Issue 168 October/November 2026
Filtration and its role In healthy pool water Mythbusting Magnesium disinfection SPLASH! Expo Review of the recordbreaking trade show Efficient aquatic centres Built to last
The 2026 Australasian
Awards of Excellence All the winners and finalists
www.splash.online
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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) Managing Editor: Chris Maher Phone: +61 412 048 639 Email: chrismaher@intermedia.com.au
editorial A feel good industry
Contributors: Veda Dante, Kristin Brookfield, Ben Makepeace
I love walking around the SPLASH! Expo and talking to the people who make up this wonderful industry. There’s a lot of business talk of course, and also a general vibe that is both energetic and optimistic.
Advertising enquiries: Gillian Doreian Phone: +61 488 983 102 Email: gillian@spasa.com.au
One of the things that always makes me smile is seeing competitors in friendly discussion at SPLASH! – usually towards the end of the show when most of the hard work has been done, or at one of the many side functions. Back in the office I’m sure they’re busy devising ingenious marketing strategies to best each other. But face to face on the show floor, their similarities are all too evident, and good natured camaraderie tends to shine through.
Graphic Designer: Jacqui Cooper Production Assistant: Tazlin Cantrill 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.
It’s sometimes said that once you get into this industry you never leave, and often people move around several different swimming pool and spa businesses over their careers, so it pays to stay friendly in a generally friendly industry. Chris Maher Managing Editor chrismaher@ intermedia.com.au
And as one smiling longtime supplier said to me at the show, “We’re selling a fun product. People buy pools to have a good time and that’s the whole point. We should lighten up and have a laugh!” Inside this edition we have our usual lengthy review of the biggest SPLASH! yet. I would have loved to speak with everyone at the show, but as it just keeps getting bigger and bigger, it becomes impossible. But I did manage to catch up with a lot of people – many I’ve known for years, some I only just met, but all had something interesting to say. This issue we also look at the 2026 SPASA Australasian Awards of Excellence – which were also held at SPLASH! – and at a number of topics relating to sanitisation, filtration, aquatic centre renewal, and energy efficiency. I hope you enjoyed SPLASH! if you attended, and I hope you enjoy this edition.
This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (Intermedia) may contain magazine or subscription; offers, competitions, forms and surveys (Reader Offers) which require you to provide information about yourself, if you choose to enter or take part in them. If you provide information about yourself to Intermedia, Intermedia will use this information to provide you with the products of services you have requested and may supply your information to contractors that help Intermedia to do this. Intermedia will also use your information to inform you of other Intermedia publications, products, services and events. Intermedia may give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give it to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information Intermedia holds about you, please contact Intermedia’s Privacy Officer at The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, PO Box 55, Glebe, NSW 2037. Copyright © 2026 - SPASA Australia.
Proudly supported by
Issue 168 October/November 2026
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.
Filtration and its role In healthy pool water Mythbusting Magnesium disinfection SPLASH! Expo Review of the recordbreaking trade show Efficient aquatic centres Built to last
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 2026 Australasian
Awards of Excellence All the winners and finalists
www.splash.online
The cover
This impressive, elevated pool by New Zealand builder Acacia Landscapes & Pool Construction won the Concrete Pool of the Year at the 2026 Australasian Awards of Excellence. Photography by Jake Leopold of Gather Creative. There is more on the awards on page 56.
October/November 2026
SPLASH!
5
A perfect pool starts with the perfect pool pad. Pentair powers the experience behind the scenes, filtration, sanitisation, heating and control. At Pentair Pool, we’re continually developing smarter solutions that work together seamlessly. From intuitive automation and energy-efficient variable speed pumps to advanced sanitation systems and intelligent pool heating, every innovation is designed to deliver greater performance, lower operating costs and exceptional reliability. Whether you’re building the next premium backyard or upgrading the family pool, Pentair provides the technology professionals trust and pool owners love.
Innovation is what we do every day.
30
Contents
16 Delivering on all fronts
56 The 2026 SPASA Australasian
21 Mythbusting magnesium
Specialist magnesium researcher Navin Chandrasekaran discusses the myths and benefits of magnesium-based pool sanitisation.
27 The healthy future of the
Awards of Excellence
42
pool and spa industry
68 Infrastructure renewal and reduced We ask Thorsten Muck, Fluidra’s global commercial director, how owners and managers can make the most of a limited budget when upgrading their aquatic facilities.
30 Planning for healthy,
74 The cost of community swimming
crystal clear pool water
40 Swimming pool and spa
We look at the best projects, products, services and people from around Australia and New Zealand recognised at the 2026 SPASA Awards of Excellence.
OpEx in ageing commercial pools
Fluidra ANZ managing director Clinton Alley discusses the current business climate and offers his outlook for the coming season and beyond.
Veda Dante follows the decisions that keep water moving, debris under control and pool equipment working efficiently.
54 IRLearning becomes SPASA Training Rachael Bambry informs us about the industry’s RTO reclaiming full SPASA branding with a renewed focus on industry pathways.
SPASA CEO Kristin Brookfield describes the commitment and enthusiasm witnessed at her first SPLASH! – which was also the biggest on record.
56
Veda Dante examines the practical models emerging to combat increasing construction and energy costs in community swimming facilities.
sanitisation marketing claims SPASA policy manager Ben Makepeace updates us on the launch of the new guide to sanitisation marketing claims.
regulars
News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
42 Review of SPLASH! 2026
Pool DAs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The 2026 edition of SPLASH! proved to be the best yet, breaking a series of records and presenting the most polished event to date.
Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Commercial news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 New products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
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Ad index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
October/November 2026
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news
Industry moves
Pool chemistry guru Paul “Jake” Jacobson retires after more than 40 years in the industry After 41 years with BioLab Australia and New Zealand, Paul “Jake” Jacobson is retiring. National sales manager Julian Quinn says Jacobson will begin his well-deserved retirement at the end of September, closing an extraordinary chapter that has left a lasting impact on the BioLab business, their customers, and the wider pool and spa industry. “Over four decades, Jake has built a reputation as a trusted advisor, educator, mentor and friend,” he says. “His knowledge of pool and spa chemistry is second to none, but it is his genuine, caring and approachable nature that has made him such a respected figure among retailers, colleagues and industry professionals alike. Jake is described as someone who represents BioLab with integrity, professionalism and genuine care, and is widely respected throughout the industry for both his knowledge and willingness to share it.” Originally travelling to Australia to pursue his passion for ice hockey, Jacobson joked that he wasn’t going to become a world champion, so he needed to find some work. That search led him to BioLab’s Canterbury Road site in Montrose, Victoria in July 1985, where he would begin what became a remarkable career.
He worked across almost every part of the business, from production and customer care to business development, technical training, national sales and management. His experience gave him a unique perspective on both the company and the industry. “Few people have understood BioLab’s operations and customers as deeply as Jake, and even fewer have shared that knowledge as generously,” says Quinn. “Throughout his career, Jake became known for his practical wisdom and memorable sayings. One phrase many colleagues and retailers will always associate with him is the goal of becoming the KTLA – the Known, Trusted Leading Authority in pool and spa care. “His customer-first mindset is perhaps best captured by another famous Jake quote: ‘If I sell you less, you will love me more’. “While often said with a smile, the message behind it was serious. Jake firmly believed that success wasn’t about selling more products. It was about understanding what customers genuinely needed to achieve the best water quality, lifestyle enjoyment, and protection of their investment.” Jacobson was also a keynote speaker at SPLASH! Trade Expos in Australia and New Zealand, contributed to the revision of Australian Standards, helped develop SPASA
Paul “Jake” Jacobson (right) receiving his recognition for 40 years with BioLab from national sales manager Julian Quinn in 2025 Victoria’s first spa maintenance course, and played an important role in securing the Dryden Aqua distributorship for Australia and New Zealand. A certified pool operator (CPO) and qualified trainer and assessor, many retailers credit his training sessions as some of the most practical and valuable they have attended. “Jake had an incredible career, and we wish him every happiness in retirement.”
