SPLASH 139 December 2021-January 2022

Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health

Issue 139 December 2021/January 2022

Conserving the industry’s Most precious resources Overcoming safety issues At aquatic centres Concrete Pool Builder Of the Year

Supreme Heating

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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 Weathering the storms

Contributors: Veda Dante, Cal Stanley, David Stennett, Lindsay McGrath.

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.

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.

Chris Maher Managing Editor chrismaher@ intermedia.com.au

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.

Traditionally, there have been two key factors affecting swimming pool demand: weather and home equity.

Over the past two years we’ve added a third: prolonged, enforced confinement on the residential property. People stuck at home because of lockdowns and travel restrictions found themselves desperately in need of a swimming pool.

This demand (combined with supply chain issues and labour shortages) has provided many pool builders with full books for up to 12 months.

On the equity front, interest rates have been low for a very long time – but of course, nothing lasts forever. Every time the economy looks like heating up, all eyes turn to the first Tuesday of the month to find out what the reserve bank is thinking on interest rates. An increase could mean it takes longer to accumulate equity and could also see home values fall – which in turn would mean a further drop in home equity, making it less likely homeowners could or would redraw on their home’s value to carry out home improvements.

The good news is that, despite the cash rate remaining unchanged at a record low for 13 months, the RBA has reiterated it will not increase rates until Australia’s actual inflation is sustainably within the two per cent to three per cent target range. Inflation is moving, but how much and for how long is yet to be seen.

But the weather is another matter. A hot dry summer usually means increased interest in buying and using pools, which is good for all in the industry. But this summer has been wet, wet, wet, and not very summery at all in many parts of the country. This is because La Nina is firmly established in the tropical Pacific and is likely to continue until early autumn 2022, meaning increased chances of above average rainfall across much of northern and eastern Australia.

But luckily the covid-inspired demand has been locked in for many builders over next year, hopefully creating a buffer until the weather improves.

It’s certainly been a long and tricky two years, and everyone is hoping for a more straight-forward year to come.

Everyone at SPLASH! wishes all our readers a wonderfully relaxing Christmas period, and even more importantly, a productive and profitable 2022.

Copyright © 2022 - SPASA Australia.

Proudly supported by Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health

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 139 December 2021/January 2022

Conserving the industry’s Most precious resources Overcoming safety issues At aquatic centres Concrete Pool Builder Of the Year

Supreme Heating

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.

Making the poolscape

Come alive

The cover The cover shows an outstanding project built by 2021 National Concrete Pool Builder of the Year, Laguna Pools, from a design by Steve Taylor of COS Design. Photography by Urban Angles. There is more on Laguna Pools on page 34.

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 9

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Contents 38

Choosing the right bar chairs Cal Stanley looks at the issue of what types of reinforcing steel bar chairs suit which types of concrete construction.

Conserving the industry’s most precious resources Veda Date looks at industry efforts to help conserve the two resources on which it most depends – water and energy – and how these efforts are helping secure its long-term future.

28

Kiwis keen to usher in 2022 Jonty Mills reviews the turbulent year that led the New Zealand industry to dig deep and use all their reserves of resilience and adaptability.

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Tips for styling the poolscape Kirsten Walsh offers some tips for styling a poolside landscape, running through a number of different thematic ways the poolscape can come alive.

31

Weak links in the supply chain David Stennett spoke with Australian Energy Systems general manager Jason Didsman about logistics and the supply chain difficulties that are currently affecting the swimming pool and spa industry.

34

Big year for Laguna Pools Victorian pool construction company Laguna Pools had a successful 2021, winning the National Concrete Pool Builder Award, the Gold Lap Pool Award and Best Online Pool Store.

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regulars News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Commercial news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Pool DAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

New products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Ad index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Safety and other important issues in the aquatics industry Veda Dante looks at ensuring a safe environment in an aquatic centre, while also touching on issues relating to training and the status of aquatic education as an essential service.

67

Building on the past to save money in the future Lindsay McGrath visits the Playford Pool in Adelaide, and sees how the refurbishment is designed to save ratepayers money long into the future.

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 11

news Media

Best Pools TV gains momentum as more sponsors join

across TV, digital and social media investments – we couldn’t wait to jump on board,” he says.

Lynley Papineau, managing director at Aqua Technics Pools, says the role of the swimming pool bringing the family together has never been more important than over the past 18 months.

“Best Pools gives us the opportunity to provide ideas and inspiration through the stories of our customers who have created their dream pool and outdoor living space,” she says.

“We are going to travel around the country from Queensland to Sydney, down to Victoria and then across to South Australia and Western Australia featuring Aqua Technics Pools and many stunning backyard transformations. We will even head out to the country to unveil some hidden gems on rural properties.”

Shawn Scurrah says Davey Water Products is excited to be involved with a program that will connect their iconic Australian brand to consumers.

A Polaris soft close hinge Four major partnerships have already been secured for Australia’s first TV series featuring the nation’s best pools.

Aqua Technics, Davey Water Products, Maytronics, Polaris Soft Close Hinge and The Pool Tile Company have confirmed major sponsorship slots, while Poolwerx and Clark Rubber have come onboard as minor sponsors. This is an indication that the industry is keen to connect with the B2C market and gain national exposure through mainstream media.

This highly anticipated Best Pools series will shine a light on the swimming pool and spa industry in a similar way to popular home improvement shows highlighting the renovation sector.

Scheduled to air early 2022 on the Nine Network, Best Pools is a joint production between SPASA Australia and Northlight Productions – producers of successful lifestyle show Open Homes Australia.

Featuring 10 episodes and giving viewers the opportunity to vote for their favourite pools, the program is designed to provide inspiration, feature new technologies and promote the backyard staycation movement.

A word from the sponsors David Dean, marketing manager at Maytronics, says that Maytronics Australia has always pivoted its leading marketing strategy towards the consumer and is excited to be a major sponsor in the brand-new TV series, Best Pools.

“The series has so much synergy with what Maytronics is already doing

“We jumped at the chance to be involved, and it reinforces our realignment/refocus into the Pool Channel,” he says.

Polaris Soft Close Hinge international sales and marketing manager Nathan Ungaro says that for several years they had been contemplating the next strategy in their brand’s evolution.

“We need to create awareness of the most critical part of any glass pool fence,” says Ungaro. “Namely, the gate unit. With the exponential increase we see in the home renovation market over the past two years – in particular in pool construction and refurbishments – Best Pools was a logical and timely vehicle to deliver our message to a national television audience.”

The Pool Tile Company’s Victorian state manager David Smithwick is excited to come on board as a major sponsor.

“We’re probably the number one pool tile supplier in the country, but we see being involved in Best Pools as a great opportunity to broaden our audience even further,” he says.

“It’s great to get in on the ground floor – you’ve got to be in it to win it!”

SPASA Australia business development executive Daena BougoureLatchford says that pre-production of Best Pools is well underway, with locations and scheduling in the final stages for filming in January and February.

“There’s an abundance of incredible pools to share with Australian audiences, and it’s been wonderful revisiting award-winning pools,” she says.

“This series will shine a light on outstanding design, construction and products, inspiring greater pool ownership and promoting the Great Staycation!”

Media

Innovative pool for latest Big Brother show For the second time, Blue Haven has been chosen to create a custom pool for the Big Brother reality TV franchise – this time on the film set for Channel 7’s Big Brother VIP Hotel.

The series included tabloid stars and sporting greats like decathlon Olympic legend Caitlyn Jenner, NRL star Matt Cooper, the Duchess of Sussex’s brother Thomas Markle Jr and former Trump presidential aide Omarosa.

Blue Haven Pools CEO Remonda Rose says the company was delighted to be selected again.

“In this instance, when designing a pool for the Big Brother VIP set, we really had to think outside the box as the pool had to be fiberglass and engineered to be installed fully out of the ground,” she says.

“We love a challenge, so we decided to create the world’s first freestanding fiberglass pool.”

12 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

The pool was installed on a concrete base then surrounded with decking to conceal the ribbed reinforcement required to give the pool its strength.

The Big Brother VIP Hotel reinforced fibreglass pool which is built fully out of the ground

news

Service

Perfect pool for perfect strangers

Annual pool DA figures up by 26 per cent

During the film shoot, Swimart Byron Bay was tasked with keeping the pool and nearby water feature chemically balanced and crystal clear for the Hollywood glitterati.

“The producers installed an elaborate pool heating system to ensure the water temperature was kept at a constant 32 degrees for the actors, which is way too hot for your average Aussie pool,” says Swimart Byron Bay owner operator, Gary Sanderson.

The actors needed the pool warmer because they were spending a lot of time in it – and it was work after all, not just relaxation, so their comfort was essential.

The pool used a freshwater system which also required chlorine top-ups because of the higher temperature and heavy bather load.

“If you’re running pools over 30 degrees it plays with the water, but this was winter so it was pretty benign and didn’t react too much,” Sanderson says.

“We just made sure it had sufficient chlorine in it – we ran at minimal chlorine levels to top up the freshwater system.”

As the shoot took place during “peak covid” a strict testing protocol was in place, including the requirement for on-site testing prior to each service call.

“The resort’s caretaker didn’t want to be covid tested every time – so we agreed to do the servicing,” says Sanderson. “He didn’t want to have the cotton bud shoved up his nose each time, but our guy didn’t mind.”

Nine Perfect Strangers is streaming on Prime. It is based on the bestselling novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty, who also had a hit with Big Little Year old Year new Lies – another book2500 that went on to become a successful television series starring Nicole Kidman.

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While the book was set in Australia, the television show was shot in Australia but set in the United1500 States and includes a mix of Australian and American stars. Sanderson says the locals were bemused during shooting as the rich 1000 and famous Hollywood actors were driving around town in left-hand drive vehicles, necessary for the foreign setting.

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Meanwhile, Swimart Byron Bay recently won Swimart Franchise of the Year due to a combination of0 excellent sales growth and exceptional customer service.

Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov

Comparing the available pool DA figures for the 12 months to November with the same period last year, annual applications are up 26 per cent nationally, with Western Australia up by 51 per cent, Queensland up by 43 per cent, Victoria up by 24 per cent, New South Wales up by 21 per cent and South Australia down by 26 per cent.

The numbers also climbed for the most recent three months, with the figures rising by 31 per cent. The September-November numbers from Cordell show Queensland up by 76 per cent, Victoria up 30 per cent, New South Wales up 26 per cent, Western Australia up by two per cent and South Australia down by 32 per cent.

Yearly comparison by month

The pool was shot on location at the Soma Resort, a calming and luxurious retreat on the outskirts of Byron Bay.

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Academy Award-winning actor Nicole Kidman may be the star in Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers series, but the fictional retreat’s freshwater infinity swimming pool also sparkled on screen.

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Sanderson says he was really pleased with the win, but it was a team effort.

“It was definitely a combined team effort and was great to get the award,” 5000 he says.

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“Sam Maloney is our main service tech and he is very good and handles the Year old Year new customers really well. 7000 And we are all good at communicating with the clients and keeping them informed.

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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.

The Soma Resort pool was one of the stars in Nine Perfect Strangers December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 13

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news

Acquisitions

Fluidra acquires Taylor Water Technologies for $US78 million Fluidra has acquired Taylor Water Technologies, a leading US-based manufacturer of water-testing solutions, as part of its strategic expansion into the US market.

Passings

Vale Adrian Rawlings Sadly, EvoHeat’s business development manager Adrian Rawlings has passed away unexpectedly.

He was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident while returning from a family visit to regional Victoria.

EvoHeat group general manager Tim Martin says that Adrian was not only an outstanding employee, but a wonderful person to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Founded in 1930 and based out of Sparks, Maryland, Taylor is a recognised leader in watertesting kits and reagents in the residential and commercial pool segments.

“He also gave selflessly, along with his wife Narelle, to care for numerous foster children to provide them a better life.

With a catalogue of nearly 600 test-kit configurations, their products are carried by more than 400 distributors throughout the US, Canada and Mexico, and sold directly by Fluidra into other markets including Australia and New Zealand.

SPLASH! offers sincere condolences to all Adrian’s family, friends and colleagues.

“Our deepest thoughts and condolences are with Narelle and his entire family at this time.”

The addition of Taylor’s trusted water-testing kits, strips and instruments broadens Fluidra’s rapidly growing portfolio of pool and spa products and solutions for the residential and commercial sectors.

Taylor’s sales for the past 12 months have been reported as $US26 million, with an EBITDA of $US8.5 million.

Following the acquisition, Taylor will continue to operate independently as a business within Fluidra. Stephen Heard will continue to lead Taylor as its senior vice president and general manager and will report to Troy Franzen, president of Fluidra North America. The Taylor team and its base of operations will remain in Maryland.

“This is an important acquisition for Fluidra and will greatly enhance our offering,” says Bruce Brooks, chief executive officer of Fluidra.

