23 September 2025
Home pool safety checks coming to Town of Cambridge this September
Town of Cambridge residents with home pools and spas are urged to prepare for upcoming safety inspections aimed at protecting young lives and preventing drowning within their community.
Royal Life Saving WA, in partnership with the Town of Cambridge will begin conducting assessments of residential swimming pool and spa barriers from September 2025. Assessments will be available by appointment until mid 2026. These checks are not only a legal requirement— they are a proven lifesaving measure to reduce the risk of drowning, especially among children under the age of five.
According to the latest drowning data, home pools remain the leading location for toddler drownings in WA. Many of these incidents are preventable through simple maintenance and awareness of safety standards.
“Children under five are at the greatest risk of drowning in WA, and most of these incidents occur in home swimming pools,” says Royal Life Saving WA General Manager of Safety Services Travis Doye.
“It only takes a moment for a child to slip away and a non-compliant gate or fence can turn that moment into a tragedy. These assessments focus on prevention. We seek to help homeowners ensure that their barriers are compliant. A compliant barrier can be the last line of defence when active supervision lapses.”
Ensuring home pool and spa barriers meet current safety standards is one of the most effective ways to prevent drowning incidents. Regular inspections help identify and fix potential risks before they result in tragedy.
Royal Life Saving WA will be conducting assessments in the following areas over the coming months:
- City Beach
- Floreat
- Jolimont
- Mt Claremont
- Wembley
- West Leederville
To help pool owners prepare, Royal Life Saving WA has identified the most common reasons for non-compliance:
- Non-Compliant Gates: Gates must self-close and self-latch from any position without assistance. Faulty gates or those propped open are a primary cause of inspection failure.
- Climbable Structures Adjacent to Barriers: Any object or structure that could allow a child to climb over the barrier—such as furniture, pot plants or vegetation—must be removed from the 1.2 metre non-climbable zone surrounding the pool fence.
- Unrestricted Windows Opening into the Pool Area: Windows must be permanently restricted to open no more than 100mm. Temporary devices or keyed locks do not meet compliance. Suitable solutions include fixed window limiters or security screens.
Residents are encouraged to address these issues in advance to ensure a smooth and successful inspection process.
For details regarding pool and spa barrier requirements, contact the Town of Cambridges’ Home Pool Inspection Team on mail@cambridge.wa.gov.au.
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's Building and Energy division has published a handbook for pool and spa owners, outlining the requirements pertaining to safety barrier compliance and the need to comply. Click the link below to learn more.