Retail
Mr Pool Man wins small business online retail innovation award New South Wales Central Coast-based online pool supplies business, Mr Pool Man, has been named winner of the Australia Post Small Business Innovation Award at the 2026 Online Retail Industry Awards (ORIAS). The business won the award for its free pool water testing tool. Nat Hintze, director and co-founder of Mr Pool Man, says the tool helps customers manage their pool chemistry at home. “For too long the pool industry has relied on customers not knowing what their water actually needs. We wanted to give them the same answer a pool shop would – for free, without downloading an app on their phone, instantly.” The system pairs a branded 12-pack of test strips – shipped free with every order and positioned as “12 months of free water testing” – with a custom-built online tool that reads the strip via a QR code on the pack. “Customers get exact, volume-adjusted dosing recommendations for their pool size, with the recommended Water TechniX chemicals linked directly to their cart,” says Hintze, adding that typically it takes 10 to 15 taps from poolside to checkout. The tool was designed by Hintze and built end-to-end by the Mr Pool Man inhouse team.
8
SPLASH!
October/November 2026
Nick Antonopoulos, general manager Australia Post, Tom Hintze, COO Mr Pool Man, Natalie Hintze, CMO Mr Pool Man, Debbie Cummings sales director NSW StarTrack, presenting the 2026 Australia Post Small Business Innovation Award at the ORIAS
May Jun
news
Annual pool DAs down one per cent, quarter down three per cent
Retail
NSW rebate drives 244 per cent increase in VS pool pump upgrades
Available pool DA figures from Cotality for the three months from July to September show applications down three per cent, while the annual numbers for the 12 months to September are down by one per cent.
Waterco domestic water care product manager George Flory says Swimart has seen an increase of 244 per cent in their customers replacing single-speed pool pumps with energy-efficient variable speed models when compared with the same period last year.
The three-monthly numbers show Queensland is up by eight per cent, and Western Australia is up by three per cent; while Victoria is down by two per cent, New South Wales is down by seven per cent, and South Australia is down by 38 per cent.
The increased conversion rate is on the back of an initiative combining the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Waterco, Electric Future, Swimart and OnPoint Compliance.
The national annual pool DA numbers when compared to the previous 12 months show New South Wales up by nine per cent, Western Australia up by five per cent, and Queensland up by three per cent; while South Australia is down by 17 per cent and Victoria is down by 24 per cent.
Flory points out that as both a manufacturer of energyefficient pool equipment and franchisor of the Swimart pool and spa network, Waterco contributed insights spanning product development, retail engagement, installation and customer behaviour. All 29 NSW Swimart stores and the network’s mobile technicians successfully completed specialist training supporting the program. “The results demonstrate the importance of combining financial incentives with professional and practical industry support,” he says. “Variable-speed pumps have been available for many years, but many pool owners remain unaware of how much energy their existing pump may be using. The rebate provides an incentive to upgrade, while trained technicians help customers select, install and operate the technology effectively.” Electric Future national business manager Angus Year olddevelopment Year new 1500 cent increase shows what can be achieved Taylor says the 244 per when government policy is supported by established industry 1200 networks.
Year old
Jul
Yearly comparison by State
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Aug Sep
Pool pumps instore at Swimart Richmond
Year new
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Aug Sep
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Yearly comparison
2000 1000
NSW
VIC
QLD
WA
NSW
15000
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12000
4000
9000
3000
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2000
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0
0
NSW
VIC
QLD
WA
SA
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12000
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0
1200
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Aug Sep
Year o
15000
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Jul
Year new 5000
Year old
OnPoint Compliance900 developed the framework supporting installer documentation, evidence collection and independent verification. 600 The initiative provides a potential blueprint for future household energy-efficiency programs by combining government 300 incentives with technical expertise, trained local delivery and robust compliance. 0
Yearly comparison by month
Year old 1500
9000 6000 3000 0
SA 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 triple 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 1300 734 318.
October/November 2026
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news
Expos
Innovation showcased at Lyon this November Piscine Global is being held at Lyon Eurexpo from November 17 to 20, 2026. The event presents four days of business opportunities, inspiration and networking for the swimming pool and spa industry in Europe and the world. Designed for industry professionals, the exhibition addresses growing customer expectations and the sector’s key challenges. By bringing together manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and service providers under one roof, Piscine Global offers a comprehensive showcase of the market. Visitors can compare the latest innovations and identify the products and solutions best suited to their projects, from filtration and water treatment systems to smart equipment, remote management technologies, and outdoor landscaping solutions. There is also a conference and an expert speaker program designed to decode the major developments shaping the sector, including energy efficiency, regulatory change, customer experience and automation, enabling industry professionals to gain a comprehensive understanding of emerging trends that address the needs of both homeowners and specifiers. Piscine Global is a favourite destination for Australians working in the pool and spa industry to gain a European and global point of view on innovations in the sector. It is held every second year in the French city of Lyon. For more information and to reserve your free pass go to: https://tinyurl.com/Piscine-Global-Free-Badge Piscine Global 2024
Safety
True Blue robotic pool cleaner recalled over potential fire hazard The True Blue rechargeable robotic pool cleaner sold at Bunnings Warehouse has been recalled due to a potential fire hazard. Reason the product is recalled: The affected product’s lithium-ion battery may overheat and ignite if charged in hot weather or direct sunlight and catch fire. The hazards to consumers: Risk of serious injury or death and property damage if the cleaner ignites and causes a fire. Incidents of the cleaner catching fire while charging have occurred. What consumers should do: 1. Stop using the robotic pool cleaner immediately. Unplug it and place it in a cool place. 2. Call the True Blue Customer Service number to arrange for a courier to collect the robotic pool cleaner, free of charge. You will need to provide your details, contact information, including the serial number of the robotic pool cleaner (available under the hood). Once the robotic pool cleaner has been collected, the courier will provide you with a receipt and you will be contacted by Bunnings, who will arrange the payment of a full refund. Contact: True Blue Customer Service, 1300 827 665 Supplier running the recall: Pool Systems Pty Ltd Who sold the product: Bunnings Warehouse Dates available for sale: 1 November 2023 – 30 April 2025 Where the product was sold: Nationally Manufacturer country ID: China Contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission if you have a question about the remedy being offered to you by the business that is responsible for managing this recall, or concerns about the way the business is managing this recall. For more information on the recall go to: https://tinyurl.com/RecallTrue-Blue-Robot
Top five online news stories
Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter. Aloha Pools wins 2026 Business of the Year The Victorian pool builder picked up the big Australasian award.
10 SPLASH!
The online stories that made the news over the past two months. Pool Systems appoints Chris Price as national sales manager Former Lincoln Pool Equipment GM joins Pool Systems
October/November 2026
Pool chemistry guru Paul Jacobson retires After more than 40 years in the industry “Jake” retires
RLS releases National Drowning Report 2026 Overall drownings are up, but under-fives numbers are down
NSW rebate drives 244 per cent pool pump upgrades Retailer Swimart finds steep increase in VS sales
news
Upcoming events 2026 Oct 28
QLD Pool Safety Inspector Meeting
Oct 28
Contract Master Class
Nov 12
WA South West End of Year Event 2026
Nov 13
Victoria End of Year Event 2026
Nov 13
Queensland End of Year Event 2026
Nov 17-20
Piscine Global, Lyon, France
Nov 17-19
International Pool Spa Patio Expo, New Orleans
Nov 19
NT End of Year Event 2026
Nov 20
NSW End of Year Event 2026
Nov 27
WA End of Year Event 2026
Dec 4
SA End of Year Event 2026
Dec 2-4
Japan Build, Tokyo
2027 Jan 28-30
Aqualand, Istanbul Turkiye
Feb 2-4
Spatex, Coventry UK
Feb 10-12
Forum Piscine, Bologne Italy
Oct 26-29
Aquanale, Cologne Germany
Nov 15-18
Piscina, Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain
End of Year Event NT 2025
More details at www.splash.online Dates are subject to change and should be checked with the relevant organisation. Send calendar submissions to info@splashmagazine.com.au.