“Taylor is the most trusted name in water testing within North America, and their expertise, coupled with Fluidra’s track record of delivering new equipment and IoT solutions, will pave the way for future innovations that make managing watercare easier for both pool professionals and pool owners.”

“It’s exciting to become a part of Fluidra,” says Stephen Heard, chief executive officer of Taylor.

“We each bring unique expertise as part of the large, multi-segment pool market and are focused on combining those building blocks to provide best-inclass solutions for our customers.”

Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter.

Australian pool industry comes of age with its own TV show The industry was excited to learn SPASA Australia is involved in presenting Australia’s first dedicated TV show for pools and spas.

Adrian Rawlings

Top five online news stories

The online stories that made the news over the past two months.

Forced closure of indoor pools risking children’s lives Industry bodies successfully lobbied the NSW government to reopen indoor public pools, although the long-term effects may still be troublesome for young swimmers.

14 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

Sydney plans to add floating pools to the harbour Sydney is the latest Australian city to raise the prospects of a riverside or harbourside “floating” pool.

BWT acquires Lincoln Pool Equipment Leading Australian pool equipment distributor Lincoln Pool Equipment was acquired by the Best Water Technology Group.

Swimming rocked by new abuse allegations New horrifying accusations of historical sexual abuse by former elite swimming coach John Wright were aired, with the result that he was arrested by police.

news

Upcoming events 2022 Feb 1-2

Spatex, Coventry, UK

Feb 4-6

Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo Victoria

Feb 26-27

Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo NSW

Mar 26-27

Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo SA

Apr 4-7

Clark Conference, Brisbane

Apr 29-May 1 Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo NZ May 10-12

DesignBuild, MCEC, Melbourne

May 28-29

Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo Queensland

June 22-23 SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre June 22-23 Australian Swim Schools Association National Conference, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (SPLASH! Week Event) July 1

SPASA Awards of Excellence SA & NT

July 10

Spa & Pool Show + Backyard & Garden Show, Melbourne

July 15

SPASA Awards of Excellence Vic & Tas

July 22

SPASA Awards of Excellence Queensland

July 29

SPASA Awards of Excellence NSW & ACT

Aug 12

SPASA Awards of Excellence New Zealand

Sep 2

SPASA National Awards of Excellence

Sep 17-20

ASCTA Con 22, SeaWorld, Gold Coast

Sep 28-30

Japan Build, Osaka

Nov 15-18

Piscine Global Expo, Lyon, France

www.waterco.com Splash Magazine - Vitale Mineral Salts Ads - 90W x 270H mm

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 15

news

In Brief Sadly, Tony Van Der Haar has passed away. Tony was from the well-known Van Der Haar pool and spa industry family, which includes brothers John and Ben, as well as Tony’s son Mark, who is director of industry insurer AB Phillips.

Tony was an innovator who began in the industry in the 1970s, starting the Swim Pool Doctor service with a fleet of vans visiting homes to service swimming pools – the first to do so. He added spas to his repertoire later when he started Gerico Spas.

He was a generous man who, in his later life, spent much time caring for others.

SPLASH! offers condolences to all of Tony’s family and friends.

A new study by Money.co.uk has identified the international trend for swimming pools since the beginning of covid, making them the world’s top priority when luxury house hunting. Swimming pools have become the most desirable property feature in nine different countries including the UK, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland and Thailand. While very popular in Australia, as we all know, they come in just behind parking spaces in the increasingly crowded urban landscape.

Fluidra has been announced as SPASA Australia’s Platinum Industry Partner for 2022, encompassing the Awards of Excellence program across Australia and New Zealand, regional member networking events, meetings and forums, the SPLASH! Pool & Trade Show, the SPASA Leadership Convention, the WAVES women in industry events, and industry training and education events.

16 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

Milestones

Clark Rubber celebrates 75th anniversary by giving away swimming pools Australian swimming pool retailer Clark Rubber is celebrating its 75th birthday milestone by offering its customers a chance to win some amazing prizes.

Each week until January 23, one lucky customer will win a 10ft Intex round pool valued at $250.

Additionally, one lucky person will also win a caravan renovated by Retro Caravan Renovations valued at $40,000.

Anyone can enter with any purchase online or instore by scanning the QR code on their receipt.

Every entry goes in the draw to win pools, which are drawn every Thursday, as well as the caravan.

To set the competition in motion, Clark Rubber held community barbecues across the country, and at their Nunawading, Victoria store, held a family friendly event including a life size pool erected for swimming and swim safety lessons, a pool giveaway on the day and Channel Nine Weekend Today Show’s Lauren Phillips covered the event, reporting the weather live all morning.

CEO Anthony Grice says that over the past 75 years, Clark Rubber has grown from a small Aussie retailer into one of Australia’s most wellknown, trusted and intergenerational brands.

“Not only have we been serving Australians for the past 75 years, but we have also provided

Clark launched their anniversary celebrations at their Nunawading store an opportunity for many people to own and run their own small business through our franchising network,” he says.

“We have recently re-opened our stores across the country and we are expecting a very strong summer of sales as Australians look to entertain in their own homes and backyards, with pools and spas a must-have item.”

He says that since the Clark Rubber business took on new ownership just over a year ago, it has converted seven sites to new company stores, earmarked a further 20 greenfield sites, and also started up premium territory pool and spa service vans.

Distribution

Daisy offers limited DIY range to stymie cheap imports Daisy Pool Covers has notified the market that while Bunnings will include a range of their pool covers, it is only a limited range of rollers and unique pool covers (dark blue 300um and 500um) developed for the niche DIY market.

The range is special order only, not stocked in store. Daisy says they remain focused on pool shop partners, who are the only in-store avenue for customers to access expert advice, measure and installation services, and the full range of premium Daisy pool covers and rollers.

“A key driver for replying to the supply request for the DIY range at Bunnings was to protect the local pool cover industry,” says Derek Prince. “It is our belief that if Bunnings were to import cheap pool covers from overseas, this would have caused a huge risk to the quality pool cover market in Australia.

“We maintain that this supply channel will benefit all of our partners, as this will not only help improve nationwide knowledge of the Daisy brand but will also encourage them to seek out Daisy experts who already stand behind our entire range of products.”

Contact: hello@daisypoolcovers.com.au

www.remco.co m.au

news

Retail

Pool shop adds crypto to accepted payments Fabio Marzella’s Greenhouse Pools & Spas in Niddrie, Victoria, has broken new ground in the payment options he is accepting from customers: crypto currencies.

“Not taking crypto is like not taking EFTPOS, it’s going to cost you sales,” says Marzella.

“When EFTPOS first started rolling out in 1984, people had the same reaction they’re having now,” he says. “Fast forward a few decades later, and cash is all but dead.”

Marzella also says that accepting crypto currencies is enabling him to reach a whole new market.

“I’m not sure if we are the first pool shop or retail shop for that matter in Australia to accept crypto currency for goods and services. But we understand that there are new ways that consumers wish to pay and crypto is that way.”

A cryptocurrency is a tradable digital asset or digital form of money, built on blockchain technology that only exists online. Crypto currencies use encryption to authenticate and protect transactions, hence their name. There are currently over a thousand different crypto currencies in the world, including well known ones such as Bitcoin.

“Digital payment giants Mastercard and Visa have begun throwing their support behind physical bank cards that let people around the world – including Aussies – shop online.

“The process for payments in store process is simple, retailers can accept crypto currency payments by integrating a QR code scanner or NFC terminal into their POS, or consumers can easily open their crypto mobile wallet to pay in-store.

“If appealing to consumers’ needs is not enough of a reason to accept crypto currency, there is even an added benefit for retailers. Transaction fees for crypto currency is a fraction of your merchant fees and much lower than other forms of payments,” he says.

Legal

Fluidra and Insnrg reach settlement in patent dispute Insnrg Techne Pty Ltd and Fluidra Australia have reached a settlement in relation to patent disputes involving two models of Insnrg’s variable speed pumps and two of their chlorinators.

has agreed to modify certain features of the two variable speed pumps and one of its chlorinators, and to pay royalties to Fluidra on the sales of those variable speed pumps and the other chlorinator.

Fluidra’s marketing director Jonas Ryberg says that Fluidra is the registered owner of various patents relating to such variable speed pumps and chlorinators.

“Fluidra invests significantly in the development of innovative, Australian-made products, and in obtaining and maintaining patent protection for those products. As demonstrated by its recent actions, Fluidra will take all steps necessary to enforce those patents and protect its intellectual property when required,” he says.

“Since June 2020, and up until recently, the parties have been engaged in correspondence regarding this matter. In the interest of avoiding further costs and inconvenience for both parties, without admitting liability, Insnrg

SPLASH! has contacted Insnrg for comment.

Consumer advice

New fact sheet for NZ industry SPASA NZ has released a valuable resource to members and the wider industry – The Installation of Residential Swimming Pools fact sheet.

In collaboration with Auckland Council and acknowledging the valuable contribution of Rainbow Morris (MBIE independently qualified pool inspector), this resource is a guide to ensure all industry participants are providing appropriate information to the consumer in the interests of safety.

It is not designed as a comprehensive representation of all requirements; however it includes answers to common questions and references to appropriate regulations and more detailed information.

To download the factsheet, go to www.splashmagazine.com.au/QuickLinks139.

The Installation of Residential Swimming Pools fact sheet 18 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

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Awards

In Brief Police are investigating the theft of a large swimming pool from Wandana Heights, Geelong in October. A seven-metre pool was stolen from a construction site and police are seeking to identify a truck used in the heist.

CCTV forage shows the large flatbed truck with attached loading crane drive down the street in the middle of the night, returning with the pool loaded.

Poolwerx COO Nic Brill says increased consumer demand has led them to start recruiting women and men from around the country for a range of roles from part-time and casual roles to full-time opportunities. Full training will be provided, working with the network of small business owners. “We’re encouraging anybody with a passion for a healthy lifestyle and a desire to grow within a supportive network to reach out and see what roles we have which they may be suited to.”

PoolCorp has acquired Porpoise Pool & Patio, a large US wholesale distributor of swimming pool and outdoor-living products, including a specialty chemical packaging operation, selling primarily to Pinch A Penny franchisees.

Steve Hammock has retired as Wellness Watkins’ president – a role he has held for 25 years. Watkins is a leading US manufacturer of hot tubs and aquatic fitness products. VJ Teenarsipur, executive vice president, will be taking over the role.

Recognition bestowed on industry members A number of pool and spa businesses have gained recognition in a few different ways, including via the Good Design Awards.

Halo Connect AstralPool’s Halo Connect system of products, which includes the recently released Halo Lite 2 and Halo Lite 4, has won a Good Design mark in the 2021 Good Design Awards.

The jury on the Good Design Awards panel commented: “The interconnectivity of the system, alongside a robust form language of the core, make a compelling product offering. The product appears professionally designed and well-executed. Overall, a standout project that ticks all the boxes for good design in this category.”

The Halo range of products is designed and manufactured in Australia by Fluidra’s research and development team based in Victoria.

Fluidra plans to release the rest of the Halo product range in the coming months, including the Halo Chlorinator, Halo Hub and Halo Xpand automation modules.

EasyDrain Edge Everhard Industries’ EasyDrain Edge was also recognised the Good Design Awards, receiving a prestigious Good Design Award Gold in the product design category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation.

The 2021 Good Design Awards attracted a record number of submissions with 933 design projects evaluated by more than 70 Australian and international jurors, including designers, engineers, architects, and thought leaders. Each entry was evaluated according to a strict set of design evaluation criteria which includes good design, design innovation, and design impact.

to see designers and businesses working together to find innovative, customer-centric design solutions to local and global challenges and to see them recognised and rewarded for their efforts through these prestigious awards.”

Other recognition AllChlor has been acknowledged as Australian made and owned.

Founded in 1996 as a family business, AllChlor has been manufacturing in Australia for 26 years.

AllChlor’s Sophie Des Preaux says that while they have always been in Queensland, they wanted the consumers to know they were getting a true Australian product they could rely on.

“The certification of Australian-owned and made gives AllChlor the recognition that the consumer can trust they are getting a great product made right here in Queensland. We are proud of our people working to create a terrific locally made chlorinator that has now been exported to several countries,” she says.

Meanwhile, Heliocol Solar Pool Heating Collectors by Magen have been recognised meeting the stringent requirements of the Climate Care Certified program.

These collectors are modern, efficient and can save thousands of dollars in reduced energy costs every year.

ABOVE: EasyDrain Edge BELOW: AstralPool’s Halo Connect

The Good Design Awards jury commented: “EasyDrain Edge has great attention to detail and offers endless design opportunities for exterior landscaping. This product feels robust and easy to maintain.”

Dr Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia said: “Receiving an Australian Good Design Award is testament to embedding design excellence at the heart of a product, service, place or experience. Although 2021 continues to be another challenging year, it is incredibly inspiring

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 21

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Regulation

NSW Home Building Act Review SPASA Australia has been participating in discussions with the NSW Government on the Home Building Act (HBA) 1989 and has made submissions to Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Home Building Act concept paper.

