Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019Opens in new tab, people who use your facility must be protected from risk of infection via contaminated water and surfaces, or person to person contact. This is particularly important for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children and people with low immunity.
To ensure this, regulations require owners of Category 1 aquatic facilities to register their premises with the City of Melbourne Council from 14 December 2020.
Who needs to register?
There are two categories of aquatic facilities. Depending on the type of facility you manage, you have different requirements according to the regulations.
- Only Category 1 aquatic facilities must register with Council.
- Category 1 and 2 aquatic facilities must have a water quality risk management plan.
- Category 1 and 2 must comply with the aquatic facilities provisions of the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 and the water quality guidelines.
A Category 1 aquatic facility is a swimming pool, spa pool or interactive water feature that is:
- used by members of the public free of charge or for a fee
- used in association with a class or program that is offered free of charge or for a fee
- located at the premises of an early childhood service, school or other educational institution
- located at premises at which residential aged care services are provided
- located at a public hospital
- located at a multipurpose service
- located at a denominational hospital
- located at a private hospital
- located at a privately-operated hospital within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Health Services Act 1988.
A Category 2 aquatic facility is a swimming pool or spa pool that is used by members of the public and located at the premises of:
- a residential apartment complex
- a hotel, motel or hostel.
Aquatic facilities exempt from registration are:
- a spa pool that is, or is intended to be, emptied of water after each use
- a floatation tank
- a spring water pool that has a turnover rate of at least 25 percent of the entire volume of the water in the pool to waste each hour
- a waterway within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Water Act 1989
- a private dam within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Water Act 1989.
If you are the proprietor or owner of a Category 1 aquatic facility, you need to register your details by submitting the application form for registration (PDF 411 KB) to health@melbourne.vic.gov.au.
If all requirements are met and your registration is processed, you will receive a Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 Certificate of Registration.
The cost for registering a Category 1 aquatic facility is $300. Registration is valid for 12 months and must be renewed each year. We will send you a reminder and an invoice to renew your registration.
Taking over an existing facility
If you are taking over an existing Category 1 aquatic facility, it is your responsibility to transfer the registration of an existing business into your name. Register your details with Council by submitting the application for transfer of registration (PDF 1.05 MB) to health@melbourne.vic.gov.au.
Both Category 1 and Category 2 aquatic facilities must have a water quality risk management planOpens in new tab and comply with the water quality guidelinesOpens in new tab for public aquatic facilities.
The plan outlines how aquatic facilities will protect public health by managing water quality risks, and provides details on how they comply with the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019Opens in new tab.
A water quality risk management template and guide for developing a plan is available through the Department of Health. The use of the template is not mandatory and you can create your own template that addresses all the key components set out in the guidelines if you prefer.
For assistance with developing a water quality risk management plan, visit the Department of Health aquatic facilitiesOpens in new tab page.
Note: The water quality guidelinesOpens in new tab replace Victoria’s Pool Operator’s Handbook 2008 and the Queensland Health Swimming and spa pool water quality and operational guidelines 2004.
- Register your aquatic facility with Council (Category 1 only).
- Develop and adhere to your water quality risk management plan.
- Undertake water sampling as outlined in your water quality risk management plan.
- Notify Council of all failed water samples within 24 hours as per your water quality risk management plan.
- Follow the water quality risk management plan and the directions of Council when water samples fail.
- Follow your water quality risk management plan and Council directions should you be notified of a water borne illness at your facility.
- Maintain a record of operational and verification monitoring results for at least 12 months from the date the record was made.
- Provide adequate training to all staff members specific to their role.
- Ensure the aquatic facility is kept in a clean, sanitary and in a hygienic condition.
- Follow the Department of Health healthy swimming recommendations.
The City of Melbourne has an important role to play as your registration authority.
With your support, our environmental health officers will help by:
- assessing, approving and monitoring facilities
- carrying out water quality testing and inspections of the facility
- investigating complaints and outbreaks pertaining to your facility
- providing advice, education and support as required.
Contact Community Wellbeing – Health
Email health@melbourne.vic.gov.au with your questions.
More resources
Aquatic facility incident response procedures
Risk management procedures from the Department of Health.
Healthy swimming
Steps to keep your pool safe and clean from the Department of Health.
Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium parvum is a parasite that is highly resistant to the levels of chlorine normally found in swimming pools.
