Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health
Issue 135 April/May 2021
Pool heating Perfecting the staycation
Sustainable solutions Reducing aquatic centre running costs Swim with a smile Mature-age LTS
www.splashmagazine.com.au
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Published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd ABN 940 025 83 682 41 Bridge Road, Glebe, NSW, 2037 Australia Ph: (02) 9660 2113 Fax: (02) 9660 4419 On behalf of The Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Australia Ltd (SPASA Australia) Publisher: Simon Cooper Managing Editor: Chris Maher Phone: 0412 048 639 Email: chrismaher@intermedia.com.au
editorial The numbers align
Contributors: Veda Dante, David Lloyd. Advertising Manager: David Stennett Phone: 0404 725 554 Email: david@spasa.com.au
For the past year we’ve been hearing from builders, retailers and manufacturers about how buoyant the swimming pool construction market is. But until this reporting period the swimming pool development application numbers had lagged stubbornly behind. Now, with a 28 per cent jump for the quarter, it seems they’ve finally caught up. On top of that, detached home values are soaring, to the point where appreciation has reached the highest level since October 1988. Detached homes are of course the most likely form of housing to have a swimming pool, and many homeowners use their equity in the value of their home to fund renovations and additions – including buying a swimming pool or spa. So logically, rising home values means more people with the money to buy a pool. Let’s hope so! And while the covid-based restrictions have led to an increased interest in swimming pools, they’ve also led to homeowners spending money on their existing pools. And the biggest item they seem to be spending money on is pool heating. This issue we look at heating and see that many people really want to use their pool for as long as possible each day and each year – while keeping a cap on expenses. We canvas a number of options and look at some of the most recent innovations. The cover shows the new Gunyama Aquatic Centre. Last issue we ran a small news article about the brand-new centre in the burgeoning Green Square precinct, but this time we talk to the designers and discuss, amongst other things, the long-term benefits of the sustainability measures they incorporated into the final design. They believe that not only will these measures reduce energy bills for the aquatic centre, but will offer inspiration for other projects too. On the same theme, there's an interesting interview with an energy management consultancy in the heating feature that introduces a new term: energy intelligence. This involves looking at a project holistically to create greater energy efficiency throughout the entire centre, and seems like an eminently sensible idea. I hope you enjoy this edition.
Art Director: Chris Papaspiros Production Manager: Jacqui Cooper Subscriptions: 1800 651 422 Email: subscriptions@intermedia.com.au Copyright All material in this publication is copyright to the publisher and/or its contributors. No material may be reproduced without the express permission of the publishers.
Disclaimer: This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”) on behalf of SPASA Australia. Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.
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This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (Intermedia) may contain magazine or subscription; offers, competitions, forms and surveys (Reader Offers) which require you to provide information about yourself, if you choose to enter or take part in them. If you provide information about yourself to Intermedia, Intermedia will use this information to provide you with the products of services you have requested and may supply your information to contractors that help Intermedia to do this. Intermedia will also use your information to inform you of other Intermedia publications, products, services and events. Intermedia may give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give it to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information Intermedia holds about you, please contact Intermedia’s Privacy Officer at The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, PO Box 55, Glebe, NSW 2037. Copyright © 2021 - SPASA Australia.
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The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the above supporters, nor should any product advertised in SPLASH! magazine be seen to be endorsed by the above.
Issue 135 April/May 2021
Pool heating Perfecting the staycation
Sustainable solutions Reducing aquatic centre running costs Swim with a smile Mature-age LTS
This issue’s cover The Intermedia Group takes its Corporate and Social Responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers. This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody. PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests. The wrapping used in the delivery process of this magazine is 100% biodegradable.
www.splashmagazine.com.au
The cover shows the outdoor 50 metre pool at the new Gunyama Aquatic Centre. There is more on this centre on page 58. Image by Chris Southwood and City of Sydney.
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 7
Contents
58
34 34
27
Heated water makes for the perfect poolcation Veda Dante looks at how heating sales have gone through the roof during covid, as homeowners realise having a heated pool makes your staycation even better.
Fair Work Amendment Bill Fair Work Lawyers offers a summary of the changes in the amended Fair Work Bill and lets us know what has been left in – and what’s been taken out.
28
Waterco celebrates 40-year milestone Soon Sinn Goh explains how his Sydney-based company survived shoestring budgets, factory fires, the GFC and the ongoing pandemic to be the international success it is today.
24
48
Climate Care program continues to expand We look at the latest certified products in the ever growing Climate Care program, helping pool and spa owners have confidence in the sustainability credentials of the industry.
31
Teaching adults to swim with a smile Award winning swim teacher Petrina Liyanage has helped more than 1000 adults get water confident – and now she has written a book to help even more people learn to swim.
32
Covid accelerates retail exit plans John O’Brien elaborates on how some pool shops are bringing forward their exit plans – and offers a way to help them achieve the best result.
58 22
Let the sunshine in: saving energy at Sydney’s newest pool Gunyama designers Andrew Corsese and Andrew Burgess explain why the aquatic centre’s sustainability measures will reap rewards long into the future.
regulars News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Commercial news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Pool DAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
New products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Ad index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 9
news
Safety
Australian safety strategy aims to cut drowning rate
Justin Scarr, Convenor Australian Water Safety Council, CEO Royal Life Saving Society Australia
The Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 has been launched by the federal government and the Australian Water Safety Council (AWSC). Each year more than 280 people die due to drowning, with many more admitted to hospital following a non-fatal drowning incident. Most drownings occur in coastal environments (beaches, ocean and rocks – 41 per cent), followed by 36 per cent in rivers and lakes. Overall, 61 per cent of drownings occur outside of major cities. Males drown at a rate four times that of females and one-year-old toddlers record the highest drowning rate of any age. Justin Scarr, AWSC convenor says the previous strategy had proved effective by reducing the fatal drowning rate by 26
Awards
per cent over the past ten years – and reducing drowning in children aged 0-4 years by 50 per cent. “However drowning remains unacceptably high, impacting more than 280 families each year,” he says. The new strategy seeks to raise awareness about non-fatal drowning incidents, encourage communities to create local water safety plans and promote access to swimming and water safety skills for all Australians, including refugees, migrants and those living in regional areas. “Being able to swim for fun, fitness or health is a great Australian past-time and is a skill that is essential for drowning prevention. The Australian Water Safety Strategy seeks to help all Australians to learn swimming and water safety skills, irrespective of where they live,” he says. Additionally, the strategy promotes the importance of frontline water safety services, including volunteer surf lifesavers, lifeguards and swimming instructors. “The strategy encourages extension of services, as well as innovative approaches such as the use of drones and emergency stations in remote locations,” Scarr says. The Australian Water Safety Council was formed in 1998 and provides a forum for collaboration among peak water safety organisations, conducts regular conferences, workshops and symposiums, and develops, monitors and evaluates progress of the Australian Water Safety Strategy.
Pool builder named Champion Business of the Decade The Crystal Pools Thornleigh team with their award
Targets
The AWSS 2030 commits to an aspirational goal of reducing drowning by 50 per cent by 2030. This is expressed in the targets replicated throughout most of the areas of focus. The AWSC stresses that progress must be measured on a population rate basis, and where appropriate, reflect incremental changes in visitation at places, or participation in activities, and in population demographics. A baseline, based on the three financial years 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 will be established. It is stressed that these targets are aspirational, and accountability difficult to assign. In any case, they urge everyone to join in this approach. Contact: www.watersafety.com.au
Crystal Pools Thornleigh has been named Champion Business of the Decade at the Australian Small Business Champion Awards. The award program aims to recognise outstanding Australian small businesses and encourage high standards of excellence in small business practice. The ceremony was held on Saturday February 27 at The ICC Sydney, with approximately 1000 guests in attendance “The Australian Small Business Champion Awards is a way to recognise the efforts of small businesspeople whose efforts contribute to the prosperity and vitality of communities across Australia,” says Steve Loe, managing director of Precedent Productions and founder of the awards. “As a small business owner myself, I know the vision and dedication to excellence required to succeed. These traits have been displayed in abundance by all of our 2020 Small Business Champions.” Representatives of Crystal Pools received an award statuette, a certificate and gained national recognition as an industry leader. In addition, they had their passion, dedication, commitment and hard work celebrated amongst their peers. Loe says small businesses from across Australia delivered an impressive array of entries, with winners representing a broad range of industries from all states and territories.
10 SPLASH! April/May 2021
news
Industry moves
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Yearly comparison by month
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PASA WA has appointed Sadie Davidson to the position of executive officer. Davidson has a wealth of experience in advocacy, member-based associations and not-for-profit organisations. Her most recent role was as advocacy and policy manager with the Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA). Prior to that she worked for the Property Council of Australia (PCA) as policy and communications officer. Year old Year new 2500 She has also held committee positions with the Salvation Army, Metronet, the Housing Advisory Roundtable and has been a 2000 member of the board of the Finance & Property Service Training Council. 1500 Additionally, she has worked as a journalist, winning the 2015 1000 for graduate journalists. She has a BA from UWA Rising Star Award and is due to complete her MBA in business leadership at Curtin 500 University in June. Davidson says she is delighted to be joining SPASA WA at such 0 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar an exciting time for Apr the May industry. “The sector has proven to be resilient in even the most uncertain of times and is set to thrive in 2021 and beyond. I look forward to Year old Year new building on the great 6000 work of Bryce Steele and the team as well as meeting SPASA WA members at upcoming events including the 5000 annual golf day in April and the Awards for Excellence in July,” 4000 she says. In a statement, SPASA WA said its primary objective is to pro3000 mote the pool and spa industry, and further the standards, goodwill, 2000 ethics and reputation of the industry in WA. “As executive officer, Sadie will have a pivotal role in achieving 1000 these objectives by supporting and growing the membership of SPASAMar WA and liaising 0withNSW key stakeholders, such and LocalSA VIC QLDas StateWA Feb Government and other industry associations, particularly SPASA Australia. “Sadie joins SPASA WA at an important time for the industry, with strong growth currently being experienced in the pool building sector. Although new to the swimming pool and spa industry, Sadie’s experience and energy will stand her in good stead to build on the strengths of the current SPASA WA and lead the association into the future.”
The available pool DA figures have finally started to catch up to the anecdotal evidence of a rising pool construction market, with a 28 per cent jump across the nation for the first quarter of the year compared with the same quarter last year. The January-March numbers from Cordell show Western Australia up 117 per cent, Victoria up 38 per cent, Queensland up 26 per cent, New South Wales up 16 per cent, and South Australia down three per cent. Comparing the 12 months to March with the same time last year, applications are up eight per cent, with Western Australia up by 63 per cent, New South Wales up by 17 per cent, Queensland up by nine per cent, while South Australia was down by eight per cent and Victoria was down by 15 per cent. Year old
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Sadie Davidson
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Sadie Davidson appointed executive officer of SPASA WA
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While these figures give an indication of the way the market is trending, they are not comprehensive and don’t include all pools built or even all DAs lodged. By some estimates, the total national numbers including all types of pools could be almost double these figures. They do not include pool projects that are approved as part of a new home, smaller projects under the cost threshold, renovations that don’t require a DA, or some aboveground pools. Additionally, not all councils are forthcoming with data or report on time; councils in some states such as Queensland and Victoria are particularly reluctant. For further information, call Cordell Information on 1800 80 60 60.
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 11
0
news
Training
Continuing Professional Development is coming to Victoria The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and the Department, of Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) have indicated that legislation in relation to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is likely to be introduced into the Victorian parliament later in 2021. The Victorian Government aims to implement a mandatory CPD framework for registered building practitioners, which includes pool builders, as well as licensed and registered plumbers. Spiros Dassakis, SPASA Australia COO, says CPD is important for a number of reasons. “The swimming pool and spa industry is constantly evolving. With innovations in technology, changes in regulation, and ever-increasing project scopes, CPD can help frame our industry as professional, technically up to date and trustworthy,” he says. He says SPASA Australia worked closely with the VBA, the DELWP and other stakeholders to ensure the program, when implemented, will be affordable, flexible and relevant to the swimming pool and spa industry. “There is still a lot of work to do, but the VBA and DELWP have signalled that legislation in relation to CPD is likely to be introduced into parliament later in the year.” SPLASH! will update this story when more is known.
Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter. Federal Court finds for industry over non-chlorine sanitisers Waterco successfully appealed to overturn the APVMA’s ban on pool and spa sanitising products containing hydrogen peroxide and polyhexanide hydrochloride.
12 SPLASH! April/May 2021
Benefits of CPD for the swimming pool and spa industry Dassakis offers the following benefits that a continuing professional development program can bring to the industry: • Keeps knowledge and skills up to date; • Assists employers to meet business goals; • Fosters greater work commitment and productivity; • Encourages dedication to job functionality; • Ensure standards across organisations are consistently high; • Decentralises knowledge allowing for the sharing of information; • Fosters an environment of support and development; • Identifies and increases employee potential and opportunities; • Boosts employee morale and lifts company culture; • Helps to groom and mentor careers; • Lowers defects and risk to business; • Increases consumer, regulator and government confidence; • Lifts professionalism so that we are attractive to new entrants.
Top five online news stories
The online stories that made the news over the past two months. Three public pools evacuated over Easter period Three aquatic centres in Australia and New Zealand were evacuated over the Easter period, causing several patrons to attend hospital.
Vale Adam Lloyd With great sadness SPLASH! reported that Adam Lloyd, Director of International Quadratics, passed away.
Plungie eyes 10,000 new pool installs in Metricon deal Brisbane-based modular pool manufacturer Plungie has formed an exclusive partnership to supply their prefab splash pools to Australian home building giant, Metricon.