The concept paper covered: • Licensing categories; • Types of work; • Building classes; • Streamline processes, including licensing digitalisation, risk-based licensing, and compliance approaches; • Industry and customer outcomes; • Innovative ways to regulate the industry to encourage compliance and best quality builds; • Evidentiary provisions; • Supervision and oversight of unregistered practitioners; • The role of the Tribunal; • Sufficient deterrents such as penalties; • Corporations, director liability and accountability;

• The ability to rectify defects; • Provisions in relation to misrepresentations and representations; • Statutory warranties; • Provisions to address building disputes and provide resolutions.

SPASA Australia’s responses in its submissions focus on the swimming pool and broader industries, and are aimed at: • Lifting builder competency; • Introducing CPD for all trades; • Not overengineering legislation; • Licensing categories; • Focussed training for specific types of licensing; • Consumer outcomes; • Dealing with innovation; • Dispute resolution processes and outcomes; • Improved regulator engagement.

You can download and read the submissions to both stages at www.splashmagazine.com.au/QuickLinks139.

Accolades

Safety

Managing the risks of working in heat Working in the heat can be hazardous and is a common cause of harm among Australian workers.

Some common risks of working in heat include heat-related illness, dehydration, burns and reduced concentration.

Safe Work Australia has updated guidance material on managing the risks of working in heat.

The new guidance reflects changes made to the recommended first aid for heat stroke.

The guide provides practical guidance for a person conducting a business or undertaking on how to manage the risks associated with working in heat, including information on first aid for heatrelated illnesses that reflects updated medical advice.

Go to splashmagazine.com.au/QuickLinks139 to download the guide.

More accolades for pool industry CEO AIS Water CEO, Elena Gosse has been named on the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Outstanding Alumni List 2021.

“This honour is bestowed on individuals for outstanding professional achievement and contribution at local, national and/ or global levels and whose actions and values reflects QUT’s real world vision,” the prestigious tertiary institution said in a statement.

Elena Gosse Gosse graduated from QUT in 2004 with a Bachelor in Business Accounting, a decade after migrating from Russia to Australia with her two young daughters.

“When I first came to Australia, I did not speak English and had no social network or support,” Gosse says. “I went to TAFE to learn English and continued studying at TAFE earning a Cert III in Office Administration followed by a Diploma in Business Accounting.

“It made sense to extend and formalise my qualifications with a tertiary degree and QUT appealed to me from the start because of the supportive environment it provided while challenging us to challenge ourselves.”

Ms Gosse has been running AIS Water, her family-owned business, for the past 28 years and has led the company to develop a range of world-leading water disinfection systems which have received national and international awards.

Recently Gosse was named a finalist in the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Businessperson of the Year Award – one of only four finalists for the award, and has also been named a finalist for the prestigious CEO of the Year category of The CEO Magazine’s 2021 Executive of the Year Awards.

Additionally, AIS Water has been recognised from more than 24,000 nominations as a Queensland State Finalist in two categories in the prestigious Telstra Best of Business Awards. AIS Water is a finalist in the Embracing Innovation and Outstanding Growth categories.

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 23

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Manufacturing

Fluidra expands Keysborough factory capacity

F

luidra Australia has completed its 12-month long expansion of their manufacturing facility in Keysborough, Victoria.

The expansion took place during the Victorian covid lockdowns and includes a new 250m2 Fluidra Pro Centre, which was relocated from the Dandenong premises in August, a training academy and a new development centre for the APAC region.

It also includes a new laboratory and test facilities, state-of-the-art test equipment, design and simulation tools and office space to accommodate the growing design team.

As part of the integration of Fabtronics which was acquired by Fluidra in February 2020, a purpose built and environmentally controlled electronics assembly area is being constructed and will be opened in early 2022.

Fluidra trade customers will be welcomed to the new training academy for in person product training sessions in 2022 with access to industry experts and hands-on instruction. The innovation showroom adjoining the training academy also showcases the latest AstralPool and Zodiac residential and commercial products.

footprint. Along with this, Fluidra continues to invest heavily in local R&D to help deliver new products that will be greener to manufacture and that will reduce pool owner’s water consumption and electricity, and will also require less chemicals.”

Fluidra is a key industry employer in manufacturing.

The Keysborough facility currently employs 131 permanent staff including a manufacturing team operating three shifts, five days a week, as well as warehouse, administration, sales and customer service teams.

Fluidra Australia employs more than 350 staff in total.

“We are very excited and look forward to having customers from Victoria and interstate visit our Keysborough facility as covid-19 restrictions ease,” says Clinton Alley, commercial director at Fluidra Australia, who is based at the Keysborough facility.

“We are very proud of the new additions and the ability to service our customers on a more personal level from the very place we design and manufacture our products.”

Contact: www.fluidra.com.au n

ABOVE: Keysborough has 131 staff of Fluidra’s national total of 350 LEFT: The Fluidra Pro Centre was relocated from Dandenong to Keysborough facility in August BOTTOM: Fluidra has expanded its rooftop solar and water recycling capabilities.

Going green

Brendan Butler, director of operations at Fluidra Australia, says the Keysborough facility was rated six stars for energy efficiency by Green Star when it opened in July 2016 and Fluidra continues to invest in making the facility even more environment-friendly by expanding its rooftop solar and water recycling capabilities.

“Going green provides Fluidra an opportunity to change the way we look at the products we design, the machines and processes we use, the utilities we consume and the waste we generate,” says Butler.

“We are actively pursuing a variety of initiatives around waste management, recycling and energy consumption that will help to lower our carbon December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 25

feature

While purpose-built concrete blocks are good, something that is definitely not okay is half-bricks – especially if they are core bricks with holes in them.

This practice is to be avoided as it leaves voids in the same manner as the plastic bars chairs.

Coastal issues

Choosing the

right bar chairs

By Cal Stanley

M

any concrete pool shells built up to 70 years ago are still in existence today.

However, I predict that many concrete pool shells built today will be lucky to survive half that time. Why is this? It is a little component called a “plastic bar chair”.

It has come to my attention that many concrete swimming pool shells are today being constructed using plastic bar chairs. This is no doubt occurring because of a natural tendency to use items that are cheaper and easier to put in place for the concrete spraying.

However, plastic bar chairs are not designed for pneumatically applied concrete. They do not fill up with concrete when it is sprayed because they are designed for the concrete slabs and walls where concrete is poured and vibrated.

Furthermore, many pools today are being constructed using dewatering techniques to keep water out during construction. These shells later sit in a virtual bath of water.

Consequently, the unfilled bar chair is an open invitation for water and moisture to reach steel reinforcing bars and, over time, cause considerable corrosion of the reinforcing steel.

Corrosion, or rust, makes the steel bar increase in size producing sufficient force to begin cracking the concrete.

If you doubt this, I suggest you have a good conversation about it with your engineer.

The best bar chairs are the concrete blocks followed by the plastic tipped metal ones. However, they need to be used in conjunction with metal bases, particularly on the excavation on the floor of the pool shell, to prevent them sinking into the soil.

26 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

TOP LEFT: Plastictipped wire bar chairs such as these are preferred over hollow plastic bar chairs when spraying concrete, as they don’t leave voids.

But they should be used in conjunction with flat metal bases to stop them sinking into the soil TOP RIGHT: These hollow plastic bar chairs are not the best choice for sprayed concrete

It is also worth considering Onesteel’s recommendation that steel bar chairs not be used within one kilometre of the coast. To me that doesn’t make sense, and I think it is tantamount to saying a structure near the coast should not use steel reinforcement at all.

There are special requirements in AS3600 - Concrete Structures regarding exposure to salt conditions within one kilometre of the coast, but they are all about the concrete strength. Reinforcement and bar chairs don’t get a mention because, in this respect, requirements are no different whether the pool is near the coast or hundreds of kilometres inland.

Special requirements for concrete near the coast apply only to exposed concrete. If your pool shell is in the ground, concrete requirements are the same as if you are 500 kilometres away.

Concrete requirements are minimum strength requirements: Within one kilometre of the coast, concrete used must have a minimum 40 MPa strength; between one kilometre and 50 kilometres, concrete must have a minimum 32 MPa strength.

There is also different strength requirements for pool shells in clay and those in sandy soil.

Check with your engineer if strength requirements are not indicated on his engineering plans. n For these articles Cal Stanley draws on his 30 years’ experience and success in pool construction, having run award-winning pool construction company Neptune Pools in Western Australia for three decades. He currently works as a pool consultant and delivers hydraulics courses for the swimming pool industry. Contact: neptunepools@westnet.com.au.

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Kiwis keen to usher in 2022 ABOVE: Everyone’s looking forward to another great night at the Awards of Excellence in August next year

I

ndustry members in both Australia and New Zealand are hoping for a new year that will usher in an environment with fewer obstacles than 2021.

“As the saying goes – out with the old, in with the new,” says SPASA New Zealand GM Jonty Mills.

“It’s fair to say this sentiment is ringing loud and clear on both sides of the Tasman as we close out another challenging year for one and all. The pool and spa industry in New Zealand is certainly not immune (forgive the pun!) from the impacts of covid-19, both from an operational perspective and indeed across the whole supply chain,” he says.

“One thing I’ve observed this year is we have an extremely resilient and adaptable industry.”

Mills is looking forward to ringing in the New Year and a brighter 2022 for all in industry.

“I’m a strong believer that in order to move forward and grow, you’ve got to acknowledge the past,” he says. “One thing I’ve observed this year is we have an extremely resilient and adaptable industry which is forward looking and will take a lot of learnings out of this really challenging year.”

28 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

Mills says that, despite the challenges, the industry peak body has continued to grow in both significance and membership, all the while expanding the raft of benefits available to members.

“The year is probably best summed up in two halves,” he says. “Relative freedom of movement and operations for most of the country in the first half of the year; then an array of full-scale and lengthy lockdowns, alert level restrictions, boundaries and geographical disparity for the second half.”

However, he is hopeful 2022, from a New Zealand industry standpoint, will provide much to look forward to in what will hopefully be a significantly less restricted environment.

Training program

Mills says the SPASA New Zealand industry training calendar will have been released by the time this article has published and will be available online at www.spasa. co.nz/industry.

“Face-to-face workshops will be back and offered across the main centres of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as a couple of regional locations where there is significant demand,” he says.

The face-to-face workshops will be supported by online workshops, complementing the full training suite of options for New Zealand in 2022.

“A highlight will also surely be the introduction of the New Zealand tailored Certificate 3 and

feature

Certificate 4 courses in Pool and Spa Maintenance and Building,” he says.

“I know that industry is very much looking forward to the two certificate courses because I get asked about them wherever I go. The SPASA team has done a great job this year to have these recognised

by NZQA with equivalent status. It had been a time consuming and challenging process – but it was well worth the effort for the benefit of the industry.”

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Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo

Mills says another highlight next year will be the staging of the Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo at Auckland Showgrounds on April 29 to May 1.

“After a hiatus of three years by the time next year comes around (for obvious reasons), SPASA is chomping at the bit to host this event for the New Zealand industry and consumers,” he says.

“It’s been a long and tough time since the inaugural and highly successful NZ Expo back in 2019. Eager consumers will have money in their pockets and will be looking to spend. In fact, our research shows that 67 per cent of visitors purchase within the following 12 months of attending a pool and spa show – and with the long break and the dramatic increase in demand, the leads should be stronger than ever.”

In August, the industry can look forward to the New Zealand Awards of Excellence, including a gala dinner and networking event all rolled into one.

“Eager consumers will have money in their pockets and will be looking to spend.”

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“This years’ industry summit and awards cocktail reception was a cracker under the circumstances, and a great opportunity for industry to come together during challenging times. We’ll be bigger, better and full-scale next year in August,” he says.

“Throw in the ongoing advocacy campaign with local government, the adoption of up-to-date industry standards, and the moving forward of discussions with the Building Practitioners Board about industry licensing – then you can see that 2022 is shaping up to be a progressive year for the pool and spa industry in New Zealand.”

Pursuing partnerships

Looking ahead in support of an ambitious growth strategy, SPASA New Zealand will also explore wider partnerships where there may be mutual opportunities to leverage benefit for the industry.

“The whiteboard list includes engaging with the likes of the commercial sector, landscaping, outdoor living and the aquatic leisure sector just to name some,” he says.

“I also think there is also opportunity to join forces with the likes of Water Safety New Zealand in support of water safety campaigns, research and data projects and perhaps joint papers and submissions where there is synergy,” Mills adds.

“And of course, the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show is back on in June 2022 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

There will be plenty of Kiwis eager to cross the ditch to get some Queensland sun on their backs after the past couple of years!