October/November 2026
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news
Robotic cleaners
Aiper’s beach party Aiper launched their new season on the last night of SPLASH! at the Cali Beach rooftop club at Surfers Paradise. As well as launching their new range of robotic pool cleaners, they handed out awards to partners, including their Australian retailer of the year to Clark Rubber. SPLASH! asked Aiper country manager David Sholl about Aiper’s experience in the local market over the past year. “Our growth in the Australian market has been exceptional,” he says. “By deepening our relationships with key retail partners, we’ve transitioned Aiper from an emerging player into a widely recognised brand.” He says the main drivers of change are cordless conversion, as Australians are actively moving away from suction and corded units. On top of this, the expansion of their physical retail presence has picked up steam as they build into an omnichannel model. He says that while direct online channels capture the early adopters, traditional retail connects customers with their local trusted pool expert, who can then recommend the product, delivering what he describes as a positive end result for both the retailer and their customer.
Group photo of the guests at the Cali Beach launch Europe, where automated robotics dominate. This dynamic has changed over the past two years and the ANZ market is still one of the highest growth-potential markets globally for cordless robots, as millions of owners replace ageing suction cleaners,” he says. He says they have been moving their average selling price up over the past two years. “We were successful at shaking up the market with sub $1000 product that continues to sell very well, but as we introduce new features and high performance innovation with features such as AI and products that do pool, wall, waterline and skimming, we have found that customers are happy to spend a bit extra.” When asked about their experience with maintenance, returns and repairs, he says that Aiper has been investing heavily in aftersales service, saying their return rates are amongst the best in the industry.
Additionally, B2B is expanding as independent pool shops and service technicians seek cordless options to meet customer demand.
“We have just moved into our third facility locally to increase our ability to quickly service customers with repair,” he says. “All Aiper robots are repairable and that repairability goes beyond the warranty period.”
“While specialised pool shops traditionally favour brands who have been in market longer, many are adding Aiper to capture customers looking for innovation, sharp pricing and simple plug-and-play solutions,” he says.
He says SPLASH! was a good place to showcase their products to the whole Australian and New Zealand market.
However, the pool builder channel is a relatively untapped market for them, although one of great potential.
“We had high foot traffic driven by live water tank demonstrations that showcased our new Scuba V3, the world’s first cognitive AI powered essential robotic pool cleaners. We were able to show off our obstacle evasion, debris seeking and autoparking capabilities,” he says.
“Australia boasts one of the highest per-capita swimming pool ownership rates in the world, yet robotic penetration has historically lagged behind North America and Southern
“We had a great mix of pool builders, store owners, pool technicians and general people come and visit us, and it was great to make new connections and catch up with existing partners.”
Retail
Poolwerx awards franchisees Poolwerx held its annual convention and awards presentation on the Gold Coast during the week of August 16 to 19, in concert with SPLASH! 2026. The winners are listed below. • Retail Store of the Year, Poolwerx Kenmore, QLD
• State PiP Representative of the Year, Carlos Da Silva – Fluidra
FP of the Year, Kirsten & Andrew Huth, Poolwerx Indooroopilly
• State-Based PiP of the Year, BWT Pool Products Lincoln Pty Ltd
• Brisbane South, FNQ, NT and Northern NSW Regional FP of the Year, Megha & Hardik Patel, Poolwerx Toowoomba
• Brand Excellence, Emily King & Luke Knight - Caloundra, QLD
• New Retail Store of the Year, Poolwerx Forrestdale, WA
• Innovation & Entrepreneurial Excellence, Kirsten & Andrew Huth - Poolwerx Indooroopilly, QLD
• Retail Team Member of the Year, Violet Beattie - Poolwerx Waikato, NZ
• Rising Star, nominee, Brent Townsend & Dale Hallas - Poolwerx Mt Eliza, VIC
• Technician of the Year, Robert TaylorThorpe - Applecross, WA
• Most Improved, Megha & Hardik Patel Poolwerx Toowoomba, QLD
• Operations Person of the Year, Louis Aggersberg - Upper North Shore, NSW
• Community Ambassador of the Year, Deb Crothers - Poolwerx Kardinya, WA
• Employer of the Year, Deb, Shane & Bailey Crothers & Christopher Ramsden Poolwerx Kardinya, WA
• NZ Regional FP of the Year, Michelle & Mark Bennett, Poolwerx Christchurch, NZ
12 SPLASH!
October/November 2026
• Brisbane North/Central QLD Regional
• VIC/SA Regional FP of the Year, Craig Bruins, Poolwerx Greater Adelaide • WA Regional FP of the Year, Deb, Shane & Bailey Crothers & Chris Ramsden, Poolwerx Kardinya. • Highest Retail Chems ATV growth, Brent Townsend & Dale Hallas Poolwerx Mt Eliza, VIC • Top Sales, Poolwerx Mt Gravatt, QLD • Top Mobile Sales (Single Territory), Poolwerx Coffs Harbour, NSW • Top Retail Sales (Single Unit), Poolwerx Dubbo, NSW
news
Industry moves
Pool Systems makes three key appointments Pool Systems has made three key appointments, starting with a new national sales manager. Chris Price
Joel Stern
Nathan Elhosni
Chris Price Pool Systems Australia has appointed Chris Price as national sales manager. Price is a respected pool and spa industry professional with more than 22 years’ experience across general management, sales leadership, business development and key account management. His industry experience includes being long term general manager for swimming pool equipment distributor, Lincoln Pool Equipment. “Throughout his career, Chris has developed an impressive track record of leading teams, building successful customer and supplier relationships, and delivering sustainable commercial growth,” says Josh Clinen, head of sales and marketing. “His experience spans strategic planning, wholesale distribution, supplier partnerships and the development of high-performing sales teams.” As national sales manager, Price will lead the Pool Systems national sales function and work closely with its branch network, business development team, key accounts, and industry partners. His focus will include supporting customers, strengthening national relationships and building the sales capability required to deliver the company’s long-term strategy. “Chris brings an exceptional depth of industry knowledge, strong commercial leadership and a genuine customer-first approach,” says Clinen. “His experience, relationships and proven ability to develop high-performing teams make him a tremendous asset to Pool Systems. We have ambitious plans for the business as we move into 2027, and Chris will play an important role in helping us turn those ambitions into sustainable results. I am excited to have him joining our team and look forward to working closely with him as we enter the next stage of our growth.” 14 SPLASH!
October/November 2026
Clinen says that Price is passionate about creating long-term partnerships that generate value for customers and businesses alike. His leadership approach is centred on developing people, establishing clear strategies and ensuring strong customer relationships remain at the heart of commercial decision-making. He adds that his appointment further strengthens the commitment of Pool Systems to investing in its people, supporting its customers and building a nationally connected sales organisation.