Sydney’s largest pool since the 2000 Olympics opens at Green Square The state-of-the art sustainable Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre opened as the recreational focus of Sydney’ fastest growing urban area.
news
Upcoming events 2021 May 17-19
AALARA Conference, Gold Coast
May 22-23
Brisbane Pool & Outdoor Expo
June 3
SPASA Australia South Australian Virtual Awards
June 4
SPASA Australia South Australian Gala, Adelaide
June 11
SPASA Australia Queensland Virtual Awards
June 12
SPASA Australia Queensland Gala, Brisbane
June 17
World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, Global
June 18
SPASA Australia Victorian Virtual Awards
June 19
SPASA Australia Victorian Gala, Melbourne
June 25
SPASA Australia NSW/ACT Virtual Awards
June 26
SPASA Australia NSW/ACT Gala, Sydney
July 24- 25 Melbourne Pool & Spa Lifestyle Sale, Melbourne Showgrounds Aug 3-6
Expolazer & Outdoor Living, Sao Paulo Brazil
Aug 10-13
IAAPA Expo Asia 2021, Shanghai New International Expo Centre
Aug 24
SPLASH! Golf Day, Gold Coast
Aug 25
Women in Industry Breakfast, Gold Coast
Aug 25-26
SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Aug 26
National Awards of Excellence, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Sep 18-21
ASCTA Con 21, Sea World, Gold Coast
Sep 29–Oct 1 Japan Build, Intex, Osaka Sep 11-12
Perth Pool, Spa and Outdoor Expo, Claremont Showgrounds
Oct 26-29
IAKS 27th International Congress, Cologne Germany
Nov 13-18
International Pool Spa Patio Expo, Dallas, Texas, USA
Nov29-Dec2 Piscina & Wellness, with BBConstramut, Barcelona, Spain
More details at splashmagazine.com.au. Dates are subject to change and should be checked with the relevant organisation. Send calendar submissions to info@splashmagazine.com.au.
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 13 Electroheat ECO-V Inverter h=270mm x w=90mm.indd 2
30/04/2021 2:22 PM
news
Obituary
Vale Adam Lloyd In Brief Alias at Kings Park, New South Wales, has been appointed the service agent for all out of warranty Fluidra, Zodiac and AstralPool robotic swimming pool cleaners. Director Ian Micallef says Alias deals direct with the general public, pool shops and mobile service technicians. Cleaners can be returned to the workshop for quotation and repairs and turnaround time is less than a week in most cases, although if urgent they offer same day repairs. They have also been the sales and service agent for Aqua Products for the past 15 years. Contact: www. aliaswater.com; (02) 9671 6233; 0400 225 749. Hayward Holdings, Inc. (“Hayward”) the global designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad portfolio of pool equipment and associated automation systems has applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “HAYW”. It also announced in March that it has commenced an initial public offering. Meanwhile, 65-year-old Texas-based fibreglass pool manufacturer, The Latham Group has also applied to list its stock – this time on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol SWIM. It is not known yet when or if the offering will be complete or its terms. Latham sold 8,700 pools in the US last year and estimates high demand will continue post-covid.
It is with great sadness we report Adam Lloyd, Director of International Quadratics, passed away in March. Everyone at SPLASH! offers our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to family, friends and colleagues. He will be greatly missed. At the company’s request, please see the following formal announcement: It is with a heavy heart that we inform you about the passing of our beloved industry figure, Adam Lloyd, Director of International Quadratics. Adam has been a significant influence and contributor to our industry over the last 20 years. His rare talent will be sorely missed by all. Adam is survived by his wife Alicia and his daughters, Stevie and Isla. Industry moves
Poolwerx appoints chief innovation officer Poolwerx has appointed Shannon O’Brien to the newly created position of chief innovation officer. He will manage and grow the innovation pipeline across new and existing products, services and processes, fast-track the adoption of new systems across the network and further bring the brand onto the global stage. CEO John O’Brien says the new role comes off the back of the franchise’s success throughout covid-19, with sales jumping nearly 15 per cent year-on-year and with 13 new store openings in a matter of months. He says that Shannon O’Brien brings more than a decade of experience in digital transformation and business innovation with roles in New York, London, Sydney and Brisbane at Deloitte Digital, Grey London and Mediabrands. He has worked for P&G, Volvo, GSK, Bank of America and the European insurer AXA. Shannon O’Brien, who is also John O’Brien’s son, will be based in New York, maintaining the global reach of the business. John O’Brien says the key appointment will help deliver innovation across every single business unit to help Poolwerx maintain its competitive edge. “Since our inception, a key part of our ongoing growth is to constantly evolve and develop new
Shannon O’Brien 14 SPLASH! April/May 2021
Adam Lloyd
innovations and initiatives. This ensures we stay ahead of our competitors and honour our key values – ‘dare to succeed’ and ‘find the better way’. This has never been more visible than throughout covid-19, where we were able to digitally pivot and move all our systems and processes online – from franchisee recruitment and training to video conferencing – effectively overnight,” he says. “Shannon’s commitment to impactful change and continuous improvement will be a great asset to the business as we navigate continual changes with agile responses to new opportunities. “Poolwerx continues to look for ways to improve our global impact and this significant appointment to the leadership team will allow us to forge ahead with sustainability and keep business development front of mind. We look forward to an exciting new chapter ahead with the introduction of this critical role to our global team.”
New chief technology officer
Meanwhile, Russell Inserra is also joining Poolwerx as their first chief technology officer, planning to build the brand’s technology infrastructure and enhance products and services to best anticipate changing client needs. Inserra brings more than 20 years corporate experience, with executive roles across finance, operations, sales and marketing for brands including Ready Plan retail insurance products and Hannan Group within Australia, New Russell Zealand and the Inserra United Kingdom.
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news Sponsorships
Boss sponsors Paracanoe athlete Dylan Littlehales Boss Solar has become a major sponsor of Dylan Littlehales, an Australian Paralympian in the sport of Paracanoe. Dylan is the son of Rob Littlehales, owner of NCS Pool Heating. Currently ranked fourth in the world, Littlehales has his sights set on representing Australia at the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games. He was born with congenital fibula hemimelia which is a rare limb deficiency in his right leg. As a result, his limb grew much slower than expected and was missing crucial ligaments and some bone. He has never used his leg as an excuse, always
pushing forward to be the best. At the age of 15, Littlehales made his Australian debut at the 2015 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Milan, Italy. Boss Solar is his 2021 paddle sponsor. Boss Group marketing head, Madelyn Mills, says the company is striving to make positive contributions to society. “One of the ways we do this is by sponsoring organisations, individuals and charities that positively affect the lives of everyday people. We are proud to be sponsoring Dylan
Boss Solar is now the paddle sponsor for Paralympic hopeful, Dylan Littlehales
and wish him luck in Tokyo. Look out for the Boss Solar logo on Dylan’s paddle at any of his training days or regattas!” Contact: www.dylanlittlehales.com.au; www. bosssolar.com.au
Home equity
Detached home values spike Equity in detached homes is on the up following high sales figures for new homes and increased prices for existing detached dwellings. Home equity value is considered to be one of the factors in pool purchasing for existing homeowners, and for home renovations in general. This effect has intensified during covid as homeowners are unable to spend their equity on overseas travel. CoreLogic’s national home value index recorded a 2.8 per cent rise in March, the fastest rate of appreciation since October 1988 (3.2 per
cent). These exceptionally strong growth conditions remain broad-based, with values rising by at least 1.4 per cent across each of the capital cities and rest-of-state areas over the month. Sydney led the pack for capital gains in March, with values surging 3.7 per cent over the month and 6.7 per cent higher over the first quarter of the year. According to CoreLogic’s research director, Tim Lawless, the last time Sydney housing values recorded a quarterly trend this strong was in June/July 2015. “Following this brief surge, the pace of growth rapidly slowed as limits on investor lending kicked in to slow the market.” Across the regional markets, gains were highest in NSW, where values were up 2.8 per cent over the month. March marked several inflection points across the market: Sydney and Melbourne have now staged a full recovery from earlier downturns. With the acceleration in capital gains across Sydney and Melbourne, the larger capitals have started to outpace many of the smaller cities that were previously leading the charge in growth. Sydney dwelling values are now 2.6 per cent higher than their July 2017 peak: a remarkable recovery considering the -14.9 per cent drop in values through to May 2019 and the further -2.9 per cent fall throughout the covid downturn. Similarly, Melbourne housing values have recovered from the -11.1 per cent fall between 2017 and 2019, and the -5.6 per cent drop in values through the worst of the covid related downturn to set a new record high in March.
Regional drift
CoreLogic charts showing the relative value changes in the national housing market 16 SPLASH! April/May 2021
Additionally, for the first time in a year, growth in capital city housing values outpaced the regional markets. CoreLogic’s combined capital cities index recorded a 2.8 per cent lift in March compared with the 2.5 per cent gain seen
across the combined regionals index. “Housing values in regional areas are 11.4 per cent higher over the past year, demonstrating the earlier stronger growth trend; capital city values are now 4.8 per cent higher on an annual basis with the acceleration in growth evident in March,” says Lawless. In March, Victoria was the only state where regional housing values rose at a faster pace than their capital city counterparts. Regional Victorian values were up 2.6 per cent compared with a 2.4 per cent rise across Melbourne. Lower density housing has continued to outpace higher density housing for capital gains. Nationally, house values were 3.0 per cent higher over the month while unit values were up a more modest 1.9 per cent. Across the combined capitals, the quarterly growth rate for houses (6.5 per cent) is more than double that of units (3.1 per cent). “Despite the underperformance, unit markets have turned a corner, with Sydney recording two consecutive months of rising values, while the Melbourne unit market has seen values consistently rising since October last year, with the trend accelerating over recent months.” Contact: www.corelogic.com.au
New homes surge too Meanwhile, the HIA is sheeting home the credit for the surge in new home sales to the HomeBuilder grants scheme. “Over the year to March 2021, sales increased by 42.6 per cent compared to the previous year. This indicates a strong level of building activity will occur in 2021 and into 2022, providing employment to the construction sector and supporting the broader economy,” says HIA economist, Angela Lillicrap. However, she expected that HomeBuilder brought forward existing demand for new homes, and so demand should cool over coming months.
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news
In Brief
Currently there is very high demand for pool slides Accessories
Staycation popularity causes slide backlog The ongoing pandemic is continuing to increase demand for swimming pools, pool supplies and pool accessories. As homeowners want to get the most from their pools, they are purchasing more items that will help to that end – heating has been particularly popular (see the heating feature on page 34.) Another item in high demand is pool slides, and this demand has been exacerbated by the combination of travel restrictions and shipping chaos caused by the ongoing pandemic. Fred Fliedner from Aqua Action says heightened consumer demand has resulted in lengthy delays for importers of high-quality pool slides from America.
“Current wait times range between four and six months despite factories operating 24/7 to keep up with demand,” says Fliedner. “We spoke to our supplier this morning who said that the demand in the US is unprecedented,” he says. “They received over US$3 million worth of orders — that’s nearly four million in Australian dollars — during March alone.” As more and more people are focusing on home and poolside improvements in lieu of overseas holidays, Fliedner is urging anyone interested in installing a pool slide this summer to pre-order now. “With overseas travel an uncertainty, pre-ordering now will ensure your slide of choice is available and arrives on time by the next swim season,” he says.
Disinfection
UK study confirms properly disinfected pool water safe from covid As SPLASH! readers are well aware, the scientific consensus is that swimmers face no concerns from the spread of covid in a properly maintained and disinfected swimming pool (see edition 132 for the report on the Griffith University research). Australian health departments, as well the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree that proper swimming pool water disinfection inactivates the coronavirus. Now research in the UK has confirmed that the chances of getting the virus from a swimming pool are “negligible”. An investigation commissioned by Swim England and the Water Babies swim school, with support from the Royal Life Saving Society and virologists from Imperial College London, studied what effect varying concentrations of chlorine in water have on the coronavirus. British newspaper the Daily Mail reported the
study’s author Wendy Barclay, of the Imperial College London, saying: “We performed these experiments at our high containment laboratories in London. Under these safe conditions we are able to measure the ability of the virus to infect cells, which is the first step in its transmission. “By mixing the virus with swimming pool water that was delivered to us by the Water Babies team, we could show that the virus does not survive in swimming pool water — it was no longer infectious. “That, coupled with the huge dilution factor of virus that might find its way into a swimming pool from an infected person, suggests the chance of contracting covid-19 from swimming pool water is negligible.” For its study, researchers found that a concentration of free chlorine of 1.5 milligrams per litre and a pH of between 7 and 7.2 reduced the infectivity of the coronavirus more than 1000-fold in just 30 seconds.
Fluidra has opened a new Pro Centre at 221 Marion Road, Marleston, South Australia. Since closing the doors at Keswick, Fluidra has been busy preparing the new Fluidra Pro and Distribution Centre for the trade. The new premises is a large and modern Fluidra Pro Centre stocking the full range of AstralPool and Zodiac products. It has a training room and facilities, plenty of parking, ease of access and is centrally located. Oscar Davis, former chairman and owner of Hayward Industries, died on February 25 in New York City. He had just celebrated his 95th birthday. He arrived in the US aged three, and after various apprenticeships as a tool maker, he started his own small machine shop that produced specialty plastic fittings used in the chemical and water treatment industries. In 1964 he acquired the small Hayward company, which has grown into a large global company. He positioned the business as one of the first to engineer swimming pool products using plastic components. Through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, Hayward expanded into a global enterprise, employing more than 2400 employees worldwide, and today remains a robust leader in the swimming pool industry. One of his sons, Robert Davis, succeeded him as president of Hayward Industries in 2014.
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 19
news
Manufacturing
New Australian fibreglass pool standards available The new Australian Standards for design, fabrication and installation of fibreglass swimming pools are now available. The new standards are now Australian-only standards, as New Zealand did not participate in the revision process. Updating the standards came on the back of two years of development and collaboration with SPASA Australia, relevant members of the industry and Standards Australia. The following revised fibreglass standards have now been published: • AS 1838 – 2021 Swimming pools – Premoulded fibre reinforced plastics Design and Fabrication • AS 1839 – 2021 Swimming pools – Premoulded fibre reinforced plastics Installation SPASA Australia is a member of the PL-041 Australia Standards Committee, and drew together the SPASA Australia Fibreglass Advisory Group. The advisory group co-chairs – Lew Beale, Charles Rickard and Anthony Cross – have jointly extended their thanks and appreciation to SPASA Australia for driving the Standards process, and especially thank members of the advisory group and the Standards Australia committee that represented all sectors of the industry, from planning, engineering, material supply, manufacturing, installation and servicing. In relation to the important preparatory work of the advisory group, Beale says: “Composites manufacturing is constantly innovating through new material sciences and application processes, and minimum standards for both areas has never been more important.” Rickard says: “With more than 25 years of installation learnings since the last Australian Standards review, coupled with advances in our working knowledge of site soil conditions across Australia, the long-term performance of in-ground pools in all site conditions is now well understood.” Cross says: “The local market is experiencing growing competition from new entrants and the industry is quickly segmenting with the pressure from increased demand for customisation coupled with smaller block sizes, and often more challenging site conditions, so our industry standards for manufacturing and installation need to respond.”