“I know the wheels of business will keep turning in whatever environment we are operating, and we’ll be right beside all our members and the whole industry, continuing to work hard to grow, protect and promote this fabulous industry we all choose to work in.” n Contact: www.spasa.co.nz

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December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 29

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Weak

links in the supply chain David Stennett recently spoke with Australian Energy Systems general manager Jason Didsman about logistics and supply chain difficulties that are currently affecting multiple industries – including the swimming pool and spa industry. This is an edited extract from that podcast. To listen to the full conversation, check out Ready Set SPLASH! at www.splashmagazine.com.au.

W

e supply pool heating to trade and retail. These days we’re more heat pump orientated than solar pool heating orientated, and we sell pool covers and rollers as well.

Our business consists of locally made solar pool heating, which hasn’t been too bad to get. The whole pandemic in general has been pretty easy as far as getting locally made product – the challenge has been in shipping – importing basically.

Three years ago, we would have paid say $3000 for a 40-foot container – and maybe up to $4500 around Christmas because you pay a bit of a premium.

The container we have landing on Thursday next week: $16,000!

You see it across the whole construction industry. I think all industries are suffering in one fashion or another. And what happened in the Suez Canal – where the ship got stuck and blocked the traffic – compounded what was already starting to happen, where basically there was a shortage of ships and a shortage of containers.

Ships and chips

Then on top of that, for China particularly where most of our imports from the pool industry come from, there’s now a shortage of power, because they won’t buy our coal.

You’ve got a worldwide chip shortage. So everything that uses a computer chip, there’s a shortage on that. Some of our manufacturers have said, Hey look, we were really proactive, we knew there was a chip shortage coming, we’ll buy a lot of chips up front, don’t worry, we’ll be good. Then they get massive orders. As everybody’s businesses are growing, the manufacturing orders are growing too. But unfortunately, they didn’t allow for the growth so they’re short on chips.

The whole thing together just compounds it and makes it more challenging. A really good example of that is now they’re dragging ships out of retirement and putting containers on them. We recently had a container that was due to arrive here at Australian Energy Systems about seven weeks ago. Typically from Nansha Port in China to Brisbane is between 10 and 16 days depending on the headwinds.

And this particular boat went first to drop off in Sydney. Normally it would then zip around to Melbourne, do a bit more, then come back to Brisbane. Generally, that voyage is about 24 days.

The ship broke down in the harbour, had to be towed in, got parked up on a breast wharf, and was deemed unsafe to unload. It sat there for two weeks while they figured out what repairs they needed to make. Then we get a notification that says it’s going to be three weeks to make the repairs.

So we were five weeks in Sydney, not including the travel time from Nansha, which was about two weeks.

That particular container, now being nine weeks late, means all of the cargo was already sold and backordered.

They give us a repair date and say the repair will be done in 14 days.

Great 14 days, no problems. We’re telling our customers, hey look, it’s in Sydney, it’s broken down. We’re sharing emails from the shipping company to our customers – to our pool builders – so they can pass it on to their customers to show that it’s all legit, and it’s not just that we haven’t ordered the product and we’ve kept the money.

And then it got delayed by another week for the repair. Then they said, Oh, it’s gunna go to Melbourne. We were like, No, no, it needs to come to Brisbane. So they give us the opportunity to put it on a truck and send it to Brisbane. But we’re right in the middle of the pandemic with the lockdowns. The other option was rail, but that’s going to have the same problem. And they said, Okay, we can offer you another ship. We’ll unload it off the Sydney ship, put it on a new ship, send it to Brisbane. We’re like, Great. Should be three, four days to get from Sydney to Brisbane on the cargo ship.

Another 10 days, and it's still not here yet. It was supposed to be here yesterday. It’ll port this Friday, unload over the weekend and we’ll get the container Tuesday next week.

Nearly 10 weeks.

Price hikes

The previous container was supposed to be about $11,000. The day the container was due to be delivered they email us and say, If you want this container delivered today, it’s going to cost you an extra $3000. You must sign this document and send it back or we don’t deliver the container.

The prediction is that it’s not going to get better anytime soon.

From what we’re being told by our shipping companies and our logistics people, from manufacturers in China, people we talked to in the US, this is going to run on for another year or two. And people keep saying, Oh, you’ve just got to put your hand in your pocket and buy more. It’s a good concept. But the ordering system for this now is out now till June next year.

We recently had one of our manufacturers comment that they got an order for 100,000 heat pumps in a day from Europe. My first question was, Well, who’s ordering 100,000 heat pumps in Europe?

The very next question is how does that affect our ordering? We go and talk to pool builders and ask them, how’s your book looking?

We’ve heard stories of builders already being out 12 months. And that’s just crazy but the pool builder can’t tell you how many heaters he’s going to need in nine months’ time.

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 31

feature

“I think this trend is going to continue for 18 months to two years.”

And that’s the challenge, and not just for us. It’s the pebbler – we’re hearing rumours that they’re going to run out of glass beads for pebbles because they can’t get enough product from China or wherever it comes from. Which means your pool is not going to get finished, so it doesn’t get filled with water, so your equipment gets delayed – everything gets put off.

I think there’ll be a lot of broken hearts this Christmas when it comes to what’s actually available to the consumer, unfortunately, and it certainly creates a challenge across the whole industry.

Buying in advance

The concept of an early season buy is literally how we roll every day now. We have to be planning six, nine, 12 months in advance. You start to get challenges in warehouse spacing, because your business isn’t generally designed to put an extra 12 months’ worth of stock in. The traditional method of business we were in was manufacturing to the order.

Now we’re no longer in that game, I think it’s turned back to the way it was in the ‘80s, where you have to have it in stock. And then you’ve got an opportunity to sell it.

I think this trend is going to continue for 18 months to two years. When the housing market starts to slow at some point – because it can’t go on forever, although it’d be nice if it did –the pool industry will gradually slow with that, and then manufacturing will start to come back into line.

If we can get containers and things along the way, and sort that out, that will certainly alleviate some of the pressures for the consumer. And, you know, most people are already on tenterhooks because of the pandemic – and people have that in the back of their minds all the time that they don’t want to catch that horrible c-word.

I think when you come full circle on it, you’ll see it start to work industry by industry – it won’t be the kind of thing where we all just fall off the edge one day and interest rates go up four per cent or something, it’ll be a very gradual thing.

But you’ll see it first in the construction industry before anywhere else.

We are a tight knit industry, and most of us know how we’re going together as an industry. And I think it’s important that we keep pushing the barrow together as an industry and keep trying to make it as best as we can for our customers. n

Contacts

Australian Energy Systems: www.poolheating.com.au Listen to the whole podcast interview at www.splashmagazine.com.au/QuickLinks139

32 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

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Big year for

Laguna Pools

ABOVE: This outstanding project in Mount Martha was built by Laguna Pools from a design by Steve Taylor of COS Design.

Photography by Urban Angles

V

ictorian pool construction company Laguna Pools had a successful time at the 2021 SPASA Australia National Awards of Excellence, winning Best Concrete Pool Builder and the Gold Lap Pool Award, while also being a finalist in the Business of the Year category and Concrete Pools up to $120,000 category.

They even won Best Online Pool Store for their Laguna Lifestyle brand which includes swimwear and accessories by renowned Australian labels.

“We want to make sure that every contact experience is A-class. We have a reputation as a premium brand, and we have to make sure that happens at every stage.”

Their success this year is on top of winning the 2020 National Pool of the Year Award last year.

The company has been going for almost 17 years, designing and building pools within a 30-kilometre radius of the Melbourne CBD as well as the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, and occasionally doing a selected bespoke projects in rural Victoria.

34 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

In addition to working directly for residential clients, they work with high-end architects and home builders, and provide tailored maintenance visits and equipment installations across Victoria.

General manager Dallas Roberts says while their business aim is to enhance the lifestyle of their clients, he also wants to drive a positive mentality for the entire experience – from the first engagement to using the pools for years to come.

“At the end of the day, pools are a lifestyle product,” he says. “We want to make sure that every contact experience is A-class. We have a reputation as a premium brand, and we have to make sure that happens at every stage.

“A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes to make that happen; and drives our team for their day-to-day performance.”

Roberts says he was thrilled at winning the National Concrete Pool Builder of the Year Award.

“We all felt great sense of achievement,” he says. “At the end of the day, it’s always challenging year-on-year to keep that high level of service delivery but this is a great reward for the excellent effort our whole team has put in. It’s something for our team to be proud of, and for our clients also.

And of course, it lets our prospective clients and the industry as a whole know that we’re at the top of our game.” n Contact: www.lagunapools.com.au

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Complex logistics were required for this challenging South Melbourne pool, which saw a high level of technical expertise result in the pool being positioned on the rooftop of a Mills Gorman designed apartment

A key feature of the South Melbourne pool was the double 1200mm x 600mm acrylic windows on the floor of the pool, allowing a view to the sky from the living areas of the apartment

RIGHT: This architectural home in the prominent Donvale “Millionaire’s Row” underwent an total outdoor makeover, including a 25m out-ofground lap pool with a rolled wet edge, a spa, and swim-up bar with stainless steel stools. Visually amazing within the natural bush setting while amalgamating the highend home with the newly appointed outdoor space Superbly situated in one of St Kilda’s most coveted pockets, this cleverly designed rear yard showcases how innovative thinking can transform a small space into an urban oasis. Not only is a full-sized residential pool unique for this metropolitan Bayside location, the eye-catching pool and garden are engaging year-round

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 35

www.brauerswim.com

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Conserving the industry’s most precious resources

By Veda Dante

Climate Care Certified The Climate Care Certified Program supports, protects and promotes best-practice sustainable solutions.

For manufacturers, industry certification comes with a range of benefits, including: • Highlighting the environmentally sustainable qualities of a product/system/installation; • Show commitment to preserving the environment and to industry best practice; • Gain a competitive edge in the marketplace by joining a network of environmentally conscious providers, listed on the searchable database;

38 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

• I ncrease sales and productivity by having industry innovations recognised, endorsed, validated and approved as Climate Care Certified; • I mprove reputation and credibility with consumers, colleagues and industry partners; and •D emonstrate investment in the industry’s sustainable future and inspire others to do the same.

Consumers are assured that Climate Care Certified products have undergone independent thirdparty testing to verify water efficiency and energy savings claims.

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P

ut simply: without water, the swimming pool and spa industry could not survive, and the industry is acutely aware of the importance of the planet’s most valuable resource.

As the conversation around resource scarcity and environmental awareness continues to build momentum, eco conscious manufacturers and suppliers are aiming for the industry to take control of its own destiny.

In this article, we look at what products and processes are being adopted to minimise water use and maximise water retention, ensuring the industry has a sustainable future — and future generations can continue to enjoy their swimming pools guilt-free.

Water and energy

While water is the most essential element for the swimming pool industry, energy is not far behind. After all, the water cannot be moved without hydraulic systems which invariably rely on electricity – and in many cases, a large amount of it.

Additionally, Australian society is experiencing greater demand for power and water due to growing

population, increased competition for resources, and in the case of water, frequent and increasing drought-related water restrictions.

On the back of all this, governments and their agencies are seeking to regulate for more sustainable water and energy use.

SPASA Australia chief operating officer Spiros Dassakis believes the looming regulation of energy supply, along with water restrictions, risks taking the joy out of owning a swimming pool.

“Without change, the swimming pool and spa industry will have to overcome significant commercial, consumer and regulatory barriers,” he explains. “Everyone has some skin in the water and energy game. Consequently, the risks have driven SPASA Australia to think creatively and collectively to meet future industry needs.”

Sustainable swimming pools, spas, installations and related products will enable the consumers to enjoy their lifestyles in a guilt-free and economic manner – a distinct advantage for not only the end-user but the industry.

However, how the industry responds to the challenge of becoming sustainable will determine the outcome.

Pool covers such as Remco’s Swimroll are vital in protecting both water and energy. This image of Cantwell Pool’s project photographed by Tim Turner

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 39

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Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools was the first builder to receive Climate Care Certification

“Overcoming future barriers requires a new approach, with businesses having an important role to play in future-proofing our industry,” says Dassakis.

The sustainable seal of approval

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SPASA Australia’s vision is to promote an efficient and sustainable industry that continues to appeal to people who are considering purchasing swimming pool and spa products. In 2018 it launched the Climate Care Certification program to support, protect and promote the way the swimming pool and spa industry operates and strives for best-practice sustainable solutions.

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A Climate Care Certified product, system or installation is one that creates a new benchmark by meeting one or more of the following criteria: • Water efficiency/sustainability; • Energy efficiency; • Environmentally sustainable designs; • Efficiency/sustainability innovations; • Noise reduction measures.

The concept of Climate Care Certified arose from industry and consumer concerns that it was not possible to rely on various sustainability claims being made across industry-related marketing material without some form of certification.

Dassakis says the subsequent claims verification process and third-party certification process brings distinct advantages to government, consumers and industry players.

“With greater power demand and increasing cost of supply along with concerns of water sustainability, governments and their agencies influence or regulate for more sustainable water and energy usage. The Climate Care Certified program puts industry in front of government intervention, potentially resulting in collaboration, initiatives and recognition,” he says.

