pool builders to be considered in the category.

“With the safety of young children around backyard pools and spas in sharp focus, it is important that the BPB also consider ‘licensed’ swimming pool and spa service technicians as a viable addition in undertaking initial and subsequent inspections of barriers,” says Spiros Dassakis of the Alliance.

“Swimming pool and spa service technicians service thousands of residential pools in NSW every week. The first thing a swimming pool and spa service technician does when he enters a property is open the pool gate. Also notable is that many swimming pool service technicians have historically been involved with undertaking some basic form of barrier inspections when entering a homeowner’s property as part of their duty of care regime.”

Dassakis says the inclusion of swimming pool and spa service technicians is a sensible addition to what the BPB has already recommended and would ensure that the barrier inspection program would achieve better saturation and outcomes across the state.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that private certifiers in NSW are unlikely to engage in these types of inspections for less than $500, if they are prepared to do them at all. Such costs will simply push pool owners to approach local councils to carry out the inspection, given that the legislation mandates a fee of $150 for the initial inspection. SPASA submits that councils will be bombarded by pool owners to have their inspections carried out and will be unable to cope with the demand.

Go to splashmagazine.com.au for a QuickLink to the submissions page.

SPASA Australia CEO appointed as peace looms

Gary Nye has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of SPASA Australia, effective September 1, 2014. To facilitate this move and avoid any potential conflict of interest, he resigned from his role as president of SPRAA, and was replaced in that position by John O’Brien, CEO of PoolWerx.

In March, Nye resigned from his role as COO of Clark Rubber. In his 40-year career he has also held senior executive roles with Coles Myer and Target, as well as being founding board member and president of SPRAA, during which time he assisted their development of the Certificate III and IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Service.

SPASA Australia president, Lynley Papineau says that the industry was looking for a leader who understands the challenges and opportunities facing the association and its members.

“Gary’s background and industry experience places him in a unique position to take SPASA Australia through the next stage of development.”

Nye says he is excited about the opportunity of leading SPASA Australia into the future.

“The work that has been done by the SPASA Australia directors over the last 18 months has set this association up to be the preeminent association in the swimming pool industry and I look forward to the challenges ahead.”

John O’Brien paid tribute to Nye’s presidency at SPRAA, saying he had worked long and hard for SPRAA and has also been an instigator in bringing together

Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter.

Pool Corp buys majority interest in Pool Systems

The world’s largest wholesaler of pool supplies has leapt into the Australian market.

SPRAA and SPASA Australia.

O’Brien says he is honoured to have received the endorsement and support of SPRAA Board members and is looking forward to working with Nye in his new capacity as CEO of SPASA Australia.

Negotiations continuing

At the time of writing no announcement could be made, but SPLASH! understands high level negotiations are continuing between the Alliance and SPASA Australia. Board members of both associations were seen deep in conversation at SPLASH! in July and it is understood further discussions have been fruitful, with many participants quietly positive that a mutually acceptable outcome might not be far away.

Look to splashmagazine.com. au and the SPLASH! Twitter and Facebook feeds for the latest information.

SPASA Australia Forum

Lynley Papineau says that the industry forum held at

SPLASH! was a very positive way to disseminate information about the SPASA Australia concept, while receiving feedback from industry members.

“While invitations initially went out to SPASA members, there were members from SPRAA, members from the Alliance, and what was also important was there were non-SPASA members there as well, and it was great to get feedback from them.”

She says SPASA Australia will involve sector group meetings in the local states, with each state having the same structure, creating a common framework.

“Major issues will then feed up to a national level,” she says. “And we’ll have a common set of resources to deal with them. Each state is dealing with similar issues, and we’re breaking down those barriers and sharing information between each other.”

SPASA Australia vice president Rob Kruber says they are aiming for an inclusive industry.

“We want to listen to every-

one’s point of view before coming up with a common vision to move forward with,” he says.

They have a six-month roll out program aiming for early 2015. This will be driven by the new CEO, Gary Nye, along with the board and current executive.

They are in the due diligence stage at the moment, finalising the financial modelling, and the legal and operational requirements. Once completed, the report will go back to the SPASA Australia board for review and to make recommendations to the states. The state boards will consider those recommendations, and their members will then vote on the proposals.

“We want to take the time that’s necessary to get this right, so whatever proposal that’s put on the table is sustainable for the future,” says Papineau. “We don’t want to go back to where we’ve been before. We are not going to put forward a proposal that we don’t believe we can support 100 per cent and is sustainable and will be the building blocks for the next 20 years.”

Papineau also says the combined awards night was a great opportunity to bring people together from around the country.

“SPLASH! was on and it’s the biggest trade show in the country, and with so many people already coming here we thought it would be great to bring all the SPASA Australia board members together and all the SPASA state representatives who might be able to attend as well.

“It’s been a fantastic couple of days and it’s been really great for us all to sit down face-to-face.”

Top five online news stories

The most popular online news stories at splashmagazine.com.au were...

Biggest ever Aussie pool & spa trade show SPLASH! on the Gold Coast was the biggest ever gathering of the Australasian industry.

Zodiac Pool Solutions clarifies filing question

Zodiac explained that recent UK and US filings will have no negative impact on their customers, suppliers or employees.

Alliance applies levy to fight anti-infinity measures Funds are being gathered to mount a legal argument in the case against the anti-infinity changes.

Pool of the Year goes to Future Pools The West Australian pool builder won the first ever SPASA Australia Pool of the Year Award.

Gary NyeJohn O’Brien.

Upcoming events

2014

Aug 30 ARV Conference, Melbourne Park Function Centre

Aug 30 SPASA Victoria Awards Night, Melbourne

Sep 5-8 Australian Garden Show, Centennial Park, Sydney

Sep 12 Bob Stanley Memorial Golf Day, Sydney

Sep 13-14 Get Ready for Summer Consumer Pool and Spa Show, Perth

Oct 3 SPASA SA Golf Day

Oct 8-10 World Aquatic Health Conference, Portland, Oregon, USA

Oct 17

SPASA SA Awards Night

Oct 20-24 Interbad, Stuttgart, Germany

Nov 2-7 International Pool Spa Patio Expo, Orlando, Florida

Nov 12 SPASA Victoria AGM

Nov 18-21 Piscine Global, Lyon, France

2015

Jan 22-24 UK Pool & Spa Expo, Birmingham, UK

Jan 30-Feb 1 Victorian Consumer Spa & Pool Show, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

Feb 1-3 Spatex, Coventry, UK

Mar 3 SPASA Victoria Golf Day, Kingston Links

May 20-21 Piscine SPLASH! Asia, Singapore

May 23

SPASA Victoria Gala Dinner, Plaza Ballroom

Jun 21-23 SPLASH! NZ, Auckland

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.

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MagnaPool’s unique, patented blend of natural ocean minerals, replicates the therapeutic and healing properties of the Dead Sea and well-known mineral springs and spas around the world. For centuries people have understood the health benefits of the transdermal – through the skin – absorption of minerals to soothe skin conditions and relax and rejuvenate the body.

Call your Zodiac account manager or 1800 688 552 to find out how you could become a MagnaPool dealer.

Health & Wellbeing

The magnesium naturally detoxes and balances your body and can help to relieve stress and anxiety and aches and pains

Science

The natural blend of magnesium and potassium is a healthier alternative to traditional pools

Environment

Eliminates harsh chemicals

MagnaPool diluted backwash water can be used to water your garden

Part of the Zodiac group.

Industry pools together to help disabled child

Eight year old Jett Corson has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, making it almost impossible for him to do any exercise, sport or physical activity –except swimming.

The rare, incurable disease hastens the deterioration of every muscle in his body including his heart.

His mother, Susan Anderson, says that Jett has never been able to run, climb or hop and he is always in pain from his hard, stone-like muscles. He spends most of his time in a wheelchair, but hydrotherapy can help him to get out of the chair for slightly longer periods.

Friend Tricia Cartwright and the staff of Brisbane pool company Crown Pools led a group of 14 different pool industry companies to supply the surprise gift of a swimming pool to young Jett.

His mother sent him for three consecutive sleepovers while the excavation and pour was hurriedly carried out. When he returned he saw the partially complete pool and was overwhelmed.

Jett was excited, pleased and thankful, not only because he can improve his health and play in the pool, but when friends come over they’ll be able to have fun together as well. He is planning a pool party once the pool is filled.

Many companies offered services and materials free of charge including Crown Pools who carried out the installation and co-ordination; Zodiac who supplied all the major equipment including a MagnaPool system; Waterco who supplied skimmers, drains and four spa jets; Hytec (Mansells Concrete) who supplied concrete and shotcrete services; and AstralPool; while Harrington Excavations, Apex Certification and Construction, Philip Vanemeit, Aus Fence Hire, the Pool Tile Company, Terry Angel Fencing, Pebble Pro (Horvak) and ARC also helped out.

Magnum moves on Europe

Peter Hogg, the owner of Magnum Filters in New Zealand, has acquired 100 per cent ownership of UK company Spaeuro.

Spaeuro was a spa parts business that has now been restructured to focus on spa filters and spa covers.

“Spaeuro takes orders for spa covers from pool shops, then orders the vinyl from Core Covers – the biggest spa cover manufacturer in the world,” says Peter Hogg. “These are manufactured in Mexico and are then airfreighted to Spaeuro’s warehouse in Wales. In the meantime, the polystyrene inserts are sliced to shape and when the covers arrive in the warehouse they are assembled and sent to customers all over the UK and Europe.”

Spaeuro also has approximately 15,000 pool and spa cartridge filters in its warehouse and these are also distributed around the UK and Europe.

Hogg says that for larger customers, Magnum Filters is sending container lots to the Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK.

“Europe is a massive market for spas and this is borne out by the huge pool and spa shows in

Barcelona and Lyon,” he says. “Spaeuro attends these shows with the help of the Welsh government, who are prepared to pay for a large part of the costs to help grow sales and therefore employ more people.”

Hogg says that before the Barcelona show last November, Spaeuro was manufacturing 40 covers per month and in July they made well over 200 covers as a direct response to attending the shows in Barcelona and Birmingham.

According to Hogg, the improvement in the UK and Europe economies means it is a very good time to enter the market.

“The Europeans seem to like the idea that our products are made in New Zealand and the Magnum and Spaeuro brands are gaining acceptance,” he says.

This November in conjunction with Jerry Greer of Core Covers and Andy Tournas of Hot Tub Products, Spaeuro will have a 70 square metre stand at the Piscine Global in Lyon.

“Hopefully they will get another lift in sales,” he says.

The San Diego Gas & Electric public utility in California, USA, is offering a rebate for swimming pool owners who install robotic pool cleaners. While Californian utilities have previously offered rebates for variable speed pumps, it is the first rebate offer made for robotic pool cleaners. Consumers can get $US200 for using an energy-efficient robot, $US200 for a variable-speed pump, and a further $US50 if they install both. Combined, this will take up to $US450 off the total equipment bill, which can be quite an incentive for consumers, while at the same time reducing the peak load for the utilities.

A missing drain cover, detached from a Californian residential in-ground spa for two years, has been blamed for the first known child entrapment fatality since the national Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) Act was instigated. In May, four-year-old Cameron Nunez had his hand stuck in the drain pipe in a metre of water. His great grandparents tried to empty the spa using buckets. Eventually the child was released by emergency services and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Californian legislation requires covers on residential pool drains built after 2007. Police did not know the age of the pool and say no charges will be filed against the child’s great grandparents.

Gary from Crown Pools, mum Susan Anderson, Jett, dad Shane Corson and pool organiser Tricia Carter

Peter Hogg

Spa Tech Tips

Ozone generators.

Bubbles from the spa’s ozone return fitting don’t necessarily mean the ozone generator is working efficiently or at all. The bubbles are an air/ozone mixture, and if the ozone generator has failed these bubbles will be air only.

Lack of bubbles is not an ozone generator fault, but a failed ozone air pump, blocked venturi injector, failed ozone check valve or commonly a lack of water flow through the venturi injector due to either blocked filters or a pump-related failure.

To determine if the ozone generator is working is not so easy. If it’s a UV lamp style ozone generator over two to three years old, it will be unlikely to be generating sufficient ozone even if it illuminates. If it’s a corona discharge ozone generator it’s harder to detect operation. Some have a window that glows, with others you can hear the ‘buzz’ from the spark generation indicating operation. Most of these offer two to five years effective operation.

If sufficient ozone is being produced you will likely detect a crisp fresh odour when lifting the cover and a notable reduction in the level of additional sanitiser required to maintain healthy water condition, depending on the number of hours ozone is introduced into the spa per day.

Contact: Australian Spa Parts Tech Support: 1300 736 025

Natural Swimming Pools

Michael Littlewood’s full colour book, Natural Swimming Pools, A Guide for Building is a beautifully illustrated 256-page hardcover book full of useful detail on the design and construction of natural swimming pools. It includes information on the types of plants to use in the biofiltration zone, how to build the separate areas, and step-by-step instructions on every element towards constructing a natural swimming pool.

The book is available at www.ecodesignscape.co.uk for £35.

SPLASH! has a copy of Natural Swimming Pools to give away. All you have to do is Like the SPLASH Facebook page to be part of the competition. There will be more information in the free SPLASH! online newsletter. Go to splashmagazine. com.au to make sure you’re receiving the newsletter.

Ministerial visit to Queensland innovator

The Queensland Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey took part in a tour of Australian Innovative Systems (AIS) in June.

Not only was she visiting in her capacity as Small Business Minister, but also as Commonwealth Games Minister, as AIS designed and manufactured three water chlorination systems installed at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre (GCAC), the aquatic venue for the 2014 Pan Pacs and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“This is a perfect example of innovative, locally

designed and manufactured technology holding its own on the world stage,” says the Minister.

“AIS has exported its water disinfection technology to more than 55 countries worldwide. It is wonderful that the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre has been able to source what it requires less than an hours’ drive away.”

AIS CEO Elena Gosse says the company was honoured to have its technology specified for the GCAC project by respected aquatic engineer, Paul Stevenson of Stevenson + Associates.

There will be more on GCAC in the October issue of SPLASH!

AIS staff with Minister Jann Stuckey

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Expo News

Piscine Global, being held at Eurexpo Lyon, France, from November 18 to 21, 2014, is adopting new positioning to bring together professionals from all sectors under one unifying brand, while offering international visitors an extensive range of solutions for the construction, maintenance and renovation of pools and spas, both residential and commercial. This year they will also be holding the International Pool Vision contest, pitting six projects from the Middle East and six from Asia (selected during Piscine SPLASH! Asia) against 12 from the rest of the world. The winners of the contest will be announced on November 19.

Spatex 2015 (February 1 to 3), one of the industry shows in the United Kingdom, is set to be bigger than ever, extending into Halls One and Two in the Jaguar Exhibition Hall of the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, England.

From 2015, FSB and Aquanale, the combined shows held in Cologne, are also looking at improving their facilities with a “themed hall concept” exhibition area of around 80,000sqm in Koelnmesse’s Halls

6, 7, 9 and 10. FSB, the international trade fair for amenity areas, sports and pool facilities, and Aquanale, the international trade fair for sauna, pool, ambience, will take place simultaneously from October 27 to 30 October, 2015 in Cologne.

Sunbather moves into SA

Sunbather has leapt into South Australia by partnering with Kym Mader of Solar Pool Heating SA to form Sunbather SA.

“Mader has a long history and a great deal of experience in the solar pool heating marketplace has a very enviable reputation within the trade,” says Tom Boadle, managing director of Sunbather Technologies. “We are very excited in having him join the team.”

Sunbather is now able to offer its full range of solar pool heating products into SA including the HiPEC strip collector and Suntube Panel range. Sunbather SA has joined SPASA SA under Sun-

bather’s national membership, and will be more involved in industry events and shows.

Boadle says that Sunbather’s commercial division is also growing at a rapid pace and this partnership will allow them to better service the sector.

“We now have dedicated installation teams in all capital cities capable of servicing the local trade and our national accounts,” he says. “Also, our information sharing internally is proving to be extremely positive to help us improve our products and delivery.”

