Splash Feb-March 2015 Issue - 98

Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health

Issue 98  February-March 2015

No barrier to style Fencing musts and maybes Valencia pool A modern delight Latest awards From SPASA Australia Indigenous pools And swimming programs

www.splashmagazine.com.au

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Flow Rate L/min

Head m

Power W

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120.99

2.63

124.36

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Energy consumption

313

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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).

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36

27

Contents 53

Australian Standards for pool builders Cal Stanley looks at the Australian Standards pool builders should have in their kit bag, from 1926 all the way to 5601.

SPASA Australia 2014 Awards of Excellence.

The winners and placegetters of the SPASA Australia Awards, judged from a pool of gold winners from around the states.

29

56

Creating more swimmers for the national good Another from our series of talks at SPLASH! on the Gold Coast, CEO of the NSPF Tom Lachocki discusses why having more swimmers is good for us all.

63

Critical factors for success in the service industry Sue Hirst shows how knowing what your critical success factors are is the best way to improve profit.

68

32

Improving Indigenous water safety Swimming programs can help improve Indigenous health and community engagement while reducing drowning rates.

36

A fine place for fitness Hawthorn residents will be able to keep fit in style following the recently redeveloped Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

Back where it all started Australian solar pioneer Simon Boadle takes us to his old family farm to see where the Sunbather story began way back in 1974.

No barrier to style or fun Safety barriers might be integral to residential swimming pools, but they don’t have to impede swimmer’s fun or detract from the overall design.

48

72

68

Seven tips for great window displays Retailer Tanya Overton provides seven useful tips for creating stunning shop displays to keep the customers rolling in.

regulars

50

A symmetry of ellipses This home and pool in Valencia is a pristine example of a pool combining flawlessly with the architecture of the home.

News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Industry moves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Pool DAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Commercial news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Tenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Expo news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

New products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Global news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Ad index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

February-March 2015

SPLASH!

7

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Published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd ABN 940 025 83 682 41 Bridge Road, Glebe, NSW, 2037 Australia Ph: (02) 9660 2113 Fax: (02) 9660 4419 Managing Director: Simon Grover Managing Director Interpoint Events: Simon Cooper Editor: Chris Maher Phone: 0412 048 639 Email: chrismaher@intermedia.com.au

editorial Protecting toddlers, vendors and our industry

Contributors: Cal Stanley, Veda Dante, John Allison Advertising Manager: Karen Jaques Phone: (02) 8586 6135 Email: kjaques@intermedia.com.au Designer: Ben Akhurst Production Manager: Carly Saillard Head of Circulation: Chris Blacklock For Subscriptions Call: 1800 651 422 Copyright All material in this publication is copyright to the publisher and/or its contributors. No material may be reproduced without the express permission of the publishers.

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This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (Intermedia) may contain magazine or subscription; offers, competitions, forms and surveys (Reader Offers) which require you to provide information about yourself, if you choose to enter or take part in them. If you provide information about yourself to Intermedia, Intermedia will use this information to provide you with the products of services you have requested and may supply your information to contractors that help Intermedia to do this. Intermedia will also use your information to inform you of other Intermedia publications, products, services and events. Intermedia may give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give it to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information Intermedia holds about you, please contact Intermedia’s Privacy Officer at The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, PO Box 55, Glebe, NSW 2037.

Copyright © 2015 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.

SPLASH! contains NO advertorial.

Proudly supported by

Chris Maher Editor chrismaher@ intermedia.com.au

Fencing is a hot topic in pretty much all jurisdictions at the moment. Many states of Australia and the government in New Zealand are grappling with just how to approach the issue of swimming pool safety and so keep vulnerable toddlers safe. One state in particular, New South Wales, is gearing up for an April deadline which will see all backyard pools required to be certified safe prior to selling or leasing the property. While few would argue that safer swimming pools are good for everyone, it is the implementation of the program that has raised some eyebrows, and observers are hoping the perceived lack of inspectors and certifiers won’t lead to delays for people wanting to sell their homes. That would be terrible for the industry, as the idea of a swimming pool – a fun, attractive, healthy and valuable asset – could come to be seen quite literally as an encumbrance.

The government says they are doing all they can, but whether that is enough remains to be seen. We certainly hope so, but we’ll find out in April. We have more on this story in the news section on page 10, and a full feature on fencing starting on page 36.

Swimming makes for healthier and happier individuals and societies (and healthier economies too, as Tom Lachocki outlines on page 29). And in this issue we look at Indigenous communities in particular, and how swimming programs can help the health, safety and community engagement for a section of our population that has drowning rates much higher than the general population, and health levels much lower. That’s on page 68, and I hope you find it interesting reading.

I’d also like to take a moment to mention the two SPLASH! trade shows coming up – Piscine SPLASH! Asia in Singapore on May 20-21, and SPLASH! New Zealand on June 21-23. These are great events where you can see the latest products and network with the industry.

You might want to check out what is going on in Singapore on page 58.

This issue’s cover This elliptical home and pool in Valencia is a pristine example of a pool combining flawlessly with the architecture of a home. There is more on this project on page 48. Image courtesy of Fran Silvestre Arquitectos, photography by Diego Opazo.

The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the above supporters, nor should any product advertised in SPLASH! magazine be seen to be endorsed by the above.

Members of

Audited Circulation Average Net Distribution Per Issue: 5,760 CAB Publisher Statement Period ending 30th September 2014.

February-March 2015

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9

news

Regulation

Is NSW ready for April 29?

The deadline is looming.

Come April 29, every sale or lease of a NSW property with a swimming pool must have a certificate of compliance attached to the contract for sale or to the new lease.

The Office of Local Government (OLG) estimates there are 340,000 pools across NSW, and 332,885 were registered as of February 5, 2015.

While those registrations account for nearly 98 per cent of the estimated total pools, registrations are not certificates.

To gain a certificate, a qualified inspector must visit the property and issue one. However, repairs or remedial action may need to be undertaken by the property owner prior to a subsequent visit, and then, if the action has been properly carried out, they can issue the certificate.

Some industry figures worry that problems will arise when the April deadline for certificates comes into force – especially in relation to property sales.

The OLG estimates there are more than 18,000 properties with swimming pools rented each year, and RP Data figures show sales for properties with a pool total 9560 annually. Seasonally adjusted, combined annual numbers for sales and leases are estimated to be 27,900 state-wide.

So far, as at February 5, 2015, a total of 9591 certificates have been issued.

Tim McKibbin, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REI) says he is concerned there will be delays – moreso with sales than with rental properties.

“We believe there will be a bottleneck of vendors and landlords requesting certificates as of 29 April,” he says.

McKibbin says they’ve been encouraging landlords to seek these certificates early, and because the certificates have a life of three years it is better to get them now than wait until they’re needed.

“But the sales market does not lend itself that readily to that proactive approach,” he says.

“I suspect that the sales area is 10

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

going to be quite substantially affected. I saw some data from SPASA and I was surprised how many pools there are in NSW – a lot more than I’d anticipated – so it will have a substantial impact on the market.

“I’m concerned that there are insufficient resources in government to efficiently deal with the applications I see coming. So we really should be gearing up for considerable delays I would have thought.”

The OLG is also concerned about the level of non-compliant child resistant barriers.

“The NSW Government, in partnership with NSW Royal Life, has been publicising the need for pool owners considering selling their properties with a swimming pool to contact their local council or accredited certifier early,” the OLG says.

“NSW councils and accredited certifiers have been responding to requests for certificates of compliance promptly, however the level of non-compliant child resistant barriers is concerning.

“Pool owners considering selling or leasing are strongly encouraged to act early to ensure they are able to meet their obligations and make their child resistant barriers comply with NSW law.”

McKibbon says the REI supports and endorses the need to address injury and in particular loss of life, but also points out that the government has a responsibility not to adversely interfere with the flow of commerce and the leasing and general dealing with property.

“Some 12 to 15 months ago when we became aware of this we had a similar view of this in relation to addressing the risks,” he says. “But we said to government we didn’t think they we ready. Ultimately they came to the same view and delayed the implementation for 12 months.

Time will tell whether they used that 12 months wisely.”

Spiros Dassakis from the Swimming Pool & Spa Alliance is also concerned there will be a logjam of people applying to get certificates – and getting any problems remedied – and has proposed a transi-

tional period of 90 days whereby the purchaser becomes responsible for getting the certificate.

When asked about the potential to move the deadline if required – and also the 90 day transition proposal – the OLG did not rule out either option.

“It is vital that home owners thinking of selling their home organise inspections early and take into account the possible time it will take to make their pool compliant, should there be any issues raised at the first inspection. The NSW Government will continue to communicate these important messages to home owners, real estate agents and fencing contractors alike and will monitor the situation as the April due date approaches.

“Protecting child safety around backyard swimming pools remains a top priority for the NSW Government. To tackle the ongoing extremely high number of pool fences that are unsafe, the Government will continue to work with councils and industry to make sure the standards are being applied in

Clarifying the data At SPLASH!, we believe it is more accurate to compare the available pool DA data over a number of months – basically three-month and 12-month periods – because some councils can be slow reporting their data to Cordell, sometimes taking up to 12 weeks.

Also, we show a state graph but don’t focus on state comparisons, because the percentage of reporting councils in each state varies. Generally, the more populous urban areas in each state are better represented than the rural councils, so the total number of households covered is relatively high, but the percentage of councils might still be low.

In NSW approximately 66 per cent of councils report (including most councils in the Wollongong-Sydney-Newcastle conurbation); Victoria has only 42 per cent of councils (but includes most of Melbourne and Geelong); South Australia has 51 per cent and Western Australia has 42 per cent. Queensland only has 20 per cent, focussed largely on the Gold Coast and some parts of Brisbane.

See the disclaimer at the bottom of this column for more.

12 months-to-January 2014

12 months-to-January 2015

3

Month by month

1500

3

1200

2 900

2

1

600

1 300

0

Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan

Approvals by State

12months-to-January 2014

12months-to-January 2015

3500

3000

3000

2500

2500

2000

2000 1500 1500 1000

1000

500

500 0

Three-Monthly Comparison

fessional Board (BPB) website. a fair and consistent way, and may Their question asked: Why explore additional options to encan’t swimming pool technicians sure safety around properties sold apply to be certifiers? and leased with swimming pools.”

Their answer is: The Board has McKibbon, while not a fan of restricted the eligibility criteria to the transition proposal, believes people with knowledge and expeif it becomes clear there will be rience in the construction of pool problems, the government will safety barriers. E1 certifiers will have little option but to delay the need to interpret and apply the date of implementation.

Swimming Pools Act 1992, the “Normally in legal practice we relevant Swimming Pools Regulalike to bring all matters pertinent tion and Australian Standards for to the property to settlement – safety barriers for swimming pools. ideally all charges and encumDassakis says the omission of brances attached to the property pool and spa technicians as eligible are normally wiped clear of the E1 parties has no sensible basis titles at settlement, so for that and should be urgently reviewed. reason I’m a little reticent – I’m He says the FAQ statement asnot closing the door on the idea sumes that pool builders, builders but it’s not normal practice to and structural landscapers have or let something hold over. And a gain experience in the construcnon-compliant pool would be tion of a pool barrier. He says something of an encumbrance. this may be true for some when But I’m stressing the word ideally working in the field, but the vast here,” he says. majority of these eligible parties “The government has the same simply contract out such work responsibility as 12 months ago, to fencing contractors. With the and if they’re not in a position exception of pool builders, the to meet that responsibility and current eligible E1 parties are not haven’t used that 12 months to exposed daily to swimming pool get prepared, I think they have no and spa environments, he says. alternative but to further delay it.

SPASA is a registered training “I was firmly of the view last organisation but will not be oftime that the government was fering the course because there is not at all ready, and I have great not seen to be any benefits to its concerns this time around that 12 months-to-January 2014 12 months-to-January 2015 members, as pool and spa techthey’re similarly1500 not ready. I nicians have been excluded and would have through the training most pool builders are likely to be program would 1200 have been in the too busy to undertake inspections. market a great deal earlier than I McKibbon says he is concerned saw it recently.” 900 as to whether enough effort has 600 gone into resourcing the solution.

Certifier shortage “I saw recently that they had Dassakis has been 300 warning developed a training course government, the industry and 0 for certifi ers which led Nov me to anyone who will listen Feb for Marmany Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Dec Jan conclude that the certifiers that I months that there is likely to be hoped2014 were already in the market a shortage of inspectors and12months-to-January of hs-to-January 2015 12months-to-January 2015 may not be. I am also aware that a contractors who can3500 remediate lot of properties don’t pass on first any barriers that fail3000 inspections. inspection and require remedial The OLG says that a new E1 2500 activity. That of itself creates deswimming pool certifier course lays and adds considerable time. has been developed2000 in order to 1500 “I’m greatly concerned that add to the existing number of dealings in property with swimcertifiers, with courses 1000 commencming pool legislation will have ing February 23.

500 considerable delays.”

One solution Dassakis has 0 says he is WA concerned SA been Oct Nov Dec Jan advocating is to include NSW VICDassakis QLD that if this does go badly, it will suitably qualified pool and spa provide just one more reason for technicians in the training for people not to buy a pool. the new certifier qualification.

Contact: links to the pool However, his pleas in this regard register and E1 course enrolment have fallen on deaf ears, as can are available at the QuickLinks be seen from the FAQ recently tab at splashmagazine.com.au published on the Building Pro-

NSW

VIC

February to January 2014

QLD

WA

0

SA

February to January 2015

3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

While these figures give an indication of the way the market is trending, they are not comprehensive and don’t include all pools built or even all DAs lodged. By some estimates, the total national numbers including all types of pools could be as much as double these figures. They do not include pool projects that are approved as part of a new home, smaller projects under the cost threshold, renovations that don’t require a DA, or some aboveground pools. Additionally, not all councils are forthcoming with data; councils in some states such as Queensland and Victoria are particularly reluctant. For further information, call Cordell Information on 1800 80 60 60.

February-March 2015

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news

Safety

Dangerous inflatable spas given out as Keno prizes Dangerous and potentially deadly portable inflatable spas of a similar type to those recalled by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in April last year were given away as prizes by Tabcorp Holdings Ltd in a Keno “Win a Spa Promotion” between May 2014 and June 2014.

In April 2014 the 700-litre M-Spa Inflatable Silver Cloud Spas were recalled after reports of people in Victoria receiving electric shocks when using the spa. Ineffective electrical insulation was found to the cause.

Bunnings recalled more than

730 of the spas. (See SPLASH! Edition 94 for more.)

In December 2014, other models of the Chinese-made spas were recalled, including the MSpa Lite Inflatable Spa (model B-090 Lite Alpine) which had been given away as Keno prizes.

Faulty electrics in the heating element assembly may cause the water to become live, with serious risk to bathers.

The MSpa Tuscany B-160, Camaro Spa B130 and those with Serial # 2G3BAU are also being recalled. Other names include Bubble Silver Cloud Inflatable Spa and Nest 2 Person Inflatable Spa.

The spas were available for sale nationally through various wholesalers and retailers including Clark Rubber, Swim In, Pool Mart, Jooewang Ltd, Pool Gallery, Chrisco Australia and on eBay. They were supplied by Oriental Recreational Products (ORPC).

In January 2015 the ACCC issued a specific notice regarding the B-090 Lite Alpine model.

There have been a number of reported incidents both within Australia and Europe. In Australia the ACCC is aware of at least 10 incidents of electrical shock. In Europe there were two near-fatal incidents and two serious injuries.

Anyone who has one of the spas should stop using it immediately and unplug it from the socket outlet.

They should disconnect the control box and check the information on the protective cover of the control box or on the spa liner; examine rating labels for the brand name, model number, double insulation symbol, serial number, approval number and the supplier name.

You can check if the spa has been recalled by visiting www. recalls.gov.au. If a voluntary recall is in place, contact your supplier. If a voluntary recall is not in place, email the ACCC at productsafety@accc.gov.au or call the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502, Monday-Friday 8:30am to 8:00pm.

Go to splashmagazine.com.au for more links.

Manufacturing

Waterco relocates admin office after fire Following the January fire at their Rydalmere head office, Waterco’s administration offices have been relocated to another South Street location.

Waterco director Bryan Goh says that while internal sales staff are working out of demountables at their usual address of 36 South Street, Rydalmere, the administration offices have been relocated to a new temporary address at Unit 7, 2-8 South Street, Rydalmere.

Business was basically operating as normal, except for the change of admin offices and some manual order processing due to the IT system being affected.

“Goods are being shipped out – we haven’t got any major disruptions. We’ve got full stock for most goods. Hopefully we can get

The new temporary office at Unit 7, 2-8 South Street, Rydalmere the system back up and running and work out where our stock needs are shortly.”

At the time of writing, Waterco still had no confirmation regarding the cause of the fire.

Goh says that while the main warehouse

wasn’t affected, they did lose a small amount of stock.

“We lost some of the R&D equipment including the pump testing station and some of the manufacturing assembly for commercial pumps and heaters, as well as some small chemical packing facilities,” he says.

“It was mainly the office that was affected.”

All staff are operating by mobile phone but they can also be contracted through (02) 9898 8600.

The fire required more than 100 firefighters from more than 20 fire stations to battle the blaze, amid concerns the fire could spread to a paper recycling facility next door.

Fortunately, the blaze was kept under control and damage was largely limited to the office section of the Waterco property.

Top five online news stories of 2014

Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter.

A recap of the stories that made the online news last year

1. January: Backyard pool chemical explosion puts man in hospital

2. February: Former SPASA Queensland CEO David Close passes away

3. May: Bathers shocked: dangerous spas recalled

by Bunnings

4. August: Pool Corp buys majority interest in Pool Systems

5. October: Peace at last: Alliance and SPRAA join SPASA Australia

Specific verbal and written instructions should be provided at the point of sale of pool chemicals, says injured man.