Joel Stern Pool Systems has also appointed Joel Stern as product manager, bringing his extensive industry experience, established supplier relationships and a wealth of knowledge across Australian pool manufacturing, distribution and retail. Stern had a long career with Stern’s Group, a third-generation Australian family business with a history dating back to 1939. Originally established as a canvas manufacturing business, the Stern’s Group evolved into a diversified Australian manufacturer and supplier of recreational products, swimming pools and pool accessories. The business became widely recognised for its aboveground swimming pools, ranging from smaller family splash pools to larger residential installations, before expanding into fibreglass pool manufacturing in 2022. Throughout his career, Joel has held positions spanning sales, marketing, manufacturing, procurement and executive management, ultimately serving as general manager and managing director. His extensive experience includes developing relationships with major Australian retailers such as Big W, Kmart, Clark Rubber and Swimart, alongside managing domestic and international supplier partnerships with
leading pool equipment manufacturers. Clinen says that that, having worked across product development, manufacturing, sourcing, distribution and retail,Stern will bring a comprehensive understanding of the Australian swimming pool market and the commercial requirements of both suppliers and customers. “In his new role, Joel will work closely with the sales, marketing, purchasing and operations teams, bringing his experience and commercial insight to product strategy, supplier engagement, range development and identifying emerging market opportunities. Based in Sydney, Joel will operate nationally, working with Pool Systems’ branch network, customers and supplier partners across Australia.” The appointment follows the departure of Chris Hall, who has left Pool Systems to pursue other opportunities. Clinen thanks Hall for his efforts and contributions during his tenure with the business and wishes him every success in his future endeavours.
Nathan Elhosni The third appointment is Nathan Elhosni, business development representative for the North and East Sydney region. Elhosni most recently managed his own business, previously working in the pool industry and Clinen says he has already hit the ground running in his territory. “Many of our existing customers across North and East Sydney will have already had the opportunity to meet Nathan, who brings a strong background in leadership, business, and customer relationships to Pool Systems. A Greater Sydney local, Nathan describes himself as a passionate and motivated selfstarter, with an approach centred around building relationships.” Contact: www.poolsystems.com.au
feature
Connection across the industry at SPLASH! 2026
Delivering on all fronts
By Kristin Brookfield
I
n August, the swimming pool and spa industry came together on the Gold Coast to be part of something big – SPLASH! 2026. SPASA was proud to deliver this amazing event on behalf of – and for – the industry we represent. As the doors closed on the Expo, it was clear that the event deserves its reputation as the largest pool and spa trade expo in the Southern Hemisphere. This year’s expo delivered on all fronts – our largest exhibitor footprint and our highest attendance on record. One hundred and forty exhibitors showcased their products and services over the two-day event, talking to almost 4000 registered delegates. I’d like to thank our SPLASH! 2026 partners – Fluidra, Pentair Pool and Reece Irrigation & Pools – for your support this year. Thank you to each of our exhibitors for your commitment to the expo. We understand the time and effort that putting these amazing stands together takes and from the buzz that lasted from the ALL-Industry drinks on Tuesday until the doors closed on Thursday, I’m confident that everyone attending the show appreciates your involvement. This year has not been without its challenges as the industry manages global economic pressures that are directly affecting businesses and consumer sentiment. It was wonderful to see SPLASH! 2026 in action and to be able to support everyone coming together to celebrate; and it’s an important reminder about the strength of the pool and spa 16 SPLASH!
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industry in Australia and New Zealand. Since joining SPASA, I’ve been impressed by the number of pool and spa products manufactured locally. The Expo provided an important opportunity for the local industry to showcase these products. The Australasian pool and spa industry is a global player and something everyone should be proud to be part of. The 2026 Australasian Awards of Excellence celebration was held on August 19 during SPLASH! 2026. A sold-out event, SPASA brought together every sector of the industry to recognise the best in the pool and spa industry. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists this year including Aloha Pools, who took home the pinnacle award of the night – the 2026 Business of the Year. More details on the winners are on page 56. This year, changes were made to the awards as part of the association’s efforts to raise the bar and ensure the program is acknowledged as the benchmark for design, construction, service, manufacturing, supply and business operations. There are more changes in motion for 2027, and while entries don’t open for another few weeks, now is the time to be thinking about the projects, people, products and services you will be entering. The awards are supported by our 2026 Industry Partners each year, and it has been a privilege to work with these businesses throughout the year and deliver to SPASA members our member forums, industry updates and the awards program.
Thank you to Fluidra, our Platinum Industry Partner, Pentair Pool, our Gold Industry Partner, and our Silver Industry Partners – Daisy Pool Covers, Davey, Waterco, The Acoustic Box, Reece Irrigation & Pools, and Pool Systems. This year, our Silver Awards Partners, Allnex and AB Phillips, also supported the nine events across Australia and New Zealand. During the awards celebration, I had the pleasure of recognising member businesses that have celebrated a special milestone in the past two years. While I suspected there are many we didn’t hear about when we put the call out to members, our plan is to continue this new tradition, along with other changes being considered to acknowledge the strength and commitment of our members. Congratulations to: • 3D Stone – 25 years in 2024 • Aloha Pools – 60 years in 2026 • Aqua Leisure Technologies – 50 years in 2026 • Aqua Quip – 50 years in 2025 • Clark Rubber – 80 years in 2026 • Freedom Pools – 50 years in 2024 • Maytronics – 15 years in 2026 • Norfolk Pools – 50 years in 2024 • Pool Ranger – 35 years in 2026 • Spa Electrics – 50 years in 2026 • Waterco – 45 years in 2026 Lastly, thank you to every member that made it to SPLASH! 2026. To those that couldn’t attend, we hope you can join us in 2028 when we do it all again. Planning has already started and the SPASA team is committed to making SPLASH! 2028 our best yet. n
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Mythbusting magnesium We talked to Navin Chandrasekaran, one of the original researchers involved in the early Australian commercialisation of magnesium for pool sanitisation, and asked what is true and what is exaggerated in the world of mineral swimming pools.
T
he commercial introduction of magnesium into Australian residential swimming pools emerged in the late 2000s under Ross Palmer, then head of Poolrite. Palmer sought to create a premium mineral system that mimicked natural mineral springs while solving long-standing consumer pain points linked to traditional salt chlorination and liquid chlorine: harsh water feel, chemical odours, eye and skin irritation, and high-salinity backwash water. This initiative culminated in Magnapool, shifting the market from sodium chloride electrolysis to a multi-mineral chemistry of magnesium chloride and potassium chloride. However, the early rollout faced severe operational and commercial headwinds. Early formulations encountered technical hurdles around magnesium concentration and salt grades that affected cell equipment and pool surfaces. Concurrently, the brand drew intense industry scrutiny and accusations of “greenwashing” due to aggressive marketing that claimed therapeutic cures for medical disorders without clinical validation. While oral magnesium’s role in the human body was well established, the lack of scientific evidence for transdermal absorption left the category vulnerable to claims of false advertising. This is where Navin Chandrasekaran was brought in. “To establish scientific integrity, I was engaged as an independent researcher at the University of Queensland (UQ) under the supervision of Professor Ross Barnard to conduct a comprehensive evaluation covering literature, formulation science, water chemistry, and equipment interactions,” he says.
“Reputable manufacturers should never market it as a therapeutic panacea.” “This initial work formed the basis for re-anchoring the product’s marketing on verifiable science. Recognising the need for empirical proof, Poolrite commissioned a multi-year clinical-style PhD project at University of Queensland with human subjects to evaluate magnesium’s real-world physiological effects in a pool environment.” When Poolrite went into liquidation shortly after committing to the research, UQ preserved the initiative as independent research led by Chandrasekaran, focussing on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of magnesium interaction with human skin. Chandrasekaran says that in 2016, this research delivered the world’s first peer-reviewed empirical evidence confirming that magnesium permeates human skin via transfollicular and concentration-dependent pathways. (For a link to the research go to: https://tinyurl.com/Chandrasekaran-UQ.) Building on these findings and resolving early formulation shortcomings, Chandrasekaran founded Mg2plus in 2020, launching the Minergenix mineral range and establishing a dedicated manufacturing base in Sydney, supplying what he describes as scientifically validated magnesium minerals to the Australian swimming pool sector.