It also has benefits for consumers.

“Now more than ever, consumers are seeking assurance that the products they buy are sustainable and responsibly made. A more sustainable brand

lor .co m.

au

40 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

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is often a more desirable brand – particularly one that has been independently verified to validate claims made on the packaging and marketing material.”

On top of that, a growing number of industry professionals including manufacturers, retailers and service technicians have come to realise that sustainability sells.

“That has led to a better understanding of who their customers are insofar as the environment and costs associated with their pool and/or spa.”

Dassakis says sustainability fuels innovation by allowing industries to reinvent themselves and their products with new consumer benefits.

“Sustainability also opens up new markets as innovative products make companies and consumers feel socially and morally responsible,” he says.

The Climate Care Certified program rewards all companies that meet the stringent requirements of the program. Each of these products, systems and builders have a unique offering different from each other but all meet the number one objective: to reduce energy consumption, save water and minimise the industry’s overall carbon footprint.

Covering up to save water and energy

A swimming pool cover is one item that can help save water.

Remco’s Carl Voshege says their Swimroll pool cover virtually eliminates evaporation when on the pool, while also having the benefit of allowing rainwater into the pool.

“The uniquely engineered junctions between the cover profiles allow for rainwater to track through the cover into the body of the pool,” he says. “The net result is a pool that never needs topping up. If anything, an overflow will expel some surplus water from time to time.”

He says that, as well as saving water, Swimroll covers offer

market leading insulation levels, helping to make heating of pools incredibly efficient.

“A Swimroll pool cover on a pool will always mean that a heater of lower output will be required, and its running time reduced. The unique Swimroll polycarbonate range also has the added advantage of heating the pool via solar transfer or heat transfer through the material.”

He says this means that for many Swimroll customers, no pool heating is required for the majority of the summer season, just a boost to the desired temperature at the start of the season – the pool cover will then maintain and add heat when absorbing heat in full sun.

“Our customers are almost always genuinely amazed when they experience these efficiencies for the first time. We know our customers also love the ‘ease of use factor’ of this system.”

Voshege adds that full automation means the cover is always used.

Future-proofing swimming pools

When Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools was awarded the program’s first Climate Care Certified Plunge Pool in 2020, director Geoff Smith said it reflected the company’s vision to create aquatic projects that have minimal impact on the environment.

“We have embraced the importance of preparing and empowering consumers to become responsible for contributing to a sustainable future,” he says.

“Our customers have welcomed the opportunity to future-proof their pool by upgrading to our environmentally energy efficient, water-saving Climate Care Package. More and more people are prepared to make the investment to minimise their environmental footprint without having to compromise on comfort or lifestyle.”

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 41

www.evolutionwls.com.a u enquires@evolutionwls.com.au

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ABOVE: Waterco’s MultiCyclone filter and Electrochlor mineral chlorinator contributed to Australia’s first environmentally certified swimming pool

Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools was able to incorporate several items of Climate Care Certified equipment from Waterco, including a Hydrostorm Eco-V pump, a MultiCyclone filter, an M3 Dolphin Supreme robotic pool cleaner, a Trimline CC50 filter and Britestream Slim90 LED pool lights.

“The 8-Star energy-rated Hydrostorm variable speed pump reduces energy usage by up to 82 per cent and its ultra-quiet operation is appealing to consumers,” says Smith.

“Then there’s Waterco’s MultiCyclone, which prefilters up to 80 per cent of the filter’s incoming dirt load, easing the workload of the swimming pool filter.”

Smith says Waterco understands that consumers want to make socially and morally responsible choices when it comes to owning a pool.

“We are proud to be leading the way by fostering best practice and ensuring the sustainability of the industry, particularly during periods of drought and peak energy demands,” he says.

Drought-inspired pool products

In response to the 1997 and 2009 droughts where much of southern Australia experienced a prolonged period of dryness — and conditions were particularly severe in the densely populated southeast and southwest — Waterco started exploring ways to reduce water consumption and prevent water loss in swimming pools.

“We looked into all sort of devices like rainwater diverters to divert rainfall to the pool but the first major product that we developed and manufactured to combat this issue was MultiCyclone,” says Bryan Goh, Waterco’s chief operating officer.

Working on the basis of centrifugal water filtration, the now Climate Care Certified pre-filter saves significant amounts of water by reducing backwash frequency to approximately twice per year. Further, it can be easily plumbed inline and retrofitted to save water.

Waterco’s research and development division continues to explore how it can make a product either more energy or water efficient.

“As more and more pool owners are becoming more environmentally efficient, it is very important for us to explore whether there is an environmental slant for our products,” he says. “Energy and water efficiency resonates well with our customers, and they often use it as a selling advantage to differentiate their offering in the market.”

For example, Waterco utilised its expertise manufacturing commercial grade filters and applied it to its domestic range of Micron Fibreglass Filters by improving their lateral systems so that they can backwash the filter bed more efficiently.

“As a result of the new design, the Micron range requires less backwash water to expand and flush the filter media bed,” says Goh. “We also introduced Glass Pearl filter media as their spherical shape requires less backwash water to cleanse. Combining the two products together results in a very water efficient media filter.”

Goh says consumers are interested in maximising the water efficiency of their pools, especially during times of water shortages, because it removes the guilt that they may feel installing a new swimming pool.

“Water shortages will continue to arise so we need to keep thinking of how we can reduce consumption and explore technologies that will allow larger pool water variances with less top ups,” he says.

Minimising the carbon footprint

Fluidra technical manager David Daft says the pool equipment manufacturer and supplier is committed to contributing to sustainable development through its Climate Care Certified products and other activity.

“We strive to use natural resources responsibly and minimise our environmental footprint, both in our daily activities as well as in the products we create,” he says.

“The directors of quality and facilities must consider the most efficient use of energy within the acceptable intervals according to regulatory or compliance standards.”

Energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energy, is considered in all Fluidra’s new and proposed projects.

“Preference is given to projects that improve energy efficiency. Lastly, Fluidra has invested in a new, larger research and development facility to be moved into our Keysborough facility and will be registered for GEMS — Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards — and sound testing,” Daft says.

Fluidra is also committed to educating its dealer network as there are numerous variables and configurations of pool hydraulic systems which can affect the energy consumption of swimming pool pumps.

“As a pump manufacturer, we understand the importance of pool pump efficiency,” he says. “For example, a pool’s filtration system is not required to operate at a pump’s maximum water flow rate. In fact, your pool’s filtration efficiency improves at lower flow rates (RPMs).

“A pool’s filtration cycle uses 99 per cent of the run time of a pool pump, so you can operate a variable speed pump on its eco/low speed setting for a majority of its running time, leading to 80 per cent savings in energy and less greenhouse emissions.”

Daft says SPASA’s Climate Care Certified program is important for the industry because end-users are more educated about environmental issues.

“Promoting products that are energy smart and save water via our industry body helps promote and protect December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 43

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ABOVE: Sunbather says its CCC-endorsed Flexible Strip Solar reduces energy and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86 per cent when compared to traditional forms of pool heating

the way our swimming pool and spa industry operates and strives for the best-practice sustainable solutions,” he says.

While it’s difficult to predict the future, Daft says it’s clear that all companies across every sector must do their bit for the environment.

“This is particularly the case for industries like ours which are dependent on water and energy for their longterm survival. In the short term, we can all do our bit by ensuring our factories, warehouses and facilities are as energy efficient as possible,” he says.

“But to make a real impact, we need to design, develop and promote products that consume less water, chemicals and energy.”

Daft also believes we need to consider how to recycle and reuse components and finished goods.

“This will present real challenges for businesses not prepared to change but it will also create significant opportunities for innovation and creativity,” he says.

“Consumers are increasingly prepared to pay a premium for products and solutions with strong ethical and environmental standards.”

Fluidra is committed to being a strong advocate for environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) strategies and has set ambitious global targets for the business to achieve.

“In this part of the world, we are only at the early stages of formulating our ESG plans and allocating the necessary resources to make a meaningful difference,” Daft says. “We have the global backing and the local talent and ambition to make things happen.”

Seeing through greenwashing

Aquatic Leisure Technologies (ALT) managing director Lynley Papineau says third-party verification programs such as SPASA’s Climate Care Certified gives pool buyers the confidence that the products genuinely promote sustainability.

ChloroMatic ™

POOL MANAGEMENT MADE EASY Davey’s new ChloroMatic Lifeguard makes managing your pool chemistry a breeze.

With an app that allows you to view and adjust your pool settings from anywhere, automated pool chemistry control and monitoring AND control of your pool water temperature, when connected to a Davey Heat Pump – why would you look any further?

wwdaveywater.com w.daveywater.com 44 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

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“It also shows that as an industry, we acknowledge water resource issues and are committed to doing our part to minimise its usage by offering water wise products and solutions,” she says. “As a business, ALT continues to source products that offer the highest levels of water efficiency and sustainability.”

ALT is committed to educating consumers on the correct use of water-saving pool covers, which includes a dedicated customer communication flyer that provides information on effective pool cover management.

Papineau says pool buyers need to be wary of imagery and words that look or sound eco-friendly without any actual claims or claims that are implied, very vague or lack evidence to back them up. In modern parlance this is known as “greenwashing”.

“Looking for products with the CCC logo gives consumers the peace of mind knowing it is a product backed by a genuine, certified program,” she says.

“It is a simple way for pool buyers to instantly recognise a product with environmentally sustainable qualities.”

He says his Naked Pool system relies on ionisation to sanitise the water – a technology which has been around for hundreds of years and even utilised by NASA for drinking water in space.

“The freshwater systems utilise copper and silver as the residual sanitiser in the pool water opposed to chlorine which reduces other chemical consumption by up to 50 percent,” Milne says.

He adds that to be approved by the APVMA as an effective sanitiser, ionisation still requires an oxidiser to

LEFT: AIS Water’s EcoLine freshwater chlorinators have water of such low salinity it can even be used as drinking water for short periods of time RIGHT: Looking for products with the CCC logo gives consumers the peace of mind knowing it is a product backed by a genuine, certified program

Clean and green

Darren Milne from Naked Pools says a low chemical pool can be good for the environment as well as your health.

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December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 45

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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.

•

Improved UV resistance, protecting the finish of your pool for many years

x. ne

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.

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

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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

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

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Product Features

www.allnex.com

Performance Advantages: • Improved chemical (chlorine) & water resistance

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Naked Pool system relies on ionisation to sanitise the water – a technology which has been around for hundreds of years and has been utilised

by NASA for purifying drinking water in space

A pool’s filtration cycle uses 99 per cent of the run time of a pool pump, so you can operate a variable speed pump on its eco/low speed setting for a majority of its running time, leading to 80 per cent savings in energy and less greenhouse emissions.

Image: Fluidra

break down organic matter, body fats and oils and other contaminates such as sunscreen.

“However, the chlorine is a secondary process, which reduces chemical consumption.”

He says that in addition to the health benefits available to your family by utilising a freshwater swimming pool system, it is also healthier for the surrounding ecosystem.

“Less chemicals and chlorine mean healthier water not only for the swimmer, it also can be repurposed on the garden or in the home. It is not corrosive like high salt or mineral pools therefore pool equipment and surrounds will last longer.

“Many people are now aware that there are better alternatives to traditional high salt and chlorine for sanitising pool water, and are converting their pools to freshwater. Freshwater pools can also reduce running costs by up to 50 percent with reduction in chemicals and pool run times.”

Milne says even pool equipment and surrounds can last longer the fresher the water is in the swimming pool.

“Without change, the swimming pool and spa industry will have to overcome significant commercial, consumer and regulatory barriers.”

Robotic cleaners save power and water at the same time.

Image: AstralPool

The life-enhancing substance

Elena Gosse, CEO of AIS Water takes the business of water saving very seriously and is committed to saving and enhancing life through greater access to water.

“I believe that we must be accountable not only as a company, but as an industry to help preserve water for the benefit of our planet and its people and ecosystems,” she says.

“Our commercial chlorine generation technology completely eliminates water wastage and can help to alleviate the extreme water shortages that are diminishing life and environments in many countries.

“In the case of our EcoLine freshwater chlorinators, the water is of such low salinity that it can also be used as drinking water for short periods of time, such as in cases of emergency, without affecting salinity levels in the body.”

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 47

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AstralPool's dual filter QB800 robot

What is NatHERS? The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) measures a home’s energy efficiency to generate a star rating. It was first introduced in 1993. The higher the star rating, the less energy needed to heat and cool the home to keep it comfortable.

Looking ahead

In 2022, the Climate Care Certified program will be extended to businesses that demonstrate sustainable practices. It will also capture the entire backyard – not just swimming pools and spas – to allow for things such as environmentally friendly products, systems and recycled materials and practices.