David Close, formerly Secretary of SPASA Queensland for 16 years, collapsed and passed away suddenly at home.

More than 700 inflatable spas were recalled across Australia after a fault was found in the heater insulation.

The world’s largest pool supplies wholesaler leapt into the Australian market while Pool Systems bought Niagara Pool Supplies.

The SPASA Wars appeared to be over as the Alliance took a seat on the SPASA Australia board.

12

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

Upcoming events 2015 Mar 3

SPASA Victoria Golf Day, Kingston Links

Mar 4-7

Piscine Expo, Morocco

Mar 7-8

Pool Spa & Outdoor Living Expo, Claremont Showgrounds, Perth

Mar 18-19

Australian Water Association Water Innovation Forum, Sydney

Mar 25

SPASA Queensland AGM

Mar 26-28

Aquatherm-Egyptpool 2015, Cairo, Egypt

Mar 26-29

QPS 2015 International Exhibition for Pool & Spa, Doha

Apr 27-May 3 SwimFest 2015, ASCTA Convention, Swim Australia Conference and Awards Dinner, Sofitel Gold Coast May 12-14

OzWater15, Adelaide Convention Centre

May 13-15

The NSW Country Pool Managers Conference, West Diggers Club, Tamworth.

May 20-21

Piscine SPLASH! Asia, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

May 23-24

Consumer Pool Spa and Outdoor Living Expo, RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane

May 30

SPASA Queensland Awards Gala

June 13

SPASA Victoria Gala Awards Night, Plaza Ballroom

June 15-16 ARI Conference, Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley Jun 21-23

SPLASH! NZ, ASB Showground, Auckland

July 14-17

Expolazer, Sao Paolo, Brazil

Aug 8-9

SPASA Victoria Consumer Spa & Pool Expo

Aug 24-25

SPASA Convention, Homebush Bay

Aug 28-30

Brisbane Home Show, BCEC

Sept 9

SPASA Queensland Golf Day

Oct 7-9

WAHC, Scottsdale Arizona

Oct 13-16

Piscina Barcelona

Oct 27-30

Aquanale, Cologne, Germany

Nov 7-12

IPSPE Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

2016 Aug 17-18

SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach

Nov 15-18

Piscine Global, Lyon, France

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.

February-March 2015

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13

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news

Expo News

Expos

Foodies on the menu at Victorian show Melbourne’s Pool Spa and Outdoor Living consumer expo tried something a little different this year – The Taste of Summer alfresco cooking demonstrations.

Limetree Alfresco Kitchen Appliances sponsored the Taste of Summer cooking stage which featured tantalising cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs Tobie Puttock and Alice Zaslavsky, including how to take full advantage of your backyard barbecue.

These demonstrations were free to attend and provided an alternative focus for marketing. SPASA Victoria spent $200,000 on television, print, radio and digital advertising.

Another change this year was that no kit pool builders were able to exhibit.

“Our prime concern is that pool consumers have a good experience,” says Brendan Watkins, CEO of SPASA Victoria.

“Based on the data that comes through our office and the VBA and Consumer Affairs, we know that by and large consumers don’t always have good experiences when they buy kits and go owner-builder.

At the end of the day, that will damage the industry if that continues to be the case. So we’re strongly advocating consumers use a registered pool builder, to ensure that any risk is taken out of the equation by using a practitioner who’s licensed, trained, insured and capable of giving them the pool they want.”

He says they put out a paper for discussion, and largely the members were very supportive of this stance.

Chloe McCardell was unavailable this year, but she will be back in 2016 for another world record swim spa attempt.

The next Melbourne consumer show is on August 8 and 9.

Expos

Perth owners ready to show off The new owners of Perth’s Pool Spa & Outdoor Living consumer expo are gearing up for their second show, to be held this March.

Carol Harper says the first expo in September 2014 was a great success and the exhibitors told her the improvements had led to a re-energised event.

This year, WALDA (Western Australian Landscape Design Association) has become an event partner of the expo alongside SPASA WA. She says the addition of WALDA helps bring together the landscape design and swimming pool and spa industries.

SPASA has a long history of supporting the expo, and pool building and spa industry exhibitors must be SPASA members to exhibit. She says this is to ensure visitors are only dealing

New owners Carol and Mark Harper with professionals from the industry.

The expo will be held on March 7 and 8 at the Claremont Showgrounds, Perth.

Contact: www.poolspaoutdoor.com.au

Piscina & Wellness Barcelona 2015 has been brought forward by a week to October 13 to 16 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via Exhibition Centre, with the aim of adapting to the more general trade show calendar. The new Piscina & Wellness Barcelona name aims to strengthen the expo’s connection with the wellness sector and water-related facilities associated with health, wellbeing and leisure. The show is attended by exhibitors and trade professionals from approximately 100 different countries with an interest in the Spanish swimming pool market – the second largest in Europe after France and the fourth biggest in the world – as well as through the event’s export connections with the Mediterranean arc and Latin America. The Spanish residential swimming pool market reportedly grew by six per cent in 2014.

The Australian Water Association’s Water Innovation Forum will be held on 18–19 March 2015, showcasing water innovation across the water, construction, food & beverage and agricultural industries with a two-day conference program, extensive exhibit, and technology commercialisation and adoption workshop.

Ozwater’15 will be held in the newly expanded Adelaide Convention Centre, opening up an additional 4300sqm of space with state of the art facilities.

The conference will be held on May 12-14.

February-March 2015

SPLASH!

15

news

Giveaway

Spa Tech Tip Replacing a portable spa control system?

It’s worth seeing if your customer wants a more efficient setup to combat the endlessly increasing electricity costs.

Here are a few ideas to maximise spa function while minimising running costs.

1. Where possible, use the largest heater kilowatt rating the power supply will accommodate – the larger the heater, the shorter the pump running time/cost in heating cycles. For example, if you replace a 2kW heater with a 4kW heater, you will halve the pump running time.

2. Have an electrician upgrade the power circuit to accommodate this if needed – the additional cost will be returned in no time.

Many 15A circuits can be increased to 25A or at least to 20A. 3. Spa systems with smart phone WiFi control allow the spa owner to run the spa cooler, then increase the spa temperature from work a couple of hours before getting home. This suits random use and can save the spa owner hundreds of dollars per year.

For more information on this column contact technical support at Australian Spa Parts Phone: 1300 736 025.

16

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February-March 2015

From the Ground Up: 20 Stories of a Life in Architecture From the Ground Up: 20 Stories of a Life in Architecture brings together 20 of Australia’s leading architectural practitioners to reveal, in their own words, what drew them to their calling. Their reflections offer an insight into the values and ideas behind some of the country’s most innovative and important buildings.

Richly designed and illustrated, the book includes sketches and other conceptual material to provide a glimpse of how the practitioners realise and flesh out their ideas. A photographic chronology of key works also presents a snapshot of each architect’s career and accomplishments to date.

Sometimes humorous, often surprising, the stories in From the Ground Up show us just what it takes to succeed in the demanding and intensely competitive profession of architecture while providing an understanding of the very human influences shaping our buildings, our cities and our societies.

Contact: www.uromedia.com.au SPLASH! has a copy of From the Ground Up to give away. Go to the SPLASH! magazine Facebook page and click on the Book Giveway tab in the left hand

column. There will be more information and a direct link in an upcoming free SPLASH! online newsletter. Go to splashmagazine.com.au to make sure you’re receiving the newsletter. The winner of the previous competition was Angus Donald.

Community

Jett’s pool kept warm In Edition 95, SPLASH! reported how the industry banded together to help then eight-year-old Queensland boy, Jett Corson, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, incurable disease that hastens the deterioration of every muscle in his body including his heart, making it almost impossible for him to do any exercise, sport or physical activity – except swimming.

Brisbane-based pool company Crown Pools pulled together a collection of industry companies including Zodiac, Waterco and AstralPool, to provide him with a wonderful backyard swimming pool.

Now further help has come from Daisy and Clark Rubber, supplying and installing a cover and roller.

Jett’s mother Susan Anderson says that having the pool accessible at home has enabled Jett to do his hydrotherapy exercises more easily over the past six months.

“The special ramp has meant that he can get in and out of the pool himself which gives him both motivation and independence. He’s been in the pool at least four to five times a week, even when it rains, because it’s heated” she says.

“It has really made a difference with his general mobility, weight stability and loosening his stiff and sore muscles.”

She says the benefit of a pool cover in helping

Jett enjoying a swim with a friend

keep the heat in and saving on heating costs will make an incredible difference.

“We’re so thankful and humbled by the generosity of Daisy and Clark Rubber getting involved and offering their support,” she says.

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news

Global news In April 2014, then sevenyear-old Calder Sloan was electrocuted in a swimming pool in the Miami area. Pool and Spa News in the US reports that his father, Chris Sloan, has since been advocating for greater safety from electrocution in swimming pools. As a result of this, two Florida counties have passed regulations restricting high voltage pool lights, and a third county is also considering it.

There is potential for this action to spread across the US. Sloan’s advocacy to ban on 120-volt lights in pools in favour of 12V low voltage lights is despite the fact the pool in which his son died did have low voltage lights. According to lawsuit filed in June by his parents, the electrocution was allegedly caused by an overheating wire combined with a failure of or lack of fail-safe mechanisms. Florida already bans high voltage lights on commercial pools.

The US body, the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) is launching a “university” that will offer industry newcomers and experienced professionals live classroom, virtual classroom and online courses for professional development. APSP University will offer a variety of tracks for manufacturers, building/install professionals, retailers, designers, service techs, sales/ executives and small business owners, with a training path to help them meet their goals.

18

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

Expos

IPSPE heads back to Orlando The US trade show, the 2014 International Pool Spa Patio Expo, made a return to Orlando, Florida for the first time in seven years last November.

The show drew 11,103 attendees from across the US and around the world who experienced a 13,800-square-metre show floor packed with new industry product launches, innovative show floor features, and an unmatched line-up of on-floor events.

The exhibit hall displayed water, technology and equipment in 1486 booths representing 552

companies. One of the highlights was Coast Spas unveiling their innovative infinity edge swim spa.

There were pre-conference Genesis 3 offerings and more than 250 hours of conference sessions. 2014 was the first year for the Commercial Education Classroom, located on the show floor at the expo.

The 2015 International Pool Spa Patio Expo will return to Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on November 10-12, 2015, with the conference from November 7-12, 2015.

Expos

Piscine achieves dominance Piscine Global – formerly known as the World Pool and Spa Exhibition – has now achieved what expo director Noémi Petit calls the dominant market position in the sector.

The latest edition of the Lyon show achieved more visitors than any other show globally, and the 16,771 visitors (excluding exhibitors) was a 6.9 per cent increase on the previous show in 2012.

A total of 559 exhibitors showcased a comprehensive range of 1000 brands dedicated to the construction, maintenance and renovation of private and public swimming pools and spas.

It was also a more international show than previously, with 39 per cent of visitors coming from more than 100 countries other than France. In particular, attendance from the following regions rose strongly: North America (+23 per cent), Asia (+34 per cent), the Middle East (+18 per cent) and South America (+52 per cent).

Piscine Global 2014 also shone a spotlight on innovations, presenting nearly 100 new products in the Top 100 and Pool Eco Attitude area and culminating with a ceremony during which 16 winners were awarded Innovation Trophies.

Once again the Piscine Water Tests area, which was launched at the previous show, offered live demonstrations of a number of technical innovations. Future trends were also revealed through the Pool Vision competition, co-organised with the Archi-Europe group and in partnership with the APSP from the USA. Twenty-four architects’ projects competed to showcase technical and aesthetic trends and be

The cute Piscine Laghetto exhibit at Piscine Global 2014

declared the finest pool in the world. Four projects received awards, in the following categories: private pool, public and hotel pool, spa, and special jury award.

An interesting aspect of the show was the Pool Summit, which brought together 20 international federations and nearly 30 managers of large industrial groups, with the aim of discussing market trends and figures from around the world, and setting up a network.

The next Piscine Global will be held in Lyon, France on November 15 to 18, 2016.

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news

Industry Moves

Global changes at Pentair Carlos Del Amo

Pentair Aquatic Systems vice president of global marketing Carlos Del Amo has been given responsibility for overseeing pool product sales growth in all regions outside of North America, including Europe, the Middle East, India, Australia, New Zealand, China, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Del Amo will coordinate growth strategies with Steve Zorn, vice president of the pool platform for North American sales.

Del Amo has been with Pentair since 2003, starting as director of marketing for North America. He was promoted to vice president of global marketing in 2005.

The additional responsibilities for

Del Amo are related to the recent addition of the foodservice and water purification platforms to the aquatic systems business unit of Pentair.

“The excitement and energy is palpable as we start to talk about leveraging not only technologies and product development ideas, but opportunities for best practices sharing, coordinating on processes in our support functions, and other strategy synergies,” says Karl Frykman, President of Pentair Aquatic Systems.

“I have full faith and confidence in Carlos’s leadership,” says Frykman. “I look forward to our continued growth and customer focus across platforms and around the world.”

Obituary

Andreas Sofikitis killed in car accident Andreas Sofikitis, managing director of Poolstones, passed away, following a hit and run road accident near his house.

He was well known and respected in the pool and spa industry in Europe and more recently in Australia and Singapore though his involvement in the SPLASH! trade shows and this magazine. With respect, we are reprinting the obituary posted on the Poolstones website: Andreas Sofikitis, a charismatic man, profoundly idealist, a vigorous fighter.

It is with grief and disbelief that we must share with all of you the tragic event that shocked and marked all our lives this past week. Andreas Sofikitis has passed away, following a hit and run road accident near his house.

Andreas Sofikitis, gifted with generosity, innate kindness, simplicity and genuine accessibility, easily attracted people around him.

His continuous determination to create innovative and high quality products have marked his contribution in the field of marble stones and in the pool industry.

He took over the management of his father’s family business in 1991, which till then operated as a quarry plant, and turned it into a fast growing marble processing unit. His passion for natural stones, coupled with his expertise in the field of geology, reinforced his conviction that exploiting the characteristics and prop-

erties of these elements can enhance the decoration of swimming pools and spas.

He generated the expansion of the company’s product range thanks to his inexhaustible source of ideas and impulsive grasp of new trends in relation to the pool market. He paid particular attention to continuously develop the company’s products and services, always attentive to satisfying customer’s needs.

Thanks to his ingenuity and unique way of thinking, Sofikitis Poolstones has established itself over time as the most innovative, efficient and reliable manufacturer of decorative natural stones for swimming pools.

Andreas Sofikitis, a creative person, full of dreams, hopes and anxieties managed to strengthen the export orientation of Sofikitis Poolstones, by expanding and consolidating its presence into 40 countries around the world and making its brand synonymous with pool decoration, quality, luxury and innovation.

Those of us who had the chance to be around him are blessed with the enormous heritage he leaves behind him; his unconditional kindness and respect towards his fellow human beings, his proliferation of optimism and sense of ethics, his remarkable creativity.

SPLASH! offers condolences to all friends and family.

Industry moves Zodiac Group Australia has created a national training manager position at their Smithfield NSW office, and has appointed Jason Carter to the role, reporting to the marketing team lead by Jonas Ryberg. Carter, originally from Vista California, emigrated to Sydney three years ago with his wife Jade. He has a diverse background that includes serving as a Blackhawk helicopter chief in US Army special operations aviation command and spending several years in training and technical content development roles with Boeing. He most recently served as the national training manager for Schneider Electric in Macquarie Park NSW, creating and implementing a cost effective digital strategy to train customers in 130 countries.

Dr Phil Reeves has been appointed to the new role of chief scientist of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). He will be working on a number of initiatives including a focus on the continuous enhancement of scientific capability at the APVMA. Darryl Lathwell has taken the position of group general manager at Commercial Aquatics Australia (CAA) after working part-time over the past two years. He will continue to work closely with west coast general manager Neil Daffen and east coast general manager Jamie Brown, whose roles remain unchanged.

February-March 2015

SPLASH!

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news

Recognition

Cliff cooks up a winning formula Global news MAAX Spas Industries Corp, the US portable spa manufacturer based in Arizona, has bought LA Spas. LA Spas will remain a distinct brand under the MAAX umbrella, joining California Cooperage, Elite Spas, MAAX Collection, PowerPool and Vita Spa. Emil Nygard, vice president of MAAX Spas, says the sale will have very little impact from the consumer side. Product selection will remain the same, and warranties will be honoured, as will all the dealer agreements.

In a heartbreaking tragedy, four children from the one extended family drowned in a neighbour’s swimming pool in Cebu, Philippines in January.

They were a ten year old girl, her six year old brother and their two eight year old cousins.

According to statements given to the police by the parents, none of the children knew how to swim.

The neighbour’s house is owned by a woman with an Australian husband and was unattended at the time. It is believed the children snuck into the home through the backyard. The house was still being constructed and reportedly did not have a perimeter fence.

The parents searched for the children when they did not return home by 5pm, and sadly found them floating in the pool.

They tried to revive them and they were rushed to hospital, but without success.

22

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

Cooke Industries has been recognised by in-floor cleaning system QuikClean as their best international distributor, with an award presented to managing director Cliff Cooke at the QuikClean annual conference in Hawaii. The conference brought together distributors and installers from around the world.

“The award is great recognition for our team and their efforts to support our installation partners,” says Cooke.

“The most pleasing aspect of the conference, however, was the opportunity to work with innovative thinkers and plan further developments for the next generation of in-floor cleaning systems.”

As the Australasian distributor, Cooke Industries work closely with builders to design and install the QuikClean range of in-floor cleaning systems.

The QuikClean International Distributor of the Year Award being presented to Cliff Cooke in Hawaii.

Training

Tiling application courses coming up Laticrete is running a series of hands-on educational seminars geared to ensure that tiling work on pool projects is beautiful, durable and permanent. Laticrete provides single source responsibility for tile and stone installation materials on demanding, high performance applications.