Magnesium salt flakes. AdobeStock
The chemistry
From a purely chemical standpoint, magnesium and other mineral salts do not act as standalone sanitising agents – they serve as the electrolyte source for electrolytic chlorine generation and as active water conditioners. In an electrolytic mineral pool system, the primary sanitiser remains hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the exact same biocide generated in traditional salt chlorination. When pool water containing dissolved magnesium chloride (MgCl2), potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium chloride (NaCl) passes through an electrolytic cell, electric current oxidises the chloride ions (Cl-) at the anode to form dissolved chlorine gas, which immediately hydrolyses in water into hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions. The fundamental microbial disinfection is carried out by this free available chlorine, not by the magnesium ion itself. Chandrasekaran says that where magnesium fundamentally alters pool chemistry is in its secondary mechanisms: bather sensation, chloramine management, and micro-flocculation. “At the cathode of the electrolytic cell, water reduction elevates local pH, causing a portion of dissolved magnesium to transiently precipitate as magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2). This in-situ hydroxide formation acts as a natural coagulant, trapping sub-micron organic precursors and suspended micro-particulates that standard silica filters miss, directly starving bacteria of shelter and clarifying the water,” he says. “Concurrently, magnesium ions alter the hydration dynamics of chloramines (combined chlorine compounds responsible for typical “chlorine smell” and eye burn) and reduce aggressive skin lipid extraction, producing water that feels soft and non-irritating while remaining microbiologically safe.”
What about the absorption claims
Prior to commencing this article, SPLASH! received input from industry members questioning marketing claims and pricing, and also asking what concentration of magnesium in a swimming pool was required to produce any significant dermal absorption, and what if any therapeutic benefits would result? It is commonly known that there is a postexercise benefits of soaking in a magnesium October/November 2026
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Epsom salt baths are typically between 10,000ppm and 20,000ppm. AdobeStock
Mg2plus
sulphate bath (Epsom salts, up to approximately 20,000ppm), but that concentration is much higher than in swimming pool water. Also, often cited research by Dr Ehrhardt Proksch shows the benefits of soaking in a Dead Sea salt solution, but the study used a solution roughly ten times the concentration used in swimming pools, approximately 50,000ppm – although only for a timeframe of 15 minutes. (For a link to the research go to: https:// tinyurl.com/Proksch-Research.) At the time of Poolrite’s launch of Magnapool, the question of transdermal absorption was keenly debated amongst the industry, and we put the question to Chandrasekaran about the efficacy of transdermal absorption, and the level required to achieve any benefits. “The scepticism is understandable when comparing pool water to concentrated bath therapies, but the comparison overlooks the fundamental biophysics of transdermal absorption: it is governed by a time-dosage relationship rather than concentration alone,” Chandrasekaran says.
Navin Chandrasekaran founded Mg2plus in 2019, and amongst other products, the company manufactures the proprietary Minergenix range in Sydney using custom-built industrial blending equipment specifically engineered for hydrated mineral salts, and distributes it through a multichannel network to the professional trade sector and residential pool owners across Australia. On the trade and wholesale side, products are supplied nationally through major trade retail partners such as Reece Pool & Irrigation, alongside a broad footprint of independent retail pool shops and mobile service technicians including consistent supply to independent bricks-andmortar pool stores in regional and rural towns that have historically faced supply chain barriers. End-consumers and residential pool owners can access the full product range directly through online partners such as Direct Pool Supplies. Contact: www.mg2plus.com.au
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He says the foundational 2016 peer-reviewed study he led at the UQ empirically proved that topically applied magnesium ions permeate human skin – predominantly facilitated via hair follicle pathways – and established that absorption increases with both concentration and duration of exposure. “While an Epsom salt bath offers an acute, high-concentration soak for twenty minutes, a residential swimming pool acts as an ambient ‘bioreserve’ of bioavailable magnesium. Over the course of a swimming season, regular wholebody immersion allows cumulative, periodic absorption through extended contact times, delivering subtle systemic support alongside the immediate tactile sensation of muscle relaxation and skin hydration with every swim.” But to be clear, he says to date there are no published double-blind clinical trials claiming that swimming in a mineral pool cures specific medical conditions, and reputable manufacturers should never market it as a therapeutic panacea. “What the science does confirm is that magnesium ions cross the stratum corneum barrier,” he says, referring to the outermost layer of the epidermis serving as the body’s primary protective skin barrier against the external environment.
“By maintaining pool water at calibrated levels – such as Minergenix’s dosing profile engineered for standard mineral chlorinators operating at 3000ppm to 4000ppm TDS – the water delivers a high enough magnesium ionic fraction to confer genuine physiological and skin-barrier wellness benefits, without exceeding equipment salinity thresholds or causing cathodic plate calcification. “Repeated over months of routine swimming, this optimal-concentration, high-frequency immersion provides a steady avenue for cellular uptake that mirrors the preventative benefits associated with transdermal magnesium supplementation.”
Two levels of benefit
Chandrasekaran says the scientifically verifiable benefits of magnesium in a swimming pool environment operate on two distinct levels: dermatological barrier protection and physiological uptake. “On the skin surface, magnesium acts as an active counter-ion that reinforces barrier function, accelerates stratum corneum repair, and mitigates the aggressive lipid-stripping typical of conventional sodium pools. Rather than leaving bathers with the tight, dry itch often associated with swimming, magnesium-rich water improves moisture retention and soothes inflammatory skin conditions like mild eczema. “At a cellular level, peer-reviewed research confirms concentrationand time-dependent transdermal permeation, primarily via follicular pathways. While not a cure for chronic disease, regular immersion in this bioavailable mineral reserve facilitates low-dose, cumulative mineral uptake that contributes to neuromuscular relaxation, reduced perceived muscle tightness after physical activity, and a general post-swim sensation of calm.
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He reinforces that to unlock these sensory and biological benefits without destabilising the pool ecosystem, mineral concentrations must be precisely calibrated. In typical residential mineral chlorination, total dissolved solids (TDS) sit between 3000ppm and 4000ppm, with the magnesium fraction engineered to maintain dissolved magnesium (Mg2+) concentrations that deliver water softness while staying within equipment tolerances.
The hardness challenge
We asked about the issues with water balance, hardness and scale buildup. Chandrasekaran says it can be an operational challenge: standard pool chemistry test kits measure total hardness (which bundles both calcium and magnesium ions), meaning dosing magnesium artificially skews conventional Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) readings. “If pool technicians treat elevated total hardness as purely calciumdriven and attempt aggressive acid compensation, they risk etching plaster, corroding heaters, and destabilising alkalinity,” he says. The primary physical drawback of mismanaged magnesium is localised cathodic scaling within the chlorinator cell. “During electrolysis, the reduction of water at the cathode drives local pH values above 9.0 to 9.5, causing transient magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) to precipitate onto the plates. Unlike hard calcium carbonate (CaCO3) scale, magnesium hydroxide scale is softer and more gelatinous, but if a chlorinator lacks intelligent, micro-timed reverse-polarity self-cleaning cycles or sufficient flow velocity, this precipitate can cake the plates, increase cell resistance, and trigger false “low salt” warnings. “When a mineral blend is balanced with proper potassium/sodium counter-ions and supported by intelligent reverse-polarity hardware, the water achieves superior clarity and bather comfort without equipment fouling or abrasive scaling on pool surfaces,” he says.
