2017 has been a year of strong growth and creative innovation. More pools have been installed in Victoria this year than in any other 12 month period.

SPASA’s connectedness to industry and influence with government and stakeholders has never been stronger. The year ahead brings a revitalised Board of directors, with a new President and Vice President, who will reveal new ideas and an exciting vision for the future.

The final decision on the raft of legislative changes proposed in the Government’s recent Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) will be announced prior to the end of January. Every Victorian pool and spa industry participant will be affected by these new changes. The Government will have either listened to the group of like-minded stakeholders that have been advocating for mandatory barrier inspections, or it will continue down the path of a retrospective barrier program that will force pool and spa owners to upgrade their barriers to a four-sided isolation configuration by 2020.

This will mean that the vast majority of the 200,000 Victorian pool and spa owners will have to apply for building permits, seek registered fencing contractors to complete the works and ensure final inspections occurs. As there is no substantive proof of improved safety outcomes with this proposed legislation, it appears to be a ludicrous undertaking by State government.

Further to this, the RIS alludes to making amendments to fibreglass pool installations. In particular, the new regulations are likely to introduce a number of new mandated inspections, and intent has been articulated to redefine the relationship between the pool builder, final barrier installation and the consumer. Concrete builders are also likely to have additional surveyor inspections mandated. Pool building practice is set to be reformed in 2018.

Additional to these major areas of reform are a whole range of other significant changes that have been proposed in the RIS, and it will be up to the VBA to interpret the outcomes. So watch this space!

On a lighter note, we enjoyed a record attendance at our Awards of Excellence Gala night at the iconic MCG. We also revised our entire suite of Domestic Building Contracts and introduced a Pre Works Agreement for builders.

In July we proudly led a historic collaboration of key industry stakeholders – Life Saving Victoria, Real Estate Institute of Victoria, Kidsafe, Royal Life Saving, Landscaping Victoria, Victorian Municipal Building Surveyors Group and Municipal Association of Victoria - to deliver a letter to Planning Minister Richard Wynne demanding 3-yearly mandatory barrier inspections in Victoria. We eagerly await the outcome of this important advocacy.

SPASA Victoria also became an official financial sponsor of Kidsafe’s ‘Safe Barriers Save Lives’ campaign. Given the current issues around pool and spa barrier laws, as well as now being an active participant in the water safety space, we know that this was a wise strategic Board decision.

We are very pleased with the progress of our 2018 Pool & Spa Expo. This show is going to be huge and considerably bigger than the 2017 event - we're close to announcing a "sell out".  IEC have done an excellent job. If you haven’t yet booked your stand, now is the time to act!

Never forget our two consumer events underwrite the massive $300,000+ TV, digi, print and radio blitzkrieg promoting pool and spa use each year. Look out too for a first-time-for-SPASA billboard campaign accross Melbourme, commencing in January.  

SPASA Victoria is proudly independent. Your association is the largest State association in Australia, as well as the best-resourced, we are uniquely positioned to understand the needs of members and deliver outcomes tailored entirely to your requirement.

We currently have more than 300 members, with membership numbers continuing to grow and a member retention rate remaining at over 95% year-on-year.

I commend your commitment to the highest levels of professionalism, ethical behaviour and standards within industry through your membership. I am here to help every member, as well as to represent you to the general public, government and relevant statutory bodies and am personally available for a chat at any time on 03 9501 2040.

Brendan Watkins, CEO

The SPASA Victoria office will close at midday on Friday 22 December 2017 and re-open at 9am on Tuesday 2 January 2018.

BUILDERS NOTE: Please ensure you have enough contracts to last throughout our Christmas closure period.

For more contracts, please contact Rose This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 03 9501 2040.

Wishing all SPASA Victoria Members a safe and wonderful Christmas period. We trust that 2018 will be a happy, healthy and prosperous year for you all!

Longstanding and highly respected plumbing and fire protection industry leader Carmel Coate has been appointed a Commissioner of the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) Board.