Contact: Kym Mader 0419 033 930, sa@ sunbather.com.au

SPASA Australia granted 100k for training

SPASA Australia has been granted more than $100,000 from the National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF) to assist its members achieve formal recognition under the new pool and spa service qualifications.

“The SPASA Australia application had been held up last year while the Government was in caretaker mode and subsequently the incoming Government put a hold on all funding while the Commission of Audit was undertaken,” says Lynley Papineau.

“While the NWDF will not continue in future, our application was submitted prior to March 2014 and we were considered by the department and given approval to progress this important funded training initiative,” she says.

Traxion Training is the appointed registered training organisation for this project. The NWDF grant will provide a 67 per cent subsidy to eligible

participants undertaking the process of recognition of prior learning.

In the construction/installation sector, SPASA Australia is advocating for the development of a new Certificate III qualification in support of the existing Certificate IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Building (CPC 40808).

“Even though we are looking to have a new qualification created we have approached the national Construction and Property Industry Skills Council (CPSISC) for assistance and have listed our request on their continuous improvement register for consideration,” she says.

“With businesses operating across state borders it is imperative that our focus be on national qualifications and we have requested that CPSISC undertake a formal assessment of industry needs and develop the qualification.

”The time to act is now,” she says.

Kym Mader, manager of Sunbather SA

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New management positions for Narellan

A growing international market and increase in domestic sales has driven Narellan Pools Group to create three new senior positions.

Under the company’s new structure, former Narellan Pools franchise general manager, Andrew Latta, has been appointed group general manager, expanding his portfolio to include both domestic markets and manufacturing. Glen Chiswell has been recruited as manufacturing operations manager and Edwina Griffin will work as national business development manager.

“Due to the ever-changing market, Narellan Pools Group is undergoing a period of significant growth across all aspects of the business; placing increased pressure on the local, international and manufacturing arms of our operation,” says Narellan Pools Group managing director and owner, Chris Meyer.

“Over the past 12 months, Narellan Pools’ sales have consistently exceeded targets, with the first half of 2014 our most successful yet.”

He says that this, coupled with the growing enquiries from New Zealand, the South Pacific, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Oman presents an exciting opportunity for the company to cement its market position.

Meyer will focus on innovation and international growth, while Latta will manage domestic operations.

Andrew Latta

“As the company launches its franchise businesses in the West Australian market and franchise territories across the Eastern seaboard continue to grow, Andrew Latta will be closely supported by Edwina Griffin in the development and management of our strong franchise network,” Meyer said. Chiswell, who has 15 years’ experience in manufacturing and operational management, will manage the upturn in the manufacturing as it works to support the company’s aggressive growth.

Barry Vercoe passes away

Industry veteran Barry Vercoe passed away on June 10 after a short battle with cancer. He was 76. Vercoe was an early pioneer of and passionate advocate for the Australian swimming pool and spa industry. He started Florida Pools on the Gold Coast in 1971 and became the Queensland agent for the then rapidly expanding Mutual Pools Pty Ltd. In addition to his outstanding record as a professional salesman, Barry served as Secretary of the Queensland Swimming Pool Association in 1972 and 1973.

In 1977 he moved to Sydney and became a salesman working from the Mutual Pools Display Centre. He signed more than 1000 contracts for Mutual Pools and was presented with a special award of appreciation by Mutual Pools and a certificate of achievement by SPASA NSW.

After many years with Mutual he made the move to Compass Pools Australia, selling and later training other franchisees in the Compass family.

SPLASH! offers sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Industry moves

William Lunt has been appointed manager for Pool Ranger WA, the latest branch of the Pool Ranger business. Lunt is a highly experienced and well known personality in the Western Australian pool market, having previously been involved with Monarch Industries, Poolrite and in recent times Focus Chemicals. The full range of Pool Ranger products will be available at the branch, as well as supply from other major brands such as Zodiac, Pentair, AIS, Davey and Spa Electrics. Details are: Unit 8, 8-22 Boag Place, Morley, WA 6062. Phone: 0404 537 474; email: will@ poolranger.com.au.

Anthony McIntosh has been named the new Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) CEO. Previously he had worked as business manager for the Australian Camps Association, with the City of Melbourne on the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and with Tourism Melbourne. He is also chair of the Victorian Track Cycling commission. He is a different Anthony McIntosh to the one who is general manager of operations at Belgravia Leisure.

Obituary

In Brief

Supreme Heating has opened a new branch in Yatala, Queensland headed by Barrie McAuley. He brings with him extensive experience from 12 years in the pool industry, having previously worked at Davey Pumps, Monarch Pool Systems and Questa. The Queensland branch stocks a wide range of products including solar pool heating, robotic pool cleaners, Diamond pool covers and rollers, and heat pumps, while also offering a wide range of services including system design, construction, installation, on-going maintenance and residential and commercial services.

Contact details: phone

1300 787 978; mobile 0455 064 765; email: solar.qld@ supremeheating.com.au.

Following a submission to the Productivity Commission, the Swimming Pool & Spa Alliance has had many of its comments included in the 2104 Report into the Relative Costs of Doing Business in Australia for the Retail Trade. The comments relate to energy costs, penalty rates and regulation compliance costs. To download a copy of the report go to the QuickLinks tab at splashmagazine.com.au.

The ACCC has released at guide for what you need to know regarding safety and regulation to do with portable swimming pools. The guide is available in PDF, Word and also Audio PDF. Again, go to the QuickLinks tab at splashmagazine.com.au to download the guide.

Lincoln vans cruise into NSW

Lincoln Pool Equipment is adding two new re tail sales positions to service the NSW market.

This is an expansion of the successful “retail sales van” concept operating in Victoria since early 2013. The new positions will serve the retail market by providing regular calls with sales and service support and speedy delivery of urgent items.

Lincoln has expanded rapidly in the Sydney market over the past two years after opening its Seven Hills warehouse which handles sales, administration, warehousing and despatch.

The two new sales positions will concentrate on the metropolitan area, one focussing on the North and the other the South, in order to provide regular call cycles. The current sales staff will expand their territories into more focussed servicing of pool builders, supporting Lincoln’s franchise partners and expanding their customer base.

Lindsay Hartshorne, CEO and owner of Lincoln Pool Equipment, says it is an exciting time for

the company and the NSW team. “They have done an excellent job over the past few years expanding the customer base in NSW and Queensland to the stage we are now, where we need more resources to service our customers,” he says.

Lincoln Pool Equipment was established in 1974 and this year will mark their 40th anniversary. The business has been with the current ownership for the past 12 years, and in that time has relocated twice in Melbourne to meet the growing demand.

Rheem offers more grants

Australia’s apprentice plumbers have another shot at financial assistance with the announcement that Rheem Australia is again running its Apprentice Plumber Grants in 2014.

This year there are 25 x $1000 grants, which will be awarded to apprentice plumbers most in need of financial assistance and to help them pursue their plumbing career.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the calibre of apprentices we’ve discovered during the grants program since we launched it in 2012,” says Rheem Australia CEO Matt Sexton. “It’s obvious that there’s a huge need for financial support amongst apprentice plumbers.

“Over the past couple of years we’ve heard some

amazing and compelling stories about apprentices – both young and mature age – who have made considerable financial and personal sacrifices to enter the trade and further their careers.”

There are no restrictions placed on the grants, and successful applicants can decide how and when they use them.

“There are many who have used the grant to enhance their tool collection, in addition to putting it towards education, bills, or fuel to get to or from work,” Sexton says.

Recipients of the 2012 and 2013 Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants are not eligible to enter.

Contact: www.rheem.com.au

Apprentice Mitchell Harrison (centre) with his boss Peter McPherson and Rheem’s Darryl Vernon (left)

In Brief

For the second year running PoolWise (New Zealand) and International Quadratics Australia) held a successful twoday training conference in Auckland, where 25 clients completed three units of competency in Pool and Spa Water Treatment from the Cert III training packages SPASA 91520 and CPP31212. The conference started with basic water balancing and product knowledge through to advanced pool care including pool water saturation and ORP, saturation index, stabilisation, the effects on ORP, and finished with the three units of competency. This certificate is recognised in both New Zealand and Australia. The conference is likely to evolve into a more hands-on workshop for 2015. To attend contact: Kirstin Friedrich (+649 276 7870) or Chris Smith (+612 9774 5550).

Occupational licensing of pool safety inspectors in Queensland is being transferred from the Pool Safety Council (PSC) to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) from September 2014. By having the QBCC as the single regulator, this will provide significant operational efficiencies thereby reducing administrative costs and the burden on licensees. Pool Safety Inspectors can continue to operate using their current PSC licence until it expires and any conditions or restrictions on the licence will continue to apply.

BioLab makes key appointments

Following last year’s acquisition by KIK Custom Products, BioLab has made six key appointments.

BioLab commercial director Lindsay McGrath says the appointments mark a commitment by KIK Custom Products to grow BioLab’s Australian and New Zealand operations and brands which include BioGuard, BioGuard Poolside and Omni, as well as its partnership with Hayward.

McGrath says the appointments target growth in a number of different market segments.

“KIK Custom Products recognises the growth potential for BioLab in Australia and New Zealand and their international strength and commitment are significant assets for us,” he says.

“The new appointments provide a solid platform for BioLab to take advantage of growth opportunities in a rapidly changing marketplace.”

retailers and identifying and capitalising on new business opportunities within these key markets.

An internal restructure has led to the creation of a number of new positions, with Ranusha Fernando appointed as BioLab’s procurement and planning manager. He has been with the company for two years and will now be responsible for working closely with suppliers and customers to improve operations, efficiencies and effectively manage costs.

Qualified chartered accountant Paul Kimber takes on the role as BioLab’s market analyst to identify new business opportunities, help bring new products to market and support the financial management of the business.

Meanwhile, Melissa Gasson has been appointed as logistics specialist to manage all aspects of freight and warehousing in Australia and New Zealand including inventory control and liaising with carriers and warehouse personnel to ensure the smooth running of the logistics operations. Helen Bergoc takes on the role of accounts payable and while George Loizou takes on the financial controller role. Industry moves

Experienced industry professional Paul Knight has been appointed business development manager to support BioGuard’s growth in Queensland, Northern Territory and northern New South Wales. He is charged with growing the existing BioGuard and Poolside BioGuard network of

Durban pool man takes

Dries Claassen made quite a reputation in his 23 years in the South African pool scene. He has been credited with transforming a small retail pool shop in Durban into one of South African’s largest, most respected and successful pool companies that went on to be the preferred supplier to the Holiday Inn hotel chain.

During that time, he masterminded some challenging and spectacular pool projects including the design and installation of the 13 pools and 17 spas that dot the rooftop of the seven-storey Sails on Timeball luxury development on the Durban coast.

Since moving to Australia six years ago, one of his claims to fame was being construction manager on a $300,000 residential project for an award-winning Melbourne-based swimming pool company.

on Adelaide

Now he has been appointed the new Australian Outdoor Living (AOL) South Australian pools division manager.

AOL CEO Chris Taylor describes Claassen’s appointment as “a major coup” for the company.

“Dries is passionate about pools and is highly regarded in the industry, for both his technical expertise – he has an impressive string of qualifications in water analysis and chemistry, pump hydraulics, flow rates and filtration –and his management and business acumen,” says Taylor.

“It is a major coup, especially at a time when we’re placing increased emphasis on swimming pools and establishing an AOL pool shop and display area at our new purpose-built premises in Regency Park.”

Industry moves

Paul KnightRanusha FernandoPaul KimberMelissa GassonHelen Bergoc

Dries Claassen

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Fibreglass pioneer passes on the baton

After founding Compass Pools 34 years ago, Ian Mewett is now handing on the baton to a new CEO.

SPLASH! caught up with this pioneer of the Australian and global fibreglass industry, and asked him for his insights on his long career.

Mewett became involved with the swimming pool industry in a roundabout way. After coming out of the Royal Australian Navy, where he trained as a fitter and machinist, he moved into boat building, which introduced him to the fibreglass industry which in turn brought him into contact with fibreglass pools.

“It didn’t take me long to realise building fibreglass pools is a much easier road. Boat building is a labour of love. There’s thousands and thousands of hours in a boat, but in a pool you can pull it down to forty hours to manufacture a pool shell,” he says.

By 1980, he and wife Kerri had established their own company with his initial partners in Newcastle.

“I was thirty years old, and when you’re thirty years old you’re bullet proof.”

They set up in what had been a tyre re-treading factory, and began making four pools per day. The word got out and his friends and associates from the boat building industry pre-ordered his first 50 pools.

Then he convinced Johnnie Murdoch from Tranquillity Pools in Sydney to drive up and look at the Newcastle factory. Murdoch liked what he saw, but was concerned about the price Mewett wanted to charge for each pool.

“John was an Irishman and as canny as they come. He said, tell me about that price again?” Mewett

crunched the numbers and said he could take another $150 off. But Murdoch’s reply surprised him.

“He said, I’ll buy 100 pools, but it’s got to be $1000 more than the price you’re quoting me. Because you’re going to go broke before you get started if you’re going to sell pools for that price.

“He taught me an amazingly valuable lesson. You’ve got to make a profit to stay in business.”

The business continued to develop for many years on the back of a dealer network, and as times got tougher, Mewett worked harder to keep the dealers profitable.

The legal case that changed the industry “The manufacturing process has been a very interesting evolution,” he says.

“Back in the seventies, best practice was Lloyds of London boat building standards, which I brought to the industry.”

But they didn’t require the use of the vinyl ester resins, and it wasn’t long before osmosis became a problem in the early days. Mewett became determined to remove osmosis not only from his pools, but from the whole fibreglass pool industry.

“By 1985 we’d discovered that vinyl ester resin was a necessity. Allegedly that was going to solve all the problems associated with osmosis, and let’s just say it didn’t.”

In those days the warranties were 10 years, so while they helped people who saw osmosis develop in their pools after that time, it wasn’t a warranty issue. By the early nineties, osmosis reared its ugly, black-spotted head in a big way.

Ian Mewett, founder of Compass Pool and a pioneer of the Australian and global fibreglass industry

One of the Compass Pools that you’d be “hard pressed to tell what it’s made from”. This installation by Compass Pools Victoria was named the top fibreglass pool over $40k at the recent SPASA Australia awards

“Along came osmosis big time and caught out not only Compass Pools but a wellknown manufacturer doing a good job at the time, International Pools, and some of the West Australian lads. We all got caught up in the osmosis syndrome all over again.”

By this stage, the industry was mature enough to have a record base behind it.

“We took the resin manufacturers to the Supreme Court,” he says. “It was a landmark case. It was the first time anyone in the world had won a case against a resin manufacturer; because they’re big companies, Huntsman and Monsanto. They were Kerry Packer and John Huntsman, they were big time Charlies.”

To win the battle, they had to get their own experts to understand the chemistry. The matter was settled out of court, and they resurfaced 250 pools in the mid-nineties following the resolution to the case.

“The cloud was the two years in court, but the silver lining was the understanding of how the chemistry really works.”

They applied that knowledge, with the understanding that the vinyl ester, as a more chemical-resistant material, was the key, but that there were a large number of other factors that effected the introduction of osmosis. Finally, they developed the ceramic core technology.

“It was vinyl ester resin with ceramic microspheres that we spray and human hands don’t touch. So we eliminated a gaggle of the triggers that could start the osmotic process.”

“Because in the middle of the court case, in our darkest moment, I said, if the industry – if Compass – can’t build a fibreglass pool without osmosis, I don’t want to be in the business, I’ll go back to being a boat builder.”

The commitment he made then resulted in the manufacture of fibreglass composite pools

that to the best of his ability and knowledge would not get osmosis.

“This enabled us to offer a 20 year warranty, and now most of the industry offers 25 or even 35 year warranties. And that’s a good thing. And if Compass has lifted the bar worldwide, then that’s a legacy I’ll take away with me.

“They all do a great job now, and I don’t know of one fibreglass pool manufacturer in Australia that’s not doing a pretty good job. And we’ve had a major influence on the US and European markets as well.”

A lucky break

From 1994, they decided to take market share from the concrete pool sector, which was steaming ahead with its pebblecrete interiors. Compass developed colour chip technology deliberately to make the pools look like pebble pools.