Cost versus salt
Magnesium and other mineral blends tend to be considerably more costly than ordinary pool salt – up to five times as expensive. While there is evidence that consumers find benefits in the water quality and feel, we asked Chandrasekaran why it is more expensive, and whether end-users get a benefit relative to the increased cost. He replies that the price disparity between conventional pool salt and highgrade magnesium mineral blends comes down to fundamental differences in raw material extraction, chemical processing, multi-ingredient formulation and logistics. “Ordinary pool salt is predominantly sodium chloride (NaCl), an abundant, low-cost commodity harvested via simple solar evaporation of seawater or open-cut scraping, requiring minimal processing and produced in massive bulk volumes. “In contrast, high-purity magnesium chloride must be extracted from deep natural brines like the Dead Sea through fractional crystallisation, followed by multiple ultra-refining stages to eliminate toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury and lead. Furthermore, unlike generic salt, which is a single raw
Mineral pool solutions booming for retail network
According to Poolwerx, interest in mineral and wellness-focused pool solutions has grown steadily over the past 12 months, reflecting a broader shift toward consistent, at-home wellness routines. “Poolwerx clients are investing more thoughtfully in their homes and how those spaces make them feel,” says Poolwerx COO Steve Halls. “We’ve seen a strong rise in pool mineral sales, with a 20 per cent increase in purchases in 2025, bringing total mineral volume to 806 tonnes for the year. Mineral pools offer a premium yet achievable way to support wellbeing every day.” He puts the rise down to a swimming experience that’s easier on skin, eyes and hair, while still maintaining effective sanitation.
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The best magnesium chloride comes from the Dead Sea. AdobeStock
commodity, our products are complex multimineral matrices. Formulating these requires precision blending of multiple active components and trace elements, continuous laboratory-grade batch testing, rigorous R&D, and custom heavyduty moisture-barrier packaging to prevent hygroscopic clumping. “When we factor in overseas ocean freight, local processing, and quality assurance overheads, the baseline manufacturing cost is structurally much higher,” he says. “Our raw materials are sourced strictly from the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley region, globally recognised for producing the highest purity natural magnesium chloride deposits in the world. Sourcing premium raw materials from this region does mean navigating current geopolitical volatility, which creates unavoidable friction across international supply lines. Conflictrelated shipping disruptions in the Red Sea and surrounding maritime corridors have driven up commercial ocean freight rates, extended vessel transit times, and introduced unpredictable port delays.” He says that for the end-user, the return on this investment is directly felt in water dynamics, bather health, and equipment longevity rather than just baseline sanitisation. “While both systems generate hypochlorous acid to disinfect water, magnesium fundamentally changes the swimming environment: it synthesises transient magnesium hydroxide in the chlorinator cell to act as an in-situ microflocculant – achieving glass-like water clarity without synthetic clarifiers and curbing the pungent volatility and eye-sting of chloramines, and preventing harsh, lipid-stripping dryness caused by sodium-heavy water. “This delivers a noticeable therapeutic upgrade for bathers with sensitive skin or eczema. However, consumer scepticism is understandable. Several opportunistic brands repackage lowgrade, single-source industrial salts or basic blends with zero R&D, minimal quality controls, and generic packaging, yet mark them up severalfold on marketing hype alone. That practice rightly frustrates consumers. “When a blend is properly formulated, scientifically backed, and manufactured with clinical precision, the dramatic improvement in water feel, clarity and skin comfort justifies the seasonal investment.” n
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The healthy future of the pool and spa industry
We caught up with the managing director of Fluidra ANZ, Clinton Alley, to discuss the current business climate for the industry,and the outlook for the coming season and beyond.
W
hen asked about the impact of the Middle East conflict on the supply chain, Clinton Alley says it is having an effect, but it is something Fluidra
is on top of. “A lot of companies in our sector, particularly in the manufacturing space, are relying for raw materials and consumables coming out of Europe and the Middle East, and it certainly is having an impact for us,” he says. However, he says they moved quickly to get supply in early and overcome some of the supply roadblocks. “In Australia we are a vertically integrated business, with manufacturing, R&D and a distribution component, so we got more supply in early to avoid any uncertainty from what’s happening in the Strait of Hormuz or any issues around America and China. “So, we’ve taken an active approach to ensuring that we’re better stocked up. I’d say we’re probably carrying a little bit too much inventory at the moment – but for the right reasons.” As the largest manufacturer in Australia, Fluidra is affected by these issues more than some other companies. They primarily manufacture the AstralPool range in Australia. “The only product in the AstralPool brand that is not manufactured in Australia is our heat pumps, which we get from China. Outside of that, all our chlorinators, pumps and filters are manufactured locally. “The Zodiac brand is still manufactured outside of Australia, but we’re looking to transition that more into the manufacturing facility here.”
Maintaining and improving productivity
All businesses, and the Australian economy as a whole, are feeling pressure to make productivity gains in the way they run their operations. This is even more pertinent for manufacturers. Alley says this is not just a local issue however, but is something the company is invested in across the globe. “Productivity is really important to us,” he says. “Our global chief operations officer is very much focused on productivity. We’ve got some fairly stringent metrics that all regions are measured
Clinton Alley, managing director of Fluidra ANZ at SPLASH!
on. And there’s the expectation that we increase those levels of productivity.” He says that while some people consider local manufacturing expensive, that’s not necessarily the case. “There’s that old adage that Australian-made is expensive. But it’s not if you can increase the volume that you’re making in the factory. “So that’s a real focus for us, and we really want to emphasise Australian-made, because it will allow us to generate more volume. “So, absolutely, productivity is a real thing for us.” There are many questions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its ability to improve productivity. Alley believes it has the capacity to improve productivity, but perhaps not in the way many people think. “I’m not so sure from an operating point of view, but from a commercial front end point of view – absolutely. “AI is going to play a significant part in the future in our industry, and I think not only with connected devices, but also in call centres – building that knowledge base for our customer care staff. “So when a consumer is either going online or phoning in, are we able to support them with the right knowhow, rather than trying to fumble through stuff?” He believes that is where AI is going to shine.
The local residential market
When asked about the current health of the Australian residential pool and spa market, Alley says Fluidra has had a pretty good first half of 2026 in the residential sector, but without monthto-month consistency. “Some months have been exceptional, and others have been pretty flat,” he says. “And I think that’s largely driven by what’s happening in the local economy. Inflation, we know, is a challenge at the moment: we’ve got interest rates that are either unstable or they’re going up or they’re dropping. So, there’s no real level of consistency.” He says that the pool building sector is facing challenges, with a number of pool builders struggling for pipeline business and sales. On the flip side, retail is looking promising. October/November 2026
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“Over the next 10 years, this industry is going to grow more quickly than it did over the past 30 years.”
The Fluidra team at SPLASH!
“If you look at the normal retail space, that’s where the real opportunity lies because you’ve got 1.3 million pools in Australia. They need to be serviced. A lot of those pools are ageing pools – so there’s new technology coming out, new equipment that needs to be installed. “So I think in a market that’s challenged by economic conditions, refurb or repair is prevalent. And so is selling what I call premiumisation. You know, what is the value that you’re selling to the end consumer? They’ll pay for it as long as they can see they’re going to get real value from it,” he says. “So I think replacements are still relevant.”
Global market
Not only is Fluidra the largest manufacturer in Australia, it is also a global behemoth with a powerful presence in the premium markets of Europe and the US, as well as elsewhere in the world. We asked how Fluidra has been affected by the global market disruption of the tariff war coming out of the US. “From a Fluidra Australia perspective, we’re not exporting into the US market anymore. I mean, obviously, Donald Trump’s just recently slapped some tariffs on Australia, so that’s certainly making it a bit challenging for us. But our US counterparts are very much focused on servicing that US market,” he says. “Where we are finding some real opportunity is into countries like Brazil, and we are manufacturing chlorinators for the Brazil market. We’re also selling into the Middle East. “But we’re very much focussed on the region – obviously into New Zealand, but also into the Asia Pacific. Southeast Asia is a real growth opportunity for us, and a lot of the product on our stand today will go into that market.”