The seminars are full day 9am to 5pm workshops and will be held in three cities.

Brisbane area: Laticrete, 29 Telford Street, Virginia, Qld 4014 Dates: April 2-3, July 8-9 Sydney area: Laticrete, Unit 2 /6-8 Mitchell Road, Moorebank, NSW 2170 Dates: May 6-7, August 5-6 Melbourne area: Laticrete, 26 Vella Drive, Sunshine West, Vic 3020 Dates: March 5-6, June 3-4 Contact: 1800 331 012; seminars@laticrete.com.au

Charity events

Industry member sails in SydneyHobart to fight skin cancer Swimming pool and spa industry members – especially builders and technicians – are more susceptible to the dangers of UV light than many other people, because of the long hours spent outdoors.

Recently, industry member Steven Humphris from Focus Products joined the crew of a Sydney-Hobart race entrant to help raise awareness for a foundation that is trying to fund melanoma research.

Boat broker Mike Freebairn, 40, raised $12,000 to buy a sail bearing the logo of the Australian Melanoma Research Foundation, to publicise its work fighting the disease which took the life of shipbuilder Russ King just a week after being diagnosed.

Freebairn, a married father-of-two, says his mate Russ walked in on the Tuesday, was diagnosed on the Thursday and passed away the following Tuesday.

“It was so quick and so definitive. There’s no cure and while they’re trying to work on one, we want to do our bit to raise awareness about the dangers of melanoma. Australia has the highest

All aboard the Spirit of Kooloomoo

incidence in the world.

“It’s a pretty harsh environment and we love being outdoors. I’m in the sun everyday so it’s a worry.

You’ve got to take the time to protect yourself.

Longevity is more important than a tan.”

Go to splashmagazine.com.au to see a crews-eye video of the race from the Spirit of Koomooloo, set to a rocking Barnsie soundtrack

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news

Associations

SPASAs working together In Brief The 2015 Country Pool Managers Conference has been confirmed for May 13 to 15 at the West Diggers Club, Kable Avenue, Tamworth. For more information and registration forms go to www.countrypoolmanagers.com.au.

The National Construction Code (NCC) 2015 is now available free online as a preview to the May 1 adoption date. You can register at the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) for immediate access to the NCC 2015 Volumes One, Two, Three and the Guide to the BCA, along with a new standalone document that extracts the Performance Requirements of the NCC, which are the only NCC legal requirements. The ABCB is no longer printing hard copy versions of the NCC. Go to the QuickLink tab as splashmagazine.com.au for a link to the PDF versions.

Sadly, well-known industry identity, Graeme Aaron has passed away.

Graeme was the driving force behind Rainbow Pool Products, operating from Mansfield on Brisbane’s south side. The company was established in July 1977 supplying 57 lines of generic spare parts to the pool and spa industry. Since that time they gradually expanded their product range and territories. Most industry members will have done business with Graeme at some stage or will have seen him at trade shows.

SPLASH! offers condolences to all friends and family.

24

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

At the end of last year, SPLASH! caught up with Gary Nye, CEO of SPASA Australia, and found him upbeat about the organisation’s future following positive developments including the merger with the Swimming Pool Retail Association of Australia (SPRAA) and the inclusion of a Swimming Pool and Spa Alliance board member to represent NSW and the ACT. However, he is well aware that there is a lot of work yet to do. In particular, he is keen to add greater value for the SPASA members. One way is through discounts from service providers such as telcos, banks and insurers.

“We can do a lot more for our members in terms of benefits we can offer to them,” says Nye. “Not saying that the states aren’t offering benefits, but one state could come along with 200 members and ask what sort of rate they can get, or I could go along and say we’ve got 1250 members – I’m sure I’m going to get a better rate.”

He also believes there is the opportunity to increase membership.

“There are a number of builders who are members of the Master Builders Association but not members of SPASA,” he says. “And there are independent pool shops that are not members of anything, and there’s a significant opportunity for us to increase our membership in that area.

“But we have to understand what they are actually looking for and what they would see as value for them to become a member. You’ve got to give them benefits so they say the fee is a bargain, because they get reduced eftpos rates, reduced telecommunications rates, access to fleet discounts, or reduced insurance. Over and above that, we’d provide them with training and networking opportunities.”

He says the national supplier members he’s spoken with have all been delighted with the direction SPASA Australia is heading, and the coming together as one industry association.

The suppliers have their own sector director (Rob Kruber) as does the retail sector ( John O’Brien) and the builders (Andrew Jakovac). Nye says this should provide a flow of feedback from the members to the board, and they will use that information to deliver what the members require. For example, some of the feedback may form the basis of plenary sessions they offer at SPLASH! in 2016.

As well as still being involved in SPLASH! on the Gold Coast through the information sessions and the SPASA Australia Awards Gala, they are planning a convention in the off years to support the gala in the years SPLASH! isn’t on. These will rotate around the states, with the first to be held in Sydney at Homebush Bay on August 24 to 25, 2015.

Nye says they came out of a recent strategic meeting very comfortable that the directors all have a common vision.

“But it would be foolish for us to rush. It needs some planning, and we need to do some preliminary work, and build up to something rather than jump in and fail. That’s the issue, we don’t want to fail.”

He also made the point that the relationship with the Swimming Pool and Spa Alliance has been good, pointing in particular with their help providing previously prepared material relating to chemicals of security concern.

As part of their commitment to the SPASA Australia reunification process, the Alliance has already started a process to adopt a new logo to incorporate both NSW and ACT as part of a determined move to work more closely with SPASA Australia and provide branding consistency across state borders.

A strategy meeting held late last year with representatives from the different states and sectors: Back: Andrew Jakovac (Builders Sector and Queensland), Lindsay McGrath (alternate director for NSW), Trent Moran (SA), John O’Brien (Retail Aftermarket Sector), Rob Kruber (Supplier Sector and VP), Rob Anderson (alternate director for Victoria); Front: Gary Nye (CEO), Lynley Papineau (President), Rob Guthrie (NSW)

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feature

Key pool standards

M

ost pool builders think there aren’t many Australian Standards applicable to this industry, and while that may be true there are more than most realise. Some are more important than others, some may be fairly old, but most are still relevant. So let’s look at some of them.

Most important standards

AS1926 I’ve been involved with Australian Standards Committee CS-34 since about 1988. CS-34 deals with pool safety issues particularly fencing and hydraulic safety. Most of us are familiar with AS1926 Parts 1 & 2 on pool barriers so I won’t make further comment here.

AS1926.3 Water reticulation systems. This is now made compulsory in most states through direct legislation or the National Construction Code (NCC). This is the standard about skimmers and suction covers – an absolute must for all builders.

AS2610 Part 1 is for the construction of public spas and Part 2 for private spas. Although the current version is a 2007 issue these have in fact changed little since about 1988 when acrylic spas were only in the minds of manufacturers.

Both only seem to relate to concrete spas and for this reason are urgently in need of review.

AS2783 Use of reinforced concrete for small swimming pools – the steel requirements are to my mind the bare minimum and those doing pools longer than 12 metres would be well advised to add additional longitudinal steel to control shrinkage. Many engineers ignore this standard in favour of AS3600 but it contains some valuable information all builders should be aware of.

AS3000 Wiring Rules. The current version is 2007 with a 2013 amendment and although this standard gets frequent updates, those parts affecting pools seldom change. This standard is where I learnt, amongst other things, about International Protection (IP) ratings and how close to the pool various items of equipment can be installed, and what equipment can go where. Some may also ask “Why should I bother with this, I use a licenced electrician?” The electrician often does nothing more than supply power points where the builder wants them giving no thought at all to the IP ratings of the equip-

By Cal Stanley

ment. Even though licenced, I have seen many jobs where electricians have installed incorrectly rated power points. I have seen many items of equipment in Zone 2 with an inadequate IP rating.

AS3634 Solar heating for swimming pools. I have used this on occasion to check that a solar supplier is complying particularly with the way in which sqm of solar is measured.

AS3600 Concrete structures. Only needed for concrete pools over 16.6 metres in length but there are also special provisions for exposed pools within one kilometre of the ocean and large inland bodies of salt water such as Port Phillip Bay, Sydney Harbour east of the Harbour Bridge and the Swan River west of the Narrows Bridge. These rules apply to out of ground concrete structures, including pools, that are not sealed, painted, rendered, etc. Of course your engineers would or should know all this but when they specify 40 MPa concrete instead of 32 MPa you will know why. A builder also needs to know the cost implications for these pools when quoting.

AS37365 Concrete structures for retaining liquids.

Useful for concrete structures holding liquids other than swimming pool water.

AS3780 Storage and handling of corrosive substances. Important for any builder who buys pool chemicals in bulk quantities and stores them on his premises. Bulk quantities doesn’t just mean the filling of a 200 litre tank, it also applies to the storing of multiple 20 litre containers.

AS3958.1 Installation of ceramic tiles. Apart from things like surface preparation, render and the like, this standard requires adhesive to cover a minimum 90 per cent of the back of all tiles.

This effectively means nobody should use mesh backed mosaics as some may only allow about 40 to 50 per cent adhesion.

AS5601 Gas installations. Again, a bit like the electrician, the plumber you use to supply and connect the gas to the heater must be a licenced gas fitter. Indeed this standard makes the gas fitter responsible for the entire installation, but how many of them actually take on that responsibility? In many cases they don’t even commission the heater as they should. This standard sets out in detail specifications for the locating of gas heaters and some overriding clauses about ventilation you could get caught on.

Some less important standards

AS2560 Sports lighting. Required if your commercial pool contract includes overhead lighting.

AS3979 Hydrotherapy pools. This one is so far out of date it demands revision. It is so bad that the Health Department in WA advises pool builders who apply to build one not to call it a hydrotherapy pool but a warm water exercise pool so that the provisions of the Public Pool Code (which cites this standard) do not apply.

To my knowledge, only the AS1926 series, AS3000 and AS5601 are compulsory standards by being legislated through law or through the NCC. But that doesn’t make the others unimportant. As a builder I had all these and more. It is my hope that all builders will take more notice of the non-compulsory standards and that the requirement to build and install pools in accordance with them, where relevant, will become a part of every contract. I would also welcome adding to this list if others can point me to relevant standards I have missed.

Missing standards

It would be good to have standards for the following areas of concrete pool construction and hopefully one day they may eventuate.

• Pneumatically applied concrete • Tiling for swimming pools • Swimming pool coping • Swimming pool internal finishes • Plumbing for swimming pools • Forming for swimming pool structures

Your contract

So why are Standards important? Because in the first instance most of you who use a standard SPASA contract are committing to carry out all works in accordance with relevant Australian Standards.

Pretty hard to do if you don’t know of most of them. Also if you ever get taken to court the first thing a judge will ask for is a relevant standard and if you haven’t followed it you will likely lose the case. n For these articles Cal Stanley draws on 30 years’ success in pool construction, running award-winning WA company Neptune Pools.

February-March 2015

SPLASH!

27

feature

Creating more swimmers for the national good

L

ast year, SPLASH! caught up with Tom Lachocki, CEO of the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF), who was MC for the first ever World Aquatic Health Conference held outside the United States, as part of SPLASH! on the Gold Coast.

We asked him to discuss how swimming can positively affect the physical health of citizens in increasingly inactive and ageing populations such as Australia and the US. “In the US there is certainly more effort to increase the number of swimmers, and part of that is driven by studies that have shown that somewhere between onethird and two-thirds of Americans are afraid of water to some extent,” says Lachocki.

“Now with obesity rates increasing it’s really important that people are more active, and when people haven’t been active for a number of years, or when people get older, there are really limited opportunities to get physically active. Getting in the water is one ideal one.”

Lachocki say that between government, industry, insurance companies and the general population, there is much more focus on people being active, and that water is an ideal way for people to get more active in our society today.

One of the impediments in the United States, however, is the abovementioned fear of water.

“There has been some research to try and quantify how many people are afraid of the water. The Centres for Disease Control in the United States have done a study and they found that about 37 per cent of Americans admit that either they don’t know how to swim or they’re afraid of the water. Studies by Gallop have shown that those numbers are actually higher – that about 46 per cent of Americans say they’re afraid of the

Swimming and exercising in water is a great way to keep people of all ages fit and healthy while combatting obesity

“Water is an ideal way for people to get more active in our society today.” deep end of the swimming pool, and that number goes up to about 64 per cent of being afraid of deep open bodies of water like the ocean or lakes.”

He says that having more swimmers is beneficial in two very important ways.

“First off, it gives an avenue for people to live a healthier life, in a way that they can do into their 90s and even beyond if they’re lucky enough to live that long.”

The second benefit relates to the pool and spa industry which, like other industries, must comply to the laws of economics.

“There are some things that are complex about our industry, and there are some things that are simple. And February-March 2015

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Australian obesity rates • Three in five Australian adults are overweight or obese based on their body mass index (BMI). That’s more than 12 million people.

• Five per cent more adults are overweight or obese than in 1995.

• One in four Australian children are overweight or obese.

• 30 per cent more people living in outer regional and remote areas are obese than people living in major cities.

• The problems associated with an overweight and obese population is only beaten by smoking and high blood pressure as contributors to burden of disease.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (www.aihw.gov.au)

Tom Lachocki, CEO of the National Swimming Pool Foundation

if we can increase demand for people using water – whether that’s a residential application or a commercial application – that ultimately leads to growth for the pool and spa industry.”

Step Into Swim Step into Swim is a campaign organised by the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) in America. It is a 10-year initiative aimed at creating one million more swimmers.

The campaign raises funds that are directly given to leading learn-to-swim organisations, and the foundation matches the donations dollar for dollar.

Supporters of the campaign believe that investing in the next generation of swimmers and teaching people of all ages and ethnicities is a necessary investment and will improve the health and future of the US. Beyond the personal pain caused by poor health, the financial burden of obesity in the US is estimated to be $US147 billion per year. In addition, the tragic incidences of drowning will cost society about $US100 billion for the next 20 years. Obesity trends are likely to continue based on increased childhood obesity rates and Census Bureau estimates that there will be about 24 million more 65+ year olds in the next 10 years. Aquatic activity is one of the best activity options available for aging and out-of-shape people. Unfortunately, about half of Americans are afraid of deep water or cannot swim.

The campaign asks the private and public sectors to sponsor or donate to a proven group of organisations that teach people to swim. The NSPF Swimming Pool Foundation issued a White Paper to explain how teaching more people to swim is imperative to address skyrocketing healthcare costs and to help prevent troubling drowning rates.

Contact: www.stepintoswim.org

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A healthier society

Lachocki says there is more data than ever before available on obesity and the consequences of people being inactive. Nowadays, it is a sad but accepted fact that people spend a lot more time on computers for their recreation, which is quite passive, as opposed to be outside playing sport or doing some other physical activity. This is having a detrimental effect on the health of the population and on obesity levels.

“Recent studies that were published in the Lancet show that there is not a country in the world where obesity rates have gone down on average over the past 33 years,” he says.

“Now, the US does have a higher obesity rate than Australia – those numbers are ranging from about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the population, depending on the State. But Australia is not far behind.

“And when you look at increases in the obesity rate due to inactivity and diet, and you also look at an ageing population, you’re on the verge of a really very challenging personal time for the consequences of what could happen to people, but also a very challenging financial time on being able to help provide health care to people when they’ve been inactive and as they’re getting older.”

Estimates show that about 10 per cent of the total health care costs in the United States is the result of diseases that are a consequence of inactivity. Australia is on the verge of approaching that too.

“So being able to have greater activity is going to be critical, and there are going to be a lot of influences trying to make that happen.”

The success of these plans to create more swimmers will help not only the individuals who become fitter, stronger and happier, but will also help the health of the national budget. n

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Back where it all started A

s Australian solar pioneer Simon Boadle marked up his 40th year in the industry, SPLASH! decided to visit his old family farm and see where the Sunbather story began – back in 1974 when he started making panels in the disused woolshed.

But we discovered Boadle’s solar story has its genesis – at least in part – a year earlier in the Swiss town of St Moritz. After finishing university in the early 1970s, Boadle did as many young Australians do and travelled around Europe. This was at the time of the Arab oil crisis. Fuel was so scarce that he and his friends were briefly detained by the police in St Moritz for, of all things, driving on a Sunday, which was outlawed due to petrol restrictions.

The incident stuck with him, and he returned to Australia convinced that renewable energy would be the way of the future – not just in Europe, but in Australia too. For inspiration, he looked to the sun.

“Way back then, there was really no demand for solar pool heating,” he says. “But I got into the industry via solar domestic hot water heating.”

But while exhibiting the domestic systems at home shows, he was constantly asked by consumers if they could use solar to heat their pools. He thought the idea had merit and investigated further.

“I asked a few questions and discovered that really, I was before my time. People at the CSIRO were saying I wouldn’t make any money out of the business for at least ten years, and I thought, I’ve got time, that’ll do me.”

He started manufacturing solar panels specifically for pool heating, but using the same technology as domestic hot water. That meant copper and aluminium, because metals conduct heat better than other materials.

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Meanwhile his father, a sheep farmer, found that growing wool was not as profitable anymore and switched the family farm over to cattle.

That left the old shearing shed empty.

“The shed had electricity connected at that stage. So I had the opportunity (thank heavens, rent free for six years!) to move in here, which really gave me a kick start. We had a press brake, we had welders, we had riveters, we had drills and we had about six people working in this shed. We made 6000 of those panels here in those early days.”

Testing times and tea leafs

“The panels worked exceptionally well and we had happy customers – until salt chlorinators became common. Then we found that every one of our copper solar collectors sprung leaks within 18 months of the salt chlorinator being fitted.

“So that was a major crisis for me, because we’d put a fair bit of time and effort to get where we were, and that led to investigating what other people were doing with solar pool heating around other parts of the world.”