Then, at a NSPI trade show in Phoenix, Arizona, he met industry icon Buzz Ghiz from Paddock Pools and Paramount Pool Products. Ghiz was impressed by the Compass designs and surface colours, and wanted to discuss the possibility of teaming up with Paramount. However, the additional price of – at the time – $5000 for each pool to be fitted out with the PCCC-2000 in-floor cleaning system seemed to be too hard a sell to Mewett.

“Buzz said, you’re the same as all the other one-piece guys, and walked off. He was just disappearing into the crowd when I thought, have I missed something?”

Mewett caught up with him, they arranged a meeting and eventually a deal was done.

“What he showed me was a way for a home owner to really own a pool; a way for a pool company to find – as he described it –blue sky in the marketplace.”

The new CEO

Compass developed the Vantage in-floor systems in conjunction with Paramount over the next several years.

“Then we really did go after the concrete pool sector. And we’ve made a pretty big dent in it. And in the past five years that has taken us into vanishing edges, and pool and spa combinations, and the various lighting systems.

“I take great pride in this as a matter for fact – if you look at a wall full of Compass Pools’ photographs these days, you’re hard pressed to tell what they’re made of.”

The future

From day one, Ian and Kerri Mewett worked together as a team. They just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, and 34 of those 40 years they’ve gone to work together.

Kerri Mewett will continue on as CFO while Anthony Cross takes over as CEO. Ian and Kerri also have two sons Luke and Scott and a daughter-in-law Kelli in the business. Ian Mewett will remain a shareholder.

“The most comforting knowledge I leave behind is that the company is going to continue on for a long time yet.”

He will now have plenty of time to pursue the other love of his life: aviation.

“I’ve been privileged to own and fly all over Australia, and now I’m a reasonably mature aviator with a lot of hours in the log book. I’ll be undertaking Angel Flights – going out and picking up country folk to bring them into the city.

“And of course, I’ll still fly Anthony Cross around the country to visit the dealers.” n

This is the first in a series of interviews of key local and international industry people to be presented over the coming months.

The new Compass Pools CEO Anthony Cross already has eight years’ experience with Compass Pools in business development, operations management, and most recently as general manager.

He has tertiary qualifications in business administration and prior to working for Compass, he had spent most of his working life self-employed in a range of family businesses including quarries, machinery, construction, concreting and specialist paving.

“Compass is a family business, and my previous business background is one of the reasons that I’m very comfortable working for an SME like Compass Pools Australia,” he says.

“All my working career I’ve been involved with businesses that are innovators in their field, where the entrepreneurial spirit is well and truly alive. Ian Mewett is a recognised pioneer of world-leading technology in the fibreglass pool industry and I’ve been very fortunate to work under him for these past eight years.

“Compass has one of the strongest and most loyal dealer networks in the Australian and New Zealand pool industry, and one of the great pleasures of my role is maintaining and fostering relationships with our dealers.”

Anthony Cross, who now takes over the reins of Compass Pools.

Gotta keep the customer satisfied

By Cal Stanley

Your Customers could be anybody but they will all have a few things in common. They want something from you and they are prepared to pay for it. They give you profit and a better lifestyle and finally, they are your greatest asset.

When you have a satisfied Customer he will tell some of his friends and acquaintances how great you are. If you leave him dissatisfied he will tell everyone he comes in contact with what he really thinks of you and it won’t be flattering. A satisfied Customer will sell other pools for you whereas a dissatisfied Customer will take business away from you.

How do you get satisfied Customers all the time?

Always answer the phone

Most importantly, a missed call can be a missed sale because your prospective Customer will simply go on to someone else.

There are few things that will upset and frustrate a Customer more than not being able to talk to anyone in authority. If you employ office, staff ensure that when you are not available that your calls don’t go to message bank but are diverted to a real person who can take a message and placate the Customer if he or she is upset. If you are a sole operator it is imperative that your phone is on and with you at all times and that you answer it even if you have to say you are in a meeting and will call back shortly. Of course it goes without saying (even though I am saying it!) that you will always call back as soon as possible.

Listen to your Customers

Listen, listen and listen when you are selling the pool and at every other point of contact throughout the installation. Never reject any statement from a Customer out of hand. Prompt with broad questions and put the details in your quote later.

Deal with complaints

A complaint will never go away if you ignore it. It will only get bigger and worse, so face up to it and deal with it as soon as you know about it.

The Customer is always right!!??

Over my time in the industry I have done hundreds of arbitrations and adjudications and reports – I only remember the Cus-

tomer being wrong on two occasions. As a consultant today I see the same trend. So yes, with very few exceptions he or she is generally right even though you may not want to admit it.

Even when the Customer is not right, he does need to be satisfied somehow. So give him what he wants and give it free if it’s not too expensive. You will win in the end.

Anticipate your Customer

When you know something did not quite go to plan during the pool installation, get in first and advise him how you will correct the matter. That will get you some real good brownie points.

Go the extra mile

Well maybe not the extra mile or even kilometre, but be prepared to be helpful even when there is no profit in it. Try and find a way you can give your Customer something extra, some little thing not specified in the contract. Even if it is only a thank you and a bottle of champers at the end. Appreciate the power of “YES” and look for ways to use it with your Customers. In fact, if you add into your contract something for the little unknowns, these little extras will not cost you anything at all, but the Customer will always remember them.

Your contract

Through 30-plus years, my contracts only allowed for a deposit, a concrete shell payment and a payment on completion. Further, completion meant when the last little detail was complete and the Customer was happy.

Today’s standard SPASA contracts allow for payments to be demanded seven to 10 times throughout the construction or installation of a pool. One argument for this is that a pool builder should not finance a Customer’s pool, whereas I believe he should, to some extent at least.

Constantly harassing your Customer for payments is annoying for him, threats to cease work pending payment and carrying out those threats will put him really offside and ruin the friendship that should be there. You don’t have to demand all those small amounts and the relationship will go smoother if you only request payments at a few key stages.

The final payment Contracts are designed such that every cent is paid on or prior to handover of the pool. That is fine if the pool is ready to be handed over but my definition of ready for handover is when every single bit of the works has been completed to the Customer’s satisfaction. So do not stand on ceremony and demand that final payment until he is satisfied and you will then get it promptly and happily.

Communication

Every Customer and most if not every pool installation is different. Some will require more communication between the parties than others. So make yourself available to your Customers even when you don’t feel like it, take their calls and respond to emails.

It is very tempting to remind an annoying Customer (and you will always get a few of them) that he is thinking of one pool only while you have to think of dozens. This will annoy the Customer further because for him there is only one pool.

Respect

Whether you feel he deserves it or not, respect your Customer and his point of view. He is paying your price so he deserves that respect. Try putting these ideas into effect and you will be surprised not only by how easy they are but by the results you will get. You will also be surprised by the increase in referred business that comes your way. n

Over his 30 years in the industry, Cal Stanley ran a successful pool construction company with a 50 per cent quotation-to-contract conversion ratio – usually winning the jobs at the highest price. He was a guest speaker at SPLASH! 2014.

The biggest ever

Pool and spa industry gathered for the biggest trade show ever held in Australasia

The 2014 SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show has proven to be the biggest and best ever held.

More than 2000 visitors came to see the 105 exhibits and participate in the extensive education program including the first ever World Aquatic Health Conference held outside the United States.

The wide range of visitors included pool builders, service technicians, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, architects, landscapers, aquatic centre and theme park management, government, construction managers and engineers.

They came from every state of Australia as well as New Zealand, China, Germany, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, the UAE and the United States. The exhibitors also had an international flavour as they included companies from the United States, Singapore, China, New Zealand, Hong Kong, England and Belgium.

The bubbling poolside crowd at the SPASA Alliance welcome reception was estimated at about 1000 people, while the inaugural SPASA Australia awards night (including the SPLASH! and SPRAA awards) had been sold out for weeks beforehand. The Andrew Simons Memorial Golf Day, sponsored by Lo-Chlor, was a rousing success and finished the week with Steve Rae from Malibu Pools taking home the great prize of a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the World Shootout Championships.

Interpoint managing director Simon Cooper says the 2014 event was the biggest and most diverse pool and spa trade show ever held in Australia.

“We had more than 100 exhibitors and more than 2000 visitors, making it the biggest pool and spa trade show we’ve run. What’s more, an even more diverse range of delegates than usual attended thanks to a number of the related SPLASH! Week events including the World Aquatic Health Conference, the ALFA forum, the Certificate III and IV training, the big combined awards night, and several conferences and forums organised by industry organisations and suppliers, many of which involved bringing in senior representatives from overseas.

“In all, we’re extremely pleased with the week and the feedback I’ve received is that the trade show visitors, conference delegates and exhibitors all found the experience highly rewarding and profitable.”

Cooper made a point of thanking sponsors AstralPool, Bioniser and Eagles, as well as the Alliance for sponsoring the drinks, LoChlor for sponsoring the golf and Sunbather for sponsoring the SPLASH! Environmental Awards.

Education program

The education program at SPLASH! 2014 was the most extensive ever held for the swimming pool and spa industry in the region.

There were more than 30 sessions across the week as well as a number of forums organised by industry associations.

Two site visits were organised at the show: a close look at the chlorine-free Hydroxypure trial at Turtle Beach Resort, and a tour of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre (GCAC), the venue for the swimming and diving competition for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacs. SPLASH! will cover the GCAC upgrade in more detail in the October issue.

BioLab Australia, Traxion and the Swimming Pool and Spa Alliance presented a three-day program including elements of the Certificate III and IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Service. Participants were able to sign up for courses and receive course credits. There was also information on completing Required Prior Learning (RPL) packages for those members who already have the knowledge required to complete some or all of a Cert III or IV course.

The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) ran their popular Swimming Pool & Spa Service Course on the Monday and Tuesday. This hands-on training program taught participants how to operate and maintain an aquatic facility and could be used as a pathway to obtaining either the Certificate III or IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Service qualifications and enabled participants to use the RPL route to become qualified. They were given access to the Pool Operator Primer and Routine Maintenance of Pool & Spa Equipment online courses and additionally, on the successful completion of the program they qualified for the NSPF Certified Pool/Spa Operator Certification for commercial pool operators.

The blended program was a combination of online, classroom and hands-on training, and participants received resource materials relating

With nearly 2100 people coming through the show, SPLASH! 2014 was widely regarded as the best yet.

to Australian Standards, Codes and Regulations. The hands-on component was carried out at Jupiters aquatic facilities where they performed such tasks as monitoring and maintaining water quality; filter maintenance; pump maintenance; chemical feeder maintenance and pool cleaner maintenance.

The first ever World Aquatic Health Conference was a tremendous success with delegates travelling to attend from all over Australia as well as overseas.

Speakers included global and Australian experts in aquatic science such as Michele Hlavsa, Chief of the US Centres of Disease Control (CDC) Healthy Swimming Program; Alex Antoniou, Director of Educational Programs, National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF); Chip Blatchley, Professor, Purdue University; Rachael Poon, senior scientist from Victoria’s public health water program; Llew Withers, Senior Adviser to the environmental health hazards unit of Western Australia’s Department of Health; Rob Stowell, director of Learning Australia; and Tom Lachocki, CEO of NSPF.

Gatherings

There were also a number of forums including the SPASA Australia forum (see page 10) and the Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFA) industry forum.

Facility managers and industry professionals from around Australia attended the ALFA forum where Katie McDonald of Victoria University delivered the key outcomes of the recently concluded “Economic and Health Impacts of Local Government Aquatic and Recreation Facilities Industry” research project.

The research findings were well received, with delegates keen to share the outcomes with their local councils. There was also a strong desire for research of this nature to be conducted at the national level to get a larger sample of data from a wider range of geographic, demographic and socio-economic areas. Dr Robert Muenzberg presented the pros and cons of commercially available chlorine-testing equipment; Matt Hughes demonstrated how you can use online solutions to provide a point of difference to your facility; while Bryn Whales provided an overview of how the data can assist in creating better customer experiences.

As usual, the SPLASH show attracted senior and influential members of the pool industry from around the country and the world. SPLASH! managed to spend some time with a number of these people and we will present the interviews over forthcoming print editions and on the video page of splashmagazine.com.au.

Some of the leaders who will provide their insights include Clark Hale, president of Hayward Industries; Matt Kimball, global director of product management at Pentair; David Sizelove president & CEO of Aquatherm Industries; and Tom Lachocki, CEO of the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF).

This issue features the first in the series - retiring pioneer of the fibreglass industry, Ian Mewett, founder and CEO of Compass Pools - on pages 29 and 30.

The following pages depict some scenes and people from the show. While we try to be comprehensive, it is impossible to cover everything and everyone, and so we apologise in advance to anyone not mentioned.

The quality of the industry stands was very high this year.

The Focus slinkies created a concept never before seen on a trade stand.

1. Dolphin robots patrolled the water bridge over the passageway.

2. Clark Hale, president of Hayward Industries, also travelled over from the US for the show. SPLASH! will present a detailed interview with him in an upcoming edition.

3. David Sizelove, president & CEO of Aquatherm Industries also came across the Pacific to visit the Gold Coast show. SPLASH! will present a detailed interview with him in an upcoming edition.

4. Ian Mewett, founder and CEO of Compass Pools, announced his retirement at the show. There is a full interview on pages 29 and 30.

5. The ever colourful Vici stand.

6. Tom Lachocki, CEO of NSPF, moderated the WAHC sessions and made the opening and closing addresses. “It’s always amazing to me when there’s still more than 50 people in the room at the very end of a conference,” he says. “That’s the sign of a success, the proof that the delegates think the information is really important.” SPLASH! will present a detailed interview with Lachocki in an upcoming edition.

7. Matt Kimball, global director of product management, seen here on the Pentair stand with Bipin Gangadharan. SPLASH! will present a detailed interview with him in an upcoming edition.

8. Attentive delegates at one of the WAHC sessions.

The Commonwealth Games and Pan Pac pools at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, location of one of the site visits

9. Three successful training graduates: Andre DeBoer, Michael Northcott and Gary Kenah.

10. Adrian Hart from SPASA Queensland spoke to SPLASH! about the home warranty scheme. “All the indications we have at the moment are that the Queensland Government will move to include swimming pools in its home warranty insurance scheme, most likely from July 2015,” he says. “There’s been no official announcement but these are the indications from the regulator. When it happens, all licensed home builders will be required to take out cover for any pool they build over $3300. Existing pools covered by the SPASA Watertight Trust will continue to be covered for the remainder of the six year warranty time, at which time the benefit will cease. If it goes as we anticipate, the Watertight scheme will continue to operate and take risk until June 30 next year, and after July 1, 2015, the risk will be taken over by the Home Warranty Scheme, regulated by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. As members of the industry reference group, we’ve been very impressed in the way the QBCC has conducted itself. It appears the new commissioner Steven Griffin is a breath of fresh air through the organisation.”

11. Terry Day from New Fluid Technology says manufacturing is going well for their pump wet-ends in the Czech Republic where Kohler Whirlpool is making 50,000 pumps to meet their order of spa baths. “The performance of the production pumps has been better than the prototypes,” he says. “We’re getting about 25 to 30 per cent more efficiency and flow than the nearest spa pump competitor. And once this order is met they’ll start looking at pool pumps and other sizes.”

12. Former Mutual Pools builder Barry Shaw was keen to talk about the Malaysian Swimming Pool Association (MSPA), an organisation he had a hand in forming two years ago on the back of his relationship with Asia Pool’s Soo Ngee Chew who is now MSPA president. “It now has a membership in the forties and there have been three conventions, the latest one conducted by Manfred Wiesemes from the Alliance with assistance from several manufacturers,” he says. “It is hoped more workshops will be held in Kuala Lumpur, including invitations to pool builders from adjoining countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.”

13. Jeanette Moore and Fred Fliedner showed off Aqua Action’s new water features and fun products, including the new pool slide with an inbuilt water system which makes it easier for kids and adults to enjoy the pool.