In announcing Ms Coate’s appointment, VBA Chief Commissioner Dr Owen Donald, said the new Commissioner brought extensive experience in the plumbing sector to the role, having been National Executive Director of the National Fire Industry Association (NFIA) for 30 years and a member of the Plumbing Advisory Council (PAC) for the past 16 years.

“Carmel is well known and highly respected throughout the plumbing industry and it is anticipated her knowledge of, and experience in, the industry will be of great value to the VBA Board,” Dr Donald said.

“An important part of the experience and expertise Carmel brings is in industry training. She is Chair of Fire Industry Training Ltd, an industry-owned training organisation, and in November 2017 she took up the role of Chair of the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC), the industry-led training facility in Brunswick.”

Ms Coate has strong experience in project leadership and team management, business planning and systems implementation. Her extensive CV sets out a range of positions on boards, committees and advisory groups in the plumbing, fire protection and industry training sectors. In addition, Ms Coate is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Didn’t pay for SPASA Advertising???  Don’t let this be you!

Starting at $1,350 (incl GST) this exclusive Member Advertising offer is a one-stop all-inclusive package of digital, print and website advertising for a full year. 

Whether you're growing your business - or protecting the reputation you've worked so hard to build - SPASA advertising is for you!

Sit back, relax and let SPASA find your customers for you.

Contact Marita on 9501 2040 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The importance of training your employees - both new and experienced - cannot be overestimated.

Training is critical to the development and success of your business.

Take advantage of SPASA's cost-effective training courses to improve the morale of your employees and increase their knowledge, efficiency and productivity.

You can view SPASA's 2019 Industry Training Program HERE

Got a question? Call Kathryn on 8526 7799 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A nine month old boy recently drowned in a backyard spa at a family home in Cobden, Victoria. 

​A police spokesman said the family had an in​-​ground spa on a back patio​.

The child opened a glass sliding door about 3pm on Friday November 3rd, entered the spa area and was found "one or two minutes" later.

​T​he boy was unable to be resuscitated​.

See online news articles HERE, HERE and HERE

Ten men have been arrested by detectives over an investigation into dodgy builders.

Fraud and extortion squad investigators picked up the 10 men this week as part of a probe into builders operating without licences.

Detectives raided eight businesses and 13 homes across Melbourne. A Sydney address was also raided. Police said the investigation related to offences are allegedly committed in Victoria between 2013 and 2015.

Those arrested were a 57-year-old from Eden Park, a 70-year-old from Coolaroo, a 59-year-old from Yarra Glen, a 41-year-old from Ivanhoe, a 40-year-old from Keilor, a 43-year-old from Strathmore, a 46-year-old from Melton, a 54-year-old from Werribee, a 55-year-old Gisborne and a 45-year-old from Ascot Vale.

All were released pending further inquiries.

Anyone with more information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au

Read this story in full HERE

The ACCC and ASIC are warning small businesses to watch out for scam emails pretending to be from ASIC.

Scammers are emailing ASIC’s public register customers, many of which are small businesses, asking them to pay fees and give personal information to renew their business name or company name. These emails often have a link that provides an invoice with fake payment details, or will infect your computer with malware if the links are clicked. You can find an example of the scam email on ASIC's website.

To help protect your business against scams:

• keep your anti-virus software up to date
• be wary of emails that don't address you by name or misspell your details and have unknown attachments
• don't click any links on a suspicious email.

If you think you have been sent an email pretending to be from ASIC, we encourage you to visit the scams targeting ASIC customers page which provides more useful information on what to look out for.

To stay on top of the latest scams, you can visit Scamwatch, follow @scamwatch_gov on Twitter and subscribe to Scamwatch radar alerts.

Small Business team
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.How Safe is That Pool Barrier?

• Gates that don’t self-latch or self-close
• Climbable objects in the ‘non climbable’ zone outlined in the Australian Standards (eg pot plants, chairs, pool pumps near the pool fencing which could allow a child to climb over the fence)
• Excess space under the fence or gate
• Misuse (eg propping the pool gate open)

 

The Fair Work Act, the Australian Taxation Office and other legislation, places controls on the engagement of both contractors and employees.   