His research led him to an American company called BioEnergy Systems that was using extruded rubber tubing that had previously been used for freezing ice rinks. In a watershed moment for the Australian solar pool industry, he jumped on a plane to the States, returning with the Australian distributorship for a product called Solar Roll.

But being an innovator brings its own risks.

“As the first to use rubber in Australia, we were also the first to experience rubber degradation in pool water,” he says. This was also known as “tea-leafing” because of the black dregs that found their way into the pool water.

“It was a very difficult time for us actually, because the pool builders absolutely loved the product and when there was a problem the customer would go to the pool builder, who would handball it onto us of course, and we had no answer.

“The American company were no help – in fact, they went broke.”

In the end, Boadle contacted the chemists at ICI and they suggested to look at the material they’d been using for 10 years on overhead electric cables, which were exposed to the sun but had to remain flexible.

Sunbather made the transition to this highly durable plastic-based material called HiPEC, and has been extruding it for more than 20 years on their owner premises without any problems.

Containing heat

ABOVE: Back on the old family farm

The next step was learning that heating the pool was only half the story: keeping the heat in was essential to extending the swimming season.

“In Melbourne we found that a swimming pool could lose six degrees Celsius in one night,” he says.

“So covers became essential. In fact, the solar heating and pool cover combination is a match made in heaven because with the solar heating we’re collecting free energy and putting it in the water, and by using pool covers, we’re conserving that energy over an extended period of time.”

One of the first jobs they got was in 1998 at Wet’n’Wild in Queensland. At the time, it was the largest pool cover in the Southern Hemisphere.

“They heated their entire complex with bottle gas and their bills were well in excess of a quarter of a million dollars. We put a proposal to them, that if they used our covers overnight, they could save at least $100,000 on their gas bills and pay for the covers in a couple of years.

“Believe it or not, after 12 months of operation, the actual savings they got were $102,000 off their gas bill. So they were absolutely rapt.”

Boadle says that once pool covers became accepted, it didn’t take too long until consumers objected to the fact that the cover and roller were obstructing the end of the pool.

“That made us think, if we can get rid of the cover from the pool deck and hide it underground, well obviously we’ll increase sales and increase demand. And in the past 12 months we’ve certainly been concentrating in that area, we’ve launched a product called the Downunder, which basically enables people to bury the cover mechanism below the paving at the end of the pool, so when it’s off the pool it’s completely hidden.”

Growth of the industry

“The CSIRO were saying I wouldn’t make any money out of the business for at least ten years, and I thought, I’ve got time, that’ll do me.”

Boadle believes that Australians by and large are very quick adopters of new technology for good reasons.

“When they see an offering that’s going to benefit them, whether they be a pool owner or a pool builder, they’ll give it a crack,” he says.

“There are a lot of pools in Australia, we’ve got lots of sunshine and a lot of families who like to swim, but they don’t like to pay high gas or electricity bills, meaning that the concept of solar pool heating was taken up very quickly.”

And it was soon adopted by builders.

“It was a very easy add-on sale for them, so with the pool builder selling it as well as the environmental consciousness of the customer, it took off. It’s formed quite a big industry. Our estimates are that the industry is now turning over $100 million per year. I know we employ 60 people, and the industry is now probably employing hundreds of people around Australia.”

He says that one reason the uptake of solar pool heating in Australia is up to three times the uptake in America or Europe, is because of the Australian concept of “keeping it simple”.

“The pool builders quickly realised there were major benefits in separating the filtration system from the solar system,” he says.

“Let’s face it, the filter works on a time clock, the solar heating system works on a thermostat. To intermingle the two leads to complications, and complications lead to higher prices. But the default Australian solar pool heating system has completely separate plumbing going from the pool to the solar system and returning to the pool.

That makes it very cheap, very simple, low maintenance and very economical.”

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“I’m now 66, so I’ve officially passed the retirement age, but quite frankly I’m having a little too much fun.”

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Succession planning

Boadle says he’s has a few things still unfinished on his R&D board.

“I’m now 66, so I’ve officially passed the retirement age, but quite frankly I’m having a little too much fun.”

The next generation of Boadles is preparing to take the business into the future. Simon’s son Tom has been running the company as general manager for a while now, and has his father’s enthusiastic endorsement.

“I’ve said to Tom, when the time is ready son, just tap me on the shoulder. And I think he’s reached out with his arm a few times and almost tapped me, but he’s retracted it. He’s doing a fantastic job.”

Tom has a strong background in the industry, having helped his father install solar systems from the time when he was in school and at university.

“Now he’s the general manager and he’s running the business a helluva lot better than I could have run it,” says Boadle senior.

“I think I’ll probably stay on for a couple of years just to bridge the gap between the history I’ve had with solar and to help him to take over the reins more easily.”

Frustration and satisfaction

Before we leave his old family woolshed and first factory, Boadle mentions some of the pleasures he’s had in the business, including being the founding sponsor of the SPLASH! Environmental Awards, and helping promote energy and water efficiency in the swimming pool and spa industry.

But he also has a frustration or two.

“Once upon a time, swimming pools were about the same cost as a Holden car,” he says.

“So the average family could afford them and the kids had a wonderful time in the swimming pool. Now, to build a swimming pool with all the compliance and regulations, it has actually pushed the cost of building and owning a pool up pretty damn high. And as a result, less people can afford to put a swimming pool in. Less kids can learn to swim in their backyard.”

He also feels that the segment doesn’t get the credit it deserves for the hard work it has done off its own back.

“Sometimes I think the regulators really don’t give us the credit that the Australian solar pool heating industry is due. We’ve turned it from nothing to perhaps the most vibrant solar pool industry globally. It’s cer-

tainly got the greatest uptake of any country.

And yet we‘ve done that without rebates!

We’ve done that without any help. And when you look at the photo voltaic systems and wind generators, politicians seem to fawn over those technologies, but when it comes to swimming pools, no one seems to want to know, and it just frustrates me. I’m not quite sure why, but it frustrates me that we don’t get the credit we deserve.”

But he adds that there are a great many positive experiences working in this industry, chief among them being the people he works with and the customers he makes happy.

“There’s no doubt that the best thing about the industry is the fact that you’re dealing with people who are making a purchase for lifestyle reasons.

“They’re doing it because they want to spend time with the family, have barbeques and backyard fun, and what are we doing?

We’re coming along and heating a pool for free, basically.

“We have some customers who’ve moved house quite a few times and we’re doing the fourth solar heating system for them. It just puts a smile on everyone’s face, from the young to the old.” n

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No barrier to style or fun B

By Veda Dante

arriers such as fencing are integral to residential swimming pools. Ultimately they are required to comply with safety regulations, but that doesn’t mean they should impede the enjoyment of the owners or detract from the overall design of the poolscape.

While choosing the right fence can accentuate the design appeal, installing the wrong barrier can result in an eyesore, possibly risk penalties or, even worse, liability in the case of an accident. Not to mention the risk to young children.

So it pays to make sure the right pool barrier is put in place.

Pool fencing styles can vary quite considerably, from hardwood to galvanised steel, stainless steel, aluminium, or even glass. In fact, frameless and semi-frameless glass systems continue to gain popularity with property owners looking for an unobtrusive safety barrier,

and they have other benefits too, such as acting as a wind-break.

Pool fencing compliance

Pool barrier safety inspections are required in many states. (See the breakout box on page 46 for more on the different state requirements.)

As well as being a requirement in some states, inspections by qualified pool safety inspectors can help the consumer determine how effective their pool fence is – or isn’t – and if it meets with the relevant regulations. Services generally range from design consultation and onsite inspections through to non-compliance remediation with local councils.

Sydney-based Triton Pool and Spa Inspection Pty Ltd (TritonPSI) is a consultancy that specialises in pool barrier compliance inspection and certification.

Managing director Garth Jackson says his inspectors will assess the pool fence

Protective glass coating Glass may be the material of choice for many pool owners but while it looks stunning when clean, it can quickly become dirty following exposure to rain, sea salt, salt scum or even finger marks. To help smooth the microscopic peaks and valleys in most glass surfaces, Diamon-Fusion International has developed a protective coating that repels mineral-laden water so fewer drops stick to and dry on the glass surface. This means the glass becomes smoother, water repellent and scratch and stain resistant, as well as UV stable.

36 SPLASH! February-March 2015

Both steel and glass fencing were used on this poolscape to very good effect. The steel fence with rendered concrete pillars fits with the modern Mediterranean style of the home, while the glass gives a cleaner look down on the poolside, where the owners and guests can relax with an uninterrupted view of the water Photo Credit: Aussie Lifestyle Pools

Every fenced residential pool in NSW where a child drowned between 2007 and 2013 had issues with the gate or latch mechanism.

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This recent SPASA Australia bronze award winner from Narellan Pool Group shows how a high brick rendered wall can create a private courtyard while ensuring pool safety. A glass fence is used to enable line of site from the living area

and surrounds, and provide the clients with a comprehensive report outlining recommendations to rectify any areas of non-compliance.

“The swimming pool barrier compliance regime has precise requirements with variations across the different compliance standards of 1986, 2007 and 2012,” he says.

His inspectors look at, amongst other things: • The year of construction of the pool and its barrier, which is needed in order to apply the correct compliance standard • Barrier height • Ground clearance, i.e. distance between the ground and the bottom of a barrier

This award winning pool from Seaspray Pools (see page 51) is intriguing for more than one reason. The rustic fence made from oxidised reinforcing steel and railway sleeper posts does the job, while adding a distinctive appeal to the rural site

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• The presence of gaps, namely that they don’t exceed 100mm • Items that could reduce the effective height of the barrier such as steps, sloping land and balconies • Operation and security of the gate, i.e. does it swing freely and self-close and self-latch • Correct installation of glass barriers in accordance with AS1288 In addition to helping pool owners keep abreast of regulatory changes and industry trends, TritonPSI recently established a free compliance helpline. Staffed by licensed inspectors, callers to 0433 315 607 can access seven day assistance across a range of topics including certification, registration, inspection readiness and compliance monitoring. Industry professionals and residential pool owners can also email helpline@tpsi. com.au to access the same assistance.

In one of the biggest developments in the New South Wales pool industry in recent times, the state government is making a number of legislative amendments for pool owners including these requirements: • Registering their swimming pool on an online register by 29 April 2015 (extended one year from the initial review).

• Self-assessing, and stating in the register that, to the best of their knowledge, their swimming pool complies with the applicable standard when registering their pool.

• A $220 penalty for failure to register a pool.

• Providing a valid pool compliance certificate before selling or leasing a property with a pool.

• Engaging accredited certifiers under the Building Professional Act 2005 to conduct pool inspections.

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See the update in the News section on page 10 for the latest on the NSW pool registry.

Safety breakthrough

Twenty-five years after winning the Australian Design Award for its magnetically triggered safety latch, D&D Technologies has set a new benchmark in pool fencing with MagnaLatch Alert. The integrated child gate safety latch and gate alarm emits a single beep when anyone enters or exits the gate. However, if the gate is left open, the alarm emits another beep after five seconds followed by an alarm sequence 15 seconds after the gate was unlatched.

“In the event of a gate not being securely latched, this new model features a flashing LED visual alert and audible alarm so that householders, parents or carers can see at a glance, and hear from a distance, if a gate is not fully secured,” says D&D’s sales and marketing director Justin Francis. “These features are crucially important to protecting toddlers around swimming pools, homes, childcare centres and roads.

Why? Because when it comes to small children you can’t turn your back for a second.”

The Sydney-based company, which is the founding sponsor of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, has effectively designed a safety latch and gate alarm for less than $200.

“The added bonus is you don’t need to pay for an electrician, wiring or expensive tools,” says Francis.

While the new Alert Top Pull model is ideal for all child safety applications (the release knob being out of reach of toddlers), the shorter Vertical Pull model offers protection on pet security and general-purpose gates around the home and garden, notably side gates and garden gates.

“So now you can have access notification on all your

household gates,” he says.

It is worth noting that faulty gates and latches are among the main reasons young children manage to access pool water in drowning and near drowning incidents.

Portable pools

Swimming pools that are classified as portable pools are: inflatable pools of any depth, soft-sided pools of any depth, and rigid-sided swimming pools less than 300m in depth. These swimming pools are be-

This award winning design by Queensland builder Majestic Pools & Landscapes utilises the spill-over wall to act as a barrier for a pool that is partly out of the ground. Unfortunately, while this long used, attractive and intelligent method is embraced in all other states, it is being questioned in New South Wales due to changes to that state’s interpretation of the building code

This gold Award winning water feature from Future Pools is a reminder that it’s not just swimming pools that need to be protected, while showcasing an artistic gothic style February-March 2015

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Pool fencing laws apply to portable and inflatable pools 300mm deep or deeper

coming increasingly popular due to their affordability and easy set-up. In most states and territories, any swimming pool including a portable pool which is greater than 300mm in depth requires a child resistant barrier (a pool fence). Focus groups conducted by the Kids Health Promotion Department at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead revealed a lack of public awareness of this requirement. Unfenced portable pools are huge safety concern for young children. According to data from the NSW Child Death Review Team, over a quarter (29 per cent) of all child

drowning deaths in NSW between 2007 and 2011 were in portable pools. Most of the portable pools were not fenced.

The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia launched a campaign last summer called “Make it Safe” to reduce the numbers of children aged three years and under (two thirds of whom are boys) who drown in portable pools every year in Australia.

Additionally, there are many children who are hospitalised as a result of a non-fatal drowning incident, some of whom are left with persisting neurological impairment.

“Portable pools, commonly also known as paddling pools, wading pools or inflatable pools, pose a serious drowning risk to young children,” says Royal Life Saving CEO Justin Scarr.

“What’s extremely concerning to Royal Life Saving is that most people may not be aware of the legal requirement in most States and Territories to fence a pool deeper than 300mm, including portable pools.”

The summer safety campaign was part of a broader portable pool initiative by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and state and territory consumer protection agencies. After conducting widespread marketplace compliance monitoring activities over a four-year period, which included site visits to more than 1200 stores nationwide and inspections to more than 2200 pools last year alone, a

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mandatory standard for portable swimming pools was introduced on March 30, 2014.

Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), mandatory consumer product safety standards are introduced when considered reasonably necessary to prevent or reduce the risk of injury to a person.

In this safety standard, a portable swimming pool is a swimming pool that is both: • intended for personal, domestic or household use • one of the following: • an inflatable swimming pool, of any depth • a soft-sided swimming pool, of any depth • a rigid-sided swimming pool that is not deeper than 300 mm.

This mandatory standard does not apply to spas, hot tubs or whirlpool tubs unless they meet the definition above.

Suppliers (including manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and hirers) must comply with the mandatory standard.

To comply with the mandatory standard the portable swimming pools that you supply or manufacture for the purpose of supply must meet all the labelling requirements set out in the mandatory standard, including displaying a permanent warning message.

Suppliers are legally responsible for ensuring that the portable swimming pools they supply meet the mandatory safety standard requirements, which are enforceable by law.

Pool safety inspector insurances As a requirement of their licence conditions, pool safety inspectors are required to hold certain insurances including professional indemnity. Through Commercial and General Insurance Brokers, SPASA Queensland has organised professional indemnity and public liability insurance covers provided

by ASR Underwriting Agencies, a well-established and experienced Lloyd’s cover-holder. This PI cover was developed especially to assist pool safety inspectors meet their insurance requirements under the pool safety laws. See below for contact details.

Failure to comply can result in the product being recalled as well as penalties and legal action. The ACCC can issue infringement notices up to the amount of $2040 for individuals and $10,200 for corporations per offence. For serious breaches, the ACCC may also take court action which can result in seeking penalties and other orders up to the amount of $220,000 for individuals and $1.1m for corporations.

In October 2014, NSW Fair Trading and ACCC inspectors visited 436 retailers and found 41 were not complying with the new portable pool regulations, and issued fines to 27 retailers.

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Is the pool fence safe?

Garth Jackson outlines the common factors that compromise a fencing system: • Gates are not self-closing or self-latching from all points • Gates open towards the pool instead of swinging away from the pool • Climbable items (including vegetation and what constitutes climbable vegetation, gate hinges) within the No Climb Zone • Poor installation of the pool barrier, especially on decks • Doors and windows opening directly into the pool area • Weak barrier strength (barriers must be able to withstand up to 33kg of force) • Rusted metal components laconic To maximise the efficiency and reliability of your pool fencing system, Jackson recommends the following: • Become a proactive pool owner instead of a reactive one • Be aware of current compliance requirements • Check modifications to the pool barrier are in accordance with the relevant standards • Check vegetation within the No Climb Zone • Remove climbable objects and structures that potentially reduce the effective height of the barrier • Prevent hinges from becoming hand and foot holds for climbing by spacing them at least 900mm apart) • Ensure doors and windows are compliant with child resistant standards • Ensure close supervision by a responsible adult, which is arguably the most effective safety precaution of all

Child Death Review

In October 2014, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead held a symposium to address the issue of child drowning and immersion incidents in private swimming pools in New South Wales. Thirty people attended the symposium representing government and non-government organisations and saw, amongst other things, a presentation by the Child Death Review Team.

The team presented information on child drowning in NSW private swimming pools over the period 2007 to 2013. It showed: • 53 children drowned in private swimming pools between 2007 and 2013.

• Most were male and under 5 years of age.

• Where pool type was known, most were in-ground.

• Most of the children drowned in a swimming pool at their own home.

• In most cases, the properties were owned by the child’s family or extended family.

Contributing factors were:

• Inadequate supervision. All of the children who drowned in private swimming pools did so in the absence of adult supervision, and most children were reportedly unsupervised for 10 minutes or less.

• Lack of child resistant barrier. 23 per cent of pools were unfenced. 8 of these were above-ground pools, all of which were required to have a barrier fence under the Swimming Pools Act. Most children

accessed the unfenced pool from the house without the knowledge of supervising adults.