The Alliance sponsored drinks attracted an estimated 1000 people to the Jupiters pool deck

14. Ian Jones from Bioniser had some new things to show customers including Spa Star, a new anti-stain technology for the Bioniser unit which means you can’t over-ionise your pool, and a new large unit that can now do a 600,000 litre pool. “We so enjoyed the SPLASH! Show this year,” he says. “The visitors were all great. We didn’t stop meeting and educating people about our latest products right up until…and past…closing time on the last day. The facilities were first class and staff were so eager to help that the whole program went like clockwork. We were really encouraged by the reaction we were getting from many industry diehards who were really interested to see what our systems were all about. We’ve been around long enough now that people realise we’re genuine and our product actually works.”

15. Michael Marshall (centre) from A&A Manufacturing, a division of Shasta Industries (the largest independent pool builder in the US) with Justin Nicholas and Brad Deacon at the Cooke Industries stand. In 2005 Shasta built 3200 pools in Phoenix alone. Marshall came to the show from Arizona to support Cooke as distributors of the QuickClean in-floor cleaning system. “Our system operates at about 25 per cent less energy than other systems,” he says. “That can save you from $500 to $600 per year in electricity costs.” Marshall also presented at a seminar at SPLASH! on sales training.

16. Elena Gosse says she came to SPLASH! to let the industry know that after 20 years, AIS is still releasing new product after new product. “We now have a machine for any TDS level. The freshwater chlorinator works from 1200ppm. It is only commercial at the moment, but we expect a residential product to be released by the beginning of next year, probably released at Piscine SPLASH! Asia in Singapore. We are also in the process of buying

another manufacturing facility just across the road from our factory. So we will have three facilities now. Since we’ve partnered with Pool Ranger and Narellan Pools things have been going great – we couldn’t find better partners.”

17. Business development manager Christian Brookhouse from International Quadratics was launching the new Theralux mineral based system which includes an easy-to-use Therachlor chlorinator which can run at a TDS level of 3000ppm, the Theraflo 8-star variable speed pool pump with a digital RPM display and twin-layered durable Theraclear filter utilising Theraclear recycled glass filtration media.

18. Free popcorn, courtesy of BioLab.

19. Anthony Ramsay, commercial manager for Pool Systems, was showing off his new products and new Swim Sportz and Aussie Gold packaging. “We were mindful that our old packaging was due for a refresh, so we involved some retailers in a focus group and they went through some concepts and we asked them what they did and didn’t like,” he says. “For the Aussie Gold, we wanted the packaging to remain current so we went for a stylised look that still had prominence. We settled on two colours that still had the dominant blue and orange. We’re supporting it with indoor merchandising and we can provide a plan and completely fit it out for the retailers. For Swim Sportz we looked at what was current in that leisure category and we wanted to feature some bright and vibrant packaging to complement our quality images. We also stylised the logo to make it look a bit more modern. A lot of people have come through at the show and they’ve loved it. The show’s been fantastic, it’s got up to the level of the international shows now. It’s great to see the amount of effort people have gone to with their stands this year. It lifts the profile of the industry.”

20. Focus was one company that put a great deal of effort into their stand, taking the ring motif from their logo and twisting it into a slinky shape – and having fun in the process. Dozens of slinkies hung from the ceiling providing a dynamic attraction while still allowing easy entry to the stand, which included a “geek” bar. Lauren Humphris says everyone who came through was going straight to look at the new Liqua system which covers three fundamental areas for pool and spa businesses: the cloud-based water analysis system, Synergy service management and customer communication including marketing for retail stores. “It’s been probably the best show yet. People from all around the world have been coming here wanting to see our system.”

21. PoolWerx CEO and recently appointed SPRAA president John O’Brien enjoyed the show as well as presenting a session on the Australian pool aftermarket and how to survive in the current retail and service environment. “As always, you guys are raising the bar and the show gets better every time. Keep doing it!”

22. Marc Perez (right) with Peter Wallace and the AstralPool PoolMac, which won the SPLASH! Environmental Product Award. “When we started designing this product five years ago we wanted to increase pool ownership, so we looked into the reasons why people with the money and space to buy a swimming pool would still not go and buy one. They said one, it’s overwhelming, and if I have a problem it’s on a Sunday when my pool guy’s not around; and second, the impact of energy cost and water cost. So we looked at simplifying life for the end user. The PoolMac has just three points of interaction. They don’t have to go into what some of them call the “black room” or the “scary room” where there is all the equipment they don’t know what to do with. Now they only have the interface for the smart manager; a strainer basket for the pump and to top up the acid to regulate the pH. That’s it. Everything else is handled by the pool professional, and we recommend they get a “white glove” premium service contract. And they get 50 per cent savings in water and up to 70 per cent savings on energy.

23. Alastair Turner from Pool Pro, seen here with a rather two-dimensional Billy Slater, was at SPLASH! to showcase the brand and show what they do and how they can help people. “We’re here to help everyone’s business grow, and hence we grow. It’s pretty simple.” He says that without a doubt this was a better show than last time. “Hands down. Very, very enjoyable. And for the first time we had a shindig for our regular customers and it was a fantastic night. Off the cuff one of our customers got up on stage and made a heartfelt speech and it was worth its weight in gold, it was fantastic. Thank you Darren Lange from Lange Pool & Spas in Toowoomba!

24. Pool Doctor has been in business since 1961, meaning the company has been a going industry concern for more than 50 years. “Doctors” Nigel and Chenille were at the show to promote the mobile franchise opportunities, and received a lot of interest.

25. Australian ultra-marathon swimmer Chloe McCardel successfully set a world record by swimming non-stop for 16 hours at the SPASA Victoria consumer show earlier this year. This was the equivalent of one and a half crossings of La Manche (also known as the English Channel). She is seen here with Paul Simons of Lo-Chlor who supplied the chlorine-free Aqua Spa sanitation for the swim spa. “It was absolutely incredible,” she says. “As soon as I got in I couldn’t smell or taste any chlorine – it was like swimming in a lake. I did a two-hour training session to start with, I got out and didn’t have itchy skin, I didn’t smell of chlorine, my hair wasn’t horrible. I loved it. So I naturally want to tell everyone about it because people deserve to have an alternative to swimming in chlorine. It’s approved, so it’s a great sanitiser.” You can see a video of Chloe at the show on splashmagazine.com.au.

26. Brad Weir from Neptune Benson was extolling the virtues of the Defender commercial ultrafine pool filtration system to pool builder Brad Baxter of Award Pools. “We have a filter than doesn’t backwash,” he says. “Saving 90 per cent of water, saving chemicals and heating costs up to 30 per cent. Because it doesn’t backwash you don’t need a huge pump, and we have a lower pressure requirement, so we save 50 per cent of energy costs on a standard sand filter installation. More importantly, at the WAHC next door, the conference has nominated cryptosporidium as the major health concern. Our filters go down to one micron – taking out 99.94 percent of crypto in one pass.”

27. The Zodiac product that attracted the most attention was the Tri Series “Crossover” chlorinator. It’s called a crossover because the consumer can decide to run it as a standard saltwater pool or switch over to run it as a mineral pool. It will be available with a new range of Element minerals. This was the first time it was shown: the stand saw a lot of people and the Crossover received a great deal of interest. It will be in available in September.

28. Rohan Beasley (centre) from Pool Water Products says he was really impressed with the show. “Everyone’s been looking at our new products, new eyeballs, new jets and the like. It’s been a great show and as it’s just the trade guys, it’s quite different from the retail shows. We like to talk to these guys and find out what they want. It’s great to get the feedback and get good ideas from these people.”

29. Terry Van Heerden from Vendart was promoting the new WaterLink Spin from La Motte. “This show’s been crazy. We’ve been run off our feet – I haven’t even had time for lunch! WaterLink Spin is game-changing technology – traditionally instruments are quite complex and take up to ten minutes to perform a test. This system takes one minute and completely eliminates all user interface. The retail version was launched at the last show, and this time we’re introducing the mobile version, and we’ve seen lots of retailers and mobile techs from right across the country, from Perth to New Zealand.”

30. Daniel Linberger from Rode Pool Services came to the show to see what was out in the market. “Saw a few new things. Definitely worthwhile to come along.”

31. Adrian Lacy from Australian Spa Parts says the show was fantastic. “It was a great result. It’s pleasing the guys have come over from Xylem and Elecro in the UK. There was a lot of interest in the products and made it worthwhile. A lot pool shops and technicians and some pool builders. It’s been great.”

32. Bob Beirnat (with Rona) says he enjoyed the show. “It’s a great show; a lot bigger than it was two years ago. I found lots of bits and pieces around and enjoyed catching up with people at the drinks nights with Hayward and AstralPool.”

33. Rob Savell was keen for everyone to know about Hydrocare’s “grate” stand. “My grate is featured in all the prominent water parks in Australia, including around the wave pool, at the new Wet’n’Wild Sydney where we’ve got one 450mm wide section 170 metres long,” he says. “It’s also good for residential pools. The problem with skimmer boxes is they’re dangerous, and soon all domestic pools will be wet-deck. The product’s 22 years old this year, and Hydrocare is 25. This was a very good show. We promote our show to our customers, architects, engineers (and one person who turned up for the drinks who will remain nameless!). Some people don’t like to do that because they expose their customers to the trade. But if you’re good enough, they’ll come back to you.”

34. Michael Ketiwell from the Blue Glass Pebble Company says SPLASH! is always a good show. “Everyone you talk to speaks the same language, as opposed to a public show where half the time they don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s been good.”

35. Pool builders David and Carol Caldicott from Garden City Pool in Toowoomba tried out the new pool cover enclosure from Waterblade. “This is exactly what we need to see, all the things that are here. We can see a lot of things we wouldn’t normally see. These guys here are from West Aussie, for example. We’ll definitely come back next time.”

36. Peter Hogg (left) the owner of Magnum Filters in New Zealand was letting people know that he has acquired 100 per cent ownership of UK company Spaeuro, which makes spas covers in Mexico and sells them from the warehouse in Wales. There is more on this in the News section of the magazine.

37. Peter Haddon (not pictured) from Heliocol said they had a very successful show with great enquiry levels. “We had a new solar pool heating product on display that we’d released to our salespeople and dealers just two weeks before.”

38. Lisa Yates and Terry Sampson from Safe To Swim came over from Perth. “We just listened to Cal Stanley’s talk on selling pools. It was very good. We do servicing but we picked up some tips from him on how to ‘sell yourself’. We saw a few chlorine-free systems and pool software we were very impressed with. And also pool covers. The tall guy from Remco was very helpful.”

39. Evolve was at the show to take “Poolrite by the Evolve Group” to the industry and tell everyone their story and the plans for the Poolrite brand moving forward. Paul Wilkie (not pictured) says it helped clear up a lot of miscommunication and it was important to explain that Poolrite as a company is no longer – it’s now a brand of pool products that The Evolve Group will continue to support while bringing new innovations to the industry. “It was really exciting and we certainly got a lot out of it.”

40. Tony Kohlenberg from NSW Health on the North Coast came to participate in the WAHC. “It was great. The first half was microbiology and all the problems with the pools, and the second half was how to sort it out. It’s been informative and very helpful. The speakers know their stuff, so you’re learning and also reinforcing things you do already know.”

41. Deny Zancanaro from Swim Australia was impressed with the trade show as well as the WAHC. “The trade stands were fabulous and the presentations were wonderful as well. They answered a whole heap of questions I’d been trying to answer for a year or so about pool disinfection and buying new equipment. It’s ticked all the boxes just from coming for a day. And my customers’ swimming experience is going to be so much better.”

42. Continually changing coloured water lit up the vibrant Aqua-Quip stand, energetically presented by Candy Gold and Roy Halle.

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43. Andrew and Anne Paterson from Blue Water Pool Care in Cairns. “The show’s been really informative, saw new products, caught up with old friends. The new EcoLine from AIS and the Equilibrium from AstralPool were the standouts for us.”

44. John McDonald (right) from Niagara Pool Supplies was impressed at the number of people, including those from overseas. “People came from Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Singapore, China. This show has a good name and is well respected.”

45. Nick Millar of Compu Pool says this SPLASH! was actually better than the last one. “Especially if you go by the number of attendees and the quality of leads.”

46. Justin Otterbach from Albatross Pools co-presented a seminar on pre-engineered pools. “Quite a few people came back through the stand after the presentation, and they said it was good. It was nice to meet new people and make new business opportunities.”

47. Chris Rehm from Davey says he noticed numbers were up and the quality of the stands had definitely improved. “We put a bit of time and investment in our stand to give it a fresh, modern clean look. There was a lot of interest in our new 425 square foot cartridge filter which only needs to be cleaned once every two or three years on residential pools.”

48. Long-time visitor to SPLASH!, Thunasak Phungdet from JD Pools in Thailand, brought his daughter Pink to the show so she could enjoy an Australian holiday while learning about the industry. “There were many stands this time. More than a hundred I think. I think it’s better than before too, many innovative products. Chemicals, chlorinators, many interesting products.”

49. Lindsay Hartshorne from Lincoln (seen here with Carl Voshege on the Remco stand across the corridor) said the show was excellent: “I’d been trying to get a photo of the stand without any people in it but I couldn’t get one, it was so busy, especially with that initial rush on the first morning.”

50. Spa Electrics had a vibrant light show on their stand. “We saw a lot of people and had a lot of interest. This is the best show in Australia by far. One thing that attracted a lot of interest was our loyalty program we’re running with pool shops.”

51. Simon Boadle from Sunbather (right) says the show was absolutely wonderful. “As you know, I’ve done all these shows and this one tops them all. Very well run and we’ve had continual interest – on our stand at least – from opening till closing. Couldn’t be happier. After forty years of being in the solar business, I still enjoy the shows, talking to people, walking around and looking at the new products.”

52. Cliff Cooke says the show was sensational. “The quality of the show is improving, and the quality of the stands is really picking up. We’ve noticed by putting the in-floor demonstration on our stand it really gets people in and helps explain the concept to them.”

53. Mobile technician Simon Hill from Beachside Pool Care on the Sunshine Coast loved the show. “I had a great time and caught up with people I’d only ever spoke to on the phone before. And saw some good seminars.”

54. Danielle from Just Spas says they were very busy with a lot of people coming through: plenty of potential dealers as well as meeting with existing dealers.

55. Adam Sledge, operations manager at Maroondah City Council in Melbourne came for the WAHC. “I made a couple of really good contacts and learnt quite a bit from the trade floor as well.”

56. Annette Matthews and Michael Newton from Australian Waterslides and Leisure from Coffs Harbour had “a bit of a sticky beak around. We were looking for filtration, pumps and the like, and found a few new products, especially the Hydroxypure which we were very interested in.”

57. Pool care technician Paul Walker came up from Melbourne for the second time. “We were pretty new in the industry last time, so it was a good way to find out who’s who in the zoo. This time we were really working on our networking.”

58. Lew Withers from WA Health spoke at the WAHC as well as attending the other sessions. He says there are very few locations in Australia where you actually have a science-based aquatic conference. “There’s very little or nothing on aquatics at the environmental health conferences, so this was quite a revelation. I think it’s a starting point for educating the industry.” He says the most significant change in the industry is the competency-based training for technicians – the Cert III and IV. WA is currently the only State to have a requirement for public pool technicians to have accreditation, through the Code of Practice for Design Construction Operation Management and Maintenance of Aquatic Facilities which requires a trained person

to look after plant and machinery for every public pool. There are 2000 public pools in WA, including aquatic centres, commercial, educational and body corporate pools.

“This means a lot of pool technicians and pool shop operators seeking the higher qualifications. My job will be to try and work a pathway that doesn’t detract from people who already have the Safe Pool Operations qualification run by Royal Life, but also provides an incentive for them to upgrade to the next level.”

59. Noel Sampson, managing director of Select Chemicals, came across from New Zealand for the trade show, but more specifically for the WAHC. “As soon as I heard about it I went online and booked straight away. I’d looked at going to the US for the conference many times but it was just so far and so expensive with flights and accommodation. As soon as I saw it was available here I was into it. I found it very very useful and enjoyed it immensely.”

60. Edward and Tamarin Britz from Waterwell Projects came all the way from South Africa. “It was the first time we came. I think the stands look nice, the variety was very good, it was well represented and well attended. All in all, it’s all been positive. The welcome drinks were nicely done, too.”