“The Climate Care Certified program is successful because progressive manufacturers, companies and builders understand what consumers and government want and expect,” says Dassakis.

“Everything we do as an industry — now and into the future — will be measured against energy use and availability, droughts and our carbon footprint. We are leading the charge to future-proof the industry against stringent regulatory intervention.

“The alternative is that we sit back as an industry and are told what to do rather than taking control of our own destiny,” he says. n

“Overcoming future barriers requires a new approach, with businesses having an important role to play in future-proofing our industry.”

RIGHT: The Zodiac EvoluX iQ range of robotic cleaners demands less power than traditional pool cleaners, and being fully independent relieves the load on skimmer, pump baskets and filter, saving water by reducing backwash.

AIS Water: www.aiswater.com.au Aquatic Leisure Technologies: www.aqualeisure.com.au Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools: www.goplunge.com.au Fluidra: www.fluidra.com.au Naked Pools: www.naked-pools.com Remco: www.remco.com.au SPASA Australia: www.spasa.com.au Sunbather: www.sunbather.com.au Waterco: www.waterco.com.au

48 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

NatHERS Assessors currently use the house plans and building specifications of a home to input data into a NatHERS accredited software tool. NatHERS tools estimate the amount of heat that needs to be added or removed to keep that home comfortable. The NatHERS tools then generate a NatHERS star rating out of 10 and a Certificate. This star rating measures the home’s thermal performance, based on its structure, design and materials.

NatHERS remains the most popular pathway to demonstrate compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) energy efficiency requirements. Around 94 per cent of building approvals in 2020-2021 were assessed via the scheme. A star rating of 6 or above is required in most parts of Australia for detached homes.

Soon NatHERS will offer Whole of Home energy assessments, which will include information about the energy performance of common household appliances, such as heating and cooling, hot water, lighting, pool/spa pumps and on-site energy generation and storage (e.g. solar panels and batteries).

NatHERS will also offer in home energy assessments which do not require house plans and building specifications.

NatHERS is administered by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy

and Resources on behalf of the states and territories.

The development phase is now complete, and the establishment phase will continue to March 2022. This phase includes: • A public consultation period on the expanded Whole of Home scheme.

• Alignment of the NatHERS Whole of Home Software Benchmark Tool with the potential NCC 2022 energy efficiency provisions.

• Commence roll-out of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Whole of Home Overview unit for existing NatHERS assessors.

• Commence development of additional CPD units for existing NatHERS assessors.

The release phase will run from April 2022 to June 2022 including: • Commence of accreditation of NatHERS Whole of Home tools. New NatHERS Whole of Home tools will be accredited under the Whole of Home Software Accreditation Protocol.

• Commence roll-out of additional CPD units for existing NatHERS assessors.

• Release of the expanded Whole of Home scheme.

• Release of communications and industry transition materials.

The modify phase will occur from July 2022 to September 2022 to allow for any final adjustments to accredited NatHERS Whole of Home tools to support the final NCC 2022 requirements, with accreditation of tools ongoing as applications are received.

Contact: www.nathers.gov.au

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Tips for styling the

poolscape K

irsten Walsh from Modular Walls offers some tips for styling a poolside landscape.

She says if you want to modernise or add style to your existing space, a few small changes can have a significant impact. First, you should answer a few simple questions: • What are the owners trying to achieve with the pool landscaping? (Privacy, extension of the house, separate outdoor zone?)

• How will the area be used? (Relaxation, entertaining, cooking, kids’ play area, pet area?)

• Are the owners keen gardeners or looking for a low maintenance garden?

• What design aesthetic are they after? (Modern, Tropical, English Garden etc.)

• What additions are needed? (Pergola, deck, fencing, lighting, BBQ, dining table/chairs, sun lounges, umbrellas etc.)

• Do you need council approval for any construction?

• What is the total budget?

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Tropical landscaping The Designory, Barefoot Bay Villa

Pretty much wherever you are in Australia, a tropical garden around the pool can help create a holiday atmosphere at home. And nothing says tropical more than palm trees, a pool and sun lounges (and a cocktail with a little umbrella!).

The Designory used a combination of tropical plants and natural elements such as timber and stone to create a luxurious and private outdoor oasis for guests at this Bryon Bay Villa. The lush green plants look vibrant against the dark coloured VogueWall. With such an inviting pool to cool off in, everyone would want to spend a relaxing holiday there.

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Designing an Australian native garden for your pool area will not only look amazing, but the native wildlife will also love it. The beauty of native Australian plants is that they are naturally suited our sometimes harsh conditions. Often they are even drought resistant – but be sure to check with your horticulturalist first.

This Queensland home uses sandstone for a natural retaining wall combined with native grasses, ferns, shrubs and succulents.

Additionally, the pergola offers much-needed shade from the Queensland heat and combined with the timber deck, creates an outdoor room to enjoy all year round.

Hamptons inspiration Three Birds Renovation

This home by Three Birds Renovations showcases how a Hamptons style makeover can transform a backyard into a sophisticated and timeless space to be enjoyed by the whole family. The design offers a resort-style ambience through the use of turf, palm trees and wellpositioned plants to create a symmetrical garden while complementing the colour palette.

Additionally, the VogueWall offers privacy from neighbours with the privacy screen colour matching the house to give an immediate connection between the two spaces. The outdoor zones like the fire pit emphasise a resort feel, while the Hamptons décor completes the look.

com cific. ttepa .lamo www

Australian native garden

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 51

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Modern poolside garden Elise and Matt, Block 2019

Australian backyard landscaping has come a long way – just watch The Block for example, to see many awe-inspiring backyards.

In 2019 contestants Elise and Matt had to tackle both pool landscaping and a pool retaining wall. Their inspiring low maintenance garden uses a light grey colour around the pool and white on the main pool feature wall and retaining wall. Plus, the glass pool fence complements the entire outdoor space providing a modern finish.

Simultaneously, the large pot plants give a sophisticated modern look and a touch of colour. With a neatly curated lawn, they also found a place for the kids to play.

An eco-friendly, invisible drainage solution

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g info@everhard.com.au

52 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

www.everhard.com.au

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Santorini pool garden inspiration Green wall

Whether you create a green wall with faux plants, climbing plants, hedges, succulents, or bamboo, it can have a dramatic effect on your garden. Plus, with a green wall or vertical garden, you can choose the size to suit your home. Choose from small panels to large circular, rectangle or square vertical feature gardens, or cover an entire wall. If installing a green wall by the pool, choose succulents or evergreen species that drop fewer leaves.

Even if you’re extremely short on space and have an outdoor pool or spa, you don’t need to miss out on a garden. Take inspiration from the Greek Islands or Morocco and create your oasis with some well-positioned potted trees, palms or climbers. Think Bougainvillea or olive trees to capture the essence of Santorini or large banana leaf palms and a luxurious day bed for a Moroccan feel. Bring the exotic to your place!

Contact: www.modularwalls.com.au

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

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 53

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

From $380* *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

news

Commercial & Aquatics Elite athletes help with mental health challenges. 58 In brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 WhiteWater belatedly celebrates its 40th anniversary. . . . . . . . . 58 Wibit celebrates 25 years. 59 Facing up to issues in the aquatics industry . . . . . . . . 60 Building on the past to save money in the future. . . . . . 67

Safety

Maddie Groves makes more explosive accusations ABOVE: Madeline Groves.

Image: JD Lasica 2016

WARNING: Some readers may find the content of this story distressing.

Australian Olympic swimmer Madeline Groves, who rocked the swimming community by calling out inappropriate behaviour by Australian swim coaches to female swimmers, has made further accusations including that she was sexually abused by an adult who still works in swimming.

Her initial accusations led to the appointment of an independent panel to investigate the treatment of women and girls in the sport and encouraged further accusations to come to light.

Later, accusations emerged about swim coach John Wright, who has since been arrested and is facing nine charges of indecent dealing with a child and one count of common assault.

Groves watched some of Wright’s accusers speak out on the ABC as part of an exclusive expose by Lorna Knowles of ABC Investigations and Nikki Tugwell of 7:30. This encouraged her to come forward with further allegations she felt she had been unable to make earlier, saying she didn’t feel there was anyone she could tell.

She told the ABC that as the Wright case focussed on historic abuse, there was the attitude that these behaviours were in the past, but she didn’t think that was necessarily true.

Her most explosive accusation is that when she was underage, she was molested by an adult male on multiple occasions.

“At the time I didn’t feel like there was anyone I could tell about that,” she told the ABC. “And there’s no-one in swimming that I would trust disclosing that to now, either.”

Groves said the abuse started when she was 13 and continued until she was 18. She declined to identify the alleged perpetrator but said he still worked in swimming.

She said that she hadn’t made a complaint about the individual, because her experience of making complaints about other people in sport was so discouraging.

56 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

Additionally, she accused two leading coaches of misconduct – saying one swimming coach controlled what she ate and made sexist comments to her; and the other stared at her breasts and touched her inappropriately.

She says that after making complaints about one of the coaches, she was treated as a “problem child” and did not receive the funding she was owed until she enlisted radio shock jock Alan Jones to intervene on her behalf.

In a statement, Swimming Australia said Groves’ funding was temporarily put on hold in 2017 due to a suspected anti-doping rule violation that she was later cleared of and to their knowledge it was subsequently back-paid.

Swimming Australia says it strongly refutes any suggestion that it declined to support Groves during her break from swimming. It also said it had taken all her complaints seriously and taken steps to address them.

The statement also said Swimming Australia would continue to work with Sport Integrity Australia to improve its processes. Recommendations from the independent panel are due early next year.

To watch the 7:30 story go to www.splashmagazine.com. au/QuickLinks139

If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 Headspace on 1800 650 890 ReachOut at au.reachout.com

news

Waterparks

Polin goes net zero Polin Waterparks has committed to being fully decarbonised and becoming a net zero business, based on developing and using sustainable products and services.

Polin is also developing key performance indicators to help it assess the carbon footprint of its waterparks. These will help the amusement industry pinpoint emissions and focus more on commitments, strategies and action planning towards net zero.

Dr Ioannis Pappas, sustainability advisor and board of member of the global sustainable tourism council, put together a new internal and external corporate strategy that will set the tone of their overarching philosophy. This will be followed by a roadmap towards net-zero that will follow these steps: Re-engineering of Polin Waterparks’ processes and activities to counter Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse emissions, greening of the supply chain to minimise Scope 3 greenhouse emissions, and creating a range of new sustainable products developed under their Bright line.

“In order to accelerate a global transformation of the amusement industry for a decarbonised future, Polin Waterparks extends an open invitation for collaboration in the amusement industry to counter Scope 3 emissions and implement responsible investment funding. Only by working together can we make a difference,” he says.

www.waterco.com Polin’s new Stingray slide

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 57 Hydrostar Plus 1450 Splash 270mm x 90mm.indd 1

16/11/2021 9:05 AM

news Waterparks

WhiteWater belatedly celebrates its 40th anniversary WhiteWater had planned to celebrate its 40th anniversary last year at the IAAPA Expo, but covid restrictions and the postponement of the show delayed the festivities until IAAPA Expo 2021 in Orlando, Florida.

WhiteWater used the anniversary to outline important commitments, including a corporate-wide initiative called Sustainability Scorecard with clear direction and measures, including ambitious goals to halve its waste by 2030 and become net zero by 2040. The effort looks at the issue holistically and encompasses helping suppliers and clients achieve their environmental goals.

At the expo, WhiteWater was presented with a Brass Ring Award for its new competition water slide, Parallel Pursuit, in the category of Best New Product— Water Park Ride/Attraction. This recognition adds to the Leading Edge Award that the product received this year from the World Waterpark Association.

Parallel Pursuit offers a side-by-side racing experience through low separating walls that allow rivals to see and hear each other on straightaways, turns and in open and enclosed sections through speeds of up to 32 kph. This interactivity encourages repeat ridership and dwell time.

The Brass Ring awardwinning Parallel Pursuit will be part of the new construction at Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast

Available either as a mat racer or a body slide, so headfirst or feet first, Parallel Pursuit is highly configurable with varying thrill levels. It has no height limitations and can fit into a tight footprint—all with an affordable price tag.

WhiteWater currently has a new project in progress for Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast which will be Australia’s tallest water slide tower, including a body Parallel Pursuit and Master Blaster + Tailspin fusion slides.

Safety

Elite athletes help with mental health challenges Australian athletes overcame unprecedented challenges to succeed at the Tokyo Games. Now 20 athletes from 16 sports will help children with their own mental health and resilience strategies as part of a national program between the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the Black Dog Institute.

Designed to help young people aged between 12 and 16, the AIS Black Dog Mental Fitness Program will be delivered by current and former high-performance athletes in schools and community sport organisations around the country.

Following the success of the inaugural program launched in 2020, the new group of ambassadors includes Paralympic gold medal winning cyclist Paige Greco and Olympic silver medallist and Kookaburra Josh Beltz. They also include water polo players Danielle Spitty and Hannah Buckling, diver Anabelle Smith and swimmer Kotuku Ngawati.