Joint standards now only Australian standards
Previously, these standards were Australian and New Zealand (AS/ NZS) Standards, however Standards New Zealand did not proceed with the joint development of the above revisions due to funding and internal resource constraints at that time. This means that these Standards will no longer be joint AS/NZS Standards and will be published only as Australian Standards (AS). SPASA Australia and the swimming pool peak industry body in New Zealand, SPASA NZ, are already in discussions with Standards New Zealand on the process of how to update the AS Standards for the New Zealand sector. Contact: Standards Australia or www.splashmagazine.com.au/quicklinks136
Fibreglass shell manufacturing image courtesy of Narellan Pools. Illustrative purposes only
Recalls
Fluidra voluntarily recalls select AstralPool gas heaters Fluidra is initiating a voluntary product safety recall involving select AstralPool Natural & LPG gas swimming pool heaters, effective immediately in the interests of customer safety.
20 SPLASH! April/May 2021
The following AstralPool heaters sold by Fluidra through swimming pool specialists between 1st December 2012 and 26th October 2020 are being recalled voluntarily as of 6 April, 2021:
• HiNRG Natural & LPG Gas Heaters – Model Numbers: 175, 250 and 400 • ICI Natural & LPG Gas Heaters – Model Numbers: 200 and 400 • Viron eVo Natural & LPG Gas
Heaters – Model Numbers: 250, 350 and 450s. The AstralPool JX and HX gas heaters and the Zodiac JXi gas heaters are NOT affected by this product safety recall campaign. More details of affected heaters can be accessed online at www. astralpool.com.au/productrecall. Fluidra managing director, Stephen Matysiak explains the reason for the product recall: “We identified that water or moisture may enter the ignition module inside the specified gas heater models, causing it to fail. If the ignition module fails and causes a
news
Timeline 2016 AS/NZS 1838 Swimming pools – Pre-moulded fibre-reinforced plastics – Design and fabrication and AS/NZ 1839 Swimming pools – Pre-moulded fibre-reinforced plastics – Installation were being reviewed as part of the Standards Australia “Aged Standards” process. SPASA Australia lobbied Standards Australia advising that the standards were critical to the industry and wanted to see both standards reconfirmed as they were both still technically relevant, and wanted the opportunity to review them rather than have them withdrawn.
Australia • Spiros Dassakis – SPASA Australia
2017/18 The SPASA Australia Fibreglass Advisory Group worked on the draft Standards Australia Project Proposal over a period of approximately eight months.
2018
WaterLink
Sp nTouch
SPASA Australia submitted the project proposals to Standards Australia for approval and Standards Australia approved the proposals for both standards.
2019
Standards Australia Kick-Off meeting took place in March. Standards Australia agreed to reconfirm the standards on the 2019/20 provision that SPASA Australia submit a project proposal to update Standards Australia Committee PL-041 Glass Reinforced the standards within 12 months. Swimming Pools started reviewing the Standards based on SPASA 2017 Australia’s Project Proposals. SPASA Australia established the Fibreglass Advisory Group made 2020 up of the following individuals: Draft Standards sent out for public • Anthony Cross – Compass Pools comment. Public Comments • Lew Beale – ALT reviewed. • Charles Rickard – Rickard Engineering 2021 • Bob Biernat – Freedom Pools New Standards Published: • Lynley Papineau – ALT • AS1838 – 2021 Swimming pools • Dean Voice – Allnex – Premoulded fibre reinforced • Jason Smith – Leisure Pools plastics Design and Fabrication; • Larry Beston – RF Composites and • Chris Meyer – Narellan Pools • AS1839 – 2021 Swimming pools • Stefan Ossenberg – Protector – Premoulded fibre reinforced Aluminium plastics Installation • Lindsay McGrath – SPASA
fire, this may result in a serious injury or death to users or bystanders. “Although this outcome is highly unlikely, our commitment to customer safety is unwavering, resulting in a decision to voluntarily initiate a product safety recall of the affected models with the assistance of ACCC and Energy Safe Victoria.” Any commercial or private pool owner using one of the affected models must immediately stop using the heater and disconnect the unit from the power supply. Instructions on how to disconnect the heaters from power are available at www.astralpool.com.au/productrecall. On the same website there is an online booking registration form to arrange for a technician to repair the gas heater onsite, free of charge. Further assistance regarding the rectification process is available through on 1300 852 501 or anz.productrecall@fluidra.com. For further information and specific assistance, Fluidra customers are encouraged to contact their Fluidra Manager in each state or territory: • NSW – Aaron Hayes, ahayes@fluidra.com • VIC – Travis D’Altera, tdaltera@fluidra.com • QLD – Steven Winfield, swinfield@fluidra.com • SA – Sheila Duplooy, sduplooy@fluidra.com • WA – David Barwick, dbarwick@fluidra.com
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Many exhibitors ran out of sales literature and business cards over the weekend of the show Expos
Adelaide pool and spa show grows 30 per cent Following a turbulent year for exhibitions and a postponement in 2020, the Pool & Spa Outdoor Living Expo at the Adelaide Showground on March 27 and 28 roared back to life, with visitors pouring in from the time the doors opened. There was a more than 30 per cent increase in attendance from the 2019 show and exhibitors reported being rushed off their feet, with many running out of sales literature and business cards over the weekend. A new visitor promotion campaign focussed on the fun times and the lasting memories a pool or spa creates for the whole family, and it was partly credited for the success of the show. Managing director of AEE, show organiser Noel Gray, says that the exhibitors were unanimous in their praise for the expo, with several long-term participants claiming it was the best pool show they had ever attended in Adelaide. “With many consumers investing in their own homes and backyards instead of travelling and taking overseas holidays, we expected a good attendance but the turnout exceeded all expectations,” he says. Lindsay McGrath, SPASA CEO says that the consumer expos always provide hot leads for exhibitors, and there was none hotter than 2021. “People are itching to get out and about and this was a great confidence boost to the year,” he says. “With the Sydney show scheduled for early May, the Brisbane show on May 22-23 and the Melbourne show on July24-25, we are looking forward to continuing this success across all of the events.” RIGHT TOP: The seminars were very popular RIGHT MIDDLE: Both spas and pools were in demand RIGHT BOTTOM: There were a lot of families looking to buy 22 SPLASH! April/May 2021
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news
Advice
How to clean swimming pools after storms and floods
David Lloyd
In light of the devastating oncein-100-year floods, we reprise this helpful advice from David Lloyd of International Quadratics on how to clean up and treat swimming pools after storms and floods. Cyclones, storms and flooding has several effects on swimming pools, including the following: • Dirt and debris washed into the pool; • Phosphates introduced into the water; • Dilution of the chlorine causing algae to form; • Dilution of the salt and mineral content of the water. Below are some quick tips for handling the situation. Step 1. The first step is to clean the pool of dirt and debris. Remove any large debris such as branches etc, empty both the skimmer and pump basket. In the case of the water being very dirty such as when soil has been flushed into the pool, a heavy duty floc may be required. Follow the label instructions of the floc you are using and then vacuum the pool to waste. See below for important information relating to keeping the pH high for flocs to work properly. Step 2. Test and re-balance the pool water including the addition of salt and minerals where required. Step 3. Shock dose the pool. Step 4. Add the required dose of phosphate remover to remove unwanted phosphates. Step 5. In case of cloudy water use a clarifier. Step 6. Add a winteriser treatment or maintenance algaecide. 24 SPLASH! April/May 2021
Flocculants and coagulants
This might be an appropriate time for a refresher course on flocculants and how they work. The terms “flocculants” and “coagulants” are synonymous with each other; however the process of clearing cloudy/dirty pools is in fact a two-stage process involving both coagulation and flocculation. Turbidity (or cloudiness) of water is caused by fine particles suspended in the water. These particles are typically smaller than two microns and will normally pass through the filter system. They are of low density and will therefore be suspended in the water. Most particles are negatively charged and repel each other. In order to remove these particles it is first necessary to add a flocculent (positively charged) which will coagulate the fine particles into larger “flocs” by neutralising the negative charge, allowing the particles to come together and form a floc. Some flocs will be “light flocs” which will tend to remain suspended in the water or even rise to the surface of the pool and are then caught on the filter bed. Algae and organic matter may form lighter flocs. Soil, dust and clay, being denser will form heavier flocs which will sink and form sedimentation on the floor of the pool and this should be then vacuumed to waste. The type of flocculent used will also dictate if a light or heavy floc is formed. Aluminium based flocs such as poly aluminium chloride (PAC) or Alum will
form a heavy floc which settles on the bottom while some cationic electrolytes and natural flocs will form light flocs and tend to be caught by the filter. In the case of a really dirty pool, for example after large storms or in the case of cyclones, we would recommend the use of a heavy floc such as liquid PAC or powdered/granular Alum.
The importance of pH
It is important to note that aluminium flocs only work at a high pH so you must first raise the pH of the pool to at least 8 when using Alum or 7.8 when using a liquid PAC based product. Alum has a low pH and will immediately reduce the pH of the water after addition. Common practice when using Alum is to raise the pH to 8+ using Soda Ash and then add 2 to 4 kg of sodium bicarb (buffer) at the same time as adding the Alum. This will compensate for any drop in pH and also increase the Total Alkalinity. When using a PAC based product, the pH should be raised to at least 7.8. However, the effect on pH of the water after
addition is significantly less than that of Alum so further reduction is usually unnecessary. It should also be noted that Alum contains typically 8 per cent Al2O3 (the active floc) while PAC may contain 23 per cent Al2O3 (three times stronger).
Floccing points
Some important points to note when flocking pools are: • It is difficult to floc live algae. If there is any evidence of the presence of algae, super chlorinate using liquid chlorine (this also assists in the raising of the pH). • If Phosphates are present the floc may be partially used up floccing the Phosphates and slow up the process of clearing the pool. • High TDS levels or salt will also slow up or prevent efficient flocculation. The use of a fast floc which has an inbuilt accelerator may compensate for this. • Most flocs are incompatible with DE or cartridge filters. DE filters should be set on “recirculation” or “by-pass”. • In the case of cartridge filters do not use a floc unless you have a valve to allow pool water to waste, in which case you should first remove the cartridge then vacuum to waste. If no waste valve is fitted, then a light clarifier may be used but the cartridge should be cleaned frequently to avoid a build-up of pressure. One last tip – after vacuuming and rebalancing the pool water, place a clarifier in the skimmer basket to really polish the water and leave it crystal clear. Contact: www.interquad.com.au
Beware emptying pools No matter how bad you think the water might be after a storm, be aware that flood water will have made the ground conditions around the foundations of the pool very wet. Pools should not be drained until ground conditions have dried to at least the depth of the pool as the entire shell of the pool (fibreglass or concrete) can “pop” out of its original position with the change in hydrostatic pressures. Except for the most severely affected, almost all swimming pools and spas can be brought back to life after floods, storms and fire without the need to drain the water. In that instance it should always be left to a professional – a pool owner should never drain their own pool.
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BE BRIGHT, CHOOSE SOLAR Recent research shows that 93.7% of residential swimming pools in Australia are outdoors. It won’t come as a surprise to know that more than 80% of Australians prefer to use their swimming pool during the warmer months of the year, on sunny days. Whilst there are a variety of heating solutions available, usage patterns confirm that solar pool heating is by far the most suitable and cost-effective way of heating an outdoor swimming pool. This is why 79.7% of households use solar as their primary source of pool heating, delivering a heated and comfortable swimming experience when pool use is desired.
HOUSEHOLDS WITH SWIMMING POOLS
1.5%
14.1%
34.4%
35.9%
14.1%
Lone person
Couple
Young family
Mature family
Retiree
90.6%
OUTDOOR POOL
6.3%
93.7%
3.1%
Wellness
INDOOR POOL
design featu me/ re Ho
Leisure
PRIMARY POOL USE
1.6%
SOLAR
ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS
6.2% AL YE L AR
≥28°C
79.7% 17.2% 3.1%
95.3%
82.8% 54.7% NO V
0% AU G
28.1%
0% JU L
SE P
0% N JU
3.1% MA Y
MA R AP R
FE B
IDEAL POOL TEMPERATURE
JA N
85.9%
34.4%
SWIMMING MONTHS
OC T
79.7%
≥25°C
92.2%
4.7%
DE C
IDEAL WEATHER FOR SWIMMING 93.7%
78.1%
Exercise
PRIMARY SOURCE OF POOL HEATING
POOL COVER
Source: Supreme Heating Pool Ownership Survey, June 2020. Customer Location: NSW/ACT 17.2%, VIC 56.2%, QLD 14.1%, WA 1.6%, SA 10.9%
YEARS OF SUSTAINABILITY
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feature
Fair Work Amendment Bill passed
I
n March, the Federal Parliament passed a strippedback version of the proposed amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009, only making changes to casual employment in an attempt to overcome the Workpac litigation. Fair Work Lawyers says a level of certainty on this issue would be greatly welcomed by employers. There are two key takeout issues for employers who engage casual employees: • Employers must update their systems and procedures to ensure casual employees are given the correct version of the Casual Fair Work Information Statement; and • It is strongly recommended that casual employees are engaged under written terms of engagement, and those terms should be reviewed to ensure they are consistent with the legislative prescriptions in relation to the new test for casual employment.