TSPLASH! Environmental Award winners

he fourth SPLASH! Environmental Award winners and finalists were announced on July 17, 2014 during the SPASA Australia Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner on the last day of the SPLASH! Pool & Spa trade show.

Proudly supported by foundation sponsor Sunbather, the SPLASH! Environmental Awards are the only awards in the world solely dedicated to environment friendly products and projects in the swimming pool and spa industry.

The award are designed to celebrate and encourage innovation that improves efficiency in the use of the three key areas of energy, water and chemical use.

Judging the awards was a panel of respected experts in the fields of swimming pool construction, pump efficiency, water efficiency, and both residential and commercial pool design. The panel was comprised of Julian Gray (Smart Approved WaterMark), David Hallett (Archicentre), Denis Pontin (RMP Consultants), Peter Seebacher (AusEng Consulting) and Cal Stanley (Neptune Pools).

This year the awards were simplified to two categories and garnered more than 30 quality submissions.

Most Environment Friendly Project

This award sparked considerable discussion amongst the judges as they attempted to balance the differing strengths of each project, bearing in mind that most of them were relatively newly completed and so there was limited data to show how they were progressing over time.

The debate resulted in four finalists and one commended project, with the winner chosen from the finalists.

Project Winner: Fremantle Aquatic Centre Heating Upgrade by Evoheat Industries. The ground-breaking Fremantle Aquatic Centre

heating project combined a subterranean aquifer as an energy source for a combined geothermal heat pump and cogeneration system to warm the pool water. This was the first time a project of this type has been constructed in Australia.

The award was presented to Travis McNeill of Evo Industries Australia Pty Ltd.

The judges considered this to be an admirable project and while they accept boring into an aquifer to use the water as a heat source is not possible for all installations, it is still an intelligent and highly energy-conserving concept. The judges also noted that the project was made even more efficient by going down 250m instead of 1000m to achieve the desired result.

Project Finalist: Turtle Beach Resort Hydroxypure Installation. The judges were impressed by the fact that the commercial pool project solved a specific problem in an innovative and repeatable way by using a hydrogen peroxide system in place of chlorine.

Project Finalist: Hirondelle Rehabilitation Hospital Hydrotherapy Pool. The judges considered this project worthy of a finalist nomination as it used a combination of innovations. While some judges believed the innovations may have been solving problems that could have been addressed in different ways, they were all impressed by enough elements to nominate it as a finalist.

Also commended: Cootamundra Shire Council 25m Indoor Pool. The judges thought this project was worth commending as it addressed each of the criteria of water, energy and chemical efficiency, though to a lesser degree than the finalist projects. n

SPLASH! congratulates all the winners and finalists in the SPLASH! Environmental Awards, as well as the winners of the SPRAA and SPASA Australia awards also presented on the night.

Site of the winning project, Fremantle Aquatic Centre

Environment Friendly Product

This category drew a large number of entries and the judges commented that choosing a winner was very difficult because there were many good entries that matched different elements of the three main criteria of energy, water and chemical efficiency. After lengthy discussions the judges selected four finalists, from which a winning product was chosen.

Product Winner: PoolMac by AstralPool. The judges awarded the Project award to PoolMac because this innovative system addresses all three criteria and importantly, as a “plug and play” device, the integrated system reduces human error and ensures the component parts are used as intended. The award was presented to Peter Wallace of AstralPool Australia.

Product Finalist: Hydroxypure by Waterco. While the judges wanted to see how the system functions over a longer period of time in situ, they felt the chlorine-free innovation was worthy of a finalist nomination even though it was at an early stage in its market development.

Product Finalist: Viron eVo Pump by AstralPool. The judges nominated this product as a finalist because it is highly efficient while also possessing a good range of controls and versatility for a variable speed pump in the medium price range.

Product Finalist: Retractable/Telescopic Pool Enclosure by TPEC. The judges considered that while strictly speaking, the environmental savings of the enclosure might not be as great as some other options, the versatility of this product – enabling comfortable swimming in the cooler months – provided a much more efficient solution for residential and commercial pools than the expense and energy expended in the

of an indoor pool.

building

1. The team at the site of the winning project, Fremantle Aquatic Centre: Craig Heal, Jason Houghton, Jamie Annetts and John East

2. Foundation Sponsor and chief supporter of the awards, Simon Boadle of Sunbather at the combined awards gala. Go to splashmagazine to see his presentation

3. Hirondelle Hydrotherapy Pool, a project finalist

4. The Turtle Beach project was a finalist in the project category

5. Product Finalist, Hydroxypure by Waterco

Winner of the Product Award, PoolMac by AstralPool

Inaugural SPASA Australia Awards

The first ever SPASA Australia Awards were held at a gala event at Crowne Plaza, Surfers Paradise, at the completion of the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show.

The awards night included the SPLASH! Environmental Awards (see page 46) and the SPRAA retail awards (see page 52).

The SPASA Australia winners were chosen from the list of winners of the 2013 SPASA Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia awards.

West Australian pool builder Future Pools Design & Construction won the first ever SPASA Australia Pool of the Year, while AstralPool won the Sustainable Product of the Year for its Neolysis 120 combined UV and salt chlorinator.

The full list of winners are:

2013 SPASA Australia Pool of the Year

Future Pools Design & Construction

SPASA Australia Sustainability Award Product Astral Pool for the Neolysis 120

MC for the evening was Nicole Livingstone

2013 SPASA Australia Pool of the Year: Future Pools Design & Construction, sponsored by United Media Group

Enkipools won the residential concrete traditional pool up to $50,000 category

Residential Concrete Traditional up to $50,000

Gold: Enkipools

Silver: Cascade Pools

Bronze: The Water’s Edge

Residential Concrete Traditional $50,000 to $100,000

Gold: Out from the Blue

Silver: Boardwalk Pools

Residential Concrete Traditional over $100,000

Gold: Aloha Pools

Silver: Quality Dolphin Pools

Bronze: Quantum Pools

Residential Concrete Pool Freeform up to $50,000

Gold: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Silver: Imperial Pools

Residential Concrete Pool Freeform $50,000 to $100,000

Gold: Imperial Pools

Silver: Norfolk Pools

Residential Concrete Pool Freeform over $100,000

Gold: Natural Pools

Silver: Quality Dolphin Pools

Residential Fibreglass up to $40,000

Gold: Summertime Pools by Rainwise

Silver: Barrier Reef Pools

Bronze: Gordon Avenue Pool & Spas

Residential Fibreglass over $40,000

Gold: Compass Pools Vic

Silver: Barrier Reef Pools Northside

Bronze: Freedom Pools & Spas

Residential Vinyl Lined In-ground Pools

Gold: Albatross Pools

Silver: Add a Splash Pools

Pre-engineered Above Ground Vinyl

Gold: Classic Pools

Silver: Classic Pools

Residential Enclosed/Indoor Pool

Gold: Out from the Blue

Silver: Daydream Pool & Spas

Display Pools

Gold: Albatross Pools

Silver: Freedom Pools & Spas

Commercial Pools or Spas up to $250,000

Gold: Surfside Pools

Silver: Freedom Pools & Spas

Bronze: Commercial Aquatics Australia

Commercial Pools or Spas over $250,000

Gold: Commercial Aquatics Australia

Silver: Commercial Aquatics Australia

Bronze: Aquarius Pools

Renovation up to $25,000

Gold: Dean Thomas Pools

Silver: Daydream Pools & Spas

Renovation over $25,000

Gold: Aloha Pools

Silver: Urban Oasis

Bronze: Reflections Pool & Spa

Innovative Pool and/or Spa

Gold: Aloha Pools

Silver: Out from the Blue

Bronze: Norfolk Pools

Water Feature

Gold: Future Pools Design & Construction

Silver: Tassie Pools & Spas

Lap Pools

Gold: Future Pools Design & Construction

Silver: Aloha Pools

Bronze: Norfolk Pools

Sustainable Pools

Gold: Quantum Pools

Silver: Noble Pools

Best In-Situ Portable Spa

Gold: Endless Spas

For more information on the awards go to www.spasa.com.au/awards.

Surfside Pools won the commercial under $250,000 category

Summertime Pools by Rainwise won the fibreglass under $40,000 category

AstralPool picked up several major awards on the night from all of the three award groups: SPASA Australia, SPLASH! and SPRAA

The inaugural SPRAA retail awards

The inaugural SPRAA Awards winners were presented by president Gary Nye during the combined gala night which included the SPASA Australia Awards of Excellence and the SPLASH! Environmental Awards.

The winner of the first ever SPRAA National Pool Store of the Year was Rainwise Coburg from Victoria. Runners-up were Poolside Frankston (Vic) and Sapphire Wetwork at Tura Beach (NSW).

The SPRAA Retail Salesperson of the Year is Lee Salisbury from Sapphire Wetwork, with runners-up Clayton Safet from Clark Rubber Midland (WA) and Mike Latchford from Clark Rubber Moorabbin (Vic).

The SPRAA Technician of the Year competition resulted in a draw with Anthony Wheatley from Poolwerx Milton (Qld) and Shannon Lynch from Clark Rubber, Campbelltown (NSW) scoring equal

points. The runner-up in this category was Caleb Birch from Clark Rubber Enfield.

Retail Supplier of the Year is AstralPool. The runners-up were Newline and Zodiac.

The SPRAA National Spa Retailer of the Year is Poolside Wodonga (Vic) and the runner up was Clark Rubber Geraldton (WA).

President Gary Nye says SPRAA has achieved a lot in a short time, including the work to establish the Certificate III and IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Service.

“We are delighted to have run the inaugural national awards for the after-market sector. The awards are a valuable way to recognise the outstanding businesses our members run,” he says. n

Go to splashmagazine.com.au to see a video of Gary Nye’s presentation.

1. Pool Technician winners Shannon Lynch left and Anthony Wheatley

2. The winner of the first ever SPRAA National Pool Store of the Year was Rainwise Coburg from Victoria

3. Poolside Wodonga, winner of the Spa Store of the Year award

4. Gary Nye with Lee Salisbury. Retail Salesperson of the Year

REVOLUTIONIsING THE POOL DECK for more than 120 years

Anti Wave, Australia’s leading manufacturer of commercial swimming pool products and S.R.Smith, world leader in swimming pool deck equipment bring together more than 12 decades of innovation, experience and passion. Our ongoing mission is to design and deliver products that help people get the most from their time in the water. Whether for serious competitors, those looking for splashing good fun, or for swimmers needing a little extra help getting in and out of the pool, look to S.R.Smith. For more information on the company’s complete range of products and services please visit: www.srsmith.com/au

We would like to give a special thank you to OUR MAJOR SPONSOR

and all other Sponsors of the 2014 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE. It was your support that made the event such a success. It is greatly appreciated and we ask the Pool Industry to support those who support your association.

Poolside

2014 SPASA Queensland Awards

SPASA Queensland held its 2014 awards, with the winners announced at an award gala in August at the Royal Pines on the Gold Coast. The winners are listed below.

Pool of the Year

Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Pool Builder of the Year

Noble Pools & Construction

Domestic Concrete Pool Freeform or Natural up to $50,000

Gold: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Burleigh Pools

Freeform or Natural $50,000 to $100,000

Gold: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Merit: Queensland Family Pools

Freeform or Natural over $100,000

Gold: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Traditional or Geometric up to $50,000

Gold: Norfolk Pools

Silver: Queensland Family Pools

Bronze: Norfolk Pools

Merit: Norfolk Pools, Burleigh Pools, Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Traditional or Geometric $50,000 to $100,000

Gold: Norfolk Pools

Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Queensland Family Pools

Merit: Environ Pools, Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Traditional or Geometric over $100,000

Gold: Norfolk Pools

Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Placid Pools

Merit: L & V Project Pools, Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Fibreglass Freeform up to $40,000

Gold: Freedom Pools

Silver: Freedom Pools

Bronze: Narellan Pools

Fibreglass Traditional to $40,000

Gold: Narellan Pools

Silver: Freedom Pools

Bronze: Compass Pools SEQ

Fibreglass Traditional over $40,000

Gold: Compass Pools SEQ

Silver: Compass Pools SEQ

Bronze: Freedom Pools

Domestic Lap Pool

Gold: Norfolk Pools

Silver: Norfolk Pools

Qld Pool of the Year by Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Queensland Family Pools

Merit: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Domestic Courtyard Plunge Pool

Gold: Noble Pools

Silver: Environ Pools

Bronze: Compass Pools SEQ

Merit: Noble Pools, Norfolk Pools

Domestic Aboveground Modular Pool

Gold: Classic Pools

Silver: Classic Pools

Bronze: Classic Pools

Merit: Classic Pools

Spa Pool Combo

Gold: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Silver: L & V Project Pools

Bronze: Pool Fab Swimming Pools

Merit: Environ Pools, Burleigh Pools

Stand-Alone Spa Pool

Gold: Queensland Family Pools

Water Feature

Gold: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Silver: Compass Pools SEQ

Bronze: Queensland Family Pools

Merit: Norfolk Pools

Pool Lighting Feature

Gold: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Silver: Noble Pools

Bronze: Compass Pools SEQ

Merit: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Domestic Pool Renovation up to $25,000

Gold: Western Suburbs Swimming Pool Services

Silver: Jagun

Bronze: Mad Pool lnteriors

Merit: Mad Pool lnteriors

Pool Renovation over $25,000

Gold: Pool Fab Swimming Pools

Commercial Concrete Swimming Pool up to $250,000

Gold: L&V Project Pools

Silver: L&V Project Pools

Concrete Pool over $250,000

Gold: Cascade Pools

Silver: L&V Projects Pools

Bronze: L&V Projects Pools

Merit: Surfside Pools Commercial

Commercial Lap Pool

Gold: L&V Projects Pools

Silver: Cascade Pools

Bronze: Surfside Pools Commercial

Commercial Renovation up to $250,000

Gold: Mad Pool Interiors

Silver: L&V Projects Pools

Bronze: Mad Pool Interiors

Pool Renovation over $250,000

Gold: L&V Project Pools

Commercial Pool Water Feature over $250,000

Gold: Surfside Pools

Classic Pool

Gold: Burleigh Pools

Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Spa/sauna/hot tub

Gold: Freedom Pools

Silver: Freedom Pools

Builders Display Swimming Pool

Gold: Freedom Pools

Silver: Freedom Pools

Creative Domestic

Gold: Norfolk Pools

Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Merit: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Creative Commercial

Gold: Surfside Pools Commercial

Technical/Engineering Domestic

Gold: Pool Fab Swimming Pools

Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Noble Pools

Merit: Compass Pools SEQ, Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Technical/Engineering Commercial