Schools and community sport organisations interested in a free AIS Black Dog Mental Fitness Presentation from one of the athlete presenters can submit a request via www.ais.gov.au.

In Brief Austswim is in line to receive $250,000 for its Creating Jobs, Saving Lives project which aims to address a shortage in swim and water safety teachers. The project will focus on re-engaging with swimming teachers who have left the industry and support them to return to the water. Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck says the grant aims to ensure that the 162,500 children who have missed swimming and water safety lessons have the opportunity to get back in the water in a fun and safe environment.

Swimming NZ is keen to understand the recreational swimming community to help encourage more people to swim more often by asking recreational swimmers coming into facilities to take a short survey. There is $1000 worth of prizes to be won. Go to www.splashmagazine.com.au/ QuickLinks139 to download the poster.

The National Guide to Public Pools & Aquatic Centres 2021/22 presented in conjunction with Australian Swim Schools Association is

58 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

once again being offered to public pools and aquatic centres. This year it includes interactive augmented reality capabilities for use with a smart device. New subject matter includes preventing heat-related illness and dehydration; a sun safety checklist; swimmer’s ear prevention and treatment; and a CPR video for babies.

Contact: marketing@provisual.com.au North Sydney Olympic Pool’s redevelopment is running further behind schedule, with practical completion for the $64 million complex blown out to February 2023, three months later than its previous timeframe.

The delay has been blamed primarily on the removal of hazardous materials and strengthening works, as well as the covid-19 lockdown and inclement weather. The development is controversial as it was one of the pools caught up in the Pool Rorts scandal, receiving $10 million in federal funding for the Coalition inner city seat from a fund set aside for regional projects and female change rooms.

news

Waterparks

Wibit celebrates Twenty-five years ago, Romann Rademacher and Robert Cirjak jumped from the green soccer field right into the blue water.

The German goalkeeper and the Canadian striker met in 1996 at MSV Duisburg and became instant friends. Sharing the same passion for sport, they came across the first water trampoline. In 1996 they founded a trading company to distribute this new water product to Europe.

Rademacher, a trained industrial manager and Cirjak, a physical therapist, soon discovered the full potential of the product. Loaded with plenty of their own ideas they started sourcing their own manufacturers, dreaming to change the way people play on water.

Over the years, Wibit Sports has transformed its portfolio from single products to whole sports park combinations and now focuses on modularity.

“Thanks to this attribute, we are able to build floating playgrounds in any size and shape, and for any body of water,” says Rademacher, CEO of Wibit Sports.

“This gives us the opportunity to customise every single layout and adapt it perfectly to each individual customer or location.”

Wibit SportsParks can be found in 100 countries of the world, with over 50 million happy users of all ages.

The company is constantly looking for innovation, such as WibitTAG, a special configuration of the modules enabling the formation of words, numbers or logos readable from above. Combined with the advent of drone photo technology, this can become marketing gold.

Wibit recently developed a completely new brand: Looft – quality floating water furniture for premium hotels, resorts and other commercial beach operators.

When opened in 2019, Aqua Dreamland at Secret Bay in Gilimanuk, Bali was the world’s largest inflatable aqua park. The recently completed Wibit Saudi-Arabia Tag is now the biggest floating water park in the world

The NEW Naked NKD-pH Controller For perfect balance and harmony.

The NKD-pH Acid Doser fully integrates with the NKD-R and NKD-C Freshwater Systems. Plug-n-play technology makes installation and setup a breeze.

Dosing is based on pool size with no probes to clean or calibrate for simple management and reliability.

• Adjustable running and priming timers • High quality peristaltic pump motor • PVC rollers ensuring low wear and tear • Quality squeeze tube Tygon® MF Norprene® • Superior chemical resistance • IP34 Rated • 12 months warranty

Swimming as nature intended™ 1800 625 331

www.naked-pools.com December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 59

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Overcoming safety issues in the aquatics industry

By Veda Dante

Creating a safe, inclusive environment is a major priority.

Image: ASSA

60 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

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W

hen PwC Australia released a report earlier this year stating that the economic, health and social benefits of the aquatic industry to Australia are worth more than $9 billion, it reinforced what many already know: Aussies love to swim.

Commissioned by the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, the research looked at the 2113 publicly accessible aquatic facilities across the country, finding almost 90 per cent of Australians live within a 20-minute drive of a public pool.

PwC found the industry provided a social return on investment of $4.87 for every dollar spent operating an aquatic facility in a capital city or $2.18 in regional Australia.

To protect the industry, and the people who rely on it for work, education and play, preventing incidents and injuries is an ongoing challenge for governing bodies and community facilities.

Specialised training

Industry experts agree that, to minimise the risk of accidents occurring in and around aquatic environments, it is imperative that all swim schoolteachers and students have the appropriate training.

Prevention, as Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) general manager Emily McNeill explains, is vital.

“Accidents are more likely to occur if the correct safety policies and procedures aren’t in place. All safety protocols must be clearly communicated and followed by all facility staff at all times,” she says. “This includes making sure there is a current CovidSafe Plan in place.”

Safety issues can also stem from within the pool and across the facility. For example, swim teachers are advised to routinely survey the pool and surroundings to identify potential risks and take action to eliminate or control these risks to their customers or work colleagues.

“Equipment and teaching aides that fill up with water and are not fully drained can pose a health risk — particularly to babies and toddlers as they tend to put things into their mouths,” says McNeill.

“All teaching equipment should be regularly disinfected and examined for deterioration. Wet walkways should be carefully attended to, and items that could cause slip accidents must not be left lying around.”

YMCA NSW executive leader in business delivery and support, Brooke Atkins, agrees that protecting everyone – in and out of the water – is paramount. In fact, she says safety is a key training requirement embedded throughout the employment journey of its aquatic teams.

Many children need to pick up their skills again after long periods of lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Image: YMCA

“Equipment and teaching aides that fill up with water and are not fully drained can pose a health risk — particularly to babies and toddlers as they tend to put things into their mouths,” Learning to swim is part of the Australian way of life.

Image: YMCA

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 61

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“We do that from day one to ensure that it is the key focus for our people, specifically when it comes to the education, awareness and behaviour of children in an aquatic environment,” she says.

“We continually reinforce this culture and commitment, maintaining that safety is always front of mind as a consistent standard of care and teaching, especially with such a diverse workforce across age, ability and confidence levels.

“We also extend aquatic safety and awareness learning to parents and primary caregivers, so that the standards we impart at our centres and in our lessons are embraced as a part of everyday life for people who come to the Y.” While CEO of Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) Brendon Ward believes the industry has an inherently safetyfocused culture, he says more can be done to inform the community.

“People who are coaching and teaching are intrinsically aware of all levels of risks regarding water safety,” he says.

“However, the real challenge is in educating parents and children to make learning to swim a priority.”

Skilled staffing shortages

Unsurprisingly, the ongoing pandemic has created a range of unprecedented challenges including staff shortages and inexperienced coaches. For ASSA, that means monitoring the knock-on effect they have on people learning to swim.

“A major challenge the industry currently faces is the introduction of casual and new staff post-covid,” says McNeill. “With the current staff shortages, this could lead to a greater number of inexperienced staff than before the pandemic. In turn, a shortage in swim schoolteachers would lead to a further regression in swimming skills among students unable to access lessons.”

Ward agrees that demand is outweighing supply and he points to recent data gathered by ASCTA to reinforce his case.

62 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

“We conducted research during Swim Australia’s SwimSafer Week and, while 54 per cent of children are currently not learning to swim, 28 per cent of this number is due to a lack of availability in classes,” he says.

“We need more teachers to help alleviate this issue.”

Ward says there is always the perceived risk of teachers being very close with students in the water and the associated risks around spread of an infectious disease.

“This has been heightened during covid, but chlorine is a powerful anti-bacterial agent against many germs,” he says. “There are also sophisticated filtration systems operating within pool environments, further enhancing hygienic conditions and overall water safety.”

Given that each state and territory have different regulations, Ward says it is making it hard to support members with consistent messaging and provide an overriding policy.

“As an industry leader we are working through this to strategise a national policy,” he says.

There is also the pressure of many children experiencing a regression in skills and overall familiarity in the water due to long periods of lockdowns and travel restrictions.

“Teachers are having to reassess students and work with them to develop that confidence in the water again,” he says.

Essential services debate

Another issue raised during the pandemic was a discrepancy across industries considered essential. ASSA says learn-to-swim services must be accepted as essential and should therefore be granted permission to continue longer and resume earlier in locked down areas.

“Aquatic environments should also be recognised for their safety aspects — notably, sanitised water — considering there is no evidence that covid-19 can be spread through HVAC ventilation systems according to Safe Work Australia,” says McNeill.

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“A shortage in swim schoolteachers would lead to a further regression in swimming skills among students unable to access lessons.”

The pandemic has revealed how important aquatic education and recreation is to all Australians, the need for the sector to have active representation and support from Government because of how essential services are to communities.

“The aquatics industry must continue to be seen as an essential service – particularly in a water-loving nation like Australia where people regularly use public and private pools and swim in rivers, streams and the ocean,” says Atkins. “We provide the fundamental learning that keeps Australians safe in the water and prevents drownings.”

The financial hardships resulting from the pandemic have made it difficult for some parents to continue paying for lessons. Furthermore, ASSA says many swim school businesses now face financial burden as they work towards getting back on their feet after being locked down for significant periods of time.

“The overall staff shortages have also presented a learning curve for the industry,” she says. “Without experienced staff, it has limited some swim schools’ ability to open lessons and, in some cases, reduced access to swimming lessons upon re-opening.”

Regression of safety skills

McNeill says research shows that the pandemic pause on swimming lessons has led to a general regression in water safety skills.

“This is reflected through the latest national drowning statistics,” she says. “Additionally, there have been delays in some children being introduced to water safety skills. This could result in a generation of children with delayed swimming skills.”

Atkins agrees that the pandemic has had significant impacts on water safety with the aquatic sector – not just YMCA NSW – seeing valuable skills around water awareness degenerate.

“This is due to two years of intermittent lockdowns and stop-start swimming lessons compounded by the fact there has been no access to safe swimming spaces,” she says.

Putting a price on safety and wellbeing

Familiarity with the water needs to be relearned after enforced absences.

Image: Waterco

YMCA NSW executive leader in business delivery and support, Brooke Atkins says the national aquatic industry provides a total annual economic, health and social benefit of $9.1bn to the Australian economy, with 89 percent of Australians living within 20 minutes’ drive of one of Australia’s 2113 aquatic facilities.

The industry provides a social return on investment of $4.87 for every $1 spent on aquatic facility operations in capital cities, and a further $2.18 for every $1 spent in regional Australia.

“The sector needs talent, support with promotion and awareness on the value of wellbeing and strength in the water, and representation from government at all levels that we are seen as an essential part of Australian life that saves lives, so we can continue delivering these vital returns to our economy and community,” Atkins explains.

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 63

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Almost 90 per cent of Australians live within a 20-minute drive of their nearest public pool.

Image: ASCTA

“The Y NSW plays a vital role in decreasing that figure because we provide children and young people with the opportunity to learn the lifesaving skill of swimming and survival in the water – and we have to be vigilant at our aquatic facilities,” says Atkins.

“We expect to manage an increase in weak or vulnerable swimmers entering our facilities, particularly as we head into peak swimming season over the summer.”

The Y’s safety vigilance applies to all ages, she says, not just children aged 0-5 years.

“All members of the community haven’t had access to education on overall water safety and people’s overall fitness levels in the pool will have declined,” Atkins explains.

“The Y NSW is aware of the challenge and importance of ensuring we support the future of aquatic safety

Industry findings Royal Life Saving continues to closely monitor the covid-19 pandemic through official sources including the Australian Government Department of Health, and state and territory departments of health websites and advisories.

Recently conducted research identified several industry findings, including: • There are more than 1077 aquatic facilities, the majority owned by local councils.

• There are more than 1176 swim schools, including many small businesses.

• The aquatic industry sector employs approximately 67,000 frontline workers.

• Almost half of the workforce is casual and about three-quarters are female.

• Approximately 70 per cent of the workforce live within 15 kms of their workplace.

• Approximately 1.5 million children 0-14 years participate in organised swimming (lessons, coaching) outside of school programs every year.

• They estimate more than 106 million individual pool visits annually.

• Aquatic facilities provide many social, economic and health benefits to Australians of all ages.

64 SPLASH! December 2021/January 2022

and education by driving key initiatives, and providing an abundance of learn to swim programs, awareness programs and best practice water safety at our centres.

What we urgently need to make that possible is trained talent to take up roles as lifeguards and learn-toswim instructors.”

Increasing inclusivity

Given that aquatic facilities provide many social, economic and health benefits to Australians of all ages and ethnicities, creating a safe, inclusive environment is a major priority.