Update – Fair Work Amendment Bill 2021
In December, the Morrison Government introduced the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021 (the Bill) into parliament. The Bill was designed to amend a large array of areas under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act) and ancillary legislation. In March, a significantly stripped back version of the Bill which essentially only deals with one issue – casual employment – was passed by parliament. What is staying? The following amendments were made: • Definition of Casual Employees: The Bill introduces a statutory, objective definition of casual employment, which is based upon whether, at the time of offering employment to the employee, the employer makes a firm advance commitment to continuing and indefinite work. The Bill sets out various factors which are to be considered in assessing whether the there is an absence of a firm advance commitment, including whether the employee will only work as required by the employer and whether the employer can elect to offer work and the employee can elect to accept or reject work. • Casual Conversion: The Bill also introduces a statutory obligation for employer to offer regular casuals the right to convert to permanent employment, with residual rights for the employee to request conversion in certain circumstances where the employer has failed to offer conversion to the employee. However, the senate did make some changes to these
provisions in the Bill, namely to exempt small businesses from the requirement to offer casual employees the right to request permanent employment every 12 months. However, casual employees of small businesses will still be able to request conversion if they choose to do so. • New Casual Fair Work Information Statement: The Bill provides that employers must provide casual employees with a new Casual Employment Information Statement as soon as possible after the employee becomes employed. Failing to provide a Fair Work Information Statement can lead to prosecution (up to $66,000 per office) so employers should ensure they update their systems and procedures to be ready for this. • Casual Loading: The Bill introduces a provision in which if an employee is paid a casual loading but is later found to be a permanent employee, a court may be able to offset the casual loading against the value of permanent entitlements owed to the employee (e.g. paid leave, notice of termination, redundancy pay). What was removed? Essentially, all other proposed changes which were previously included in the Bill have been removed. These include: • Mandatory sunsetting of all old agreements; • Streamlining of the Enterprise Agreement approval process; • Increasing and expanding the pecuniary penalties scale; • Increasing the jurisdiction of the small claims procedure by increasing the limit to $50,000; • Criminalising dishonest and systematic underpayment patterns; • Clarifying the definition of a transfer of business; and Amendments to certain nominated modern awards. What was added? A few ancillary terms have been added to the Bill during the senate process, namely: • A mechanism for review of the amendments to be taken 12 months after the commencement of the amendments; • Expanding the jurisdiction of the small claims procedure to deal with disputes relating to casual conversion; and • Transitional provisions relating to casual employees of small business employers. Operative Date Most of the above provisions are expressed to come into effect the day after receiving royal assent. This is not a set date but customarily occurs shortly after the legislation is passed. n Contact: www.fairworklawyers.com.au; info@fairworklawyers.com.au DISCLAIMER: The information contained here is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. The reader should seek legal advice in relation to their own specific circumstances. © 2020 Fair Work Lawyers. Current as at 23 March 2021. Liability limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation. April/May 2021 SPLASH! 27
feature
Waterco celebrates 40-year milestone
W
ater treatment manufacturer and distributor Waterco Limited is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Waterco founder and CEO, Soon Sinn Goh says they are marking the milestone by reflecting on the tenacity that saw the company survive everything from shoestring budgets and factory fires to the global economic crisis and the ongoing pandemic. Starting in 1981 selling PVC pipes in Sydney with three staff and one truck driver, Waterco now employs 715 people globally including 476 staff in its 211,125 square metre Malaysian manufacturing facility. It is also Waterco founder and the founding franchisor of Swimart, one of Australasia’s CEO, Soon Sinn Goh biggest and oldest pool and spa networks. Goh says that, despite facing a number of industrial, economic and environmental challenges, Waterco continues to innovate, expand and diversify. “We celebrate our 40 years in business in a position of strength, having survived recessions, economic downturns, two factory fires and one pandemic,” he says. Goh attributes Waterco’s position as a dominant player in the international swimming pool and water treatment sectors to the company’s innovative engineering and efficient manufacturing processes. “This enables us to deliver high quality, durable products to over 40 countries around the world,” he says.
Filter production at the Waterco manufacturing facility
“Thanks to our loyal staff, customers, investors and Swimart franchise partners, we are now able to proudly position ourselves as a successful Australian company competing effectively on a global scale.” Waterco’s water and energy saving innovations, including its proprietary injection moulding techniques, continue to set benchmarks in the industrial water treatment and aquaculture industries. The company’s Micron fibreglass commercial filters are the largest found in the market today while its Climate Care Certified range of products provide consumers with energy and water saving solutions. “We will continue to invest heavily in research and development, machinery and technology to create products of the future, enabling Waterco to be more competitive and enter new markets in the essential water treatment sector,” says Goh. n
Key company milestones
Swimart North Strathfield The Sydney head office after the fire in 2015
28 SPLASH! April/May 2021
1974 Soon Sinn Goh graduates from the University of NSW with a Bachelor of Commerce 1981 Soon Sinn Goh migrates to Australia from Malaysia 1981 Commences trading as Dronaco and distributing PVC pipes and fittings to the pool and spa industry 1983 Opens first retail store called Swimart 1986 Commences business as a franchisor of Swimart pool and spa franchise network 1986 Acquires Zane Solar and enters the solar heating market 1987 Changes Dronaco to Waterco Pty Ltd 1989 Floats on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: WAT) 1990 Commences manufacturing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia operating as Waterco Far East 2000 Acquires Watercare Division of Asia Pacific Chemicals Limited 2003 Acquires Lacron, Britain’s largest manufacturer of pressure sand filters 2005 Acquires Focus Temp and increases Waterco’s market share in Canada and the United States 2006 Opens manufacturing plants in China and East Asia to meet escalating demand from Europe 2007 MultiCyclone awarded the Piscina Barcelona Sustainability Award 2012 Acquires Pool and Spa Poppits Pty Ltd 2019 Acquires SolarMate Sdn Bhd in Malaysia 2020 Acquires Automated Pool Products Pty Ltd distributor of Kreepy Krauly pool cleaners 2021 Celebrates 40 years in business
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Teaching adults to swim with a smile
Petrina Liyanage with her adults’ guide to swimming
A
ward winning swim teacher Petrina Liyanage has helped more than 1000 adults get water confident since establishing her business in 2013. Her successful pupils include Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, and Sudhir Warrrier, chairman of Australian Cruises Group, both of whom offer endorsements. Now she has put her experience into a guide to help adults become confident in the water and learn to swim so they can enjoy the pool and other aquatic activities. This is one of the rare books on teaching adults to swim from someone who not only has the experience, but has been recognised as excelling at it. In 2018 she won the Austswim National Award for Best Swim Teacher of Adults. As well as publishing the Adults’ Guide to Swimming she has released a full range of adult learn-to-swim videos to accompany the guide. These videos are available for free on her website. Liyanage loves having the privilege of being part of a very personal journey when people achieve what can often be a life goal. She’s had people break down in tears in the water through the sheer emotion of being able to succeed in ways they never thought possible. “I’ve helped people who love water sports but are too afraid to get in it. For example, a jet skier who always jet skis with a life jacket on, people who own sailboats but have never learnt how to swim – even an Olympic rower who could never get her face wet.”
Petrina’s ten golden rules for adults to get water confident
“Any adult can get water confident, regardless of age or starting level.”
1. Never underestimate the importance of relaxing. It helps you to float and breathe better, which ultimately helps you to swim better.
She even helped an opera singer learn how to swim so he could improve his lung capacity and perform better on stage. “It’s never too late to learn,” she says. “Any adult can get water confident, regardless of age or starting level.” The book provides great tools to self-teach if: • You can’t or don’t wish to take swimming lessons. • You wish to prepare yourself prior to taking swimming lessons. • You seek to enhance your knowledge to complement current swimming lessons. The book is packed with more than 100 illustrations (with online videos), step-by-step instructions for self-practice, and solutions to common issues you might encounter. People can learn how to: • Address physical or psychological challenges behind building confidence in the water. • Breathe properly. • Float effectively. • Swim recreationally using freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. • Survive calmly in deep water (tread water). • Snorkel confidently. n
2. Never hold your breath; always breathe in and out. 3. Breathe in before your lungs are empty. Don’t wait until you’ve expelled all air, as this leads to gasping, panic and an erratic breathing pattern. 4. The correct breath control is to inhale through mouth, and exhale through mouth and nose together.
A shot from a Swim with a Smile video that shows how to tread water then transition to floating on your back. Go to her website for more
5. Your head impacts your body position. For example raising your head when horizontal causes your hips and legs to fall. 6. Goggles are crucial to expedite your water confidence when learning. It’s important to keep your eyes open at all times. (You can transition away from wearing them later if you wish.) 7. Your hands should be slightly cupped for all movements in water. (Placing your hand on your thigh demonstrates the same curved shape.) Fingers should be close together, with firm (not floppy) wrists. The positioning of your feet and ankles will vary depending on the kick used. 8. Always check the water depth before entering. If you’re anxious or nervous, take a buddy with you who’s a good swimmer. 9. Learning how to tread water is more tiring than people think. Practise in short bursts to conserve energy and avoid frustration. You can focus on extending your time later once the technique is mastered. 10. Be patient with yourself. Mastering aquatic skills may take longer than you think, even if you consider yourself to be a fit person.
Play video
Contact: The book is available for sale through Amazon (www.amazon.com.au) and also through her website, together with the free videos (www.swimwithasmile.com). April/May 2021 SPLASH! 31
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Covid accelerates retail exit plans
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EO John O’Brien says Poolwerx has noticed an increase in pool shops wanting to exit the industry since covid started. This is despite growth in the overall swimming pool retail market. “Covid-19 has made people reconsider their life aspirations,” he says. “For the industry veterans, the pandemic has often left them nervous and even scared in some cases. Their business wasn’t necessarily future-proofed. It’s often not the first economic scare they are facing, with many having had to navigate the global financial crisis in 2008 before it.” O’Brien says this has affected the number of enquiries from people contacting them wishing to sell. “The pandemic has bought the decision to sell forward for many – the world has just become a bit too uncertain for many small businesses and their nest eggs are now more vulnerable. As a result, we have helped a record number of independent stores sell in the second half of last year, in the midst of covid-19.” Poolwerx uses a matchmaker model when an independent operator looking for a short term exit strategy in a high demand territory approaches them. Poolwerx drives enquiries initially for the sale of the business, which is converted to Poolwerx branding upon finding a suitable franchise prospect who is locally based or looking to acquire in that region. This process, led by Poolwerx franchise development manager Mike Geddes, allows a short term exit strategy from the industry for the seller and allows Poolwerx to expand its retail/mobile footprint. The time to sell is dependent on how sale-ready the business is, but on average takes between three and six months, and involves no cost for the vendor. This strategy has been in place for more than 10 years, and O’Brien says they have helped convert more than 60 independent stores over that time. The same system has been in use in the US where Poolwerx is growing its market share and increasing its footprint to eight states, with more than 30 existing US independents transitioning. He says the feedback has been very positive as the system offers an easy solution that provides access to more qualified buyers, often with deeper pockets. “For potential buyers, it’s giving them access to an established territory and clientele to take over. It therefore makes bank finance easier as well.” Through the matchmaker process, Poolwerx aims to acquire about 200 more stores. “There are around 1000 pool stores in Australia,” says O’Brien. “700 of these are independents and of those approximately 200 are considering retirement – these are who we can help. There isn’t a city or town with an independent pool store in Australia or New Zealand that we haven’t already spoken to about helping them sell.” 32 SPLASH! April/May 2021
Cory Harris with his family and team in front of his old independent store
“Quite often, we find independents don’t necessarily realise the importance of a succession plan until a crisis hits.” When to move
O’Brien says a majority of their stores turn over more than $1 million per annum generally, and they had seen an increase in sales across the retail network – up to 23 per cent. Considering this coincides with other retailers in the industry experiencing excellent growth, it’s clear profitability issues aren’t behind the accelerated plans to exit. It seems more likely that general uncertainty in the current environment has affected some people’s decisions. “Each independent and scenario is unique,” he says. “But quite often, we find independents don’t necessarily realise the importance of a succession plan until a crisis hits – be it a health emergency, a family crisis or a global pandemic threatening their business. “Others wake up one day and simply decide it is time to take their foot off the pedal and enjoy their retirement.” O’Brien says that, generally, independents looking to exit are nearing retirement. “We see demand from all over Australia and New Zealand. They are usually loyal industry veterans who have achieved a huge amount through the years, but might have lost their mojo after decades in the business. “They want to plan their exit carefully and ensure the business they have built over the years, as well as their staff and clientele, will be looked after. They are entrusting us with their legacy and life’s work.” n Contact: www.poolwerx.com.au
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Case study: Baulkham Hills Cory Harris bought an independent pool shop in Baulkham Hills seven years ago. It had become run down, and Harris built it up into a successful business on the back of a dedication to customer service. He recently sold to Tim and Bev Oldfield through the matchmaker program. Harris initially decided to choose the swimming pool and spa industry due to a familial connection.
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“My father worked at a pool shop,” he says. “I was looking for a job, and a pool shop in the local area came up. It looked like it would be a good buy and was in a good area with a lot of pools and not too much competition – there was only one Swimart and one Poolwerx in the same area. In the end, it was the Poolwerx owners who bought us out.” Harris enjoyed his time in the shop and it had worked out well financially, but his passion had always been boats and the opportunity came up to pick up a boat franchise. “Before I bought the pool shop, I had worked at a Mastercraft dealership – and after I bought it I still worked for them in winter and did the Mastercraft shows. Then the opportunity came up for a Mastercraft dealership at the same time as Tim and Bev were looking to expand, so it all worked out well for everyone.” As with many other pool and spa shop retailers, Harris says covid hadn’t affected his business negatively. “It had a positive impact if anything – because people were trapped at home and couldn’t travel, they realised how much they appreciated their pools. We sold a lot of robotic cleaners and heaters – in particularly the Evo Heats were selling really well. We also had a lot of basic repairs: lights, gates, locks, hinges and that sort of thing.”
