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 Ensuring the good times last
Contributors: Veda Dante, Brett Lloyd Abbott, Luke Daly, Jonty Mills. Advertising Manager: David Stennett Phone: 0404 725 554 Email: david@spasa.com.au 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.
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Despite the fact that covid has been difficult for many people in the industry, overall it’s clear there has been a skyrocketing of demand for pools and spas. The continued upward trajectory of the pool DA numbers is a good sign – with the quarterly figures up 29 per cent compared to the same time last year. It would be fair to expect these conditions to run a while until the demand is met, and many pool builders have their books full well into 2022 - in fact some are full until the end of that year. If you're in that situation and finding things "crazy busy", an article on automating communication on page 66 might help. It is worth considering while some of this interest may be new demand – people who hadn’t really thought about buying a pool or spa until covid hit – much of it is likely to be latent demand. In other words, interest that was forming and would have manifested itself in a year or two in any case. In those cases, covid merely hurried that interest along, and so there could be a slightly leaner period once that demand has been fulfilled. It’s worth remembering that old adage: the good times won’t last forever. With that in mind, it’s important for individual businesses to maintain brand awareness, and for the whole industry to remain front-of-mind for homeowners. So, it is very exciting news that a television show is being produced specifically about swimming pools. Aimed directly at the Australian consumer, Best Pools is planned to be broadcast right across the country on the Nine Network. This is the very type of thing to keep homeowners engaged and thinking about how to put a pool in their own backyard. There is more about the Best Pools TV show in the news section on page 12. Also in this issue, we have a look at the number one pool of 2021 – the winner of the National Pool of the Year. It is always exciting to see which pool has risen to the top, and this is a very rewarding project. I hope you enjoy reading about it, and while you’re there, also check out the winners in all the other categories.
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Proudly supported by Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health
Issue 138 October/November 2021
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.
National Awards Australian winners in all categories Keeping it clean Choosing the right pool cleaner The hot spring pool In outback Talaroo
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Pool of the Year Clear winner of Australia’s best pool
This issue’s cover The cover shows Liquid Blue Pools’ 2021 National Pool of the Year winning project. There is more on this pool on page 48. Photography by Patrick Redmond.
October/November 2021 SPLASH! 9