• Defective child resistant barrier: 74 per cent of the pools were fenced; the safety barriers for over three-quarters (30) of these pools had one or more defects: all 30 had reported issues with the gate or latch mechanism. This typically meant that the pool gate did not self-close.

• 19 of the 30 barriers had additional defect(s), mostly related to the fencing: broken palings, damage, gaps in wire, or did not meet minimum height requirements, structures close to the pool providing children with a climbable frame into the pool.

• Six pools had compliant child safety barriers. The children were typically let into the pool area by an adult, or accessed the pool through gates that had been propped open. n

Faulty latches and gates that don’t close properly are common ways for children to enter pool areas unsupervised..

Image: D&D Technologies

INSPECTION REGIMES: Turn over to see the requirements around Australia and New Zealand for pool registration and inspection.

Contacts: Australian Competition and Consumer Commision: www.accc.gov.au Commercial & General Insurance Brokers: (07) 3357 1235; shawn@comgen.com.au Diamon-Fusion: www.dfisolutions.com Portable pools safety: www.productsafety.gov.au/portablepools Royal Life Saving Society Australia: www.royallifesaving.com.au TritonPSI: 0433 315 607, helpline@tpsi.com.au

February-March 2015

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45

feature

Inspection regimes

Inspector Garth Jackson updates the requirements around Australia and New Zealand for pool registration and inspection.

Location

Registration Policy

ACT

None

Inspection Policy Yes. • After construction of a pool. This may change when the results of the ACT government discussion paper about pool and spa safety are announced.

QLD

NSW

Yes. Compulsory in a statebased register. All pools had to be registered by November 2011.

Yes.

Yes. Compulsory in a statebased register. All pools to be registered by 29 April 2015 (extended one year from the initial date of 29 April 2014)

Yes.

• An inspection and pool safety certificate is required when selling or leasing a property with a pool. Inspections are required at least annually for shared pools or every two years for non-shared pools.

• The inspection program is risk based. The program is at the discretion of each council and is to be formulated in consultation with the local community.

• Occurs after construction of a pool, or following a complaint from the public about a non-compliant pool or a request by pool owner.

• Timing is three days for complaints and 10 days for pool owner requested inspections.

• Tourist accommodation at least every three years.

• Leased properties at least every three years.

• Compliance certificate has a life of three years.

• Certificates required before sale or lease of a property with a pool after 29 April 2015.

NT

SA

Yes. All pools over 300mm deep require an inspection by an NT government water safety unit representative.

Yes.

From 1 April 2014 each council must have an inspection program for the inspection of new pools.

Yes.

The program must specify that at least 80 per cent of the new pools be inspected within two weeks of completion of the child resistant barrier, with the remaining 20 per cent completed within two months of completion.

TAS

None

• After construction of a new pool. Inspections conducted by a NT government water safety unit representative.

• After construction of a pool, and at the point of sale of a property with a pool.

• A pool constructed before 1 July 1993 must comply with current standards prior to property sale or lease • Properties sold after 1 October 2008 must comply with Minister’s Specifications SA 76D

Yes. • After construction of a pool, or following a complaint from the public about a non-compliant pool. Some councils conduct limited inspections.

VIC

None

None. [However it is rumoured to be under consideration by the government - ed] • Some councils conduct limited inspections

WA

New Zealand

Yes. Compulsory, on a council based register.

Yes.

Yes. Under the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act every pool owner is required to register the existence of a swimming or spa pool with the council. Further, every owner or person in control of a pool is required to ensure that the pool complies with the requirements of the Act.

Certain councils* have swimming pool inspectors who check properties for compliance with the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987. (Changes are currently underway to “remove inconsistent and cumbersome rules” from this Act.) Inspectors randomly audit existing pools at least once every three years to ensure they continue to comply with the Act once built. New pools require an inspection as part of the building consent process. The inspection of the pool will include an assessment of the fencing.

• At least every four years, by council appointed pool inspectors.

There is nothing in New Zealand law to stop a homeowner selling a property with a non-complying pool or pool fence. However, prospective property buyers should be aware that as soon as a property with a non-complying pool passes into their ownership they will be responsible for any remedial work required to comply with the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 *Check with your local council

46

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

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feature

Seven tips for great window displays

A

s part of a program providing advice to small businesses, Business Victoria asked for tips from Tanya Overton on creating stunning shop displays.

Overton is the owner of a Melbourne homeware and giftware store, The Manufactory, and she initially set out to change her two window displays weekly. Keeping a diary record of what items and colours were featured each week, she rotated these to keep

up interest. As The Manufactory sells both vintage and new items, she tried to focus one window on showcasing vintage items and the other window featuring new items.

Through a great deal of trial and error, she settled down to a schedule of changing her displays every two weeks for “non-occasion periods”, as customers don’t pass the shop every week.

One important thing she learnt was to be aware of calendar events and window dress accordingly.

“It may sound obvious,” she says. “But by planning ahead for the four weeks leading up to special occasions such as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, your displays can really focus on what you sell that would be appropriate for these occasions. I start Christmas windows the week after Cup Day, so there’s seven

weeks to highlight the products that I want to sell that would make awesome gifts for loved ones.”

Here she shares with Business Victoria what she learnt through dressing up The Manufactory. While the examples might not apply directly to pool and spa shops, the concepts and general ideas may provide inspiration for your pool or spa retail outlet.

One

Focus on a colour or thematic display.

She looks at her inventory and groups her goods into colour schemes or themes such as male-oriented products for Father’s Day or vintage fashion items for the spring races.

Tanya categorises her stock into themes such as haberdashery, botanicals, industrial, natural history and giftware. This makes it easy for

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48 SPLASH! February-March 2015

her to choose one theme and group related items together in her displays.

Two

Know your local area well While taxidermy is a real display winner at the moment in vintage homewares shop such as Overton’s, she is sensitive to her local area, which attracts those who wish to live sustainably. Realising that running a window display full of taxidermy animals would be a big mistake, Overton sells little resin deers and large wall hanging white moose heads and deers made of plastic that pay homage to the theme, but are non-offensive.

Three

Balance is key Overton advises that you start your displays with the larger items and place these high and low, offset from each other, then fill in the rest of the display with your other chosen products. A few larger items are much more arresting than many little items. Don’t forget to stand back and look at your window display from the footpath, but also from across the road. Ask yourself does it catch the eye? Does it look interesting? Does it make you want to explore the shop more?

Four

Consider your window furniture Keeping one core piece and simply changing the “dressings” makes for a much easier change-over. For example, one of The Manufactory’s display windows has a wrought iron round table which serves as a platform for different displays. Another larger window now has a pair of red industrial ladders with reclaimed timber shelves that Tanya uses to change displays on the shelves. “Once it’s easy to do, you’re more likely to want to keep refreshing the displays,” she says.

Five

Play with contrast To create a visually interesting display, play with contrast. Overton’s shopfront is predominately black, so she uses bright colours and whites as window dressings to really stand out. Vintage lighting, bright parasols and even chairs set off a white ceiling, while timber and natural coloured items complement a black floor.

Six

Signage is everything Less is really more. Consider a large black canvas with a few highlighted white words.

Then think of a bright yellow background with loads and loads of words and pictures all in different fonts, sizes and colours. As The Manufactory is located in a heritage overlay, Overton had the extra task of demonstrating to council that any signage she wanted to add would respect the original fabric of the building. “I walked around my area to see what signage contributes and what detracts from businesses,” she says. “Our business signage actually enhanced the building, and that is really something to aim for. Once you theme your signage with your window displays, you are onto a winner.”

Seven

Light for the night Use timers for your pendants and floor lamps in your shop. Having your shop front display lit from the inside for the evening is crucial. “We put a lamp at the rear of the shop on a timer, so any passers-by can see into the depth of the shop. We have had many a request slipped under our shop door about a particular item that was seen at night.”

Contact: www.business.vic.gov.au; themanufactory.com.au n

February-March 2015

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feature

A symmetry of ellipses W hen the elements of water and earth combine it can be eminently beautiful. So too when a pool combines flawlessly with the architecture of a home.

This home and pool in Valencia is a pristine example, as the elliptical lines of the built form are reflected in the long arc of the swimming pool.

The architects were tasked with ensuring the home didn’t dominate the landscape. The result is a bevelled pastille that uses a continuous façade to present the illusion that the property is only a single storey.

The unique shape is based on an aerodynamic visual, guiding the eye

deep into the neighbouring landscape.

To reinforce its place in the environment, the reflected sky blue of the white tiled swimming pool both pairs the architecture with the natural element of water, while extending its footprint laterally into the garden.

This monolithic, ventilated overhang is at once powerful and practical, offering shade from the hot Valencian sun, and cooling the air before it reaches the home.

In the evening, it is the perfect place to enjoy the cooler air before slipping into the pool, and relaxing under the Spanish stars. n

Open space and a view to the landscape was a key consideration

Cooling shade from the hot sun

Balint House Location: Bétera, Valencia Architect: Fran Silvestre Arquitectos Project Team: Fran Silvestre, Fran Ayala, Ángel Fito, Adrián Mora, Jordi Martínez, Maria Masià Structural engineer: David Gallardo Building engineer: Carlos García Interior design: Alfaro Hofmann Photography: Diego Opazo Art direction: Adrián Mora Maroto Contact: www.fransilvestrearquitectos.com

50

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

Cool in the Spanish night

February-March 2015 SPLASH! 51

the Next

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feature

Award winners for 2014 SPASA Australia Pool of the Year Award Seaspray Pools – VIC

Sustainability Award: Product Gold: Emaux – WA Silver: Waterco – SA Bronze: Sunbather – VIC

SPASA Australia 2014 Awards

S

PASA Australia has announced the winners of its 2014 Awards of Excellence.

The awards were announced in December last year to bring the national awards into line with the state awards.

The awards presented at SPLASH! on the Gold Coast last year at the inaugural SPASA Australia Gala were for 2013.

The 2015 Awards will be presented at a gala event in Sydney this year. The plan is for the 2016 awards to be presented again at SPLASH! on the Gold Coast in 2016.

The nominations for the 2014 SPASA

Australia awards came from the winners of the 2014 state awards.

Gary Nye, SPASA CEO, says the standard was very high and congratulated the winners. He thanked the judges: Nathan Burkett (landscape design, construction and maintenance), Jim Fogarty (landscape design and consultancy service) and Jim Portbury (retired pool wholesaler).

Award winners have received exclusive use of a unique digital Awards logo, permanent listing and links from the SPASA Australia website as well as a framed gold, silver or bronze Award.

Residential Concrete Pools – Traditional or Geometric up to $50,000 Gold: Distinctive Pools – VIC Silver: Quantum – SA Bronze: Norfolk Pools – QLD

Residential Concrete Pools – Traditional or Geometric $50,000 to $100,000 Gold: Seaspray Pools – VIC Silver: Mermaid – SA Bronze: Norfolk Pools – QLD

Residential Concrete Pools – Traditional or Geometric over $100,000 Gold: Dolphin Pools – WA Silver: Aloha Pools Pty Ltd – VIC Bronze: Daydream – SA

Residential Concrete Pools – Freeform or Natural $50,000 to $100,000 Gold: Majestic Pools and Landscapes – QLD Silver: Roebuck Pools – WA

MAIN: Majestic Pools and Landscapes, Queensland, winner of freeform pools over $100k category

Residential Concrete Pools – Freeform or Natural up to $50,000

LEFT: Pool of the Year: Seaspray Pools from Victoria.

Residential Concrete Pools – Freeform or Natural over $100,000

Gold: Distinctive Pools – VIC Silver: Majestic Pools and Landscapes – QLD

Gold: Majestic Pools & Landscapes – QLD

Residential Fibreglass Pools up to $40,000 Gold: Gordon Avenue Pools & Spas – VIC Silver: Freedom Pools – QLD Bronze: Barrier Reef Pools – WA February-March 2015

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feature

LEFT: Distinctive Pools, Victoria, winner of the geometric pool up to $50k category

Dolphin Pools, WA, winner of the geometric over $100k category

CENTRE: Commercial Aquatics Australia won the commercial pool over $250k category RIGHT: Gordon Avenue Pools & Spas, Victoria, won the fibreglass up to $40k category

Residential Fibreglass Pools over $40,000

Silver: Freedom Pools – QLD Bronze: Aqua Technics – WA

Bronze: McNamara Pools, Courts & Landscaping – VIC

Gold: Barrier Reef Pools – WA Silver: Rainwise – SA Bronze: Narellan Pool Group – VIC

Commercial Fibreglass Pools

Innovative Pool and or Spa

Gold: Barrier Reef Pools – WA

Residential Vinyl Lined In-ground Pools

Commercial Pools or Spas up to $250,000

Gold: Personal Pools – VIC Silver: Pool Fab Swimming Pools – QLD Bronze: Add A Splash Pools – WA

Gold: Albatross Pools – VIC Silver: Poolscape Pools – WA Bronze: Pleasure Pools – SA

Gold: L&V Project Pools – QLD Silver: Boardwalk Pools – WA Bronze: Compass Pools – VIC

Residential Pre-engineered Above Ground Vinyl-lined Pools

Commercial Pools or Spas over $250,000

Gold: Classic Pools – QLD Silver: Above Ground Pools – SA Bronze: Classic Pools – WA

Gold: Commercial Aquatics Australia – VIC Silver: Cascade Pools – QLD Bronze: South Pacific Pools – SA

Gold: Dunsborough Pool & Spa – WA Silver: Aloha Pools – VIC Bronze: Daydream – SA

Residential Enclosed/ Indoor Pools

Renovations up to $25,000

Sustainable Pools

Gold: Adelaide Classic – SA Silver: Western Suburbs Swimming Pool Services – QLD

Gold: Noble Pools – QLD

Gold: Aloha Pools – VIC Silver: Dolphin Pools – WA Bronze: Daydream – SA

Display Pools Gold: Albatross Pools – VIC 54

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

Renovations over $25,000 Gold: Pool Fab Swimming Pools – QLD Silver: Dolphin Pools – WA

Water Feature Gold: Future Pools – WA Silver: Majestic Pools & Landscapes – QLD Bronze: Commercial Aquatics – VIC

Lap Pools

Best In-situ Portable Spa Gold: Endless Spas – VIC Silver: Freedom Pools – QLD Bronze: Just Spas – WA Contact: www.spasa.com.au

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Combining advanced filtration technology with a mineral enhanced additive, Theralux will provide the healthiest and safest swimming environment for your backyard.

• Soft and natural feel • Moisturises your skin as you swim • Gentle on sensitive skin • Provides a natural relief to muscular complaints and relaxes your nervous system

• Eco intelligent and easy to use technology • Super low running costs • Operates at a low TDS level of 3000ppm • Offers the flexibility of running the system with or without a mineral additive

Discover more about Theralux and how to become a dealer today.

Contact your local IQ Account Manager or IQ Distributor on 1300 131 788.

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A DIVISION OF

Are You Wasting Time Testing Pool and Spa Water?

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

feature

Measuring success in the service industry

By Sue Hirst

T 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.

For more information email Vendart Pty Ltd on sales@vendart. com.au or call our technical sales desk on (02) 9450-0466.

Distributed exclusively by Vendart Pty Ltd P 02 9450 0466 F 02 9450 0755

Business performance management systems

www.vendart.com.au 56

SPLASH!

February-March 2015

he best way to improve profit is to know what your critical success factors (CSFs) are. These are the key things that go on in your business, that without them the business can’t really operate or severely slows down.

For example if you run a service-based business, the CSFs are the people who provide the service. You need to ask yourself “What difference would it make to the following if these CSFs were compromised?”

1. Shareholders 2. Customers 3. Staff 4. Service development If service staff is a CSF what aspect of what they do is important?

1. Chargeable time 2. Quality of work 3. Downtime 4. Staff competency 5. Customer complaints/satisfaction Let’s consider how we could measure the effectiveness of the five CSFs above.

1. Service staff chargeable time can be measured by having them fill in timesheets or use an app to report on time spent on jobs.

2. Quality of work can be measured by a. On-time completion of jobs b. Number of defects c. Service met with customer requirements 3. Downtime can be measured by getting service staff to fill in a timesheet for time not spent on chargeable work e.g. admin, travel, other.

4. Service staff competency can be measured by number of hours spent on training.

5. Customer complaints/satisfaction can be measured by a survey or simple follow up call to a customer to gauge their level of satisfaction with the job.

These measurements are sounding like Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) aren’t they? In fact they are what is commonly known as Leading KPIs i.e. those that don’t measure results, but actually drive results.

Lagging KPIs are those that measure the results e.g. job profit, overall business profit, bank balance, outstanding customer payments etc.

If these CSFs can be measured with KPIs, the next question is how do we measure them?

We could employ someone to run around and ask lots of questions or gather information from spreadsheets or manual documents. This

isn’t a very efficient way of going about it if we can replace their time with a system to do the work.

The answer is a business performance management system, also known as an ERP system (enterprise resource planning). The value of such a system is that you enter information into it once and it can be extracted in many ways and appear in many reports.

For example, you get service staff to enter time spent on various activities into the system and you can get the following information: • Number of chargeable hours • Number of hours spent fixing defects • Actual labour hours versus budget for each job • Lost time injury hours • Number of meeting hours • Number of training hours • Number of travel hours • Number of admin hours By measuring these activities you get a real insight into how much time is being spent on non-chargeable items by all service staff.

This might give you information that convinces you to invest in: • Training to minimise defects • Processes and training to minimise injuries i.e. WHS • Better planning and management of meetings • Better planning and management of travel or job scheduling • Employing someone else to do admin work or ways to minimise it for service staff

“By measuring these activities you get a real insight into how much time is being spent on non-chargeable items by all service staff.”