The commercial sector
Alley sees great scope for the aquatic and commercial sector in Australia. “That’s where a real opportunity lies for us,” he says. “This is the second SPLASH! Expo where we’ve had a dedicated commercial stand. At the last one, we actually unveiled Chadson, which we had bought a couple of days before the SPLASH! event. “We are very focused on growing in the commercial space. We think it’s a real opportunity, and that the Australian market is probably untapped, in that many competitors in the market – and ourselves for that matter – don’t have full range. So, you’re not offering everything from a pump, a filter, a sanitisation unit that would normally going to a large-scale pumphouse. “The other thing is that commercial also means semi-commercial. So, bed and breakfasts, small hotels, motels, not just big swim schools and aquatic centres. We have to look at the commercial market more broadly, and look at what the full ambit of opportunity is in that market. “The other thing we touch on is the wellness aspect. Again, that’s where a real opportunity lies in that commercial space. The traditional old school public swimming facility – those days are gone. We have started to transition into wellness centres that have spas, saunas and swimming facilities 28 SPLASH!
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that people can go to and use the full ambit of what’s available, and take the family along and have a wellness experience. You won’t have to just go to a wellness spa. These facilities are becoming prevalent.”
The future
We asked Alley where he thinks the Australian residential pool market will be in five years’ time. He responded that he was just at a conference where he delivered a speech talking about the future of the industry over the next decade. “One of the things that I said is that I think over the next 10 years, this industry is going to grow more quickly than it did over the past 30 years.” He believes that will be heavily driven by automation, and by the internet of things (IoT). “Owning the pool pad in the backyard is critically important. Not only for suppliers of product, but also for our trade customers that look after those end consumers,” he says. “What I mean by that is, you’re starting to get smart data out of the equipment that’s in the backyard, and that feeds through to the trade customers. So instead of being reactive, they’ll be proactive in managing the pool. They’ll know before a chlorinator cell is about to fail, so they can book a service call, and go out and service it, rather than react to a breakdown call. “It also generates a yearly based revenue for them. So rather than waiting for a consumer to come into their store, they proactively drive that behaviour. “And I think that’s where the market’s going to go. I think data is going to become critically important in the future in our industry, and we’re already seeing it. You just have to walk around SPLASH! today and you’re going to see so many different connected devices, from chlorinators to sanitisation units to automation to robotic cleaners. “On our stand, we’ve got a smart pressure switch that’s measuring the filter, which is again something new. “So that automation and innovation is absolutely where the future of this industry is going.” n
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Planning for healthy, crystal clear pool water From shell design and pipework to pumps, media and cleaners, Veda Dante follows the decisions that keep water moving, debris under control and pool equipment working efficiently.
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rystal-clear water is often credited to the filter in the plantroom. In reality, clarity begins much earlier. Shell geometry, prevailing winds, the position of skimmers and returns, pipe diameter, the angles of bends, and pump settings all influence whether debris reaches the equipment or settles beyond the circulation pattern. Pool cleaners add another variable: suction models collect material through the hydraulic circuit, while pressure and robotic units generally retain it separately. Each approach changes where debris accumulates, how much reaches the primary filter and what the owner must maintain. These decisions carry greater weight as pools incorporate wide ledges, integrated spas, water 30 SPLASH!
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By Veda Dante
features and elongated architectural forms. At the same time, owners expect quieter operation, lower running costs and less maintenance. More capable equipment can help, but it cannot compensate for weak hydraulic planning. For builders and technicians, the opportunity is to look beyond individual products. The most successful pools are generally those in which the shell, pipework, equipment and cleaning method are considered together, then commissioned for the conditions on site.
Design from the water backwards
For Sydney pool builder Zac Dejanovic, filtration begins well before equipment arrives on site. The Tectonic Pools founder was named
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“Good circulation is almost invisible when it works.”
moving zones when the hydraulic plan simply repeats a standard layout. Adding more fittings is not necessarily the answer. “You can build two identical pools in different locations, yet each may require a completely different hydraulic design,” explains Dejanovic. Every skimmer, return, drain and in-floor head should have a defined purpose. Where the site permits, skimmers can take advantage of the prevailing wind. Returns can then encourage movement around features that interrupt flow and guide floating debris towards a collection point. “Good circulation is almost invisible when it works,” he says. “The owner sees clear water and a pool that is easy to live with. Behind that are decisions about pipe sizes, fitting locations, equipment and commissioning. They become much harder and more expensive to change after the concrete has been poured.” In-floor cleaning and circulation can be valuable in an appropriately designed concrete pool, particularly where the owner expects the floor to remain clear. Its effectiveness, however, depends on correct zoning, suitable hydraulics and careful installation rather than the product name alone.
Leave room for the technician
Properly filtered water not only makes the pool shine, but more importantly, maintains a space for healthy swimming. Image: Tectonic Pools
NSW Best Concrete Pool Builder at the 2026 SPASA Awards of Excellence and later won the Australasian Construction Tradesperson Award. His work demonstrates why architectural ambition and technical planning must progress together. “Every ledge, step, spa and water feature changes the way water moves,” he says. “You cannot draw the shell first and treat the hydraulics as something to fit in later. We consider where debris is likely to collect, how the wind moves across the site and how treated water will reach the areas swimmers use.” That thinking matters as concrete pools become more complex. Beach entries, perimeter edges, raised spas and broad ledges can create slower-
The equipment area warrants the same attention as the shell. Filters require clearance for safe servicing, pumps need sensible plumbing, and drainage, ventilation and noise should be addressed before walls and landscaping close in. A beautifully concealed plantroom offers little benefit if a technician cannot lift out a cartridge, remove a pump lid or reach a valve. Restricted access encourages delayed maintenance and can turn a routine task into an expensive service call. Dejanovic also cautions against specifying only to the minimum, particularly on heavily landscaped sites or where clients expect lowtouch maintenance. “Capacity creates breathing room,” he says. “That does not mean fitting the biggest pump and running everything harder. It means selecting pipework, filtration and controls that suit the actual pool, then operating them intelligently.” Handover completes the process by translating the builder’s design intent into information the owner can use. Along with demonstrating routine maintenance, it should establish what normal operation looks and sounds like and identify changes that may signal a developing problem. “We show owners the cleaning routine and equipment settings and point out the early warning signs that something may need attention,” he explains. “That gives them confidence to care for the pool and address small issues before they become bigger problems.”
Waterco’s Australian made MultiCyclone removes debris through centrifugal force before reaching the main filter October/November 2026
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“Maintaining circulation is one of the less obvious benefits of managing debris before it reaches the main filter,” he explains. “As dirt accumulates in a filter, resistance increases and water movement can weaken. Pre-filtration allows the primary vessel to operate for longer before servicing is required.” Waterco estimates that, under suitable conditions, installing a MultiCyclone ahead of a media filter can reduce backwashing to as little as once a year and save up to 7000 litres annually in an average residential pool. Results will depend on filter size, debris load, operating conditions and maintenance.