To correctly determine whether a worker is an employee or contractor, the whole working arrangement needs to be examined. For example, a worker is not automatically a contractor just because they have an ABN or specialist skills, or you only need them during busy periods.

There are other determining factors that need to be considered, particularly as it’s your responsibility to understand your obligations to your workers when it comes to the crunch.

Read more HERE

The size of the average new home has shrunk to a 20-year low as Australia is overtaken by the US as having the world’s biggest houses, new data shows.

Australia had hitherto been known as the builder of the biggest homes in the world, but the trend to apartment living as builders focus on apartments has decreased the average floor area of new houses.

Analysis by the CommSec of figures commissioned from the ABS shows the average new home is 189.8 square metres, down 2.7 per cent over the past year.

While Australian houses have decreased on average, detached houses that do get built are the biggest they have been in four years — the average new house in 2016-17 was 233.3 square metres, 11 per cent bigger than 20 years ago.

“Aussies are still building some of the biggest detached houses in the world. In fact the size of the average new house has grown slightly over the past two years,” CommSec chief economist Craig James said.

Read this article in full HERE

The ACCC recently issued four infringement notices to Red Balloon Pty Ltd for charging four of its customers excessive surcharges when making either credit or debit card payments. Red Balloon has paid the penalties totalling $43,200 for alleged breaches of these new laws.

Since 1 September 2016, a ban on excessive surcharges applied to large businesses in Australia. Red Balloon is classified as a ‘large business’. This ban now applies to all businesses both large and small.

The ban restricts the amount a business can charge customers for using an EFTPOS (debit and prepaid), MasterCard (credit, debit and prepaid), Visa (credit, debit and prepaid) and American Express cards issued by Australian banks.

As a business, you can only charge what it costs you to accept the payment when your customers are paying with card. Essentially the only costs businesses can include are external costs charged to you by your financial provider. You are responsible for determining the cost, which you can get from your financial institution.

Remember all businesses risk being investigated if they impose excessive surcharges.

Read our guide on payment surcharges to find out more about requirements for businesses.

ACCC Media Release - Red Balloon pays penalty for excessive payment surcharges. 

Small Business team
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

We are delighted to announce that our Media Partnership with Melbourne Pool + Outdoor Design magazine will continue for another year.

“Our ongoing partnership with SPASA Victoria provides the perfect platform for SPASA members to promote their wares to interested consumers”, said Dirk Fielding of Melbourne Pool + Outdoor Design, “and 2018 is shaping up to be a hugely exciting year in the market”.

SPASA CEO Brendan Watkins said “Dirk Fielding has created a highly respected, Victorian pool & spa industry focussed publication which is full of cutting edge design ideas.  SPASA are delighted to have them continue their support of the Association in 2018”.

Members interested in advertising in Melbourne Pool + Outdoor Design should find out more HERE

Tony Veleski in front of the two Footscray townhouses that are so badly built, they will have to be demolished. Photo: Jason SouthTwo townhouses in Footscray that were built so badly they will have to be demolished have raised serious questions about the competence of the state's building industry regulator.

Experts say the legal mess left by the botched townhouses is a prime example of the Victorian Building Authority failing to do its job despite a decade of complaints.

The authority came under fire in 2015 from the Auditor-General for failing to act when construction projects went wrong. The findings led the Andrews government to change the state's building act.

But the case of Tony Veleski, a retired Australia Post worker who bought his Footscray site 17 years ago, shows an industry still rife with problems.

Move over aquatic centres! 

Melbourne’s developers are determined to make a splash with pooled resources that dive straight into the deep end.

The city’s pool industry is awash with some of the most challenging and stunning pool designs the city has ever seen, according to the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Victoria's chief executive, Brendan Watkins.

“Our members are building these pools, and the designs are becoming more and more challenging architecturally and engineering-wise,” Mr Watkins said. “We are very aware of it and it’s quite interesting.”