You can quantify the potential benefit by multiplying the charge-out rate of each service staff person by the number of hours saved on non-chargeable activities. For example if you employ 10 service staff and you could save say 5 hours a week and they get charged out at an average of $100 per hour, that could be an extra $5000 in potential sales per week or say $240,000 per annum (based on 48 weeks per annum).

And that’s just the service delivery side of things! A good business performance management system also enables you to measure marketing and sales e.g. number of marketing leads from particular sources or quotes done versus jobs won. It enables you to efficiently send out regular marketing messages to clients and prospects.

Some other KPIs able to be measured could be • Number of jobs missing deadline • Percentage of jobs completed on time • Percentage of jobs with defects • Cost of jobs running over budget • Cost of jobs running past your benchmark gross profit percentage When you start to get this type of intelligence, the next step is to implement projects to improve them. Once you’ve done this you reap the rewards for the future i.e. once you’ve trained someone to do something better they keep doing it that way and can teach others to do the same. So the benefit is exponential.

The keys to reaping the benefits is to select the right system, implement the right KPIs, get staff on board, properly use the reports that come out and manage improvement projects.

It’s all in the implementation.

Contact: cfooncall.com.au n Sue Hirst is the co-founder and director of CFO On-Call. She is offering free KPI development sessions to help readers determine the KPIs for their business and advise on how to manage and measure them to make a real difference to the bottom line.

February-March 2015 SPLASH! 57 Trimeline Leaf Trapper 270mm x 90mm.indd 1

1/29/15 11:56 AM

Opening hours: Wednesday 20 May 2015 9.00am - 6.00pm Thursday 21 May 2015 9.00am - 5.00pm

POOL & SPA TRADE SHOW 20-21 May 2013

Pool & Spa Trade Show 20-21 May 2015 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Platinum Sponsor

Supported By

Media Partner

Organised By

BOOK NOW Why exhibit at Piscine SPLASH! Asia 2015?

Top reasons to join the only ‘trade show’ in the region Asia, a new and growing pool and spa market

1

The companies that establish themselves ‘early’ have a tremendous opportunity for growth.

Thailand Pool industry:

+5 to 10% each year

3

2

Asian market is a mainly commercial pool market.

This means larger projects, mainly in the government, hotel and large tourist/resort areas.

Malaysia Spa Industry:

Indonesia Hospitality Sector:

+16%

+35.7%

over the last 5 years

Singapore is a great place to do business

English speaking, a strong legal system and good distributors looking for upmarket goods and brand names.

in 2014

4

Vietnam Tourism Sector:

+25%

increase in 2012

Asian business culture is very much ‘face to face’

It is difficult to do business by phone or email - they want to know a company is committed before they buy.

Speed Meetings Exhibitor List • Australian Innovative Systems • Badu Counter Swim Units

Equipment • Lovibond

• Badu Pumps

• Malaysian Swimming Pool Association

• Bsv Electronic SL

• Maytronics Australia

• Cixi Handsome Pool Appliance • Classic Pools

• Pentair • Procopi

• Cotto

• Rp Industries S.A

• Dryden Aqua

• Saci Pumps SA

• Ezarri

• Solidpool

• Fluidra Singapore Pte Ltd

• Speck Pumpen Verkaufsges GMBH

• Givier Group • Heliocol Australia

• Sunrans Pool & Spa Co. Ltd

• Hentech Technology

• Tintometer GMBH

• Herborner Pumpenfabrik

• Waterblade Australia

• Horner Xpress Worldwide

• Weltico

• Laswim Pool & Spa

• Wonder Light UV Sterilizer

• Hayward Pool Products

Are you looking for distributors, pool builders or prescriptors in South-East Asia? Take part in the Piscine SPLASH! Asia Speed Meetings, and schedule targeted meetings with decision-makers. These meetings will help generate footfall, promote your range, and increase the number of potential business contacts.

5

Piscine SPLASH! Asia is an international event

1,500 potential customers, from 27 countries 25% Pool builder/installer, 9% Government 15% design and development Countries that attended in 2013: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA and Vietnam.

To book a stand or for more information contact Call Karen Jaques kjaques@intermedia.com.au or + 61 (0) 2 9660 2113

Pool & Spa Trade Show POOL & SPA TRADE SHOW 20-21 May 2013

Pentair Intelliflo Variable Speed Pump: a revolution for Energy saving in the Hospitality industry When we talk about pool renovations, repairs and retrofits that reduce a pool's energy consumption, the focus typically turns to the pump, because it consumes more energy than any other piece of pool equipment. Plus, a well-designed variable-speed pump can reduce the energy costs of running a swimming pool by up to 90 percent.

Why? Historically, pool pumps with induction motors that run at only one or two speeds have drawn more energy than is required to circulate pool water. That is because a pump that can run at only one speed must use a powerful enough speed to do the pump's most demanding job (e.g., running a waterfall or pool cleaner). However, it takes far less power to simply keep water filtered—a difference single-speed pumps cannot address.

Most variable-speed pumps can be programmed to operate at set speeds to deliver the correct flow for each task they perform, such as operating a suction-side pool cleaner, waterfalls or spa jets. Some pumps have built-in constantflow software, which maximizes the advantages of variablespeed technology; constant-flow pumps automatically adjust their speed and deliver the required flow for each programmed task.

Therefore, when Pentair® first introduced IntelliFlo variable speed technology, it set off a marketplace revolution with its energy efficiency, near-silent operation and long service life.

Check out these advantages and you'll quickly see why: And the revolution toward a more eco-friendly and sustainable pool industry continues!

The Eco Select brand identifies our most eco-friendly products—equipment that takes advantage of industry-leading innovation to save energy, conserve water, reduce noise, or otherwise contribute to a more environmentally responsible pool equipment system. When you choose the Eco Select brand, you can be confident that your pool will provide peak performance and maximum energy savings, plus reliability, convenience and streamlined maintenance.

For more info on Pentair Energy Saving program and Eco Select range, visit our website: www.pentairpool.com

VENUE - Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Asia’s most spectacular meetings, events and entertainment destination. Conveniently located within Singapore’s Central Business District, yet worlds away from the ordinary business setting, Marina Bay Sands® combines first-rate business and meeting facilities with world-class entertainment options. The distinctive architecture has transformed Singapore’s skyline and the country’s tourism landscape, with state-of-the-art convention and exhibition facilities, the luxury hotel capped by Sands SkyPark, which offers unobstructed 360-degree views, celebrity chef restaurants, lush gardens, and the world’s highest infinity pool, located next to an observation deck on the world’s largest public cantilever.

NEW! Discover the Pool Vision competition for the first time!

Discover the regional selection of pool projects in Asia designed by architects.

Via this competition, the Piscine OPEN exhibitions network showcases pool and spa trends as seen by other countries worldwide.

Construction techniques, water treatment, linings, accessories, spas,... the latest in international pool fashions.

3 categories: private pool, public/hotel pool, spa.

In partnership with:

Gain access to specific educational sessions to learn how to deliver and/or maintain pool and spa projects

Piscine SPLASH! Asia is dedicated to: • Pool construction and installation professionals • Pool and spa maintenance companies • General construction companies • Architects • Distributors • Fluid network and water treatment engineers • Water & leisure centres and amusement parks • Sauna, spa and Hammam installers • Wellness centres • Specifiers (landscape architects) • Investors • Developers • Government authorities

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN www.piscinesplashasia.com or call SING 8006 163 169, AUST 1300 789 845, NZ 0800 451 590

Stay tuned for complete education program

What to do while in Singapore

Check out www.piscinesplashasia.com for the updated education program – at time of going to print the following dynamic speakers have been confirmed – site visits and additional speakers and education will be announced soon.

See yoursingapore.com/getlost for more ideas

Drowning Detection Technologies for Public Swimming Pools Dan Kwaczynski, Managing Director, Maytronics Australia Drowning risk remains the no 1 safety concern for public pools, this is the case despite significant efforts by many parties to put in place risk reduction measures, whether that be education, supervision, signage, barriers, lifeguards or a combination of the above.

Proven technology can now been used, in conjunction with existing measures to significantly improve the chance of rescuing distressed swimmers before it is too late.

The presentation covers: 1. Performance aspects – what criteria of performance are necessary to provide improvement 2. Technical aspects of these systems, how to choose a suitable system and what engineering and architectural design guidelines should be followed for optimum performance

Water disinfection by electrolysis.

180 years on Elena Gosse, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Innovative Systems 180 years ago a young U.K scientist known as Michael Faraday was busy making some of the most important discoveries in history of science including the laws of electrolysis. Thanks to Mr Faraday it is now possible to disinfect large bodies of water safely, easily and economically and bid farewell to the endless cycle of chemical dosing forever.

Aquatic centres, hotel and resort pools, water parks and municipal water supplies are already adopters of the technology.

Water Park Lessons in 1-hour Sim Choo Kheng, Founder & Chief Executive, Sim Leisure Consultants, Malaysia It wasn’t that long ago, people from most parts in Asia struggled to put food on the table. About 25 years ago, with the economic boom, water parks and western consumer lifestyle found its way to Asia. What was meant to be a mega business opportunity for the last quarter of century, has given little inspiration to the industry with many parks failing or failing to capitalise their investment. Whilst most benefitting industry leaders choose to play the ‘face-saving’ game, one man decides to confront the truth head on. He speaks his mind, allowing you to hear and see for yourself the secret of failures and the true recipe for success. He believes the lesson for water park investment is similar to driving lessons in Asia – one must not be shown the glossy brochures only.

Using Sim’s unique knowledge of waterparks in cross-cultural emerging markets, he will explain the history and drivers behind this current situation, exposing what lies beneath the surface.

A ‘no holds barred’ honest look at the industry in which Sim has carved his name with humble suggestions of how improvements can be made and how the industry can do it right.

Shopping Everyone raves about the shopping in Singapore – and it offers everything from top end brands to bargain souvenirs – if you plan to take some gifts home head straight to Chinatown to find hundreds of shops and stalls selling “I heart SG” keyrings, T-shirts, tea towels, silk robes and much more. If you can think of it, chances are you’ll find it.

There are a lot of wonderful patterned tea sets, chopsticks and other kitchenware to be found.

Dining options NEWTON circus Hawker’s Centre is one MRT stop from the famous Orchard Rd and is always absolutely packed. There are dozens of stalls selling traditional Singaporean fare, with every owner trying to convince you to eat at their stall as you walk past. Do a lap of the place before you decide what to eat and keep an eye out for a table. Each table is numbered, so you can get food from as many stalls as you like. And they’ll bring it straight to you.

Enjoy with some icey cold Tiger beer, and you will be paying about $S50 for four.

Walking over the Helix Bridge The weird, DNA-like, wiggly steel pedestrian bridge at Marina Bay supports some 16,000 people at a time and stretches 280 metres across the water. Marina Bay. (www.ura.gov.sg).

Singapore Night Safari Through the use of special lighting techniques, the highly lauded open-concept night zoo allows you to observe what 900 nocturnal animals get up to after dusk, in naturalistic habitats – and, seemingly, not behind barriers. The 45-minute narrated tram ride is the best way to see the animals – which include tigers, lions, giraffes and rhinos – from the safety of your seat. After the trip, brave the dark walking trails to get a closer look at smaller animals such as fl ying squirrels and dangling bats. 80 Mandai Lake Rd. (+65 6269 3411 www.nightsafari.com.sg).

commercial news

Media

Safety messages to share Commercial

news Global news . . . . . . . . . 64 Perth college goes solar. . . . . . . . . . . 64 Boy injured in waterslide fall. . . . . . . . 64 Bexley wins the day. . . 65 Green light on Sunshine park . . . . . . . 65 Matthew Cowdrey retires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Japan and Australia join forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Tender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Indigenous swimming programs . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Swim Australia has produced a series of eye-catching infographics to promote safety messages on social media.

These attention grabbing pieces of visual communication are part of a significant push to their social media channels, says Swim Australia’s PR and media manager, Jasmin Forsyth.

“These uniquely created, colourfully displayed tips and info-based graphics reflect Swim Australia’s stance on water safety, and are free for our swim schools and the public to save and share with their friends on social media as well as printed collateral,” she says.

“Ultimately, we want to help better educate all Australians on water safety, and the importance of learning to swim. Since posting these infographics through our social media channels, we have already seen a significant increase in community engagement, which we hope will lead to better education, making for a safer, smarter, stronger nation of swimmers – because one drowning death is one too many.”

One of the many infographics available from Swim Australia

The national swim authority’s infographics are posted daily across their Swim Australia and SwimSAFER Facebook pages.

Contact: www.swimaustralia.org.au

A fine place for fitness. 72 Safety

Secure your outdoor furniture WorkSafe Queensland has issued a reminder about securing outdoor furniture, as part of the coroner’s recommendation following the death of a nine year old girl who was killed by a flyaway umbrella at a Bundaberg public pool in 2012.

The young student died after being struck in the head by the pool while attending a school end of year break-up. The umbrella, which was not adequately anchored, lifted out of its brackets and flew downwind. There had been previous instances of umbrellas lifting out of holders and blowing across the area.

The pool operator held duties under s.21 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 being an individual conducting a business or undertaking. He pleaded guilty in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on 26

62 SPLASH! February-March 2015

March 2014 to breaching s.32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, having failed to meet his work health and safety duties and was sentenced.

Magistrate Ms Deborah Vasta fined the defendant $10,000, which was 25 per cent of his taxable income.

In other words, the fine was significant. She also made an order for the defendant undertake two training programs at a cost of $1200. No conviction was recorded.

In reaching the decision the magistrate acknowledged the defendant failed to adequately recognise the dangers of unsecured umbrellas. What was concerning was that the day prior, an umbrella had dislodged. In this context, the magistrate described the dislodgment of umbrellas at the pool as a “certainty” and was a serious concern in this case.

In deciding the penalty, Magistrate Vasta took into account the defendant had not been prosecuted previously for any workplace health and safety breach, co-operated with the investigation and entered an early plea of guilty.

Worksafe says it is clear that tragic incidents can occur where unsecured outdoor furniture, particularly umbrellas, become dangerous projectiles in windy weather. Business operators in the hospitality sector need to control the risks of projectiles by removing or securing objects such as furniture, umbrellas and signage to stop them being thrown around by strong winds.

As a control measure, umbrellas should be permanently installed to ensure that they are securely fixed to withstand the effects of wind and should be removed or closed in extremely windy conditions or when the outdoor seating area is not in use.

Contact: worksafe.qld.gov.au

Loading up the AquaLaunch at Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast

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Waterparks

AquaLaunch hits 100 WhiteWater recently celebrated building its 100th AquaLaunch.

The feature launches capsules that send riders into jaw-dropping waterslides such as the AquaDrop, the Flatline Loop and the AquaLoop. There are installations in more than 70 countries.

The first AquaLaunch was made in 2009 and the new batch are significantly different, having evolved substantially over the past six years.

“We’ve worked hard over the years upgrading the quality and durability of the launch parts,” says Mike Genovese, operations manager of electrical and mechanical assembly. “The aesthetic design has also been updated to be more visually appealing and provide a streamlined design.”

Major innovations include updating the fiberglass trapdoor to a clear Lexan1 material, and making it free-swinging to reduce

noise and eliminate the need for expensive shock absorbers. It has also become more automated with the addition of push button operated doors replacing the old, manually operated ones.

“The goal is to provide a quality waterslide to our customer that is reliable and inexpensive to operate and maintain,” says Genovese.

This year, seven AquaLaunches are planned for what will be China’s largest waterpark: Zhengzhou Yinji Kaifeng Waterpark in Henan. The AquaLaunches will link to two AquaDrops, three AquaLoops and two Fusion AquaLoop + Flatline Loops where riders are sent through an inverted loop before traversing a horizontal loop-de-loop, shooting down into the shutdown lane. Other upcoming multiple AquaLaunch projects in the region include Lotte World in Korea and Sunway Lagoon in Malaysia.

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In Brief Ballina Shire Council is planning to raise rates to help fund the planned upgrade of Ballina and Alstonville aquatic centres. The Northern Star reports that a Micromex survey found 83 per cent of people in the Ballina Shire were supportive of the upgrade, but the number dropped to 60 per cent when the rate increase was tied to it. Of the 367 written submissions to council regarding the upgrades, 45 were in support and 300 were against – the most common response citing the increase would make rates unaffordable. An online poll found 70 per cent of the 1739 respondents were against the rate increase, 11 per cent gave conditional support and 19 per cent were supportive. After a long debate the council voted to commence proceedings for the rate rise, starting with an application to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. The application will request a 5.41 per cent increase for 2015/16 and 5.34 per cent increase for 2016/17.

John Bertrand, President of Swimming Australia (SAL) has published some interesting numbers in his latest letter to the industry. He says that SAL’s latest statistics suggest there are five million people who actively swim, 1.2 million kids taught to swim every year, 4000 volunteer officials and 2000 coaches, making swimming the largest participation sport in Australia.

For More Information, Contact Peter Rabbidge on (02) 4651 2377 or 0407 078 075 www.zelbrite.com

February-March 2015

SPLASH!

63

commercial news

Global news Increasingly, change rooms have become an issue in aquatic centres and gyms, especially when deciding which one transgender people should use. A public swimming pool in the Sundbyberg suburb of Stockholm in Sweden has solved the problem by building a third change room for people with a “neutral gender identity”. Sundbyberg’s pool is also the first LGBT-certified swimming pool in Sweden, a country known for its tolerance toward lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

The third change room will also be open to disabled people who would prefer more privacy, or who want to take carers of different genders into the cubicles with them to help them change. Members of religious groups who would prefer to change without being seen by others are also welcome in the new zone.

Chinese Olympic and world champion swimmer Sun Yang has been barred from training in Australia, following his three-month ban for a doping violation.