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Harris approached Poolwerx and within a week Mike Geddes had pretty much everything lined up and it all happened quickly. “I knew what I needed to make my new business happen, and Tim and Bev knew what they needed, and we were both around the same sort of number and it worked for everyone involved,” he says. Harris helped with a one-month handover. “It was very easy and streamlined – they’d already been in the industry longer than I had – so I was just introducing them to their new customers basically.” The business switch was successful, but soon after Harris purchased the Mastercraft dealership the western Sydney floods ran through his new business and his home. While the business survived, his home was lost. It was insured but was still a devastating situation. However, there was an upside. While the Hawkesbury and Nepean River floods caused havoc in the area, they also brought plenty of business to his new dealership. When SPLASH! spoke with him, 31 boats had been dropped off for repair. “I wish my best to Tim and Bev and am extremely confident I could pass the business onto them to continue and finish building what I’d started,” he says. Bev Oldfield says having Harris enthusiastically help with the handover was a great boon.
• The solution for environmentally conscious clients or those who just cannot tolerate chlorine. • Water so similar to the household tap can be recycled to the garden and holding tanks. • Set and forget installation with 80% less salt makes startup a breeze. • Customer support for your clients after handover, seven days a week via phone, online and app.
“He was still a visible face in the shop for about four to six weeks through the conversion, providing a smooth transition for existing clients as we got on board,” Bev Oldfield says. “The clients were grateful to know they’d continue to be looked after – it was a really positive experience given Poolwerx is such a recognisable brand in the industry, so that helped establish trust,” she says. “The area was adjoining to our existing Castle Hill store and was one of our marketing territories. We always wanted to grow the business and open another store, and purchasing Baulkham Hills was the perfect opportunity to expand our market share and client base within our existing region.”
1800 625 331
www.naked-pools.com April/May 2021 SPLASH! 33
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Heated wa makes for the perfect poolcation By Veda Dante
34 SPLASH! April/May 2021
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Pool perfection: a happy family enjoying their time together in beautiful warm water
S
ince the covid pandemic forced everyone to spend more time at home, the staycation became a dominant feature of the leisure experience. Best of all is a poolcation – as many people quickly realised that a staycation is so much better when you have a pool or spa to relax in. And over the past year heating sales have gone through the roof as homeowners realise that having a heated pool makes life better still. While pool water predominantly hovers around the 18-degree to 20-degree mark, it takes a designated heating system to bump it up to where many people like it — a balmy 25 to 29 degrees. Importantly, installing the right pool heater can extend the pool owner’s swimming season by up to four months while increasing the return on their substantial investment by giving them more time in the water. While covid restrictions have been difficult for many people, they have also shown many homeowners the value of a swimming pool, and the value of using a pool for as much of the day and as much of the year as possible. For example, EvoHeat has experienced a dramatic increase in pool and spa heating enquiries during the pandemic. “We have seen a substantial increase in Australian pool owners wanting to heat their pools,” says EvoHeat’s general manager, Tim Martin. “Last year, more than 45 per cent of all enquiries received were from pool owners wanting to achieve a 12-month heating solution for their pool.” Martin also attributes the increase to consumers becoming more aware of ecofriendly options that embrace sustainability. “We’ve also seen an upsurge in pool owners looking to upgrade their existing, outdated heating equipment, with almost 20 per cent of enquiries coming from pool owners wanting to replace their traditional heating systems,” he says. “The trends we are seeing indicate that customers are now thinking more strategically about their energy usage – and how that energy is produced.” He says more customers are using valuable roof space to install solar power and are then looking to pair
this with a more reliable, energy efficient pool heater that produces stable swimming temperatures year-round. “Our heat pumps provide reliable pool heating with the lowest operating costs making them a smart choice for Australian pool owners,” he says. Heat pumps use a renewable energy source in the form of latent heat which is extracted from the surrounding air and transferred into the pool water. He says that by employing the latest full inverter technology, the EvoTech Inverter continually optimises the way the heat pump operates to ensure the least amount of energy is required to maintain the desired temperature. “This allows for the perfect pool temperature to be maintained with incredible efficiency, resulting in low running costs,” says Martin. “Complete control over the weather isn’t possible – however complete control over your pool heating is. Our heat pumps do not require sunlight, or any roof panels to capture the solar energy. They can operate day and night, in any weather condition, even right down as low as minus seven degrees Celsius.” Evo Inverter heat pumps’ reverse cycle operation also enables pool water to be cooled during the peak of summer. “Throughout the hotter months, tropical climates will see pool water temperatures reach up to 35 degrees Celsius, often making them uncomfortable to swim in,” says Martin. “Unlike other pool heating solutions, our heat pumps offer three modes of operation — heating, cooling and automatic mode — so you can be sure your pool is always at the desired temperature.” Martin says that EvoHeat specialises in heat pump technology and has a dedicated team of engineers and R&D specialists who are constantly innovating and developing their offering to ensure they continue to provide the best solutions to the Australian market. “We will be launching some of the latest innovations and developments in heat pump technology later this year at the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show,” he says. “I’d like to invite everyone to visit our stand and see the next trends in pool heating technology.”
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ABOVE: The EvoHeat heat pumps have proved particularly popular during covid
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Changing consumer needs
Border closures, travel restrictions and the need to avoid crowds have led many people to spend more time at home – and they’re looking at their backyards in a brand-new light. “Those who don’t have pools start looking for them and those who do have them are looking to use them more,” says managing director Derek Prince from Daisy Pool Covers. “That means extending the swimming season with a heating system and products that help retain that heat, which has resulted in increased demand for pool covers. “Along with the wanting to use the pool more, we have found a cohort of people who are noticing
evaporation more and wanting to stop it, which has also added to this demand.” While consumer needs as far as wanting to install a pool cover have not changed, Prince says there has been noticeable interest in roller and storage systems. “Daisy’s Under Bench Rollers have had a massive increase in demand but the growing amount of interest has come from our Below Ground Boxes,” he says. “This range has everything from the small version to the standard unit that will take a Daisy pool cover up to 5.5 metres wide and 15 metres long. “Even our premium 316ST domestic roller system has experienced a spike in sales.” While higher grades of solar pool bubble covers don’t necessarily heat or insulate better, Prince says what’s important is their life span — and an absence of weak points. “You know the saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link? Well, in the pool cover world, the weakest link is the corner at the bottom of the bubble where the material becomes the thinnest during manufacture,” he explains. “This is where Daisy made the best pool cover in the world — Ultradome — with the help of our manufacturer’s technical engineers at Sealed Air.” With more pool owners understanding the role a pool cover plays in the heating process, what does Prince see as the next consumer trend?
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“Ease of use — this is what makes or breaks a pool cover,” he says. “This is why we have invested so heavily over the years to build such a comprehensive range of roller and storage solutions. Daisy is a pool cover supplier that is constantly working on what is best for consumers and, more importantly, always listening to what they want.”
Climate change consciousness
Like many in the pool and spa sector, Sunbather has witnessed people’s attitudes change during the pandemic in regard to their homes, leading to more renovations and more time spent in their backyards. “As a result, more money is being spent on outdoor living and entertaining — and those with a pool have a distinct advantage,” says Sunbather’s national sales and marketing manager Anthony Lestani. More time at home has driven a desire to make the pool useable on more days of the year and for more hours of each day. Lestani says that previously pool heating was seen as a discretionary purchase but now it is becoming a necessary element of any pool – including gas, solar and heat pumps. “At the same time, people are becoming ever more conscious of climate change and the global push for sustainable products. Consumers are becoming savvier with their decision-making process on all home appliances, including their pool equipment.”
Heat pumps being assembled on the EvoHeat production line
1300 498 819 info@spa-craft.com.au www.spa-craft.com.au Head Office: 20 Curtis Road, Mulgrave NSW 2756
VIC Branch: 13 Lieber Grove, Carrum Downs VIC 3201
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 37
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With energy efficiency and sustainability now core drivers of the entire building industry, Lestani says standards and regulations will constantly become tighter. “What we will start to see is a greater acceptance of pool covers to save water along with the overall goal to reduce energy consumption,” he says.
Smart heat systems
Australasia’s pool heating market has taken off in recent years as advancing technology reduces installation and running costs associated with heating a swimming pool. “This makes pool heating a far more attractive option, as owners look for ways to increase the useability of their pool,” says Hayward marketing coordinator, Rob Emmett. He says the development of heat pumps in particular has allowed pool owners an efficient alternative to gas or solar pool heating. “Allowing for huge savings on running costs over gas and with an easier installation than solar, heat pumps provide all pool owners with an affordable way to heat their pool,” he says. The straightforward installation of heat pumps means that they are also a favourite with installers, while pool owners expect the ease of control that they find in other modern household equipment. “Users want the ability to turn on and off their heating as well as set temperatures and timers at the
38 SPLASH! April/May 2021
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touch of a button wherever they happen to be,” says Emmett. “Fortunately, pool equipment manufacturers have worked hard to embrace the IoT revolution with pool automation systems that allow users to control their pool heating from their smart phone or device.” He says the days of arriving home and switching on your pool heating, followed by a long wait as your pool reaches a usable temperature are a thing of the past. “Now if you want a swim in the evening, you can turn your heater on before you get home from work,” he says. “This makes a pool much more usable, leading to more time spent enjoying it and a better return on investment.” Emmett says that heat pumps are very efficient at converting electricity to heat, and the fact they run off electricity means they can be installed on any property with an electricity supply. “This, coupled to a relatively small footprint, makes heat pumps very versatile when it comes to finding suitable locations for installation,” he says. “Hayward heaters utilise inverter technology, which allows them to remain at peak efficiency when in operation by varying fan speed and heat generation based on the demands of the user.” Before jumping online to see what pool heating options are available, Emmett says it is important to first consult a pool professional. “You will need to consider how you use your pool and what you want to achieve through heating it, for
example the temperature you’d like to reach and how much of the year you want to be able to swim,” he says. “There are pros and cons to all pool heating solutions, and your local pool expert will be able to recommend the right solution to fit your needs.”
Increasing solar surface area
TOP: A Daisy cover being heat welded together LEFT: Daisy has experienced a massive increase in demand for their below ground boxes
Zane solar and pool heating manager Adam Shelley says that heating your pool with solar energy is highly cost-efficient and environment friendly.
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ABOVE: Pool covers conserve the heat in the pool water. This Daisy cover is stored under a bench
40 SPLASH! April/May 2021
A large number of systems operate through a digital controller that automatically guides water onto the roof when there is enough sunshine and the pool’s temperature needs it. Solar does operate on cloudy days, but it does so at a lower output. With Zane Solar’s new Gulfpanel MK2, more solar surface area is achieved with the same roof area by a considerable 16 per cent. This is achieved by improving half union connections and adding 10 extra tubes to better absorb the sun’s heat into the pool water.
“Extensive development on both the polymer used and water connections has been undertaken for the MK2 panels with accelerated weather testing and in-field testing to ensure a robust product range,” says Shelley. A Zane solar pool heating system can be installed either as an independent system or an integrated system. Here’s how they work: Independent solar system: • Pool water is pumped directly from the pool to the solar Gulfpanels on the roof and then returns as heated water back to the pool; • Require the services of a pool builder or Zane specialist to plan from the initial stages; • Simple to install and does not interrupt the filtration system. Integrated solar system: • Involves diverting the flow of water after the filtration system. Generally, a secondary pump pushes the filtered water up to the solar panels on the roof and returns the heated water back to the pool via the existing pool water return lines; • Is easily retrofitted without affecting any other part of the pool structure and uses the filtered water of the pool to ensure that clean water is sent to the roof panels. “After the initial setup cost, the ongoing running costs of solar are minimal as the heat is provided free from the sun,” says Shelley.
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Extending the swimming season
Robert Andrews technical sales manager at Boss Solar, says there are three main heating options for residential pools: solar, gas and heat pumps. Choosing the right heater comes down to the client’s budget, location and lifestyle. He says that while each heating option has its merits, solar pool heating is a popular choice for most Australian pool owners. “Solar uses the sun’s free energy to heat the pool water, with no greenhouse gas emissions or impact on climate change,” says Andrews. “And it has the lowest running cost of any heating option. It also has a long service, low maintenance and a payback period as little as two years – meaning your clients will be reaping the benefits of free heating for many years to come.” Andrews says solar is ideal for those looking to extend their swimming season into the spring and autumn months with minimal ongoing costs. Solar operates most effectively when installed on a north facing roof at 100 per cent coverage (for example if the pool is 30m2 you would install 30m2 of solar). However, if a north roof isn’t available, west is the next best option followed by east. You can install
additional solar collectors to compensate for any loss of efficiency. Other heating options may need to be explored if the client has not got the roof space or is looking to swim throughout winter. In Australia, the two most popular types of solar heating systems are strip (flexible) systems and rigid panels. “Strip solar heating is the most popular of the two and has been used in Australia for over 40 years,” he says. “Consisting of a series of soft flexible (PVCn) tubes, strip solar heating is installed on the roof and absorbs the sun’s free heat, transferring it into the
ABOVE: Sunbather’s rigid panel Suntube
Quiet, reliable pool heating from Davey NEW Heat pumps for residential pools
Davey’s new heat pumps for residential pools offer the perfect combination of simplicity, WiFi connectivity, excellent value and super quiet operation. The new heat pumps are designed to be highly efficient and extremely quiet, rated down to 40dBa – the kind of sound level you’d usually find in a library – something that your clients are sure to love. Models available: DHP90 - 9kW DHP130 - 13 kW
NEW DHP170 - 17.5kW NEW DHP210 - 21kW
To find your nearest Davey Dealer go to daveywater.com
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weather dislodgement, cockatoo attack, hail damage and freezing cold conditions. Most come with a cockatoo warranty and extended warranty periods.” Go to page 64 for more on Boss Solar’s latest strip solar system: Prosolar.
