Construction and operation of an aquatic facility/water body

Application form and checklist

Works to construct, alter or extend an aquatic facility must not be commenced by any person until the intended works have been approved by the Chief Health Officer (CHO), pursuant to Regulation 7 of the Health (Aquatic Facilities) Regulations 2007 (the Regulations). This requires the occupier of the land or premise for the aquatic facility to make a written application to the CHO using the construction, alteration, or extension of an aquatic facility application form (Word 212KB). 

Only the occupier of the property where aquatic facility works are planned may apply for approval from the CHO, pursuant to Regulation 8 of the regulations. Application materials may be professionally prepared on the occupier’s behalf by third parties (e.g. designer or consultants), but must be signed only under the authority of the occupier.

The application form (Word 212KB) and checklist (Word 187KB) must be completed and signed before lodgement, and is to be accompanied by all relevant undertakings, specifications, scaled drawings and schematics required to demonstrate compliance of proposed works with all requirements of the Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Operation, Management and Maintenance of Aquatic Facilities (PDF 362KB)(the Code of Practice).

Tender documents and generic engineering, electrical or design plans that don’t support intended compliance are not needed, and simply add to assessment timelines.

Once an application is received, assessment timelines generally range from 4-8 weeks, but may exceed this depending on information provided or other circumstances.

Note: Certain systems will require post installation certification from installers or relevant certifying professionals confirming that the systems in question comply with Code of Practice requirements, including:

• Structural engineering
• Electrical system installation, and equipotential bonding of metallic components
• Water heating systems
• Mechanical ventilation systems
• Lighting systems meeting required lux levels
• Other elements as required

Once the application checklist Word 187KB) has been completed, signed application can be emailed to Swimmingpools@health.wa.gov.au (10Mb email limit), alternatively, hard copies may be posted to:

Department of Health, Water Unit
PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre WA 6849

Compliance

An aquatic facility can only be operated if the CHO has issued a certificate of compliance that covers the facilities construction works.

When construction work is completed, the occupier or owner’s agent is required to contact the Water Unit on 9222 2000 to organise an inspection.

Officers from the Department of Health or occasionally local government (as requested by the Department) will undertake a final inspection to confirm construction compliance.

Notice of inspection is generally required 2 weeks prior to completion, however in regional areas further than 5 hours drive from Perth, advice should be received a minimum of 6 weeks in advance.

Code of Practice and legislation

Refer to the management of aquatic facilities in WA for details on complying with the:

• Health (Aquatic Facilities) Regulations 2007
• Code of Practice for the design, construction, operation, management and maintenance of aquatic facilities

Role of local government

Local governments are encouraged to advise the Department when aquatic facilities commence construction.

This will ensure that developers or builders are identified and dealt with appropriately if they commence construction without CHO approval.

Local governments are required to collect monthly water samples from every public aquatic facility water body within their district.

Where the CHO has granted an exemption, particular operators may be delegated this responsibility and trained by local government to collect their own microbiological water samples for their facility.

In these cases, local governments will still provide operators with appropriate advice regarding the results of these samples.

Local governments must also enforce the legislative requirements of public defined aquatic facilities within their municipality.

Complaints regarding public aquatic facilities should be referred to the environmental health section of the respective local government authority (external link).

More information