Gold: L&V Projects Pools

Silver: L&V Projects Pools

Sustainable Swimming Pool

Gold: Noble Pools

Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Bronze: Nobles Pools

Pool Shop

Gold: Rode Rd Pool Services

Silver: Austin Pool Services

Bronze: Atlantis Pool Services

Sales Consultant of the Year

Chris Nicholls, Queensland Family Pools

Construction Supervisor of the Year

Wade Evans, Evans & Evans Pools

Industry Trade Representative

Jayne Orth, Astral Pool Australia

2014 SPASA WA Awards

Pool of the Year

Quality Dolphin Pools

Concrete Traditional under $50,000

Gold: Quality Dolphin Pools

Silver: Freedom Pools

Bronze: Boardwalk Pools

Concrete Traditional $50,000 to $100,000

Gold: Roebuck Pools

Silver: Roebuck Pools

Bronze: Quality Dolphin Pools

Concrete Traditional over $100,000

Gold: Quality Dolphin Pools

Silver: Boardwalk Pools

Bronze: Phase 3 Landscape Construction

Concrete Freeform $50,000-$100,000

Winner: Roebuck Pools

Fibreglass under $40,000

Gold: Barrier Reef Pools

Silver: Barrier Reef Pools

Bronze: Barrier Reef Pools

Fibreglass Pools over $40,000

Gold: Barrier Reef Pools

Silver: Barrier Reef Pools

Bronze: Barrier Reef Pools

Fibreglass Secondhand Pools

Gold: Palm City Pools

WA Pool of the Year, Quality Dolphin Pools

Silver: Palm City Pools

Bronze: Bay Pools & Spas

Residential Vinyl Lined In-Ground Pools

Gold: Poolscape Pools

Silver: Add A Splash Pools

Bronze: Poolscape Pools

Vinyl Lined Above Ground Pools

Gold: Classic Pools

Silver: Classic Pools

Bronze: Classic Pools

Residential Enclosed/Indoor Pools

Gold: Quality Dolphin Pools

Silver: Boardwalk Pools

Bronze: Barrier Reef Pools

Residential Plunge/Courtyard Pools

Gold: Pools By Design

Silver: Boardwalk Pools

Bronze: Barrier Reef Pools

Residential Pool & Spa Combo

Gold: Pools By Design

Silver: Quality Dolphin Pools

Bronze: Pools By Design

Concrete Spas

Gold: Quality Dolphin Pools

Silver: Reflections Pool & Spa Care

Portable Spas

Gold: Just Spas

Silver: Just Spas

Display Pools/Centres

Gold: Aqua Technics

Silver: Wa Fibreglass Services

Bronze: Barrier Reef Pools

Residential Concrete Lap Pool

Gold: Dunsborough Pool & Spa

Silver: Pools By Design

Bronze: Reflections Pool & Spa Care

Residential Vinyl Lined Lap Pool

Gold: Bay Pools & Spas

Silver: Add A Splash Pools

Bronze: Poolscape Pools

Residential Fibreglass Lap Pool

Gold: Aqua Technics

Silver: Barrier Reef Pools

Bronze: Barrier Reef Pools

Commercial Fibreglass Pools

Gold: Barrier Reef Pools

Silver: Aqua Technics Commercial

Bronze: Aqua Technics Commercial

Commercial Vinyl Lined Pools

Gold: Reflections Pool & Spa Care

Silver: Commercial Aquatics Australia

Commercial Concrete Pools under $250,000

Gold: Boardwalk Pools

Silver: Reflections Pool & Spa Care

Commercial Concrete Pools over $250,000

Gold: Commercial Aquatics Australia

Silver: Pools By Design

Domestic Pool Renovations

Gold: Quality Dolphin Pools

Silver: Future Pools

Bronze: Imperial Pools

Commercial Pool Renovations

Gold: Commercial Aquatics Australia

Silver: Commercial Aquatics Australia

Bronze: Reflections Pool & Spa Care

Innovative

Gold: Add A Splash Pools

Silver: Imperial Pools

Bronze: Imperial Pools

Sustainability Product

Winner: Emaux

Water Feature

Gold: Future Pools

Silver: Water Features By Design

Bronze: Water Eatures By Design

Pool Shop

Gold: Poolwerx Applecross

Silver: Shenton Pumps

Supplier of the Year

AstralPool

Supplier’s Representative of the Year

Linda Taylor of Waterco

Pool Technician of the Year

Mike Hamel-Smith

Underwater living

Amost amazing residence takes pride of place in the town of Marbella on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.

While the pool in the roof is the most visually striking aspect of the structure, it came about – like many of the best architectural features –because of practical necessity.

When designing the home the architects had to overcome the fact that the neighbouring buildings blocked the home’s view to the nearby sea. So they decided to build the pool on the roof, so that the beach and sea could always be seen while sunbathing or swimming. This had the added effect of creating a watery ceiling for the living areas and terrace.

The pool is cantilevered nine metres out and weighs nearly 60,000kg. Equipped with an infinity-edge, its water merges with the sea in the distance. This pool has a glass-bottom floor and a panoramic window at its interior facing edge, both of which are 600mm thick; the latter allows those in the kitchen to view those swimming, while a third window affords those in the kitchen a glimpse of

the living room, whose terrace extends under the cantilevered pool.

The Spanish sun constantly filters through the pool’s glass wall and floor, creating ripples of iridescent turquoise reflections throughout the entire house. As such, the pool can be seen and experienced from nearly all areas of the home. Integrated within the pool is an full length underwater bench which doubles as a housing for the pool cover, so it is out of sight when the pool is in use.

The house’s structure is composed of poured whiteconcrete supported by one column at the rear of the pool and several smaller columns near the dining terrace.

A small service elevator allows food and drink to be brought from the kitchen up to the rooftop pool and terrace. This roof terrace features an oversized and custom-designed concrete table with an adjoining bench merging into an angular concrete lounge.

It is said in good architecture, form follows function. Such is the case in this project, resulting in a stunning form that takes brilliant advantage of the view as well as the warm Mediterranean light. n

Photography by Jan Bitter

The strong lines of the concrete create a monumental streetscape, enlivened by the glittering of the pool’s water

The lounge terrace is literally underwater, making for the most unusual sun screen and a wavy, turquoise environment

Credits

Location: Marbella, Spain

Date of completion: 2013

Project team: Wiel Arets, Bettina Kraus, Lars Dreessen, Dennis Villanueva

Collaborators: Paul Draaijer, William Fung, Johannes Kappler

Consultants: West 8, ABT BV, Cauberg-Huygen Raadgevende Ingenieurs BV, Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos S.L.

Fixing leaks with vinyl conversions

One way to renovate a concrete pool is to apply a vinyl liner to it.

Vinyl liner supplier Abgal Liners & Covers provided information on this process. Abgal supplies the Aqualux vinyl liner which has been used in the Australian market since the 1970s, when it was produced by Nylex. The formulation was taken over by Swimlinings in 2009 and is now available exclusively in Australia through Abgal and Walco, and through Aqua-Tech Industries in New Zealand.

Garry Long, MD of Abgal Liners says that Aqualux is suitable for new pool builds, but it’s most popular for renovations.

“We are seeing more and more existing concrete pools being converted to Aqualux,” he says.

“There are many reasons to line a concrete shell with vinyl rather than more traditional surface finishes such as paint, tile, render or plaster. These include the fact that it can stretch 200 per cent without tearing, making it ideal for areas where leaks and cracking are caused by ground movement, because the vinyl can absorb the movement.”

He says Aqualux is strong and durable.

“It won’t chip, crack or blister, and is guaranteed to keep a pool shell watertight for ten years. But in the right conditions, most last much longer. We’ve seen them last over 30 years,” he says. He also says that Aqualux requires less maintenance than most other finishes, on a par with fibreglass.

Kim Foster from Aqua-Tech Pool Liners has carried out a number of renovations, often for pools where

Main: A large concrete painted pool at Vanuatu’s Bokissa resort was brought up to scratch with an Aqualux vinyl liner

Left: The Casablancastyle liner being installed by Aqualon

Right: Now looking resort quality

leaks were a problem. One was a concrete pool in Brisbane built by the home owner who was also the owner of a construction firm.

“Unfortunately it leaked from day one and he thought that a liner might just be the solution,” says Kim Foster from Aqua-Tech Pool Liners.

“The Antique print suited their setting perfectly and the customers were absolutely thrilled with the look and fit. They said their friends were also commenting on how good the pool now looked.”

Another was an L-shaped pool that was originally fully tiled with dark grey mosaics.

“It also had leakage problems from day one,” says Foster. “The pool just wouldn’t hold water, so installing an Aqualux membrane was the obvious way forward to guarantee a watertight finish.”

The shell was prepared and measured up, then the membrane was made by Abgal and delivered in one piece, ready for installation with no on-site cutting or tweaking required.

The conversion process

• To convert a tiled/painted/rendered concrete pool, the shell needs to be prepared (often by grinding or rendering) to ensure a smooth surface.

• The pool returns are converted, and a vacuum pipe is installed (to provide permanent drainage from between the pool shell and the surface finish).

• Most standard pools are measured using a mark-out system, but more complicated pools are often laser surveyed to ensure a perfect fit.

• The shell is fitted with retaining strips around the perimeter, and the Aqualux membrane is fitted and vacuumed into place.

• The whole process generally takes around two to three weeks.

• The pool is ready for swimming as soon as the water is balanced. n

Contacts: aquatechpoolliners.com.au; abgal.com.au; www.bokissa.com

Wasting Time Testing Pool and Spa Water?

“It takes me only 60 seconds to do 9 different tests.”

If you are cleaning test tubes, crushing tablets or waiting for reagents to react then the answer is probably yes. That’s the old way of doing things.

The new way is LaMotte’s WaterLink Spin : A gamechanging photometer that takes little effort and just 60 seconds to accurately and comprehensively analyse a water sample and produce a treatment report.

At the same time as it improves the standard of your water testing, WaterLink Spin will free your employees to spend more time with your customers, and take the frustration of ‘cocktail waitress’ water testing out of their days.

WaterLink Spin uses LaMotte’s famous DataMate water testing software which is cloud-based so you can monitor water testing at remote locations from a central office.

Aqua-Tech Pool Liners used a vinyl liner to solve leak issues with this Brisbane pool

Aqualon Interiors finished this pool with an Aqualux Antique print

Healthy Waterways launches program for safe water play

Healthy Waterways has developed the Healthy Waterplay program to support regionally consistent monitoring of recreational water quality in South East Queensland, and to provide information about potential health risks.

While this program doesn’t deal with swimming pools, it is important for swimmers to be aware of conditions when they use open water such as as beaches, rivers and lakes.

In addition to pools and spas, our waterways and beaches are popular recreational hotspots for the community and tourists. They are generally clean and safe for everyone to enjoy however, there is a strong link between rainfall events and their health. Rainfall can wash pollutants into the waterways causing certain areas to become temporarily unsuitable for recreation. Waterway pollution, such as germs and bacteria, can lead to mild illness such as stomach upsets and infections.

Managers of pools and spas also face a similar challenge in ensuring that users are not exposed to harmful levels of germs and bacteria.

Healthy Waterways offers these tips for enjoying recreational water safely, some of which can also be applied to pool and spa users, (particularly in public places) including:

• Avoid contact with waterways if you have open cuts or infection.

• Do not swim if you have diarrhoea.

• Take small children on frequent toilet breaks and check nappies every 30-60 minutes.

• Always shower and wash with soap before and after your swim.

• Look out for indicators of pollution before entering waterways inc luding discoloured or strong smelling water, and floating litter, scum or debris.

Healthy Waterways is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation that works with government, industry and the community to protect and improve waterways in South East Queensland (SEQ), with much of their educational information of use nationwide.

It facilitates careful planning and coordinated efforts at local and regional levels among a network of member organisations from government, industry, research and the community.

Healthy Waterways Programs

Science and Innovation: provides independent scientific advice, develops innovative decision support tools and ensures that rigorous science underpins Healthy Waterways’ work.

Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program: delivers one of the most comprehensive marine, estuarine and freshwater monitoring programs in Australia. The program highlights whether the health of SEQ’s waterways and Moreton Bay is improving or declining, and provides insight into the issues impacting on waterway health.

Water by Design: enables individuals and organisations to achieve sustainable urban water management. The program uses capacity building, develops guidelines, conducts training courses and supports collaborative, science-based policy development to implement best practice water sensitive urban design.

Communication, Education and Motivation Program: develops and implements initiatives that engage and educate the community in the issue of waterway health, and motivates individual and collective community action.

Contacts: www.healthywaterways.org n

The planning’s as important as the plan

By Anthony Davis

No one in their right mind would plan to fail and yet many in small business simply overlook the power of planning. That’s right, it’s not the Plan that matters, it’s the Planning! Ponder this for a moment if you will: according to an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey, only 18 per cent of Australian businesses have a formal written business plan.

That figure on its own is revealing enough. When you compare it to the fact that less than 20 per cent of businesses survive past the first five years, you can start to understand that formal planning can have an enormous impact on the future of your business.

Many business owners make the leap from employee to owner without a clear understanding of the rigours of managing a business. Almost all of them want to experience greater “freedom” from their business and yet they find themselves spending less time with their family and earning less per hour than they really deserve.

As a business owner or operator you will ensure that all the technical requirements of your customers are met but how effectively do you manage your business?

For your business to be a profitable investment for you and your stakeholders, you need to plan for it to be able to work without you –otherwise all you have is a job!

So how do you go about creating a business that works without you?

Effective business management relies on an understanding of the three major systems of business. These are the: Planning Systems, Doing Systems and Monitoring Systems.

The colours are significant as they represent: blue for “blue sky” thinking; green for the colour of “go” (all planning and no action results in nothing more than a good plan); and red to indicate that you need to “stop” at regular intervals to monitor the performance of your business.

Planning systems

These are those plans and processes you use to regularly determine the actions you are to take to achieve your business objectives. These objectives should be created to meet your lifestyle objectives and you need to be clear as to what they are.

This is often referred to as “working ON your business.” When asked, most business owners are willing to “work ON their business”; the only challenge is that often they have no idea where to start. The expression that best describes this situation is, “You don’t know what you don’t know!”

This is where a business coach could be advantageous to the development of your plans for the future of your business. You need to find someone with lots of business and coaching experience, a proven planning and business development system and a structured process of time to work with you to train you to undertake a planning program.

Doing systems

These are those everyday parts of your business: the way you implement the plans you created in the planning phase; the way you service your clients; how you invoice; the way you answer the phone; and everything you do in your business.

Freedom comes from the process of having documented systems in your business. Documented systems are therefore the key to freedom. It is this critical factor that most in small business ignore or miss altogether. Knowledge, commitment and determination are needed to address this important part of effective business management.

Monitoring systems

These include the accounting and performance reporting systems in your business. Accounting reporting is often driven by your taxation reporting obligations as determined by your accountant. Effective monitoring is about those activities or performances that result in your financial performance.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are those six to 10 key measures of your business that ensure you know your business is on track to its goals. The two important words here are “performance” and “goals”. The goals are the ones set in the planning phase and it is the performance you measure here, not the eventual result.

Remember: What you measure you manage. And what you manage improves. n

This is one of the business development action tools created by Anthony Davis of Brightwater Business Coaching. Davis was a guest speaker at SPLASH! 2014. Contact: brighwater.com.au

Commercial news

Water Odyssey appoints Playscape

The Fountain People have appointed Playscape Creations Australia as their Australian exclusive distributor.

“Playscape Creations Australia has a solid history in delivering holistic recreational spaces throughout the country, and we see a perfect fit for this company to represent our Water Odyssey product line” says Jerry Elbel, president of The Fountain People.

Water Odyssey products are installed in commercial and municipal facilities across the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand and now Australia.

“We are extremely excited about the partnership with Water Odyssey” says Playscape managing director, Marcel Veraart. “Their product line is second to none and will work perfectly with our already diverse product offering, allowing us to be exceedingly creative in our park designs”.

Contact: playscapecreations.com.au

Aussies break records in “broken” Glasgow pool

Australian Swim Team finished with a record-breaking 57 medals in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games pool.

The team broke four world records which will stand despite the moveable pool floor being stuck and not complying with FINA Olympic standards. However, the pool did comply with Commonwealth Games regulations, which are not as strict.

The Variopool floor was stuck in an uneven position for the entire meet, as officials were wary of trying to fix it during competition in case it became stuck in a worse position, which might make it not compliant with Commonwealth Games dimensions.

Olympic Games and World Championships require a minimum depth of two metres for its entire 50-metre length. But a depth of 1.35m is suitable for other competitions, including the Commonwealth Games. The Glasgow pool is two metres deep

at the start and end, but was only 1.88 metres a quarter of the way down the pool during the games.

The Australian Swim Team departed Glasgow with a total of 19 gold, 21 silver and 17 bronze, including five of the six relay gold medals.

For a full list of medals go to www.swimming.org.au.

The next event on the calendar is the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre (GSAC) which will pit the Australian team against the 60-strong USA team

including superstars Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky.

A rejuvenated Canadian team and the fastest ever Japanese team will also be competing.

SPLASH! will feature the Pan Pacs and the new GCAC pool in the next edition.

Meanwhile, triple Olympian Eamon Sullivan has retired from competitive swimming following medical advice not to swim on for Rio 2016. He withdrew from the Commonwealth Games team last month due to a shoulder injury, and the 28-year-old has had further advice that his shoulder will not hold up to the training required to prepare for Rio, just over two years away.