Quiet, reliable pool heating
The Hayward EnergyLine Pro Inverter heat pump
circulating pool water and doubling your swim season. Flexible systems are ideal for those with limited roof space or irregularly shaped roofs. “Rigid solar pool heating panels are quickly gaining popularity in Australia due to their robust, longer lasting design. Rigid Panels are typically designed to resist wind and
As Autumn arrives, pool owners start to think about how often they can use their pool during the off season – and for many, that will mean they’re ready to consider their pool heating options. Davey’s product manager Tori Caskie says their new residential pool heat pumps offer simplicity, value and reliability, and the range now has been extended to offer more powerful heating options – all of which are designed for extremely quiet operation. Caskie says the pumps are so quiet pool users will barely notice them. “No one wants to hear a noisy pump chugging away while they’re trying to enjoy the sanctuary of their pool. Our new heat pumps are super quiet, rated down to 40dBa. That’s the kind of sound level you’d usually find in a library,” he says. The pumps are also simple to use and set
up, and can use a simple touch controller with wifi integration which allows control from an iOS or Android phone. “The pumps operate in ambient temperatures down to -10°C for warm pools even on chilly days and offer industry leading efficiency plus reverse cycle defrosting,” says Caskie. “These pumps are designed with a twisted titanium heat exchanger, which is 40 per cent more efficient than a regular titanium exchanger. The system is powered by a Mitsubishi DC twin-rotary compressor in a hardy and weather safe aluminium alloy casing.” Models available include the DHP90 (9kW), the DHP130 (13 kW), the new DHP170 (17.5kW), and the new DHP210 (21kW).
Commercial sector: helping transition from gas
Energy management and analytical consultancy services firm SmartConsult focuses primarily on reducing aquatic centres’ energy and infrastructure costs, which includes transitioning them from gas systems over to high efficiency heat pumps.
Supplying quality spa parts for over years Supplying quality spaparts parts forover over 20 years Supplying quality spa 2020 years Supplying quality spafor parts for over 20 years Supplying quality spa parts for over 20 years Supplying quality spa parts for over 20 years
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42 SPLASH! April/May 2021
Formerly E Think
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Hayward Energyline Inverter
Roxy Diephuis, SmartConsult spokesperson and engineer within the sustainable built environment, says that creating energy efficient aquatic centres helps reduce power costs and enables those savings to be spent on other vital services in the community. Not only does energy intelligence pay off literally, but it also contributes to lowering the carbon footprint and Australia’s
contribution to annual global emissions. “Local and federal policies reflect the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources,” says Diephuis. “These new systems have extremely high performance compared to old gas fired ones, but they also allow us to integrate systems, utilising all energy produced on site. “This is a completely different approach to what we have done in the past, where every service or feature provided by the centre needed its own machinery, leaving management with a large inventory list to monitor and maintain.” Energy intelligence is a centre-wide holistic effort where the design process starts with energy input and then works at every phase to recover and reuse that energy as many times as possible in the building. Diephuis says to become energy intelligent, we first need to become energy efficient. “This is usually where the savings are easiest to achieve,” she says. “Efficiency is achieved by aiming to install appliances that can convert the most amount of energy with a minimal amount of required power. This will also involve discussions about the design of the building such as orientation, the
performance of the building envelope, heat recovery, heat/cold storage, sizing of the PV system and location of the plant room.” She says that while the commercial pool heating market has evolved rapidly, the number of Australian users embracing the new technologies has grown more slowly. “The organisations that did jump on board are continuously reaping the benefits of the energy they are saving if they have chosen the correct approach by integrating the system,” she says. “But, to really gain from the evolved pool heat pump market, you have to have the right discussions from the start, which refers back to the previously mentioned, holistic effort. “Instead of having the old-school approach where different systems are continually slapped together to make up for the demand of energy at a certain time and place, the savings will not add up as much as they could have.”
Handling the pressure
Diephuis recommends talking to people who have the same ideas as yourself, to ensure you fully understand the concept of integrated systems.
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ABOVE: Waterco’s Electroheat heat pumps being assembled at their factory TOP RIGHT: Waterco’s Electroheat ECO-V
“When building envelopes are better insulated, allowing less heat loss, ventilation systems are located in the right places and the system is integrated so it works together instead of against each other — well, that’s when you know you are talking about energy intelligence.” The pressure on facility managers and maintenance staff has increased over the past few years. And that has been attributed to the publishing of climate action
plans and announcing net zero goals, which show municipal pools to be one of the largest energy users in the council budgets. “The pressure then gets put on the managers to lower or even eliminate some of these costs, which usually results in discussions about less efficient solutions that have been around for a long time and have lower price tags,” Diephuis says. “This common mistake is not just made by managers and maintenance staff. This should be a responsibility taken up in guidance of the council to connect these managers with the right professionals to get fitting solutions. “It would be wrong to assume the pool professional is also an energy efficiency professional,” she says. “The importance of feedback from these staff members is critical when it comes to engaging them for input and historical occurrences of the aquatic centre and the demands it has to run smoothly.”
Which pool heating system best suits you? Solar, gas and heat pumps — here’s a snapshot of their benefits. Solar
Heat pumps
Gas
Solar systems are a low-cost method to heat up your pool and have virtually no operating costs, just the cost of electricity to pump the pool water through the solar absorber on the roof.
Reliable, highly efficient and economical to run, heat pumps extract heat from the air (similar to a reverse cycle air conditioner) and use that heat to produce hot water.
Gas heaters are the fastest method for heating a pool, providing a comfortable temperature for swimming on demand.
The amount of heat absorbed and the subsequent increase in temperature depends on three key criteria:
Compared to gas and electric, heat pumps use a fraction of the energy to generate the same amount of heat. Although initially heat pumps take longer than gas heaters to warm up the pool or spa water, they are much more economical and will then maintain the heating as well as gas heaters.
• The size or area for the collector and the number of tubes per square metre. • The location of the collector. • The quality of the collector system. Ultimately, the biggest influence is the exposure to the sun. This gives solar the advantage of being cost-effective in terms of running costs; savings that can keep coming for the whole 20 years a properly installed system can last. Unlike other pool heaters on the market, solar pays for itself in just a few years. After the initial setup cost, the ongoing running expenses are minimal as heat is provided free from the sun. This enables you to increase the amount of time you spend in your pool without worrying about expensive energy bills.
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One of the disadvantages of this type of system is that they can lose their high energy efficiency slightly once the weather really cools down, as the pump has to work harder to heat the water against the outside temperature. However, unless you live in an area that does experience very low winter temperature, this is not a concern. Another thing to consider is they can be expensive to initially install, but the low running costs will make up for this in no time at all.
Gas heating systems use natural gas or LPG, heating the pool water by drawing it into a heating unit and filter. Selecting the right size gas heater depends on three key factors: • The amount of water to be heated; • How long you are prepared to wait for your pool to heat up; • Your preferred swimming temperature. Many offer dual controls which are ideal for spas, which are heated to higher temperatures than pools. Gas heaters can cost more to run, so are best suited to a pool that does not get used often during winter. This system also lacks longevity, compared to the other types; a properly installed and maintained system may last as little as five years. Source: www.waterco.com.au
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Verifying claims
Boss Solar's Rhino Black rigid panel system
With outdoor temperatures vastly different around Australia, Diephuis says it is important to consult with an energy efficient expert who can verify their claims with calculations that fit your geographic location. “There are eight different climate zones in Australia, so ensure claims comply with your site-specific weather occurrences,” she says. “For example, a heat pump’s performance may be provided at 15 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius. However, how does it perform at the peak of winter in your area, which may fall to 10 degrees? If the heat pump output falls off dramatically at that temperature, you need to know about it before it gets installed.” So, what are some of the more notable energysaving systems to look out for, regardless if you have a small scale swim school or million-dollar aquatic facility? “Large scale systems integrate multiple areas of an aquatic centre when it comes to providing heat to one feature and cooling for the other without creating energy waste,” she says. “The performance then again goes hand-in-hand with the efficiency of the building envelope of the centre and its design if it is environmentally responsive or not.” When it comes to the next big trend or technological advancement in this space, Diephuis and her SmartConnect colleagues are huge fans of fully integrated energy systems for aquatic centres. “We think that this is the future of these centres in Australia,” she says. “It will enable them to run with very low energy costs and get off gas and therefore lower their carbon emissions.” She says it is important to wrap our heads around the fact that technologies have advanced in such a way that they can be utilised to produce energy in other areas where this was not possible before. “The need for a different technology or system of each service or feature provided by an aquatic centre is out-dated,” she says. “The advancement of these technologies will allow us to build and refurbish aquatic centres that are pleasant to work, swim and play in at any time of the year — without being costly to run. n The strip solar Ultimate Blue system from Boss
Raising standards and improving trust SPASA Australia is helping consumers make better decisions regarding pool and spa heating with the assistance of member advisory groups to spearhead and develop pool heating Australian standards to help improve best practice. As SPASA Australia COO, Spiros Dassakis explains, robust standards ensure quality and integrity of a production process that the average consumer can trust. “While a number of companies in the pool heating industry exceed benchmarks, consumers need a clearer baseline as there are currently too many factors that impact purchasing decisions,” he says. SPASA Australia’s heating advisory groups have dealt with solar, gas, heat pumps and pool covers to help determine minimum benchmarks that people can measure products against. These standards set out specifications, procedures and guidelines that aim to ensure products, services and systems are safe, consistent, and reliable. “The gas heating standard was updated in 2019 and the pool heat pump, solar pool heating and pool cover standards are due later in 2021. SPASA Australia is grateful for the opportunity as the peak industry body to participate in these very important processes,” he says.
Contacts:
www.bosssolar.com.au www.daisypoolcovers.com.au www.daveywater.com/au www.evoheat.com.au
www.hayward-pool.com.au www.smartconsult.com.au www.spasa.com.au www.sunbather.com.au www.waterco.com.au www.zane.com.au
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 47
feature Environment
Climate Care program continues to grow Three more of Sunbather’s products have achieved Climate Care Certification, as has a new water recycling system. The list of companies with certified products continues to grow and includes the following: • Abgal for their Oasis pool cover • AIS for their EcoLine and AutoChlor chlorine generators • Aqua Technics Pools specialist pool packages • AstralPool Viron XT variable speed pump range, QT1000 cleaner, Viron QL cartridge filter range, ZX cartridge filter range and AP25 &AP8 glass filter media • Backwash Recyclers Australia for their pool backwash recycling system • Boss Solar for their Cobra solar panels, Rhino Black modular solar panels, and PVC strip collector range • Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools for their certified Plunge Pool • Daisy for their ThermoTech and Ultradome pool covers and AquaSaver invisible solar shield • Ecozen Pools + Landscapes for their Ecozen Pool • Hayward for their Super II Eco VS pool pump range • Hyclor for their K+ sinking open cell media • Lo-Chlor for its Solar Shield product • Maytronics for their EcoClear glass media, Ozone Swim System and Dolphin robotic pool cleaners (DB, M, S & X ranges) • NCS for their pool cover • Neptune Benson for their Defender ultra-fine filter • Pentair for their Posi-Clear RP
cartridge filter, and Enviromax 800 and 1500 variable speed pumps • Quantum Composite Pools specialist pool packages • Remco for their Swimroll pool cover system and Poolguard pool cover • Riverina Pools for their specialist pool packages • Sancell for their Streamline Dome pool cover • Sealed Air for their Suncap pool cover • Sunbather for their Thermal Pool Blanket, Automatic Security Covers, Suntube-2 Solar Panels, and Flexible Strip Solar • Sunline for their Aquavent pool cover • Supreme Heating for the Heatseeker Dualsun hybrid system • Waterco for their MultiCyclone pre-filter and dual filtration system, Electrochlor mineral chlorinator, Hydrostorm 100 Eco-V Pump, 50mm sweep elbow, Micron 50mm port Eco filters and glass bead filtration, and Trident robotic cleaners • Zodiac for their CV cartridge filter with sweep elbow, MagnaPool system, Crystal clear glass media, EvoluX iQ robotic range and VS and E3 FloPro variable speed pump range
Sunbather Automatic Security Covers Sunbather’s Automatic Security Covers foam-filled CXV slats are the latest in pool cover design. The Automatic Security Cover can easily slide out to cover the pool or retract when you’re finished swimming. All with just a turn of a key
Sunbather’s Automatic Security Cover
by the whisper-quiet motor which does all the heavy lifting.
Key benefits: • Can be fully integrated or retrofitted; • Completely automated with a range of options; • Insulation properties prevent heat loss; • Hail and freeze resistant with amazing strength and durability; • Lockable and secure via key lock function for when your away or not around; • Foam-filled CVX slats are buoyant, durable and have a solid surface; • A wide range of installation configurations made to suit most pools. Sunbather’s Automatic Security Covers provide excellent insulation qualities that will assist with the preservation of chemicals, water and heat already captured into your pool. This can translate into thousands of dollars’ worth of savings every year.
Sunbather Suntube-2 Solar Panels Sunbather’s Suntube-2 Solar Panels come in various lengths, will suit most roof types and are able to save thousands of dollars in reduced energy costs every year when compared to other forms of pool heating.
Key benefits: • Proudly Australian made; • Extends your swimming season; • Environmentally friendly heating option; • Super tough, encased and shielded tube connections; • Rugged and durable enough for Australia’s harsh climate; • By using Sunbather’s Suntube-2 Solar Panels, you can achieve energy savings of up to 86 per cent when compared to other traditional forms of pool heating.
Sunbather Flexible Strip Solar Sunbather has manufactured its unique solar pool heating 48 SPLASH! April/May 2021
products in Melbourne for more than 45 years. Sunbather’s Flexible Strip Solar has a welded flat loop that has no joins, reducing the potential for leaks to occur. It also has a Kwik Lok manifold enabling its flexible and modular design to be applied to all roof shapes.
Key benefits: • Environmentally friendly; • Allows you to extend the swimming season efficiently and effectively; • Made from quality ABS materials and built to survive the Australian sun; • By using Sunbather’s Flexible Strip Solar, you can achieve energy and greenhouse gas emissions savings of up to 86 per cent when compared to other traditional forms of pool heating.
Pool Backwash Recycling System Backwash Recyclers Australia’s Backwash Recycling System collects and recycles all pool backwash water that would otherwise be completely discharged to the sewer. Installation is easy as the system can be easily installed during pool construction or retrofitted to already existing pool sanitation equipment.
Key benefits: • Custom recycling tank with unique design base directs all debris to a common area; • Recycled pool water is already filtered and chemically treated as it re-enters the pool; • Environmentally friendly as you use less water and recycled water is the being discharged to the sewer; • Connects directly to existing pool equipment; • The system is simple to install and operate; • Can be customised to utilise recycled water for garden use; • Australian owned and operated. The Backwash Recycling System allows you to save thousands of litres of water every year while protecting a natural resource and looking after the environment.