Swimming Australia told Sun’s Australian coach Denis Cotterell that the 23-year-old champion was no longer welcome to train at Cotterell’s Miami Swimming Club or any of the Swimming Australia podium centres. Cotterell also trains a number of other elite Chinese at the Gold Coast pool.

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SPLASH!

February-March 2015

Heating

Perth College goes solar Perth College in Mt Lawley is the oldest independent girls’ school in Western Australia. It features a 50m, eight-lane heated swimming pool used not only by the school but also the Perth City Swimming Club for coaching, LTS and squad training, and on top of that, it is home to the Perth Swim Academy – one of the Centres of Excellence for swimming education.

Driven by the desire to reduce gas bills to heat the water, the school made the decision to install an evacuated tube (EVT) solar pool heating system

from Supreme Heating. Supreme says such a system can produce twice the heat per unit area as a traditional flat plate panel system, and because of its high efficiency it can keep a pool well heated in the cooler months.

However, the 72-panel EVT system is designed to produce very high temperature water, so they needed a copper joining solution that could handle the temperatures. Supreme chose the Propress system that manufacturer Viega promises won’t fail up to 200 degrees Celsius.

Water parks

Boy hospitalised after fall from waterslide Late last year, five-year old Mason McDonald (who has since turned six), was riding on his father John’s lap on the blue waterslide at Outback Splash water park in Bullsbrook, Western Australia, an outer suburb of Perth.

At the bottom of the slide, at the last bend just before the runout, he slipped from his father’s lap and fell approximately one and a half

metres, hitting his head on the ground below.

Mason was helped by staff, St John’s Ambulance officers and paramedics, and placed in the intensive care unit of Princess Margaret Hospital before going home.

Management closed the blue slide while WorkSafe WA conducted an investigation and the WA Health Department also looked into the design and

performance of the slide.

Outback Splash management said WorkSafe and the Department of Health completed their investigation, and that the slide was audited by a leading industry expert and examined by a specialist engineer who has advised that it was designed, manufactured and installed correctly, and was safe to use. They re-opened the slide before Christmas.

New Gold Coast Wibit Junior

LGA

Photo Credit: Build Bexley Pool Facebook page

People power wins Battle of Bexley

Following up on the story in the previous issue (Edition 97) of the “hiding” councillors who were trying to stymie a local pool being built, SPLASH! is pleased to report the Rockdale community in Sydney will be getting their pool at Bexley after all.

In December, Rockdale Council resolved to sell the Chapel Street land, the proceeds of which will fund the construction of the new aquatic centre.

They also determined to enter into negotiations with the preferred tenderer and others that tendered if necessary, to enter into a Design and Construct Guaranteed maximum price contract to the value of $24 million.

This amount will be in addition to amounts already expended to date. Importantly, the General Manager has been delegated authority to execute this contract. This means it should not have to go back to council for further approval.

Rockdale Mayor Shane O’Brien was strongly in favour of

the project and fought hard to see it passed through council. He says that while the final agreement represents a compromise and will obviously see a centre with fewer facilities than those approved in the current Development Application, it is sufficient money to build a very good facility.

Hopefully, as a minimum, the new facility will include a new 50 metre eight-lane outdoor pool, deep enough for water polo with covered grandstand; an indoor 25 metre eight-lane combined competition/learn to swim pool, an outdoor children’s leisure/splash pad, café, new change rooms and amenities.

These four components are considered to be the core elements of the aquatic centre.

O’Brien congratulated the Rockdale community on their campaign for action and success on winning the long battle for Bexley Pool.

For background on this story see Edition 97 or go to www. splashmagazine.com.au.

Hydrocare

Pools Plus

TEL 02 9604 8396 robert@hydrocarepools.com.au

Developments

Sunshine goes green The mooted $90 million Queensland water park is a step closer to becoming a reality after Sunshine Coast Council approved the site’s Material Change of Use (MCU) application in January.

The developers of the 24ha environmentally sustainable water park and tourist accommodation development are expecting to commence stage one construction within the next 12 months.

Lot 22, Steve Irwin Way, Glenview will be the location for Sunshine Park, described by the developers as a world-class waterpark featuring a large wave pool for surfing, waterslides and other water-play activities as well as short stay tourism accommodation, all supported by a function centre, restaurants, retail outlets and onsite car parking.

February-March 2015 SPLASH! 65

21-23 June 2015 ABS Showground, Auckland New Zealand

For the second time SPLASH! New Zealand will be co-located with buildnz & designex, offering pool manufacturers access to more than 5000 industry professionals.

SPLASH! is a must attend event for manufactures, pool builders, water consultants, architects and pool service companies.

Supported By

To exhibit at buildnz|designex within the SPLASH! pavilion please email Karen at kjaques@intermedia.com.au or phone +61 2 8586 6135 NZ 0800 451 590

www.splashnzexpo.co.nz

commercial news

Swimming

Greatest Australian Paralympian retires Matthew Cowdrey, Australia’s most successful Paralympian, has retirement from competitive swimming at the age of 26.

Cowdrey’s long list of achievements include an Australian record 23 Paralympic medals from three Paralympic Games, 13 of which are gold (also an Australian record), as well as 16 IPC World Championship titles and an outstanding 13 world records.

Cowdrey was born with a congenital amputation to his lower left arm. He started swimming at five years of age and soon started breaking age group records, Australian records and then world records in his S9 Classification.

He made his first Paralympic team at just 15 years of age at Athens in 2004 where he won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals on Paralympic debut. He went on to compete in two more Paralympic Games; Beijing 2008, where he won five gold and three silver, and most recently London where he created history winning a further five gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

His five gold medal haul in London took his overall Paralympic Games gold total to 13 making him Australia’s most successful Paralympian ever, eclipsing Tim Sullivan’s previous record of 10 gold medals from three Games. He also passed Australian swimmer Kingsley Bugarin’s overall medal haul

of 19 medals, with a total of 23 Paralympic medals.

Cowdrey says he always had a clear vision of where he was going and what he wanted to achieve in and out of the pool.

“Over the past few months I have come to the realisation that the majority of my goals sit outside of the pool,” he says. “And for these reasons I have made the tough decision to retire from competitive swimming.

“I have been fortunate to have achieved more than I could ever have dreamed of, and more than I set out to achieve, and more importantly I have enjoyed every minute of my time on the Australian swim team.”

In 2008 Cowdrey was given the honour of carrying the Australian flag at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games. In October 2014, he was among the first Paralympic swimmers to receive a plaque on the Path of Champions at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre alongside Jacqui Freney and Siobhan Paton.

He has completed a law degree and is currently working full time at KPMG. Last year he completed a three-month internship with US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Washington DC, and has been tipped to move into a political career sometime in the future.

Matt Cowdrey with one of his many golds

Swimming

Japan and Australia to work together Swimming Australia Ltd (SAL) and the Japan Swimming Federation ( JASF) have signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the two regional powerhouses share the strengths of each other’s swimming programs.

“Japan is a leading swimming nation.

There is no doubt that they will reinforce this reputation when they host both the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.,” says Mark Anderson SAL CEO. The agreement will assist both countries in their mutual goal of achieving best ever

results at the 2020 Games. and aims to strengthen the respective skills, capabilities and performances of each nation’s programs through competitions, joint training camps, coach exchange, sports science and medicine exchange and a focus on talent and youth.

Maintenance and construction

Upcoming tenders Defence Housing Australia Request for Tender: Residential Maintenance Services Panel Trade Group Two Tender: DHA-HO-15-215. Requests for Tender (RFT) are invited from suitably experienced and qualified service providers for the provision of the following: • Air conditioning specialist • Alarm (security) • Appliance (electric and gas) • Electrical • Gas heating • Hot water system

• Plumbing (gas, roof and sanitary and drainage) • Pool maintenance • TV antennas and cabling Closing: 3pm (AEDT) Monday 2 March 2015 Further information: www.tenders.gov.au (reference number DHA-HO-15-215)

South Burnett Regional Council Request for Tender: Construction of new facilities at Murgon Aquatic Centre (Updated) Request for Tender: SBRC – 14/15 –11. Council is seeking tenders for the

construction of new facilities at Murgon Aquatic Centre located at 101 Gore Street Murgon. The new facilities will consist of the following: • Construction of a new Kiosk and Amenities Building and • Construction of new Concourse around the pools Closing: 4pm Friday 6 March 2015 (Updated).

Further information: An information pack including tender documents, plans and drawings are available from www.southburnett.qld.gov.au

February-March 2015 SPLASH! 67

Improving Indigenous water safety

A

ccording to the Australian National University’s Swimming Pools in Remote Indigenous Communities report, building healthy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is one of the greatest public health challenges that Australia faces.

The report goes on to say that communities will be considered to be healthier only when the physical wellbeing of the individual and the social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing of the whole community have improved. Over the past years several remote Indigenous communities have expressed a desire to construct swimming pools, in an effort to help those improvements eventuate.

But building swimming pools is only one part of the equation. The other is encouraging Indigenous people to use the pools, and that doesn’t mean just remote communities, but people living in every part of Australia.

This is even more important when you consider Indigenous Australians under five are five times more likely to drown than children of the same age in the general population, while older children up to 14 years old are twice as likely.

Indigenous swim programs

SPLASH! caught up with the CEO of Swimming NSW, Mark Heathcote and Kerrie-Anne Anstis, Indigenous participation program coordinator, at the Country Pool Manager’s Conference last year, where they updated us on their Indigenous swimming pro68 SPLASH! February-March 2015

grams.

They fund the programs through a variety of sources including the Ministry of Emergency Services’ black spot funding, NSW Sport & Recreation, and the Australian Sports Commission through Swimming Australia.

Anstis says that they started off with a small pocket of funding in 2013 which enabled them to get some facilities operational in Redfern, Toronto and Edmonton amongst others, servicing a few hundred people in total.

“We could see the demand was definitely there,” she says. “So we applied for another pocket of money successfully and we’re continuing those facilities and

ABOVE: Two boys cooling off under the hot NT sun BELOW: Kids enjoying the water at Mutitjulu, near Uluru, where the traditional owners last year won their long struggle for a remote community pool.

Operational funding comes from the rent received for the UluruKata Tjuta National Park.

The project was managed

by Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT) Projects, with engineering

by FMG Engineers, and pool construction by State Wide Pool Services.

Being in a World Heritage Area, the construction had to comply with very strict conditions

commercial feature

Inspiring swim coaches Therese Barton (Newman) has been an inspiring person within the sport of swimming and is a rare commodity being a female Indigenous swim coach.

AJ Newman is also an encouraging Indigenous leader helping to coach and educate swimmers in the Dubbo area.

Both Therese and AJ have devoted their lives to swimming and are great community role models, helping educate people with swimming and promoting water safety programs, especially give the terrible drowning numbers for Indigenous children.

Therese Barton’s career with swimming started when she won the PSSA 50m Free 13yrs. After qualifying for Country and State Championships, she was Western District Champion for numerous years.

Due to her passion for swimming, she completed the Austswim course and has taught learn to swim classes to many children.

In 2008 she started the Masters Competition with the Dubbo Red Fins and competed in several carnivals before finishing swimming to start her own family.

With her many years of experience, Therese was approached in 2010 by a Narromine swimming squad coach needing guidance and assistance in preparations for his swim squad. This had a flow-on effect for Therese and resulted in her managing the squad the following year.

AJ Newman is a very knowledgeable swimming coach, mentor and swimmer. In the beginning Newman was coached by Les Farvis for a year before returning to competition and qualifying for the NSW Country Champs, State Age and National Age in 1994.

For many years, AJ was the Western District Champion and in 1996 he was discovered at a swim camp

by Neil Ryan and Anna Windsor who assisted with his swimming training. As team captain for Waverly College, he was named to the All-Schools Team in 1997 and 1998 earning him the CAS and CIS team honours.

Training with Neil Rogers and Greg Rogers to help with his butterfly and freestyle, his hard work came to fruition when he won several State Metro Medals and competed at National Age and Open Championships.

International experience was a highlight when in 2001 he applied for a USA College scholarship and moved to Syracuse NY to develop his swimming technique. During this time he switched coaches and was trained and coached by Brian Sutton and Doug Frost.

Moving overseas was a positive time where he competed at the US National and NCAA as well as the Big East Conference Meet where he achieved team honours. He retired from swimming in 2004 after returning to Australia and swimming with Telopea Swim Club in the ACT where he won several short course state and country medals.

During the next four years AJ focussed on other activities and returned in 2008 to Dubbo RSL where he developed his passion for educating others on his challenges and experiences with swimming.

Passing on his knowledge to others didn’t quite sat-

isfy him, and in 2009 he coached Masters swimmers and competed at the World Master Games in Sydney, resulting in winning two gold and two bronze medals, helping Dubbo beat the world at the Games.

In 2010 AJ was ready to hang up the goggles and swim his final race at the Pan Pacific Master Games where he walked away with five gold medals and three silver.

His desire to help swimmers and the swimming community grew exponentially when he was asked to take on Orana Aquatic in 2011 and knew that this would be a great opportunity to seize the moment with the support of Teish Gallagher (age group coach of Orana Aquatic).

Success wasn’t far away. Initially there was one country qualifier in the squad, but under AJ’s training this now changed to seven country swimmers, three state age swimmers, five state open swimmers, two national age, and three national open swimmers in the first year, resulting in the multi-class swimmer becoming selected on the target squad for the next Olympics.

Over the years AJ has personally seen the squad evolve from lap swimming to achieving greater things while developing a love of the sport. He boosted the swimmers’ belief in themselves and reminded them that the only limit they have is their own mind.

Recently he has been working closely with Therese’s squad and also conducting a stroke clinic in Narromine with Teish Gallagher. Therese and AJ’s passion for swimming is evident in their achievements and respect from not only their swimmers, but the wider community as well.

Swimming NSW is calling for Indigenous people who are passionate about swimming and teaching others to contact them to find out how you can receive assistance in becoming a fully qualified instructor and

Therese Barton (Newman) with AJ Newman

February-March 2015 SPLASH! 69

commercial feature

CEO of Swimming NSW, Mark Heathcote with Indigenous co-ordinator Kerrie-Anne Anstis

One of the potential causes for the high drowning rates and poor representation in swimming sports amongst Indigenous peoples, is the lack of swimming education amongst the older generation, possibly caused by the restrictions banning them from swimming in some local pools.

These issues came to a head in 1965, when Charlie Perkins (also known as Dr Charles Nelson Perrurle Perkins AO, former soccer star) organised the Freedom Ride through outback New South Wales.

Inspired by the Freedom Rides in America, the Freedom Riders aimed to draw attention to inadequacies in health and housing and to support Aboriginal people in challenging the status quo. The Freedom Riders adopted Martin Luther King’s approach of non-violent resistance.

Moree was the first place the Freedom Riders had encountered a bylaw that made racial discrimination against Indigenous people official.

The Moree Council by-law prevented Indigenous people from entering the Moree Baths and Pool. Reports told of fair skinned people swimming, while their darker skinned relatives were forbidden to enter the pool Charles Perkins and the Freedom Riders collected a number of children from the mission and attempted to gain entry into the pool. This led to three hours of heated negotiations and during this time a large and hostile crowd gathered. Fights broke out,

70 SPLASH! February-March 2015

Image credit Robert McFarlane

A freedom swim

Charles Perkins led the Freedom Ride 50 years ago this February. people were knocked over, punches and eggs were thrown at the protesters and several arrests were made.

Contemporary media reports compared the events at Moree Baths as being “little different from the American South”. The protests and picket line at the Moree Baths was the best known and most photographed event of the Freedom Ride. The protest ended when Moree Council agreed to rescind the 1955 by-law.

The Freedom Ride was an important contributor to creating an environment for change, and was considered instrumental in helping move public opinion towards a Yes vote in the 1967 referendum to remove the discrimination against Aboriginal Australians from the Australian Constitution.

Source: www.environment.gov.au

offering it across NSW.” The type of programs offered depends on the facilities available at the specific centre and the demand from the community, but can include mums and bubs groups, learn to swim, youth groups, water safety programs, adults and Aboriginal kids with disabilities.

“There’s no set program where we say, here’s the template, here’s the program you have to deliver,” says Anstis. “It’s pretty much the same program that the facility runs – so if they’ve got sharks, dolphins – whatever level they’ve got – then that’s the same program we deliver.”

Because many low income families struggle with finances, Swimming NSW subsidises the program.

“We don’t make it entirely free,” she says. “We want the parents to put a contribution towards it.”

The contribution varies depending on the program being offered but it generally doesn’t go over the $30 mark.

“So per term for a child to pay a maximum of $30, where normally the program would cost $130, that’s a huge saving.”

They also fund professional development to provide the opportunity for community members to go on and gain a career in the aquatic industry, as well as teaming up with Royal Life Saving and Austswim to provide programs.

“In the end we want community people running these programs to be sustainable in the community. There’s only so long the funding’s going to be there, so by having Aboriginal instructors will ensure it’s going to continue.

And it is encouraging for the participants if they know who the instructor is and they speak the language.

“There’s half the battle won.”

Heathcote says that even if the funding does finish and Swimming NSW leaves, the fact the parents are used to paying a small amount will help it continue without their support.

“The initial barrier’s been overtaken and the child’s engaged,” he says. “And they say, this is fantastic, now I need to find the money to continue.”

He says their two goals are to reduce the drowning rate among Indigenous Australians and get more Indigenous Australians into the sport of swimming.

“They’re under-represented in our sport, so we’d like to see them have the same opportunities as other people and be successful and hopefully represent Australia in the swim team one day.”

Anstis says she doesn’t know why the Aboriginal swimming skills are down and drowning rate is up, but assumes it might be to do with a lack of swimming education.

“You know we had communities back in 1965, they weren’t allowed to access a pool. Grandad and Aunty and Uncle never had the opportunity, so it hasn’t passed down the generations.”