He was a world record holder in both the 50m and 100m freestyle and went to the Athens, Beijing and London Games, winning silver in 2008 in the men’s 100m freestyle and 4 x100m medley relay, as well as bronze in the 4 x100m freestyle relay.

Splashparks

Photo by Callum Bennetts

Competition

The perfect wave

This wave machine is a little different. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council at the University of Edinburgh has set up FloWave to help develop wave and tidal energy converters, floating offshore wind platforms and vessels to install and maintain offshore projects. The two-metre deep 25-metre diameter pool can simulate scale version equivalents of waves up to 28 metres high and currents of up to 14 knots, using 2.4 million litres of water.

In Brief

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council in NSW has backtracked on a decision in May to offer a five year management contract to Swimwell for all its pools This follows community unrest at the ousting of existing lessee Brad Holt from Soyuvu Southern Operations (now trading as Hastings Aquatics) from the Kendall, Laurieton and Wauchope pool, which he had managed for the past 11 years Swimwell runs the Port Macquarie Olympic Pool The Swimwell lessee is Michael Mullens, a leading swim coach, best known for his work with Olympian James Magnussen Both lessees will continue on 12 month contracts until July next year New tenders will be called early next year

The 1960s Bridgetown swimming pool in WA has been demolished, paving the way for a new Aquatic Recreation Centre due to open in November 2015 with a 25-metre competition pool, modern change rooms, paddling pool and a splash area The $4 million cost will be met by the Community Sport and Recreational Facilities Fund ($1 25m), the Country Local Government Fund ($384,700), and the Land and Buildings Reserve ($655,300), leaving $1 71m to be made up by a new loan taken by the shire

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Global news

A 12-year-old boy drowned in Xi’an in China after an entrapment incident at the waterpark of the Qinlong Hot Spring Hotel According to reports, the staff initially said that it was impossible for the boy to be sucked into the drain, but after draining the pool and breaking through the pool wall they found his body The drain reportedly was not protected by a grate

The Hong Kong and Kowloon Lifeguards Union went on strike in August over staff shortages exacerbated by an influx of swimmers from mainland China About 200 lifeguards from the 1900 strong union stood down, forcing the closure of several beaches and public pools Crowding of beaches and pools in only one of a host of problems Hong Kongers are reportedly blaming on the influx of mainlanders, including a shortage of hospital beds and soaring property prices

The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow brought up a few unusual stories including this one reported at news com au Glasgow services manager Sam Lodge says he once found a hand at the bottom of the pool As gruesome as it sounds at first, it turned out to be only a prosthetic hand from a Paralympic swimmer that had fallen off during a race, and had been left behind or forgotten in the excitement of the competition

Diving spectacular

If you think it’s scary diving from the high tower into your local pool, try to imagine the feeling as David Colturi flies through 28 metres of the air towards the Serpent’s Lair rock pool on Inis Mor, one of Ireland’s Aran Islands in Galway Bay. Next stop on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is Bilbao, Spain.

Royal Commission scrutinises swimming

A number of people from swimming administrators to crown prosecutors have had their reputations publically questioned as The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse shifted its focus to swimming in July.

The Royal Commission held public hearings to examine, amongst other things, the response of Swimming Australia Ltd to allegations of child sexual abuse made against elite swimming coach Scott Volkers.

In 2002 Volkers was charged with abusing Julie Gilbert and two others girls. He was committed to stand trial but the charges were dropped – just as he was about to be appointed national women’s swim coach.

Volkers never faced a criminal trial and denied the accusations. The commission is not looking into his guilt or innocence, but at the decision not to re-charge him and to continue to hire him after he was denied a “blue card” for working with children.

In a nutshell, swimming administrators are accused of holding the interests of their organisations and the performance of their squads in higher regard than their duty of care for the swimmers themselves.

One telling exchange came between commission chairman Justice Peter McClellan and Bennett King, who was executive director of the Queensland Academy of Sport in 2007. When asked why he didn’t enquire about the details of the allegations against Volkers, King said it wasn’t portrayed to him as something that could put his organisation at risk; but he failed to mention the risk to swimmers.

One of the former swimmers alleging Volkers abused her is Julie Gilbert, who recently appeared on the 7:30 Report, where she said: “They looked at him as a high profile swimming coach, and we were nobodies…who wanted to ruin his reputation.”

At the hearing, Justice McClellan appeared frustrated that swimming officials didn’t un-

derstand the difference between the “beyond reasonable doubt” test for criminal convictions, and the lesser test of potential risk to children they should have applied as employers.

Council assisting the commission, Caroline Spruce, also queried whether King understood the fact that Volkers was a good coach was irrelevant to considering his suitability to working with children.

Justice McClellan then explained to him: “They may be the best coach in the world, but if they are a problem with children they shouldn’t be allowed to work with them, should they?” King agreed.

Swimming Australia told the commission that Volkers will not be offered accreditation for the Gold Coast Pan Pacs.

Scope of the Royal Commission

The scope and purpose of the public hearing is to inquire into the response of Swimming Australia to allegations of child sexual abuse against Terrance William Buck; the response of Swimming Australia, Swimming Queensland and the Queensland Academy of Sport to allegations of child sexual abuse against Scott Volkers; the response of the Offices of the Directors of Public

Prosecutions (DPP) in Qld and NSW to allegations of child sexual abuse against Volkers; and the criteria by which the DPPs determine whether to prosecute allegations of child sexual assault.

It is also looking at the response of Scone Swimming Club to the convictions of Stephen John Roser for indecent assault and for committing acts of indecency against a child; the systems, policies and procedures of Swimming Australia and its member organisations for preventing, detecting and responding to sexual abuse and their implementation; the response of the Queensland Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian to an application by Scott Volkers for a “blue card”; and the training of legal staff including prosecutors and liaison officers of the Offices of Directors of Public Prosecution in child sexual offending.

YMCA apologises

Meanwhile, the YMCA issued an apology regarding the response to the allegations of abuse by Jonathon Lord in 2011, following the commission issuing its report regarding Case Study Two that examined the response of YMCA NSW.

Lord is a convicted paedophile, sentenced to 10 years in

prison for 13 offences involving 12 children. He met many of the boys he abused through his work at YMCA NSW and committed numerous offences on YMCA premises and during YMCA excursions.

The commission was particularly concerned as YMCA NSW is the largest provider of OSHC services in NSW and is recognised in industry, and by external audits and peak bodies, as a leader in child safety.

In the statement YMCA NSW said it welcomes the findings and sincerely apologises to the children who were abused, as well as the families and colleagues who have been affected by the actions of Lord.

“YMCA NSW has begun, and intends to take further, proactive measures to improve child protection policies and processes. We will continue to work closely with the Department of Education and Communities and industry bodies to ensure we are operating at best practice.

“YMCA has a zero tolerance for any form of child abuse and is committed to keeping children safe and fostering an environment where children and young people can learn and grow and are respected and valued.”

Counsel assisting the Royal Commission

Coast to shine with $90m park

Waterplay Pty Ltd is planning to develop Sunshine Park, a $90m 24-hectare tourism development on Steve Irwin Way, Glenview on the Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Park is proposed to feature a waterpark with a large surf pool targeted to day visitors and the local market as well as a tourist village comprising a hotel and holiday cabins for short stay accommodation.

Facilities in the tourist village are planned to include a function centre, restaurants and retail outlets with a number of recreational activities being offered to guests such as surfing, canoeing, bush walking, pony rides and adventure games.

Appropriate zoning and planning approvals are still pending, but the project has attracted letters of support from Australia Zoo, Big Kart Track, Surfing Australia,

Carnival Events (producers of the Big Pineapple Music Festival and Golden Days Festival) and Sunshine Coast Destination Limited.

Waterplay Pty Ltd is a privately owned specialist Waterpark consultancy with extensive international leisure development experience including projects such as the Sunway Lagoon (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Wahoo Waterpark (Bahrain) and Wadi Adventure Park (United Arab Emirates).

Project spokesman, David Baird says they had spent several years evaluating potential Australian sites before choosing the Sunshine Coast.

“The Sunshine Coast is well established as one of Australia’s most popular destinations for both domestic and international visitors. The site is perfectly positioned on a well-established

21-23 June 2015

tourism route near commercial operations such as a service station, quarry and nursery and in close proximity to other tourist attractions such as Australia Zoo, the Glass House Mountains and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland,” he says.

“The proposed site is currently used for machinery and vehicle parking. Although it is a bit of an eyesore at present due to its heavily denuded state, we are planning major environmental rehabilitation, revegetation and landscaping as part of our project. The development will also have several environmentally sustainable features such as advanced water capture, filter and treatment systems for the waterpark; waste recycling and energy efficient buildings.”

He says that independent economic reports say approximately 430 jobs would be created in the construction period with approximately 250 jobs during the operational phase. The value-added economic benefit to the region during the construction and operational period has been estimated at more than $50 million.

It is proposed the development be delivered in two stages over three years, with the water and surf pool built first, followed by the tourism accommodation and other facilities.

“All things going well, our team hopes to begin work in 2015 and have the first Sunshine Park guests splashing, surfing and sliding on what will be Australia’s latest waterpark during 2016,” he says.

Upcoming tenders

Brewarrina Shire Council

Contract No. 2014-17/03

Tenders are invited for the management and operational services of Brewarrina & District War Memorial Olympic Pool Complex in Brewarrina Township.

To receive tender documents, including tender forms, and for any further information please contact Council on (02) 6830 5100 during office hours or on Council’s website www.breshire.com.au

All tenders shall be submitted in accordance with the Tender Documentation and shall be endorsed with the Contract Number and Description and placed in the Tender Box, which is located in the foyer at Council’s Administration Centre. The responsibility for lodgement of

the tender in the tender box lies solely with the tenderer.

The canvassing of Councillors or Council staff, at any time, in respect of this Tender will disqualify a tenderer. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted.

Richmond Valley Council

Request for Quotation 268.14

Replacement of pool blinds at Evans Head Aquatic Centre.

Quotations sealed and suitably endorsed are invited and will be received up to 2pm (NSW Time) Friday 29 August 2014, for the above quotation.

Contact: Colin Carey (02) 6660 0265. The lowest of any quotation will not necessarily be accepted. Canvassing of councillors will disqualify.

Contact:

ALFA: www alfaleisure org au

RMP: www rmp com au

Watermarc: www watermarcbanyule com au

Balancing wet and dry spaces in aquatic centres

By Veda Dante

The Petria Thomas Swimming Pool – named after Australia’s triple Olympic gold medallist – is a hive of activity for people living in and around the NSW Northern Rivers town of Mullumbimby.

I live in the Northern Rivers myself, and many of my friends start their day with early morning laps at the pool, while high school students next door often pop in for a refreshing swim on stifling hot afternoons before continuing home.

An inflatable jumping castle keeps kids entertained for hours while the spacious venue is a popular choice for birthday parties, corporate events and school carnivals.

Such a shame then, that this valuable community asset is closed four months of the year. Like most pools built decades ago, the Olympic size pool is unheated while the facility itself doesn’t cater to year-round usage.

In the quest to modernise these community assets and increase their revenue-generation capacity, councils around Australia are turning to a model that incorporates fitness facilities combined with the aquatic areas.

Loren Bartley, executive officer at Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFA) says the key to this model is a combination of good facilities, equipment, programming and personnel.

“Offering an affordable membership that provides both wet and dry fitness options gives community

leisure facilities a competitive advantage over dedicated gyms,” she says.

Integrating fitness and leisure facilities also have the potential to add value to the venue as a whole as opposed to diminishing the value of traditional wet areas.

“For example, a family can visit a community leisure facility and each member can participate in an activity that best suits their individual preferences,” she says.

“That might be the kids participating in a birthday party that is coordinated through the centre, while Mum goes to the gym and Dad goes for a swim.”

As the peak representative body for Australia’s aquatics, recreation and leisure facilities, ALFA has observed over the years a number of community leisure centres successfully operating a combination of wet and dry fitness facilities.

“Often the bigger the facility, the more successful this model is, but size isn’t everything,” says Bartley. “Surrounding competition from private facilities within the catchment area can also impact the level of success of both the community leisure facility and its competitors.”

A community leisure facility that provides a balance between active and passive recreation options could potentially attract members who otherwise would be forced to choose between the two. For example, members could hit the gym during the week,

Main. Pilates, yoga and body balance classes are very popular at Banyule Council’s WaterMarc aquatic centre Aquarobics classes account for 18 per cent of WaterMarc’s timetable

then use the pool on the weekend, all within the cost of the one membership.

“Even if they never use all the facilities, the perceived benefit can be a sufficient tipping point to choose a multi-purpose facility over a dedicated gym,” she says.

“Location is still the number one driver when it comes to choosing which gym to join. By being able to provide more than just fitness equipment and programming, leisure facilities are able to attract a much wider demographic than a dedicated gym.”

While individual community leisure facilities are experimenting with new fitness facilities and programs, Bartley believes the industry as a whole still has a few hurdles to overcome.

“The biggest challenge ahead of us is gaining recognition for this important role that we play,” she says.

“As an industry, we have ageing infrastructure, particularly in rural and low socio-economic areas, that are in desperate need of investment so that they can continue to provide positive health outcomes locally.”

Watermarc

Located in the Melbourne suburb of Greensborough, WaterMarc is billed as a “multiactivity regional centre” where more than 7000 members have access to multiple swimming pools, zero depth play areas, and a health club that boasts more than 120 pieces of equipment.

Relationship and events manager Olivia Crivelli attributes the $42 million Banyule City Council project’s success to the fact that it caters for all ages and abilities.

“Whether you are six weeks or 80 years old, you will find something to enjoy at our Centre,” she says. “WaterMarc is the largest aquatic and leisure facility in our region and is home to a premier gym with a wide range of fitness classes and training programs.”

More people were sourcing multi-use facilities where all of their health and fitness needs could be conveniently catered for under one roof.

“WaterMarc is also attractive to families for aquatic entertainment,” she says. “We also offer members the use of state-of-the art Technogym fitness equipment, which provides members with up-to-date and personalised fitness programs. The facility and equipment has also been designed and set up to be accessible for people with a disability.”

To effectively compete in today’s aquatic industry, Crivelli believes that facilities need to have “something for everyone” along with extensive water features and play areas for children.

“All new facilities are more like an aquatic entertainment centre as opposed to just a pool,” she says.

“This trend will continue and all future aquatic centres will look for the new ‘wow’ factor to be considered a destination that people will travel up to one hour to get to, instead of just going to their local pool because it’s convenient.”

Feasability and profitability

For more than 30 years, managing director of RMP & Associates, Denis Pontin, has been advising councils, clubs and the private sector on how to develop and operate sustainable aquatic, fitness and sports facilities.

Pontin firmly believes that to be financially viable, fitness centres must operate as a business and not a community service subsidised by government.

“The private sector operates fitness centres to make a profit. The introduction of aquatic components, principally lap and program pools, are designed to generate income through learn-to-swim and aqua classes and provide a value-add for members when they compare a fitness centre with a pool to one without,” he says.

“Councils developing fitness centres as part of their aquatic centres are not able, under the competitive neutrality provisions flowing from the Hilmer Report, to subsidise the fitness centre and membership fees to compete unfairly with the private sector.”

In order for it to work, Pontin says fitness centres need to identify a market, analyse the share of the market they’re likely to attract within the primary catchment – usually 10 minutes travel time – and market the benefits of membership to that target market effectively.

“The competitive advantage is often the ‘free’ swimming that comes with membership, and it can extend to special discounts for older members or those who meet specific criteria, such as the unemployed or those on a disability pension.

However, he says that the fitness centre is part of the service industry, where members take nothing away but the experience. Therefore, the staff and the interaction between staff and clients become crucial factors in its success.

“If people enjoy coming, feel recognised, find it easy to access, and the facility meets their expectations of cleanliness, professionalism, appropriate classes and equipment available to them at the time they need to come, and the support services of crèche and café enhance the experience, then the fitness centre will work.”

Success stories

While some fitness centres in aquatic centres have failed due to factors such as inadequate facilities, small spaces and high operating costs, Pontin say there are plenty of success stories around the country.

For example, Sutherland Aquatic Leisure Centre, Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, Whitlam Centre and Ripples at St Marys all upgraded their outdoor pools to include indoor pools with leisure water and fitness centres.

