Yes. It is illegal to have an unfenced swimming pool anywhere in Australia. Every state and territory requires a compliant barrier around any pool or spa with a water depth of 300mm or more. In Queensland, this is enforced under the Pool Safety Act 2010 and the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 3.4.
The law applies to all pools regardless of when they were built. Older pools that predate current regulations are not exempt – they must still meet the required standard, though some transitional provisions have applied at different points over the years. All pools in Queensland must also be registered on the Queensland pool safety register, and a current pool safety certificate is required whenever a property with a pool is sold or leased.
The rationale is straightforward. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children under five in Australia, and pool fencing is the single most effective preventive measure. When Environ Pools builds a new concrete pool or family pool, compliant fencing is designed into the project from day one – not treated as an optional add-on.