She also says that the programs don’t need to focus only on geographical areas that have a high Indigenous population, but anywhere where they can be of benefit.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to have a high population of Indigenous people. If we have ten Indigenous kids, that’s ten kids who are getting water safety education who didn’t have it previously.”

Owning the program

It is crucial that there is someone in the community to take ownership of the program to ensure its longevity says Anstis.

Contacts: ANU: www.anu.edu.au CAA: www.commercialaquatics.com.au Swimming NSW: nsw.swimming.org.au

“Sometimes we have people come to us and say, look we’ve got pool that no-one swims in, we’ve got a river that no one swims in. But we say, well we can’t run a program without instructors,” she says.

“We can put people through the instructor training, but sometimes there’s no one when they go back to assist with mentoring them and assisting them to get the program up and going. So it can be a little hard to start off with. But we do what we can.

“We can have the best program out there, but unless there’s someone out there in the community who’s passionate about it and wants to drive it, there’s only so far we can take it. Sometimes it doesn’t happened straight away, sometimes two terms later someone turns up and says, yep, let’s run with it.”

Heathcote says they’re committed to maintaining the program as much as possible into the future, and that if one of their multiple sources of funding dries up, they’ll try to keep it going by finding a new avenue.

“Anyone interested in participating should contact Swimming NSW and we’ll try to form a partnership with the swimming school or facility or swim club and roll it out,” he says.

Stainless pools

The other side of the equation is the pools themselves.

There are a number of different methods of building remote pools, but Commercial Aquatics Australia used the Myrtha technology to build pools in three remote Aboriginal communities in the north of Western Australia.

Burringurrah, Jigalong and Mugarinya each now boast a 25 metre x 12 metre stainless steel swimming pool.

This was made possible by the WA state government’s environmental health package, which provides recreational facilities as a priority to improve the health

outcomes in Aboriginal communities, as well as enhancing social cohesion and quality of life.

Along with the provision of the swimming pools, outhouse and manager’s house, the package also provides for the sealing of internal roads and greening, as well as football ovals to promote healthy lifestyles.

Funding for the package has primarily been provided by the WA State Government including the Ministry of Housing, the Education Department, the Aboriginal Lands Trust, as well as Healthways, Wesfarmers and the Lotteries Commission.

The swimming pool facilities are managed by the Royal Life Saving Society.

The Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has commenced studies into the effects of the pool on the health of community residents.

Situated in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, each town is more than 1300km north of Perth and has a population ranging from 200 to 400.

Commercial Aquatics Australia built each pool and installed the filtration and plant room equipment within a four week period. They say the Myrtha pool concept worked well because it was easy to transport and construct, and ended up cheaper than traditional construction methods.

A team of four travelled from Perth to each location by 4WD. Because of the remote locations, the provision of all the right tools and equipment was critical, while communication was also limited to the use of satellite phones.

The pools feature level wet deck to all sides of the pool which provides better and quicker filtration of the water. From a safety aspect, having no headwalls helps with supervision of children in the water with nothing obstructing the view.

The system uses modular stainless steel panels permanently laminated with a hard PVC coating, with each panel joint buttressed for rigidity, while the floor is lined with reinforced PVC membrane. The pool can be removed and relocated if needed. n

Kids enjoying their new pool at Jigalong

February-March 2015 SPLASH! 71

A fine place for fitness H

awthorn residents will be able to keep fit in style following the recently redeveloped Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre (HALC).

The City of Boroondara engaged architects dwp|suters to redesign the centre, and the now completed $27 million redevelopment features, amongst other things, a new outdoor 50-metre pool, a 20-metre indoor pool, a 42-place crèche and a new gymnasium.

The focus is more on fitness and training rather than leisure. The 50-metre pool is designed for lap swimming and semi-elite level water polo, while the warm water pool is located adjacent to consulting suites and is available for rehabilitation and wellness programs.

The dry facilities include 800sqm of gymnasium space and 500sqm of program space. Support facilities include dry and wet change areas, a café, administration offices, the crèche, a multi-purpose room and the pool plant.

The brief required a respectful design aesthetic considering the location in an established and sensitive urban residential precinct. The site is also bounded by a rail corridor, busy retail strip, existing community recreation space and major infrastructure routes.

The external 50-metre pool is a visual focus of the centre, with the most of the internal light filled spaces having views to it. The facility is stacked with dry fitness 72

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provisions on the upper level extending beyond the footprint of the lower level to shade and shelter the entry court and the southern concourse of the outdoor pool.

The centre also boasts extensive environmental sustainability features, in particular the economical use of energy and water, as well as attention being paid to indoor air quality and user health.

A considerable amount of heat loss occurs through the adjacent soil, which is at an ambient temperature and constantly draws heat from the pool. This has been combated by the inclusion of insulation to the pool shell, and coupled with pool blankets it will dramatically reduce the heating energy load. The centre also features solar panels.

The shell of the original 50-metre pool, located below the foyer of the new facility, is retained and re-lined as a basement level plantroom and for rainwater storage and grey water treatment systems.

The centre has excellent levels of accessibility for the community through entry ramps to the pools, lifting hoists extending to the warm water program pool and accessible change rooms.

Suters managed the design and documentation through to design development, and completed tender documentation and construction services for the head contractor. n

ABOVE: The external 50 metre pool is the visual focus of the centre

PHOTO CREDIT: dwp|suters

commercial feature

Hawthorn Aquatic & Leisure Centre Project value: $27 million Year: 2014 Client: City of Boroondara Architect: dwp|suters Builder: ADCO Constructions Civil and structural engineer: Meinhardt Pool engineer: David Powick and Associates Building services: Umow Lai Quantity surveyor: Plancost Australia

ABOVE: The warm water pool is located adjacent to consulting suites and is available for rehabilitation and wellness programs LEFT: Dry facilities include 800sqm of gymnasium space and 500sqm of program space RIGHT: The 50 metre pool is designed for lap swimming and semi-elite water polo

The $27 million redevelopment features a new outdoor 50m pool, 20m indoor pool, crèche and gymnasium

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new products

Bigger and better inflatable parks

Wibit has released its latest Sports Park combinations including its supersized Sports Park 145. This year, they launched a number of new products including the Dome, High Roller and Monkey Bars – attractions never before seen on the water. Also, existing modules like the Hurdle and Wiggle Bridge have been modified to integrate into any Wibit combination, while a specialised Lifeguard Tower has been created to improve safety.

Bean bags to beds

Putting a practical spin on the traditional bean bag, Bag2Bed is the comfiest seat in the house by day, and easily transforms into a spare bed by night.

Bag2Bed was created by Melbourne mums Carolyn Amott and Lisa Mcleod after the children of guests unexpectedly stayed one night after a barbeque. The two women began to discuss the need for stylish furniture that could be used as a seat and then easily transform into a spare bed.

Bag2Bed is fabulously comfortable thanks to its specially formulated high density bedding foam. This environmentally friendly Australian made foam enables the bag to turn into a comfortable mattress instantly. To transform from seat to bed, all you need to do is take off the cover and flip the bag over a few times.

The outdoor range has water resistant outdoor fabric, making it ideal for the poolside or alfresco areas.

Contact: www.bag2bed.com.au

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The Sports Parks are now arranged with infinity loops, allowing for endless pathways and preventing bottlenecks on the floating playgrounds.

Four different standard combinations have been launched to hold from 35 people up to 145 people at the same time, and upon request, customised combinations can be prepared.

Contact: www.wibitsports.com

Australian swimwear comes of age

These rash shirts are just as stylish by the hippest urban pool or the most beautiful Australian beach. The new Acqua Brand rash shirts bridge the gap between feminine and functional, as seen with this tailored zip-down neckline shirt matched with bespoke bikini bottoms.

Founded by Julie Capobianco and Jane Hayes, the Australian brand grew from the need for stylish, sun smart waterwear for women of all ages that provides physical (rather than chemical) UV protection.

Each piece is 100 per cent Australian designed, manufactured and crafted to the highest quality, using the latest technology in Italian XtraLife Lycra fabrics with a contoured fit, helping to smooth and flatter every figure.

The fabrics are UPF 50+, lightweight, breathable and two times more resistant to chlorine, suntan creams and oils than most other fabrics.

Easier brushing

The care and protection of timber decking is now easier than ever with the new Sikkens Ezee Deck Brush.

Specifically designed to take the hard work out of coating a timber deck, this unique design combines the effectiveness of a soft-bristle paint brush with the convenience of a long-stemmed roller.

Pure bristle brushes are the best way to achieve a smooth, even finish when coating a deck, however getting down on hands and knees is uncomfortable for many and may be unachievable for those with mobility issues.

The soft 175 mm pure-bristle brush ensures coatings are worked evenly into the timber grain, while the long, broom-like handle allows large areas of deck to be coated from a comfortable standing position.

Contact: www.sikkens.net.au

Contact: theacquabrand.com.au

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new products

Warm showers thanks to the sun

Formidra, Europe’s leading solar shower manufacturer, has recently appointed Emaux Water Technology as its Australian distributor to promote and distribute their innovative, efficient solar shower range.

The Formidra showers need no solar panel or collector, as the curved shape of the shower is designed to collect the sun’s heat and transfer it to the water held inside.

Heat your spa from 2°C to 38°C

The wide range of models is available in aluminium and also the recently introduced rotational moulded eco-friendly PE designs. The showers store from 12 litres to 75 litres and can cater for residential as well as commercial swimming pools, resorts and caravan parks.

Installation is simple and, as the environment-friendly shower uses no electricity or gas, the pool owners save money while enjoying a relaxing, cleansing poolside rinse.

Contact: (08) 9456 0333; www.emaux.com.au; www.outdoorsolarshower.com.au

Accent has released the latest addition to its ultra-high performance SB pool and spa heat pump range.

Developed in Rheem’s psychometric test laboratory and specifically designed for Australian conditions, it is capable of providing 38°C even in the coldest locations with testing proven from as low as 2°C. Accent says that in warmer locations, the efficiency is market leading with a COP of 5.8 at 27°C. The HWP7SB features a marine grade aluminium case, a high efficiency Copeland scroll compressor, anti-corrosion coil treatment, spiralled Titanium heat exchanger, safety thermostat and a high efficiency DC fan. As a “plug and play” design, the HWP7SB is ready for a dedicated 10A outlet.

Contact: www.rheempoolheating.com.au, 1300 132 950

POOLSTORE

FOR SALE

An opportunity exists to acquire a sound profitable company that was established in 1986 with warehouses in Newcastle and Melbourne and a distributor in Auckland NZ. It is firstly offered as a going concern, but if not sold as a single entity, it will be split into complete individual products, with associated tooling such as pumps, filters, chlorinators, skimmer boxes, heaters etc.

Prospective purchasers will be required to enter into a confidentiality

agreement to obtain both past and present full financial details, lists of rotational moulding and injection moulding tools, together with a small quantity of plant and equipment.

It is proposed that any warranty issues from previous sales be handled by the existing directors.

Poolstore Head Office is situated at Cardiff, Newcastle NSW where it occupies its own 2000 sq. metre Warehouse/Office/Manufacturing facility on a fully enclosed 1 acre

block. This building is not for sale but may be leased from the current directors if desired on terms and conditions to be negotiated.

Both or either directors are prepared to remain to assist the purchaser at a modest salary for a period of up to 9 months.

It is their earnest desire that this business continues to operate, as they have given the best part of their working lives to its success.

Interested parties should register their interest in the entire business or alternatively products of interest by contacting Mr John Dick at john@poolstore.com.au or by phoning his mobile 0438 547 511

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The new Dolphin E10

Water efficient portable cleaners

Its key features include a top-access filtration system that is easy to remove and clean; a lightweight body making it easy to handle; and a fast, debris-free water release. It also features an active brushing action to scrub away algae and bacteria; a fine filtration system for efficient dirt collection from fine to rough; as well as Maytronics’ rapid service and repair offering.

The eco!ogic range uses 20 per cent less electricity than other pressure washers and 80 per cent less water than a standard garden hose.

Built with a powerful 230V motor, grit and grime is no match for these eco-friendly pressure washers that are over 90 per cent recyclable.

Maytronics new Dolphin E10 lightweight robotic pool cleaner will be released in May to pool stores and builders across Australia. The E10 will be positioned mid-range in the current market.

Every drop of water counts and it’s with this mentality that Karcher has created its eco!ogic range of pressure washers. Made for the environmentally minded homeowner and backyard enthusiast, these innovative washers get any cleaning job done, time after time, with minimal water wastage.

You can pre-order by getting in touch with Maytronics.

It comes in three models, the K 3.800, K 5.800 and the K 6.800.

Contact: 1300 MY DOLPHIN; infoau@maytronics.com

Contact: www.karcher.com.au

Contact our Sales team

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new products

Aye, aye, Admiral

The next generation Admiral ATV robotic cleaner has a number of new features designed to make it even easier to use.

Two significant changes are its five wheeled design and its swivel power cord. The evolution from a tractor belt system to five drive wheels per side enables it to clean different types of pools, as the quantity of contact on a pool surface has been significantly multiplied due to the number of wheels, says George Flory from Waterco.

“It is also smart enough to ascertain the different types of pool conditions and surfaces and target any problem areas.”

Another key change is the introduction of a floating “swivel” to the power cord, which will minimise tangling and maintenance.

Contact: www.waterco.com.au

Improving CPR awareness

Protect Pool, Protect Your Your Pool, Protect Kids Protect Your Your Kids

Waterco has partnered with Royal Life Saving Society Australia to cobrand their CPR charts.

George Flory from Waterco says the Royal Life Saving CPR chart is considered the benchmark when speaking with council building inspectors who approve swimming pools and provide the final building approval, so co-branding the charts is ideal.

CPR charts within the pool area are mandatory, and Royal Life believes View our online video showing common pool fencing faults and how to spot them at the high rate of failure on first inspections is due in part to the lack View our online video showing common pool fencing faults and how to spot them at www.kidshealth.chw.edu.au/projects/drowning-prevention/swimming-pool-fencing www.kidshealth.chw.edu.au/projects/drowning-prevention/swimming-pool-fencing of an up-to-date CPR sign. Flory says Waterco can help promote the awareness that an up-to-date sign is a requirement, as they have strong relationships with pool builders and pool stores and also inKIH1025/0811/SC clude the charts with their pool handover kits.

KIH1025/0811/SC

Contact: www.waterco.com.au 78

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February-March 2015

SunValue Solar Pool Heating

Introducing SunValue Solar Pool Heating, the newest addition to the Heliocol® family.

“The Pool Builders’ Choice” Help always at hand

Waterco has launched a new online resource, Waterco Advance, to provide remote access to product training, information and support.

This site provides fast, accurate solutions and crucial information, including training videos, new product releases and other support information. The information package is complete, which differs from conventional web based offerings on YouTube.

Service technicians can bring up the page to refresh themselves on the product. Thy can go to the job, and with the page still open, quickly check procedures. It can also be a vital resource for pool builders setting up new equipment. All they need to do is log in, check the procedures via the easy-to-follow images or short video prior to installing the equipment.

Contact: training.waterco.com

Meet “Sunny”

She’s Budget Conscious & Recognizes Good Value!

You will too!

“Quality and value at a great trade price. Heliocol’s® SunValue solar pool heating system is designed and built by the world’s largest solar pool heating manufacturer.”

It’s almost heaven

It may be summer here, but in the Northern Hemisphere they’re in need of warming up, and so the Almost Heaven Saunas released their new range of saunas at the International Pool Spa Patio Expo in Orlando, Florida.

Company president Rick Mouw has observed an increased level of interest in saunas in the United States, especially at the dealer level.

www.SunValue.com.au

1300 132 968

Almost Heaven Saunas has been building quality sauna kits in West Virginia, USA for nearly 40 years, and has become famous for its timber barrel saunas, as pictured here.

Contact: almostheaven.com February-March 2015

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new products

ES3 takes on Europe

Enviroswim has launched a new version of its ES3 freshwater pool sanitisation system for the European market, developed through the collaboration of manufacturers in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Enviroswim’s newly redesigned freshwater system is a unique and innovative product simultaneously using three processes: electronic oxidising; ionisation and ultrasonics.

The Enviroswim system has undergone extensive independent testing and certification including certification by the NSF in the USA where the system achieved NSF Standard 50 (enduring 12 months of rigorous testing) for use as a standalone sanitiser for commercial and residential pools and spas.

The image shows a swimmer at the award-winning Eco Village at Currumbin, Queensland.

Contact: www.enviroswim.com

Waterproof iPad covers

With ever more pool-focussed apps becoming available for the iPad, it’s very handy that LifeProof have released waterproof cases for the iPad mini with Retina display and iPad Air. The design features four-proof protection – waterproof, drop proof, dirt proof and snow proof – from dunks, dives and other dangers, helping the device withstand submersion in up to two metres of water for up to an hour and drops as high as 1.2 metres.

LifeProof cases have undergone independent lab testing to meet military standards for shock and impact protection with an IP68 rating against water and dirt intrusion.

Contact: www.lifeproof.com

A better braking backhoe The new TLB 840 loader backhoe has lots of features. “The most noticeable improvement over earlier models is the braking system which is significantly more efficient and more positive,” says recent purchaser, excavation contractor Dave Izzard.

“I have also noticed the machine is easier to steer, with its weight more evenly distributed; no doubt helped by the solid cast nose counterweight. When working on sloping sites, less effort is needed and the machine can be worked faster when I’m back filling or slewing on uphill grades,” he says.

The extended length dipperstick also comes in handy for clamping material against the outerslide, while the lower boom height is useful when moving the machine under any overhead obstructions.

Contact: www.terex.com

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E T A D E 6 H 1 T 0 E 2 V G A S U A 8 1 7 1 NEW VENUE MORE SPACE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

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AUSTRALIA’S LEADING POOL BUILDERS CHOOSE PARAMOUNT IN-FLOOR CLEANING SYSTEMS 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.

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