“The indoor pools allowed swim schools to be developed, and the fitness centres offered memberships and fitness classes as part of the local community aquatic

Like a gym class with water, Aqua Fit is a one of the 120 fitness classes offered each week at WaterMarc

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centre,” he says. “The Whitlam and Leichhardt leisure centres significantly expanded their fitness centres developed in the 1990s.

“Over the past five years, both of these centres have generated significant revenue that is allowing them to operate with 100 per cent cost recovery.”

This new model of marrying indoor pools with fitness centres has also been embraced by the licensed club industry, with the combination built at the RACV in Melbourne; Castle Hill RSL (C2K), Campbelltown Catholic Club’s AquaFit and Mounties M1 in Sydney;

and Redland Leagues Club (The Dolphins) in Brisbane, amongst others.

In South Australia, the Adelaide Aquatic Centre at Marion has integrated both community program and leisure pools with a fitness centre, which continues the trend set at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC) and Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).

“The major aquatic centres completed for councils in Victoria such as the City of Casey and aquatic centres in Sydney for the City of Sydney – such as Cook & Philip Park, the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre as well as Hurstville Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Lane Cove Aquatic Centre all have fitness centres,” says Pontin.

“The combination of fitness and aquatic has worked on the basis that the revenue generated by membership and casual use of fitness centres at these venues has exceeded the cost of operation and contributes to the operating surplus or profit, or reduces significantly the operating subsidy.”

Trend forecasting

When asked to gaze into his consultancy crystal ball, Pontin says aquatic centres need to re-visit the reason for investing in the asset to determine if it’s fit-for-purpose.

“If the purpose is to cater to schools in February and March for school carnivals and Department of Education or Sport and Recreation group swimming lessons and water safety weeks, then the aquatic centre will be

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Gyms with high tech cardio equipment are becoming standard for many aquatic centres

a very different place to one that will attract a significant number of residents and visitors seeking a wide range of benefits in an attractive, safe, clean and supportive environment,” he says.

“If the purpose of the aquatic centre is to meet the needs of the residents and visitors all year, then with the exception of some of our northern cities, the pools must offer indoor, heated facilities that are fit-for-purpose for children and families, older people, people with special needs, people wanting to learn-to-swim, enjoy outdoor and indoor recreational swimming and swim laps, play water polo or train and compete.”

He says the development of new aquatic centres by government must also recognise the location and mix of facilities and should aim to be fit-for-purpose for the greatest number of its citizens.

“The balance of water temperatures and water depths and the amount of water and dry space is critical. Also critical is the inclusion of an attractive food and beverage outlet,” he says.

“Duplicating indoor 50m pools designed for swimming competition to the exclusion of program pools suitable for teaching pre-school children to swim and school-age children to swim is just as bad as not building new diving facilities, water polo pools or indoor competition pools to meet the needs of these sports.”

Developing an effective strategic approach requires governments to look at the provision of aquatic and fitness facilities in clubs, schools, and by the private sector. Pontin says that, consequently, some facilities may need to be refurbished to meet the gaps in existing provision, or closed if they are duplicating existing facilities and no longer able to meet the needs of the community, especially the need for leisure water and indoor heated shallow water play areas.

“Where there are insufficient competition pools, water polo, diving and aquatic sports facilities to meet the requirements of these sports in a state or region, then priority should be given to developing these facilities,” he says.

Because these facilities usually require a subsidy, there is no incentive for the private sector to provide them. However private schools are increasingly developing indoor 25m and 50m pools and want council’s permission to allow the community to use them.

“The incentive to build new leisure and indoor heated pools to teach children to swim and provide hydrotherapy and classes for adults, may be for state and Federal government to make funding dependent on closing older, under-performing aquatic centres that cannot compete with the private, club or educational sector offering aquatic facilities,” he says.

Fitness centres and aquatic centres have long been driven by the need to reduce operating subsidies at aquatic centres, based on research in the 1980s and 1990s that the majority of users were motivated by fitness.

“In the 1980s there was little else to do but swim for fitness at the local pool, but with a multi-cultural society, we have an alarming number of children who can’t swim at all and an increasing number of parents from countries without swimming as part of their culture,” Pontin says.

“Therefore, the modern aquatic centre needs to be carefully and strategically planned.”

Furthermore, fitness centres that are well designed and managed at the aquatic centre can reduce the cost to the community of operating these centres, he says. n

Indoor waterpark gets golden gong

Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia’s new indoor waterpark, H2O Aquapark, has won a 2014 Golden Pony Award.

The Golden Pony is the international competition among amusement industry operators bestowed by publisher Facto Edizioni and Games & Parks Industry magazine.

Selim Doguoglu, head of the Russian office of Polin Waterslides & Pool Systems, the company that installed the waterslides, says it’s no surprise that H2O Aquapark won the prestigious award.

“The park has been extremely popular since it first opened,” he says. “Waterparks are becoming exceptionally popular in Russia, and H2O truly stood out in offering slides and other features that guests love and are eager to experience.”

The waterpark opened last year as part of the Horizon Megacentre Mall (or Gorizont), the largest mall

in southern Russia. The mall covers more than 24,000 square meters including a multiplex cinema, a family entertainment complex, a bowling alley, a fitness centre, and now a 6000 square metre waterpark.

Gorizont invested 1.4 billion rubles ($AU42 million) into the all-season complex, which accommodates up to 2500 people and employs 160 people.

H2O Aquapark features a children’s pool and play area, a high-capacity wave pool, spa pools with hydro and air massage, and a dedicated swimming pool for water polo and Aquarobics. The high-tech waterslides, the highest of which reaches more than 18 metres, include a Multislide, Kamikaze and Freefall, Magic Hole, Turbo Tunnel and Space Hole; Black Hole and Flying Boats combination; Tunnel Body slide; Giant Body slide; Tsunami slide and a Pirate themed Water Play structure. n

Contacts: www.polin.com.tr

Main. The 6000 square metre indoor waterpark

Left. Aquatic fun whatever the Russian weather Center. The mystical lazy river

Right. Spa baths with lighting effects

Waterparks use UV to fight crypto

To name just two examples, Wet‘n’Wild in Sydney and WhiteWater World on the Gold Coast are using UV disinfection to help guard against pathogens, in particular cryptosporidium.

UV is more commonly seen in indoor public pools as a secondary disinfection system and some consultants question the need for it on outdoor pools, due to the abundance of natural UV through sunlight.

However Matt Wagland, Queensland manager of WestWater Enterprises, the company that installed the ATG Ultraviolet systems at both WhiteWater World and Wet’n’Wild Sydney, says that sunlight is not powerful enough to have a serious effect on cryptosporidium.

“The main reason for the installation of the UV systems on the outdoor pools is for the protection against crypto,” he says. “Chlorine takes a long time to disinfect crypto whereas one pass through the UV unit will give you a 4-log reduction of the pathogen. UV light from the sun has little to no effect on crypto.”

In the two installations mentioned above, UV is used alongside sodium hypochlorite with hydrochloric acid dosing.

Wagland says that while chlorine has long been the number one disinfection tool for leisure operators, a number of cryptosporidium outbreaks in America has led UV to take a more active place in the fight against pathogens.

Cryptosporidium (commonly referred to as crypto) is a pathogen found in both the drinking water networks and the leisure pool sector of water users all over the world. In swimming pools, cryptosporidium is generally spread via diarrhoea (accidents), which release millions of crypto oocysts (eggs) into a pool environment from a single faecal incident. As it only takes 10 to 30 oocysts to become infected, simple bad hygiene such as not washing hands after using the toilet or not changing a nappy can easily cause an outbreak.

“The problem is in the disinfection of crypto,” he says. “Due to the thick outer membrane it takes days for the chlorine levels in a normal pool (1-2ppm) to destroy crypto.

“When correctly applied, UV light at wavelengths of 200-280nm is absorbed by the DNA and permanent damage is caused to the oocysts. Once exposed to UV light, the DNA quickly stops normal cell functions, rendering the organism non-viable. Replication is prevented and the organism quickly dies. No species have demonstrated an ability to become resistant to UV, unlike chemical disinfectants where a growing number of organisms have become increasingly tolerant,” he says.

He also says that while UV disinfection will never completely replace chlorine, it can drastically reduce the amount of chlorine required.

“A correctly sized UV system breaks down and removes problem chloramines leaving a water quality that is not only much safer for patrons of all ages, but offers a much more inviting and healthy bathing environment.”

Contact: westwater.com.au n

Wet‘n’Wild

A UV disinfection system

Handcrafted outdoor furniture

Robert Plumb premium outdoor furniture is handcrafted in Australia by a team of craftsman using the highest quality materials. The range includes timber and steel furniture, architectural hardware, fire pits and planters built to withstand the harsh Australian climate. “Longevity in décor and design is often overlooked. I always consider the long term and use materials that will stand the test of

No more boring stripes

These deckchairs by Falinc have stunning colours and prints unlike traditional run-of-the-mill seaside stripes.

Designed in Melbourne and made in Australia, Falinc was commissioned to create a commercial grade deckchair that will look good and last many summers. With thicker timber struts,

time,” says director and designer William Dangar. Made locally, the timber products can be resized to suit any space. Robert Plumb’s simple taupe cushions as well as the extensive range of bright Sunbrella fabric designs cover a wide variety of tastes and needs.

Contact: www.robertplumb.com.au

quality fixings and the design hand printed onto water-resistant canvas, they are built to last. Melbourne-based design practice Falinc originally developed these designs for Federation Square Melbourne and South Bank Corporation Brisbane.

Contact: www.falinc.com.au

Prescription sunnies for active people

Oakley has released the Crosslink Pitch design of Active Prescription frames, ideal for busy people keen on fitness, or lifeguards can use them with either standard prescription lenses or tinted lenses for outdoor duty.

Special materials increase grip to overcome slippery perspiration as well as offering all-day comfort with adjustable temples. The durable yet lightweight frame is engineered with a three-point fit that holds the lenses in precise alignment, and the temples have been designed to fit under a hat or helmet.

Contact: www.oakley.com.au

Let’s twist again

SR Smith’s TurboTwister slide promises huge swimming pool fun, at more than 2.5m tall with a high-volume of water delivery. Its 4.4m long flume dips and curves to provide hours of entertainment for the youngsters. Engineered for safety, the TurboTwister has an enclosed ladder, moulded handgrips and wide integrated stair steps. It’s made from strong corrosion-resistant materials that stand up to harsh climate and pool conditions. It is available in grey granite or sandstone colour, with a right or left curved flume.

Contact: www.srsmith.com/au

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Underwater light show

The solar powered Underwater Light Show can turn any pool into a visual experience.

A continuous cycle of six ultra-bright, multi-coloured LED light patterns creates an instant party atmosphere. The built-in battery recharges by solar power, so there is no need for disposable batteries or chargers. This versatile unit can also be used outside of the pool by utilising the integrated hanging loop. Operates four to six hours on a full charge.

Contact: www.poolsystems.com.au

New Swimsportz packaging

Pool Systems’ fun and funky new-look Swimsportz packaging was launched at SPLASH! 2014. This dynamic upgrade to their packaging is designed to appeal to young and old and is set to fly off the shelves this summer.

Contact: www.poolsystems.com.au

Continuous Duty Blowers

If you want efficient, reliable aeration, along with quality advice and support, ESAM is the blower for your business.

Benefits of ESAM blowers:

• Energy efficient aeration

• Delamination of temperature layers

• Smooth & quiet operation

• 5 Year warranty

• Induction motor (brushless)

…and service to you is our priority.

www.sidechannelblowers.com.au

Phone 03 9484 5719

New family of valves

Pool Systems’ new valves are highly engineered using a CAD system linked to finite element software to provide accurate hydraulic flow and essential stress analysis, providing the family of valves with performance, strength, quality and value.

Teflon-coated silicon seals mean they require no lubrication for maintenance-free performance and optimum seal. The handle has been reinforced and features field-adjustable stop setting tabs for perfect control.

Suitable for all swimming pool and spa applications, the range includes 40mm and 50mm two- and three-way valves, and a non-return valve with clear plastic lid and threaded locking ring.

Contact: www.poolsystems.com.au

Fast and easy testing

The Lovibond pooltester series facilitates simple check-ups on water quality and simplifies measuring both pH and disinfectant impact of treatment chemicals.

Environmental influences and additives in the water might lead to fluctuating results – but Lovibond says their pooltesters ensure fast and easy results while taking additives into account.

By using long-term stable tablet reagents, the pooltester measures chlorine between 0.1-3.0 mg/l and can display pH between 6.8 and 8.2 with high measuring accuracy.

Contact: www.lovibond.com

Solaire heat pump

Supreme says its Heatseeker Solaire titanium heat pump provides quiet, energy efficient, environmentally friendly and affordable pool heating all year round. It is designed to heat the pool delivering up to six times more energy in heat than it consumes in electricity.

It features a titanium heat exchanger, an accurate and durable commercial grade digital controller, heat and cool mode, specific water flow switches, high capacity compressor capacitors and whisper quiet operation.

Contact: www.supremeheating.com.au

I-Cleaner 120

Supreme says its I-Cleaner 120 robot is smart and powerful. It comes with wall and floor functionality, dual motors for outstanding climbing capability and includes a caddy and remote control. All you have to do is place the robot in the pool, turn it on and it will clean the floor and walls automatically. It can also collect large debris and the hand held remote allows the cleaner to be driven into difficult areas of the pool ensuring nothing gets missed. It also features a self-contained vacuum bag.

Contact: www.supremeheating.com.au

Biking in the pool

Emaux Water Technology has launched the Poolbiking range of aquatic exercise machines including pool bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines.

Poolbiking is suitable for backyard pools, hydrotherapy pools, wellness centres, council pools, and hotel and resort pools. The double effect of aquatic motion with progressive resistance is especially effective as a healthy and safe form of exercise.

The nine-model range features full construction in 316L stainless steel suitable for seawater, with carbon pedals designed to be comfortable for bare feet.

Contact: 1300 293633; info@emaux.com.au

Affordable gas heating

Pentair says their new MasterTemp 125 heater is not only highly affordable, but provides energy savings and advanced operating features that were previously only available from much larger heaters. It has a new pre-mixed gas combustion technology, offering 82 per cent thermal efficiency, among the highest of any heater in its category. It is also compact and lightweight, making for quick installation.

It bears the Eco Select brand: Eco Select products are designed to help save energy, conserve water, eliminate or reduce noise, or otherwise contribute to a more environmentally responsible equipment system.

Contact: 1300 137 344; www.pentairpool.com.au

Intelligent chemical management

Pentair’s new IntelliChem pool chemical management system automatically monitors pH and chlorine levels to deliver the right amount of chemicals to keep the pool clearer, safer and ready to enjoy. It can work solo or in tandem with other Pentair automation products such as SunTouch, EasyTouch and IntelliTouch. It features an inbuilt Langelier saturation index calculator, programmable chemical feed cycles and password protection.

It is compatible with salt chlorine generators, liquid feed pumps and CO2 systems.

Contact: 1300 137 344; www.pentairpool.com.au

Banish phosphates

Focus Products has released its most powerful phosphate remover yet with the new Banish. The new lanthanum-based product is specifically designed to take up to 6ppm of phosphates from pool water in a single dose. It is consumer friendly and comes in an easy-to-apply one-litre pack, with inbuilt clarifier to assist with clouding.

With a dose rate of 50ml to 200ml per 10,000 litres of pool water, the product is a highly concentrated blend of lanthanum salts and proprietary clarifiers specifically designed for the Australasian market.

Contact: 1300 1 FOCUS (36287

Paramount In-Floor Cleaning Systems offer you and your customers the perfect cleaning solution when working together to create the perfect outdoor oasis. Astonish your clients with the incredible effectiveness of an in-floor cleaning and circulation system.

CREATE A VANISHING EDGE, ADD BAR STOOLS, BENCHES, SWIM-OUTS AND SPAS TO YOUR FAVOURITE POOL DESIGN. OUR SYSTEMS WILL CLEAN ANY POOL YOU DESIGN EVERY DAY