Aquaguard® X – an exciting new range of pool gelcoats, manufactured in Australia, to withstand harsh outdoor conditions Aquaguard® pool gelcoats have long been the flagship product of our offering to the local and global composite pool markets with over 20 years of proven field history.
Performance Advantages: • Improved chemical (chlorine) & water resistance •
Improved UV resistance, protecting the finish of your pool for many years
Aquaguard® X gelcoats are an exciting new range of pool gelcoats from allnex Composites, proudly manufactured in Australia, and designed to withstand our harsh outdoor conditions. They are high performance finishes for the manufacture of composite swimming pools exhibiting high durability, outstanding UV protection, weathering and chemical resistance properties.
•
Increased colour retention during outdoor exposure
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Superior aesthetics of laminate during service life which maintains the original cosmetic appearance for a longer period
Product Features
Benefits
High Performance Surface Coating
A striking and visually appealing cosmetic finish with exceptional durability
High Quality Gelcoat Pigments
Vibrant and long-lasting colours
Outstanding UV Protection
The Aquaguard® X technology protects the decorative finishes from harsh effects of the sun
Excellent Chemical Resistance
Products are tested extensively for chemical fade resistance to ensure a longer lifespan for the cosmetic finish
www.allnex.com
Aquaguard® X gelcoats are available in a range of contemporary colours and striking finishes. For more information, please contact allnex on 1800 789 607 or visit www.allnex.com
Commercial Pool Technician Program The program is based on the following units of competency; • SISCAQU001 - Test pool water quality The new Commercial Pool Technician Program (CPT) is proudly delivered by IRLearning and is endorsed by the peak swimming pool and spa industry body, SPASA Australia. The Program meets the various requirements nationally for commercial pool technicians and those charged with maintaining lower risk levelled aquatic centres.
• SISCAQU003 - Maintain aquatic facility plant and equipment • SISCAQU004 - Develop and implement pool water maintenance procedures • SISCAQU005 - Develop and implement aquatic facility maintenance procedures • BSBRSK401 - Identify risk and apply risk management processes
Only $600 Visit www.irlearning.com to check state and territory requirements. IRLearning also offers the full Certificate III and Certificate IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Service - as in some states (Victoria and Queensland) for higher risk pools, operators require the full qualification.
Wherever you want to go, IRLearning will help you get there!
The program covers: • Correct water testing procedures and recording results • Water quality issues and corrective actions • Microbiological testing procedures and parameters of safe operation. • Responses to various bather incidents – faecal and non-faecal
Get Qualified through IRLearning and receive the Commercial Pool Technician Certificate. Flexible delivery allows students to complete the CPT program via correspondence or face to face instruction (where offered).
• Disinfection requirements for commercial operations • Maintenance requirements of plant and equipment – including maintenance log completion and designing site-specific maintenance checklists and plans • Troubleshooting plant and equipment issues – initiating appropriate corrective actions • Record keeping for site-specific pool water testing and maintenance procedures • Having site-specific identification and management process to eliminate or minimise risk
Visit: www.irlearning.com | Call: 1800 802 482 Email: training@irlearning.com | RTO: 6235
For more information visit www.splashexpo.com.au or call 1300 789 845 Owned By
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Largest pool & spa show in Southern Hemisphere Expanded exhibition area now encompassing all available expo space in Convention Centre New education format with training outside of expo hours Enhanced SPASA Awards Increased collaboration with other aquatic industry sectors
commercial news
Construction
Commercial News Australia facing drastic swimming teacher shortage ������������������� 56 Let the sunshine in: saving energy at Sydney’s newest pool ����� 58
SR Smith acquires Stark Bulkheads
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R Smith has bolstered its commercial construction products business with the acquisition of Stark Bulkheads It will operate Stark as a standalone business within its commercial construction products business. “Our 2015 Australian acquisition of All Fiberglass Products was our first entry into construction products for commercial swimming pools,” says Rich Laitta, CEO of SR Smith. “The acquisition of Stark Bulkheads is a perfect fit, adding to our global portfolio. Stark’s category-leading position in bulkheads, global installation footprint and approach to commercial construction fits well with our strategy and is a welcome complement to our SwimWall Systems,” he says. “SR Smith’s longevity in the market combined with their expertise in pool deck equipment and commitment to commercial construction products makes for a perfect fit for the long term,” says Ron Privrasky, president, CEO and owner of Stark Bulkheads. “I am excited to see how the company evolves as part of the SR Smith portfolio.” Based in Arlington, Washington, Composite Aquatic Innovations (Stark Bulkheads) has been the leading supplier of custom designed composite bulkheads for more than 50 years. The company has been led by Privrasky since 2001. Safety
Three public pools evacuated over Easter period
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hree aquatic centres in Australia and New Zealand were evacuated over the Easter period, causing several patrons to attend hospital. On April 3, paramedics treated several patrons following a chlorine leak at Apollo Bay Aquatic Centre in Victoria. The Country Fire Authority (CFA) spokesperson Keith Pakenham said about 21 people were initially treated after being exposed to toxic fumes, but most did not require hospitalisation. They believed an electrical pump had malfunctioned, leading to a chlorine leak that effectively shut down the entire facility just before 11am. Pool patrons affected by the fumes, including children, were assessed by paramedics. Five were subsequently taken to hospital suffering from breathing difficulties, including one pre-school aged child. Two were flown to Geelong: one woman in her 60s was in hospital overnight in a serious but stable condition. The entire street was shut down with a 400m exclusion zone set up around the facility, and nearby residents were told to shut their windows and doors and stay inside. WorkSafe officers attended the pool but at the time of writing had yet to make a determination as to the cause of the incident.
Hurstville Aquatic Centre
On the morning of April 5, 150 people were evacuated from southern Sydney’s Hurstville Aquatic Centre following reports of a gas leak. Georges River Council has since said the cause of the odour was a faulty anti-siphoning valve in the acid feeder. 54 SPLASH! April/May 2021
commercial news
Media reported three people attending St George Hospital in a stable condition, including one child. In a statement the council said: “Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre was evacuated at 10.00am Monday 5 April 2021 following the quick action of staff when they detected odour caused by faulty anti-siphoning valve in the plant room that regulated acid usage. “As a precaution, the NSW Ambulance Service was called to attend the site. The NSW Fire Service also attended and it was able to confirm the cause of the odour and by 1.15pm declared the Centre safe. “Some media reports have described the incident as an acid spill, these reports are incorrect. “Council also commends the quick action of the Bluefit staff of the Centre in ensuring all customers and staff were evacuated promptly and safely. As always the safety of customers, community and staff is the first priority.” The faulty valve has been replaced.
New Zealand public pool incident
Radio New Zealand reported that more than a dozen young teenagers experienced irritated eyes and breathing difficulties at the H2O Extreme aquatic centre on April 1, with 11 of them attending Hutt Hospital emergency department where they were reported to be in a stable condition. WorkSafe said the most likely cause was a lack of ventilation in the slide area, along with heavy use of the slides, but further investigation was required. The slides were closed after a reading showed high chlorine levels that remained within the maximum safely allowed. The slides reopened when chlorine levels dropped again. Upper Hutt City Council said there had not been any chemical spill or leak.
Maintenance of public pools
Spiros Dassakis, COO of SPASA Australia, says the maintenance required by hotels, motels and public pools are a complex logistical undertaking that requires careful planning by the maintenance team. He says it is imperative staff have adequate training to do with pool chemical storage, maintenance and treatment of water. “Managers and peripheral staff that are supervising and maintaining commercial and private pool operations that are not trained or qualified to undertake such tasks, are placing themselves and others at risk. When not applying best practice regarding pool water chemistry and chemical handling, the outcomes can have serious health and environmental repercussions.” He says the cost of businesses closing, as well as the risk to human health, can be potentially millions of dollars. Dassakis says anyone managing or maintaining a public pool or spa should undertake the Commercial Pool Technician Program (CPT). The program delivers the required aquatic industry qualifications to compliantly manage public and commercial swimming pools and spas in Australia. April/May 2021 SPLASH! 55 Climate Care h=270mm x w=90mm.indd 2
30/04/2021 2:43 PM
commercial news
Swim schools
Australia facing drastic swimming teacher shortage
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wim Australia’s CEO Brendon Ward says a massive shortage of swim teachers is putting young children at risk with swim schools across the country reporting long waiting lists for lessons while they scramble to find suitable staff. Ward estimates there is a need for at least 2000 swimming teachers across Australia. Swim Australia is implementing extra training courses to help people achieve the necessary qualifications. “We lost a lot of swim teachers during covid as pools were closed and many were ineligible for JobKeeper and sought alternative employment in other sectors,” Ward says. “As a result, we are now seeing average waiting lists for swim lessons 20 per cent higher than they were pre-covid and many swim schools cannot even cater for their existing customer base.” Ward says the swim teacher shortage poses a risk to long-term water safety and learn-to-swim skills in children. “We’ve already seen an increase in the drowning toll this summer,” he says, referring to the rise in ocean and waterway drownings. “Swimming is a core life skill which is best taught in the formative years and if we miss the chance to teach young Aussies water safety skills, we may miss it forever.” splash_halfpagead_v3_print.pdf 5 09/04/2021 1:47:20 PM
Vacancies unfulfilled and demand grows
Nancy Shaw, general manager at Holsworthy Aquatic Centre in Sydney, says her swim school has vacancies for at least six swim teachers and for the first time they have a waiting list for swim lessons. “Along with the teacher shortage, there has also been an increase in demand for learn-to-swim lessons, particularly for babies and toddlers,” she says. “Our most recent school holiday program was the biggest we have ever had, a key reason being that people were not travelling and were doing activities close to home instead.” Ward says the flip side is that there are now more than 2000 jobs begging across the country, a major employment opportunity for Australians with JobKeeper having finished at the end of March. “Swim teaching is one of the most flexible jobs available and is attractive to both people seeking full-time employment or those looking to earn extra income while studying or bringing up young children,” he says. “People can complete a Swim Australia teacher workshop in one day, start on-the-job training almost immediately and within six weeks they can have an industry and VET-recognised qualification and
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56 SPLASH! April/May 2021
commercial news
Brendon Ward, Swim Australia CEO with swim teacher Amy McKitrick
From volunteer to employee For 19-year-old Brisbane student Amy McKitrick, her swim teaching qualifications have opened up the world and two years ago she travelled to Mexico to volunteer at an orphanage, with part of that work being to teach the kids to swim. “I taught the kids from the orphanage and other local kids from the village to swim and while they ranged in age from four to 12, many of them had never been taught to swim,” she says. “It was an amazing experience that I would love to do again.”
basically guaranteed employment right now with the need so high.” Ward says the need is so great they will support as many courses as required to right the shortage and get more children learning how to swim. “It will also impact small business by helping swim schools operate at peak capacity again,” he says. Estimated shortage by State: Queensland: 640; NSW: 600; Victoria: 400; WA: 200; SA: 100; ACT: 50; Tasmania: 40; NT: 30. Contact: www.swimaustralia.org.au
McKitrick teaches swimming part-time at Nudgee College Swimming in Brisbane, fitting lessons in with her university studies and says the job is extremely rewarding. “I loved swimming as a kid and now I can share that with the kids I teach,” she says. “There’s the satisfaction of watching the kids get better over time and knowing they’ll be safe in the water. It suits my study schedule and it’s amazing to know I’m making a positive impact on kids’ lives.”
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 57
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Thermal berms provide insulation for the amenities. Photo Credit: Brett Boardman Photography
Let the sunshine in:
saving energy at Sydney’s newest pool
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One of the key sustainable features is the timber and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof which reduces the building’s reliance on artificial lighting. Photo Credit: Brett Boardman Photography 58 SPLASH! April/May 2021
ity of Sydney’s largest pool since the 2000 Olympics is also its most sustainable. Opened in February 2021, the state-of-the-art Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre was built as the focus of the new Green Square high-density precinct. Green Square is part of a 278-hectare urban renewal project to replace the former industrial zones of Zetland, Beaconsfield, Rosebery, Alexandria and Waterloo with high density housing for as many as 62,000 residents. When completed in 2031, it will be one of the highest density residential areas in Australia and is currently the fastest growing urban area in Sydney. The aquatic centre and surrounding sports fields have been designed to take the growing population into account and are located close to public transport including the metropolitan rail network. The $106.5 million City of Sydney facility features a 50m pool set within recreation areas inspired by Sydney’s ocean pools, a 25m pool with the third largest moveable pool floor in the world, a kids’ water playground, hydrotherapy pool, gym, creche, café and sports field. Sustainability features include waste, water and energy initiatives, and the centre has gained a 5-star rating under the Green Building Council of Australia design rating scale. The building uses a combination of rooftop
commercial feature
Andrew Burgess, director, Andrew Burgess Architects, and Andrew Corsese, managing partner Grimshaw Sydney
solar panels and cogeneration systems to produce electricity for the centre and park operations. The heat by-product of the cogeneration system is used for warming the pool water. Surplus electricity will power neighbouring buildings in the Green Square community and cultural precinct. Water from the Green Square urban water recycling centre is used for toilet flushing and irrigating the surrounding parkland. Earth berms made from excavated material surround the aquatic centre to provide insulation for internal spaces during warm Sydney summers. The pools have accessible entry options including ramps and hoists, and changing and toilet facilities for people with disability. Specialty accessible fitness equipment is also available. The facility is the first aquatic centre in New South Wales to have a fully accredited Changing Places toilet and to implement an Access Key. The aquatic centre was designed by Andrew Burges Architects and Grimshaw with landscape architects Taylor Cullity Lethlean. The concept was chosen from more than 140 other entries in an anonymous design competition run by the City of Sydney. CPB Contractors built the new centre following an extensive competitive tender process. Construction began in 2018. Belgravia Leisure will operate the new facility. The name Gunyama translates to “wind from the south-west” in the local Dharug language and refers to the strong southerlies that blow through the area.
“In winter, the EFTE roof will significantly reduce the active heating load.”