So, what’s making ripples?

Read this article by Nathan Mawby in full in the Herald Sun Real Estate HERE

A local council is struggling to conduct swimming pool safety checks because it must inspect more than 100 buildings for potentially flammable external cladding.

The City of Moreland said significant resources had been used to audit 156 buildings in the municipality in the wake of the 2014 Lacrosse fire at Docklands, and this year’s Grenfell Tower tragedy in London in which about 80 people died.

A fire also broke out in March on the balcony of a nine-storey Brunswick apartment tower, with the blaze put out by the sprinkler system.

Moreland council meeting tomorrow says the initial audit requested by the Victorian Cladding Taskforce equalled about four weeks’ work for a single council officer.

Read this article in full - 'Safety in Slow Lane' by John Masanauskas HERE

Mark Vlasich​, the owner of Transurban Excavations, says he has been digging up sites around Melbourne for 20 years.

But he had never excavated a hole like the one he was asked to dig in Mount Waverley, Mr Vlasich told the Magistrates Court on Monday.

Given he was being paid by the hour, when builder Jim Nicolaou​ told him to keep on digging, that's exactly what Mr Vlasich did. It did not end well.

"I was instructed by Jim how far to dig. He said 'This is the level we need to dig here'," Mr Vlasich said, at a hearing into the 2015 collapse of the building site.

So severe was the collapse on the Highbury Road site that it almost brought down neighbouring townhouses.

Read this article in full HERE

SPASA Victoria's 'Water Neutral Pool Program' is making headlines around the world, with South Africa the latest country to request more information on this innovative water-saving program.

Recently the National Spa and Pool Institute of South Africa made contact with us for more information on the Program due to a major water crisis in Cape Town.

The whole of South Africa’s Western Cape Region is experiencing severe drought conditions, which are having a negative impact on the swimming pool industry - so much so that there is currently a proposal from the City of Cape Town council to put an indefinite ban on the construction and installation of all new swimming pools.

In late 2016, the Californian Pool Association also requested information on our Water Neutral Pool Program and have since been provided with our Water Neutral Pool Program kit.

Earlier this year, Annalisa Dall'Oca, the editor of Italian pool and spa magazine ‘Piscine Oggi’ and organiser of the international exhibition ‘Forum Piscine’ www.forumpiscine.it/en in Bologna, Italy made contact to arrange an interview with our very own Brendan Watkins.

Annalisa wanted to explain to readers of ‘Piscine Oggi’ (meaning ‘Pool Today’) how the Water Neutral Pool Program works, its efficiency and the savings involved regarding both energy use and the reduced chemicals and water required under the Program.

Italians are particularly interested in the Australian experience as a pioneer of this environmentally friendly type of pool, as well as other solutions that reduce water consumption or promote water recovery. A Water Neutral Pool Program presentation and workshop are planned for the ‘Forum Piscine’ exhibition in 2018.

Have a read of Brendan’s interview entitled ‘The Australian Case’ on pages 36 and 37 of Italian pool and spa magazine ‘Piscine Oggi’:

Piscine Oggi - The Australian Case - English translation

We used a quick online translation tool for the English version but you can see the original version in Italian here:

Piscine Oggi – The Australian Case – Italian version

For a new sales edge and point-of-difference in your business advertising, have a look at what Summertime Pools have recently come up with.

We applaud this excellent initiative and challenge other members to consider doing something similar!

For those of you who don’t know about SPASA’s fantastic Water Neutral Pool Program, here’s an overview:

​

SPASA Victoria Media Release - SPASA Victoria's Water Neutral Pool Program Goes Global - 20 November 2017

Water Conservation - Fact Sheet 6
SPASA's Water Neutral Pool program

Lucy Sinclair and her 17-month-old twins, Everly and Harvey, at the construction site of their Northcote home. Photo: Daniel Pockett

Victorians’ building permits are being delayed for months on end as processing times balloon in some local councils, government data shows.