“The Y NSW and the aquatic sector, moreover, is here to ensure that everyone can survive and thrive in the water – whether you’re a beginner and jumping in for the first time or an elite swimmer training for a meet,” Atkins says.

“The pandemic removed this connection with the water from the community and it has had a significant impact.

We know for a fact that the cost of physical inactivity in regular times (not during a pandemic) on public health is in the billions annually.”

Ward says the industry rallied together and was “very loud” about the pandemic’s impact on not only children learning to swim but on the blow to businesses.

“Millions of lessons have been missed and now we are in catch-up mode,” he says. “Our recent research showed 27 per cent of children missed lessons due to lockdown restrictions.”

Statistics also showed that over 84.5 per cent of Australians believe learning to swim should be considered an essential service, which Ward hopes helps it gain the status it deserves.

“We won the battle with indoor pools opening earlier than proposed and we hope this sets a standard in the instance of any lockdown periods in the future,” he says.

“Families want this service available to them and community safety and wellbeing are our primary concern.”

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Breaking language barriers

Cultural awareness is an important issue to navigate in the industry, particularly given ethnic groups are overrepresented in the drowning statistics.

Swim Australia offer a suite of extension courses which enable the further development of teachers and creates the potential for members of our community with social or cultural barriers to participate in lessons and programs promoting water safety and swimming skills.

The Swim Australia Teacher of Cultural Awareness in Aquatics (SAT CAIA) has the competency of a Swim Australia Teacher with additional specific knowledge and skills to teach special populations in aquatic classes. The course aims to challenge misconceptions, create positive dialogue, empower with new knowledge, and motivate the traditional staffing base in Australia’s aquatic industry with nontraditional clientele.

“We can’t expect to deliver teaching in those communities easily without the leadership from within the community itself,” says Ward.

Apart from encouraging more people to become teachers, he says the industry needs to continue driving public awareness and education around water safety specifically for these groups.

“Increase awareness of risks and dangers, and how vital learn to swim is no matter your age. Recreating around water is not as common for many people new to Australia and they do not understand the risk they are putting themselves in,” he explains.

Atkins says the Y NSW is an all-inclusive organisation and therefore ensures its messages and communication on safety and educational resources cater to all customers.

“Across our Y centres, we provide services for diverse communities of varied cultural backgrounds,” she explains. “Our resources have been adapted to be multilingual where necessary to ensure we are reaching and connecting with all customers, and this includes internal collateral and marketing materials but also through our Keep Watch @ Public Pools partnership, which provides multilingual education, information and policy resources.”

Community campaigns

To encourage children’s love of the water and promote the value of swimming lessons, global children’s brand Hasbro collaborated with Swim Australia to support its 2021 SwimSafer week with a campaign featuring the heroes from the popular pre-school brand PJ Masks.

“The aim is to further inspire young children and parents on the importance of swim safety along with heroes Catboy, Owlette and Gekko as they help children ‘power up’ their swimming,” Ward says.

An adjunct initiative launched during last year’s SwimSafer Week, ‘Swim it Forward’ aims to get as many children as possible learning to swim by making lessons more accessible.

“We had a good start generating $13,000 in lesson donations, but this year we want to generate substantially more and hope to get some corporate support to really push this initiative,” he explains. “The families we have helped are so very grateful.” n

All Australians should have easy access to swim lessons.

Image: YMCA

The joy of doing well in the water.

Image: YMCA

Safety protocols at the Y YMCA NSW’s aquatic risk management framework outlines several key measures including: • All aquatic centres undertake an annual Aquatic Facility Safety Assessment and Mystery Guest Assessment conducted by Royal Life Saving NSW. These assess the facility against criteria from key industry expectations and standards such as the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operation, as well as benchmarking operational performance against industry standards and best practice.

• The Y NSW has an internal Aquatic Taskforce, with representation from subject matter experts across the organisation. This taskforce works together on continual improvement • An ongoing ‘Safe Summer’ initiative, which proactively prepares its aquatic centres with the right staffing requirements, specific activities, and weather predictions to promote readiness, and the ability to implement preventative measures.

• The Y NSW, in partnership with Royal Life Saving NSW, enforce the Keep Watch @ Public Pools policy to ensure that parental supervision is present at all times where required and necessary.

Contacts:

ASCTA: www.ascta.com ASSA: www.australianswimschools.org.au RLS: www.royallifesaving.com.au SwimSafer: www.swimsafer.org.au.

YMCA: www.ymcansw.org.au

December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 65

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Building on the past to save money in the future

R

ecently, Lindsay McGrath visited the Playford Pool upgrade in Elizabeth, Adelaide to get an insight on a refurbishment which is utilising existing infrastructure, including the original 1950s shell, while addressing defects in the old systems.

Neil Davey, director of Crackerjack Consulting Engineers; Joel Perricone, state manager of Blue Fit South Australia; and Jonathan Roberts, senior manager of operations for the City of Playford spoke to him in October.

Perricone says that when Blue Fit took over the site two years ago, they engaged Crackerjack to conduct a full audit of the facility and they found a range of non-compliances, then worked to find solutions to all the issues identified.

“The facility had been rundown for the last 14 years, 15 years,” says Perricone. “It needed significant work.”

They put a proposal to the City of Playford, which the council agreed to, enabling a joint venture between council, Blue Fit and Crackerjack to remedy the situation.

“We’ve now turned it into something that is cost-efficient and utilises existing infrastructure,” says Davey. “It saved them roughly $3 million by utilising an existing structure and using energy efficient cutting-edge filtration and heating technology.”

After a lengthy design and documentation period, Hydrilla won the tender for construction phase, pool refurbishment and plant works utilising the Crackerjack-designed Neptune regenerative media filtration.

Roberts says it’s been quite a journey with the pool and it’s not over yet.

“Something I’ve learned over the past 15 years that I’ve been at council is they can be a money pit. It’s also one of the highest use facilities from a council perspective with 600,000 visits.”

Environmental considerations

ABOVE: Neil Davey – director of Crackerjack Consulting Engineers; Joel Perricone – state manager Blue Fit South Australia; and Jonathan Roberts – senior manager of operations for City of Playford

Crackerjack consulting engineers did a full audit of the aquatic facilities, going through the plant room looking at each piece of equipment to see what life each asset had left.

The engineers found the facility was losing a significant volume of water.

In turn the water losses added to the chemical and heating costs, as the lost water was already treated and heated.

LEFT: The new regenerative media filter being delivered December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 67

feature

season, super chlorination on a nightly basis to ensure that we were maintaining the level of clarity in the water. That’s a lot of chlorine down the drain.”

Perricone needed someone fulltime on the pool just looking after the water to keep the facility operating.

“We’re operational for 96 hours a week. Out of those 96 hours a week we would have a duty manager wholly and solely focused on plant room operation and water clarity for about 98 to 99 hours a week – so they will be in beforehand and staying back afterwards to make sure the operation of the filtration system was at a sustainable level.”

Investing in the future

ABOVE: The 1950s shell was saved and refurbished

Davey says water losses were caused through ongoing issues with the aging shell as well as the backwashing of the historical gravity sand filters.

“From a management perspective we were backwashing several times a week to make sure we were keeping the water quality to a particular level,” says Perricone. “That also included, particularly in our peak

When deciding whether to start from scratch or utilise existing infrastructure, Roberts says return on investment was key, in concert with environmental considerations.

“If we’re going to invest all this money, we also want to look at from an environmental point of view,” he says.

“So it wasn’t just replacing the filtration system – we want to work out the best way of running the system moving forward. That’s why we invested heavily in 250 kilowatts of solar energy as well – which will then enable us to use our newly installed electric heat pumps during the day, and in the evening we’ll swap that over to gas-fired energy.”

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Previously only gas had been used for the pool heating, but for the upgrade they worked with a specialist energy consultant, resulting in the addition of 770 PV solar panels on the roof to power the heat pumps and the circulation and filtration system.

Roberts says the energy reduction is estimated to be around $90,000 annually thanks to the installation of the solar panels and the use of heat pumps, as well as the “free” running of the pool pumps during the day thanks to the solar arrays.

Davey says they had a big focus on introducing modern technology to reduce water costs, chemical costs and heating and treating costs.

“We calculated what the existing system used in water and then what the new system saved in water. Not having to backwash, just those savings alone ongoing over the next 20 years were significant,” he says.

“So, in terms of just purely water, chemical, heat and treating energy, we’ve got a system that saves around about half a million dollars over the next 10 to 12 years.”

Maintaining loyalty

Perricone says that while they are only operating the 25-metre leisure pool at the moment, the consistency of the water clarity and quality has been a significant change, as well as the more efficient heating.

“I guess the unfortunate situation is that the patrons don’t

necessarily see all the hard work that’s going on behind the scenes in order to be able to put this in. So from a communications perspective we’ve spent a lot of time in showing our membership what is going on, via social media and traditional media et cetera. So we’re able to demonstrate to them that their membership dollars as well as the ratepayer dollars are actually being put to good use,” he says.

“From a staffing perspective, our team is yet to really understand the true benefits of it. Although they have significantly more time up their sleeves. So obviously that gives us more opportunity to be communicating with our members on an ongoing basis, working with our team, improving safety measures in other areas of the facility such as lifeguarding and duty management and our gym instruction, et cetera. So it just opens up more opportunity for us to improve the services, given that we’ve got the gift of time.”

As the only pool in the Playford area, it was important they got it back up and running as quickly as possible.

Even taking into account covid lockdowns and border restrictions, they managed in eight weeks to get a hybrid surface on the 25-metre pool and had children, people with disabilities, older adults and all sorts of community users back into the water.

“It was paramount to the continued success of the facility long term that we didn’t lose any children from a swim school perspective. They’ve all returned, and we’ve

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had growth week-on-week, for the last three weeks of children returning to swimming lessons, which is a massive coup for the facility and the children of Playford area,” says Perricone.

Davey says that space had been an issue as well.

“We’ve taken small spaces, very small, non-confined spaces and reconfigured things – utilising the old filter bed areas and the like – to create a completely compliant plant room with everything that aids the operators in a safe manner. The reduction in cost, basically saving the taxpayers, in the order of five to seven million dollars, compared to what they would pay for doing a new facility of the same size.

“And there was a lot of stinging eyes, a lot of humidity in the air, the water quality was extremely hard for Joel to manage. And you look out there now when you go out you can just feel a complete difference in environment, because we’re now able to balance the water temperatures. You ultimately get to the peak level of dew key point. So, easier for the air handling system to keep up.”

Savings and costs

There are always unknowns in any upgrade, and while they suspected there may issues with the hydraulic and circulation system this wasn’t confirmed until a CCTV investigation discovered areas of concern. This meant a bit more work was required, at an additional cost of about $200,000.

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They regrouted the 25-metre pool and the spa. A pressure test of the spa found the infrastructure was quite good, but they still took the opportunity to change the inlets and the jets to guarantee its future.

The total project cost is expected to be $3 million.

“This is $3 million for getting the complete facility to one of the highest standards in Australia – even in new facilities being constructed,” says Davey. “Whereas, to do a new 50-metre pool would cost you five-and-abit million.”

He says you can have well-designed pools reusing older shells with the right advice and technologies, and with controlled workmanship by professionally qualified chartered engineers.

Perricone says that Blue Fin is working with council to minimise any operational losses as a result of the improved efficiencies.

“That’s something that we’re working really hard with the City of Playford in order to manage Contacts: and to make sure that those losses Crackerjack Consulting Engineers: are reduced as much as possible,” www.cjc-engineers.com.au he says.

Blue Fit: www.bluefit.com.au Construction started July 1 and they anticipate that, despite covid City of Playford: www.playford.sa.gov.au setbacks, all the pools should be open by Christmas. n

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December 2021/January 2022 SPLASH! 71

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EvoLV compact pipe light

The EvoLV compact pipe light is new to Aqua-Quip’s range of lighting products.

Featuring the same market-leading technology, the EvoLV compact pipe light is ideal for both new pool construction and renovations.

With its compact size of just 49mm, EvoLV can be positioned in a wide range of areas to enhance intricate spaces such as steps, benches, swim-outs and all shallow water areas.

Contact: www.aquaquip.com.au

Intex Rockin’ Lounge

Intex’s Rockin’ Lounge helps pool owners enjoy their sun lounging this summer. The unique contoured lounge design provides ultimate comfort while the in-built cup holder keeps refreshments nearby for convenience. It also includes a contoured design for added comfort and two air chambers. Available at Clark Rubber.

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Supreme convertible lounge

The Supreme convertible lounge has a removable bolster to let you select from four relaxing positions. The comfortable air mesh fabric ensures you stay cool and relaxed for all day water adventures. It also includes a beverage holder. The lightweight ripstop fabric on the seating area resists tearing and ripping and the Ultrasoft 3D air mesh fabric upper is comfortably cool on skin.

Has a weight capacity up to 136kg.

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