The designers’ view
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SPLASH! spoke with Gunyama designers Andrew Corsese video (managing partner Grimshaw Sydney) and Andrew Burgess (director, Andrew Burgess Architects). Corsese says that Gunyama is distinct from other public pools built by the City of Sydney. “Most of the other pools have been put into existing situations, whereas this is a pool that has been designed to be at the centre of the urban renewal of Green Square,” he says. “So it’s the making of the centre of Green Square. So that’s why it’s somewhat unique compared to the rest of the public pools that the City of Sydney has commissioned.” One aspect of being built on the ground floor of the renewal is the ability to service the growing population, but also to keep operational costs to a minimum. To that end, sustainability has been a key focus, reducing the energy and water requirements into the future. One of the key sustainable features is the timber and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof which reduces the building’s reliance on artificial lighting.
Call 1800 625 331 or visit naked-pools.com April/May 2021 SPLASH! 59
Setting the
Standard
If you’re looking for a pool or spa professional to assist with your business, the choice is clear. SPASA members set themselves apart from the rest of the industry by setting standards of skill, workmanship and ethical business behaviour in the best interests of the pool and spa community. Why trust anyone else?
visit spasa.com.au to contact your local
SPASA member
1300 021 482 | askus@spasa.com.au
commercial feature
Burgess says one of the great benefits of the ETFE roof is that it will make a big difference to the operational costs. “There is a huge heat load required to keep the air within one degree of the water temperature in these indoor pools,” he says. “In winter, the ETFE roof will significantly reduce the active heating load.” The centre also includes an innovative mechanical system as well, the Bauer optimisation system, which breaks down condensation and the stratification of air temperatures. Designed in Germany, the system reduces temperature layering where hot air rises and cold air falls using a patented combination of positive pressurisation and non-directional molecular mixing. “It hasn’t been used in Sydney in a swimming pool before,” says Burgess. “In a pool hall of this scale, you could easily get to eight or nine degrees of temperature variation from bottom to top. And this keeps it to within one degree throughout the whole airspace.”
Practical approach
Burgess says that aquatic centres are inherently high energy users, so it’s not ideological to take a sustainability approach, it’s actually very practical. “The fact that the ETFE roof will significantly reduce the requirements for mechanical heating in that space is a huge practical benefit that will impact on the life cycle cost of the running the centre,” he says.
Green Square will house up to 62,000 residents. Photo Credit: Brett Boardman Photography
“I think with aquatic centres, the sustainability initiatives might have a greater initial capital cost, but then the operating cost will be substantially reduced.” Solar PV is another element used to good effect on the project, as is thermal insulation in the form of berms. “There’s a huge bank of photovoltaics on the roof – pretty much using up the whole roof space apart from the skylights and the EFTE roof. We’ve got a lot of green areas for the water runoff from the roof and a kind of natural form of insulation on a lot of the lower level areas in the facility.” Additionally, water use is carefully handled. “We worked with an aquatic engineer and a hydraulic engineer to really minimise water us-
“The sustainability initiatives might have a greater initial capital cost, but then the operating cost will be substantially reduced.” age and the usage of wastewater. They’re significant initiatives on the sustainability front,” he says. Corsese goes further, saying that not only are the sustainability features a cost-saving measure, they also act as an educational example for others. “I think there’s always the operational costs in public facilities but there’s also the endurance. These buildings are owned by the public and therefore you always consider their lifecycle, so if they’re invested in that there’s not that sort of need for that replacement which comes with churn.
“But I think the most important thing is that public facilities need to demonstrate the values of our response to the environmental and ecological crisis, and that these facilities become places of education, so the children come and they see that we respect the landscape, that we respect how much energy they’re using and that becomes a ubiquitous kind of association with the public facility. “If you can embed that into our public facilities we have a better opportunity for that to become expected in everything else.” n
As well as a hydrotherapy pool, Gunyama has a fully accredited Changing Places toilet to help people with disabilities access the facility. Photo Credit: Brett Boardman Photography
The billabong shaped leisure area surrounds the Olympic pool, and features a large gradual beach April/May 2021 SPLASH! 61
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Gunyama contractors and systems Contractors and subcontractors include: • CPB Contractors • Andrew Burges Architects • Grimshaw • Taylor Cullity Lethlean • Aboriginal elder Aunty Julie Freeman and artist Jonathan Jones • Aquatic Projects Pty Ltd • Cherrie Civil Engineering Pty Ltd • D&E Air Conditioning (HVAC) • Fredon Industries Pty Ltd • Liftronic Pty Ltd • Algon Steel Pty Ltd • Alpene Group Pty Ltd • Savcon Pty Ltd • Simons Green Energy Pty Ltd • Swimplex Aquatics Pty Ltd • Fabritecture Australia Pty Ltd (ETFE) • Custom Ceilings Pty Ltd.
Water Treatment and Filtration Contractor: Aquatic Projects The aquatic works incorporate the following pool systems: outdoor 50m; outdoor leisure; indoor program; indoor leisure; indoor hydrotherapy. Ultra-fine filtration (UFF) processes have been selected for each of the five pools comprising Atlas regenerative pre-coat filters with the filter medium being diatomaceous earth (DE). The water chemistry in the pool is automatically controlled via instruments that operate with closed loop control. Chemical dosing comprises sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, CO2, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid in addition to UV lamps. The pool water is heated by the gas fired cogeneration plant, gas fired boilers and heat pumps via plate heat exchangers.
HVAC Contractor: D&E Air Conditioning Pty Ltd The heating plant for all systems is a combination of electric heat pumps, heat pump chiller, gas-fired cogeneration plant and gas-fired boilers. Heat pumps then cogeneration plant provides the first heat required. If additional heat is required, then the boilers kick in. High efficiency boilers have been provided. The system providing heating to space that require heating only is a hydronic system. Heat from the hot water heating water system, being used to heat the aquatic centre, is reticulated to fan coil units, air handling units and cassette units to provide heat to each respective space. The air side delivery of heating only spaces is via air-to-air heat exchangers.
“open dynamic” system. The system air delivery velocity is limited to 1 m/s and maintains a pressure of 5Pa in the main pool hall to eliminate condensation and reduce the odour of chloramines. There are also a number of additional benefits the system provides. These include: • The boundary layer effect will cause a decrease in the evaporation rate from the water surface. The boundary layer works like a pool blanket over the pool. • Because there is less evaporation the water consumption will drop. • If the water consumption drops the chemical consumption will drop. • By lowering the risk of condensation there are several effects: • The life of the building fabric will increase. • The life of equipment within the space, stainless steel, light fittings will increase. • Lower maintenance costs. • Improved air quality.
Tiling Contractor: Metz Specialty Materials Metz Specialty Materials supplied and installed tiles to all pools. Ripple, gloss, semi-gloss and anti-skid tiles were used.
Hydraulics Contractor: Planet Plumbing Planet Plumbing installed the following hydraulic services: • Internal stormwater drainage • Stormwater downpipes • Sewer drainage • Sewer sanitary plumbing • Tradewaste plumbing • Cold water service • Hot water service • Recycled water • Gas service • Fire water supply • Hydraulics plant and equipment • Syfonic stormwater system – this collects rainwater from the roof which is directed to the 140,000 litre rainwater storage tank for pool top-up when required (after filtration and UV disinfection). The hydraulic features include the use of recycled water for all toilet flushing, irrigation and bin washing and use of the syfonic stormwater system to collect rainwater from the roof which is directed to the 140,000 litre rainwater storage tank for pool top-up when required (after filtration and UV disinfection). Many City of Sydney staff also worked on this project.
The cooling plant for central plant systems is a single air-cooled chiller located in the external plant area. The chilled water is piped around the building the various fan coil units via chilled water pipe work. A ducted heating system maintains the pool hall space temperature within one degree Celsius of the pool temperature. This temperature is required to provide comfort to the swimmers when they exit the pool wet. The system is a 100 per cent outside air system run through a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the air rejected from the building into the air entering the building at a minimum efficiency of 80 per cent. This minimises condensation and ensures that chlorinated air is not re-circulated into the space. There is an air pressurisation system for the pool hall known as the
62 SPLASH! April/May 2021
Family fun is one of the key elements of the centre
AUSTRALIAN MADE & OWNED
WORLD CLASS
POOL
G N I C N U ANNO xtended
EQUIPMENT
ee v a h e W ty n a r r a the w or the f period aker and Peacempa Blowers Burial STO 2 YEARS
1 FROM ESTIC USE. OM
FOR D
Our Product Range [E] sales@spakingblowerco.com.au [P] +61 409 067 908
www.spakingblowerco.com.au
new products
Next generation gelcoats
With more than 20 years of proven field history, Aquaguard pool gelcoats have long been the flagship product of Allnex’s offering to the local and global composite pool markets. The latest in their range is Aquaguard X. Allnex says the Australian-made Aquaguard X is specifically designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, and the high-performance finishes for the composite swimming pools exhibit high durability, outstanding UV protection, weathering and chemical resistance properties. The gelcoats have improved chlorine, water and UV resistance, retain original colour for longer periods following outdoor exposure, have superior appearance during service life and maintain the original cosmetic appearance for longer. Contact: 1800 789 607; www.allnex.com
ProSolar for the professional installer ProSolar strip solar pool heating is new from Boss Solar, designed for the professional solar pool heating installer. It is a traditional single material PVCn profile, providing great UV resistance, chemical resistance and thermal conductivity.
Boss Solar says the new ProSolar product is certified by the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (SRCC) – an independent international certifier. This means that ProSolar has proven heating performance, proven durability and proven heating efficiency. They also say that ProSolar provides many competitive selling advantages while also being easy to install – making it the ideal choice for professional solar installers. Contact: www.bosssolar.com.au
The Perfect Solution: Daisy’s Below Ground Box and 525 Solar Pool Covers. BELOW GROUND BOX
+
525 SOLAR POOL COVER
Slimline lid opening
Easy, single person operation
Stop evaporation
Choice of colours
Clutter-free pool area
5 year structural warranty Below ground box – small model now available
Warm your pool by up to 8°C
10 year pro rata warranty
Fitted flush to concrete or paving
AUSTRALIA’S FAV URITE. 1300 55 18 11 • daisypoolcovers.com.au 64 SPLASH! April/May 2021
Save heat loss
Smart Approved WaterMark & Climate Care Certified
Quality I Technology I Service
new products
Next generation activated filter media
After 35 years of research and development, Dryden Aqua has released the next generation of its activated filter media. Distributor BioGuard says the new media offers superior stable filtration to 1 micron, is 100 per cent bio-resistant and provides certified ultrafine filtration within a sand filter. AFM ng is a highly engineered filtration media that is exposed to a unique three-step activation process to become self-sterilising and acquire superior mechanical and electro-static filtration performance. Bioguard says this provides the clearest water, healthiest air, lowest operating costs, most sustainable filtration and safest water. AFM ng can be installed in all sand filters without the need of any modifications or additional investments in infrastructure. Contact: bioguard.com.au
Water Witch Smart Sense
Australian-made Water Witch has been Australia’s most trusted automatic water leveller for 25 years, protecting expensive equipment by maintaining the water level in pools and other applications where accurate water level is required. Water Witch Smart Sense is an updated model which is easy to install and suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. It has a protected LCD screen for easy programming as well as a smart sense auto shut-off feature to prevent water wastage. It includes a manual fill timer so builders or service technicians can fill the pool for a set period after leaving the site. Daily usage and fault logs monitor the unit’s operation, and the pump out function can be used to prevent infinity edge troughs and balance tanks from overflowing. Contact: www.cookeindustries.com.au
Looking for a change? ARE YOU WANTING THIS FROM YOUR SUPPLIER? 3 NO REBRANDING EXISTING EQUIPMENT WITH NEW BRAND’S 3 Friendly and helpful staff 3 Talk to the same person every-time 3 A family business that understands your business 3 Everything under one roof 3 Fast lead times 3 Good old fashion service 3 Fantastic pricing 3 Honest and reliable 3 Real people answering your call 3 Actually prompt follow up 3 A Supplier that cares about your business not just the sale
Come join us at the last TRUE distributor in the Pool Industry
RAINBOW POOL PRODUCTS PTY LTD
Where the service is!
Make the call today – 07 3849 5385 Our team is ready to welcome you!
April/May 2021 SPLASH! 65
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Advertisements Abgal Liners & Covers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 AIS (Australian Innovation Systems). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC
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Aqua-Quip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Boss Solar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Cordell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
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Daisy Pool Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
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Davey Water Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
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Everhard Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Evo Industries Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
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_______________________________________________________________
Evolution Water & Lighting Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
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Fluidra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Hayward Pool Products (Australia). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
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International Quadratics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
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IRLearning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 La Motte Pacific. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Lincoln Pool Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
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Lo-Chlor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . onsert Naked Pools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 59 Pentair Aquatic Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC
* Prices quoted include GST
Pool-Water Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC
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Poolwerx Australia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
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Rainbow Pool Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 65 Remco Australia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Spa-Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Spa King Blowers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Spatex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Sunbather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
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Supreme Heating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Swimart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Sydney Pool Robotics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Waterco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 55
66 SPLASH! April/May 2021
PARAMOUNT IN-FLOOR CLEANING SYSTEMS THE WORLD’S NUMBER 1 IN-FLOOR CLEANING SYSTEM BROUGHT TO YOU BY POOL-WATER PRODUCTS
Paramount’s custom built in-floor cleaning systems are engineered to automatically clean any pool you design, including floors, steps, benches and spas. Minimising maintenance and maximising enjoyment.
Aquarius Pools – Mornington VIC
AUSTRALIA’S LEADING POOL BUILDERS CHOOSE PARAMOUNT
Pool-Water Products | P: 03 9873 5055 Email: info@poolwaterproducts.com.au www.poolwaterproducts.com.au
EXTEND YOUR POOL SEASON WITH A HIGH PERFORMANCE HEAT PUMP ULTRATEMP
TM
Pentair UltraTemp heat pumps will automatically heat your pool to your desired temperature so you can swim in comfort. The UltraTemp essentially steals heat from the air and transfers it to your pool with incredible efficiency. Unlike solar pool heating, UltraTemp heat pumps can reliably heat your pool rain, hail or shine and can be sized so you can swim in comfort year round, or even just extend your pool season.