Manningham council, in Melbourne’s north-east, is the slowest council, according to a statewide analysis of the median number of days each council took to decide on a planning application in 2015-16. In Manningham, the median was 166 days — more than double the state average of 69 days.

Dandenong and Hume councils were not far behind with median response rates of 135 days for the former and 127 days for the latter. Overall, there were 10 councils in metropolitan Melbourne with a median response rate above 100 days.

Read this article in full HERE

Member Benefits - Available to all Members in 2017

• AB Phillips - SPASA’s Risk Management, Insurance & Financial Services Provider
• Jeremy Johnson & Associates - Free Expert Legal Advice
• Expert OHS Advice - Jim Pashalidis, Australian OHS
• Career Dressing – Preferred Workwear & Corporate Clothing Supplier
• HR Central – Your People Management Professionals
• Online White Card Training with Aveling
• Houzz and SPASA – Free Profile-Building Website

See the full details of your Member Benefits here

2017

SPASA 2018 Advertising Offer Close – Wednesday 13 December

Board Meeting – Wednesday 13 December

2018

2018 Awards of Excellence Entries Open - Thursday 1 February

Pool & Spa Show at MCEC (Summer Show) – Friday 2 - Sunday 4 February

Board Meeting – Wednesday 14 February

SPASA Industry Training - What is the Pool & Spa Industry - A Vital Industry Overview - Thursday 1 March

SPASA Industry Training - Builder Contract Training - Wednesday 7 March

SPASA Industry Learning - Build Your Professional Profile With Houzz - Tuesday 13 March

Board Meeting – Wednesday 14 March

SPASA Industry Training - Portable Spa Technician - Wednesday 15 March

SPASA Industry Learning - Strategic Financial Planning for Your Business - Wednesday 21 March

SPASA Industry Learning - Succession Planning Workshop - Wednesday 28 March

Awards of Excellence Entries Close - Thursday 29 March

SPASA Industry Training - Hydraulics - Thursday 5 & Friday 6 April

Board Meeting – Wednesday 11 April

SPASA Industry Training - Pool Construction Essentials - Thursday 19 April

Chris Dorrity Memorial Members Golf Day - Southern Golf Club Keysborough - Friday 20 April

2018 Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner Bookings Open – Monday 30 April

SPASA Industry Training - Basic Chemistry - Tuesday 8 May

Board Meeting – Wednesday 9 May

SPASA Industry Training - Advanced Chemistry - Thursday 10 & Friday 11 May

SPASA Industry Learning - Employee or Independent Contractor - Wednesday 16 May

SPASA Industry Training – Pool Shop & Service – What Makes the Great Retailers Great – Wednesday 30 May

SPASA Industry Learning - OH&S Materials Made Easy - Thursday 7 June

Board Meeting – Wednesday 13 June

2018 Awards of Excellence Gala Night Dinner - Saturday 7 July

Board Meeting – Wednesday 11 July

SPASA Industry Learning - Strategic Financial Planning for Your Business – Tuesday 31 July

SPASA Industry Training - Pool Construction Essentials - Thursday 2 August

SPASA Industry Training – Builder Contract Training – Wednesday 8 August

Board Meeting – Wednesday 8 August

Spa & Pool Show at MCEC (Winter Show) – Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 August

SPASA Industry Training - Hydraulics - Thursday 16 & Friday 17 August

SPASA Industry Learning - Ownership Thinking - Tuesday 4 September

SPASA Industry Learning - OH&S Materials Made Easy - Thursday 6 September

Board Meeting – Wednesday 12 September

SPASA Industry Training - Basic Chemistry - Monday 17 September

SPASA Industry Training - Advanced Chemistry - Wednesday 19 & Thursday 20 September

SPASA Industry Learning - Employee or Independent Contractor - Tuesday 25 September

Board Meeting – Wednesday 10 October

Board Meeting – Wednesday 14 November

2018 AGM – Wednesday 14 November

Board Meeting – Wednesday 12 December