Balancing fine filtration and resistance The plant for a leafy pool with a Paramount in-floor cleaner
Filtering in stages
Waterco’s domestic water care product manager George Flory says the company approaches filtration as a sequence rather than a single event. “Our engineers examine what enters the pool, where heavier debris can be removed, how finer material is captured and how much resistance, water and maintenance the process creates. Improvement often begins by preventing one component from carrying the entire load. “Rather than expecting the main filter to capture everything, we look at how debris can be managed at different stages. Removing heavier material earlier, maintaining efficient flow and making the primary filter easier to operate can improve overall performance.” He says this approach becomes particularly relevant during hot, dry or windy weather. Dust, grit and leaves may enter the pool before anybody swims. “A pool exposed to dry, windy weather can receive a substantial debris load,” he says. “If all of that material travels directly to the primary filter, maintenance increases and circulation may gradually decline as the filter loads.” Waterco’s Australian-developed MultiCyclone range uses centrifugal separation to intercept denser particles before they reach the main filter. Water passes through a series of hydrocyclones that spin heavier dirt from the flow and deposit it in a clear collection chamber. The chamber can be purged with a relatively small quantity of water without initiating a full backwash, and according to Waterco, this can capture up to 80 per cent of the incoming dirt load, depending on particle size and density. Flory says pre-filtration is particularly relevant to pools exposed to dust, sand and grit. Removing that material early may extend the interval between cartridge cleaning or mediafilter backwashing. Unlike a conventional filter, the MultiCyclone’s flow rate does not progressively decline as debris accumulates in its collection chamber. 32 SPLASH!
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The pool with the infloor system being built, showing the planning for the filtration and those troublesome leaves Image: Tectonic Pools
Once smaller particles reach the primary filter, the chosen media affects both clarity and hydraulic resistance. For example, Evoclear Glass Crystals by Evolution Water and Lighting Solutions is a premium pool filter media manufactured from 100 per cent virgin crushed glass, enabling cleaner filtration and exceptional water clarity for residential and commercial pools. Evolution says that unlike some recycled glass media, their Glass Crystals blend contains no impurities – it is free of dirt, paper, plastic and contaminants found in recycled sources. An optimal premixed blend of coarse and fine media, it eliminates the need for multiple media layers or separate bags while improving water flow and circulation, filtering impurities down to three microns. The crystal structure promotes cleaner, faster backwashing and extended media life up to three times that of sand media. Waterco’s Glass Pearl filter media is designed to filter particles below three microns while using less water during backwashing than conventional media. Independent testing conducted by the UNSW Water Research Laboratory reported 37 per cent lower head loss and reductions of up to 40 per cent in backwash water use under the test conditions.
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Lower head loss means the pump encounters less resistance while circulating water through the filter. “Fine filtration should not come at the expense of efficient flow,” Flory says. “Reducing resistance through the filter can support circulation while lowering the energy required to move water.” Results in an operating pool will vary with filter design, flow rate, debris levels and maintenance. Even efficient media must eventually be backwashed correctly. The objective is to balance fine-particle capture with responsible energy and water use. Flory says pump selection should reflect the combined resistance of the pipework, filter and other equipment, together with the circulation the pool requires. “A powerful pump cannot correct an inefficient hydraulic design,” he says. “The best result comes from matching the pump to the pool, reducing avoidable resistance and operating at the flow required for effective circulation and filtration.”
Fluidra follows the debris
Residential filtration is often specified using pool volume and a target turnover. Those figures provide a starting point, but they do not reveal whether fine material will reach the filter, where leaves are likely to settle or how the pool will respond after a storm, a party or several weeks of regular use. For George Varghese, Fluidra’s hydraulics category manager, performance is better understood by following the path of the debris. “A filter can only capture what reaches it,” he says. “The more revealing questions are where debris enters, how it travels through the pool and what prevents it from reaching a collection point.” Contaminants behave differently once they enter the water. Leaves may be drawn into the
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skimmer, collected by a cleaner or settle on the floor. Dust can remain suspended before eventually reaching the filter. Sunscreen and body oils create a less visible load, even while the water continues to look clear. Two pools of comparable size can place very different demands on their equipment. A sheltered courtyard pool may receive few leaves but be used every day. Another beside native trees could contend with bark, pollen and windblown material even when nobody swims. Shell geometry adds another variable. Beach entries, benches, ledges and changes in depth influence the way water and debris travel. Extending the operating time will not necessarily correct a poorly directed return or a quiet area where dirt repeatedly gathers. “Turnover is useful, but it should not become the only measure of performance,” Varghese explains. “Treated water still needs to be distributed throughout the pool while suspended material is carried towards the points where it can be removed.” That places greater importance on commissioning. Return direction, valve positions, pump speeds and schedules should be established after the pool is filled and operating rather than assumed from the equipment specification. Recording the clean-filter pressure and observing flow at different settings also gives the builder, technician and owner a practical reference point for later troubleshooting.
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The cleaner changes the route
Cleaner selection influences where collected material finishes its journey. A suction cleaner draws debris into the pool’s hydraulic circuit. Depending on the installation, larger material may be intercepted by a leaf canister, skimmer basket or pump strainer before finer particles reach the primary filter. Robotic units work independently and retain debris in an onboard canister. Neither arrangement eliminates the need for effective whole-pool circulation. The difference lies in where the material accumulates and which component must be emptied or cleaned. “Cleaner selection is also a decision about debris management,” Varghese says. “A heavily landscaped pool may need a different strategy from a compact pool exposed mainly to fine dust. Owners should be shown where material will collect and what needs attention after a highdebris event.” A filtration system installed below deck level Image: Tectonic Pools
That explanation can prevent a familiar service call. The cleaner appears slow, return flow has weakened or the water looks dull, yet the underlying cause is a full basket, loaded cartridge or blocked cleaner canister rather than equipment failure. Fluidra’s portfolio includes AstralPool filtration and variable-speed pumps, Halo connected controls and Zodiac cleaners. More significant than the number of products is the industry’s movement towards making hydraulic performance easier to set, monitor and maintain. The same direction is extending into the service channel. Fluidra confirmed in its first-half 2026 update that PoolTrackr was being rolled out in Australia, reflecting greater investment in the digital workflow linking installed equipment with pool professionals. Better records can help retailers and technicians provide more precise advice. Owners, meanwhile, need a simpler explanation: what normal operation looks like, where debris is stored and what to check when water movement changes. “The owner does not need to become a hydraulics specialist,” Varghese says. “They need a few reliable reference points and a clear maintenance routine. When the condition of the pool is communicated in a way people understand, small issues are more likely to be addressed before they become waterquality problems.”
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The cleaner becomes a second filter
Few pool-equipment categories have changed as visibly as automatic cleaners. Suction and pressure units remain relevant, corded robots are well established, and cordless models have introduced new brands and buying channels. The practical question is not simply how the
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Serviceability is another part of the equation. Waterco’s Opal Ultra Cartridge Filter combines a large filtration area with dual inlet options and a tool-free lock ring intended to simplify installation and routine access, while greater surface area can allow more material to accumulate before cleaning is required. Easier access also increases the likelihood that servicing will be completed correctly and on time. An overdue cartridge clean affects more than clarity: as resistance rises, circulation weakens and the pump must work harder to maintain flow
“Return direction, valve positions, pump speeds and schedules should be established after the pool is filled and operating rather than assumed from the equipment specification.”
cleaner moves. Pool professionals should also consider what it collects, where that material is stored and how the choice affects the primary filtration equipment. A suction model connects to the skimmer or a dedicated line, becoming part of the hydraulic circuit. It is a proven approach, but the unit requires sufficient draw to travel effectively and the material it captures is directed towards baskets and the main filter. Pressure cleaners use return-side water and generally collect debris in an onboard bag. Some require a booster pump, introducing another component and an additional energy load. Their effectiveness depends on the pool, available plumbing and material being collected. Robots operate independently. Onboard motors propel the cleaner and draw water through an internal basket or filter, keeping much of the captured material away from the primary vessel. That separation can be useful in pools carrying leaves or sediment, but it does not make the robot a substitute for installed circulation. The machine cleans the surfaces and surrounding water during its cycle. The permanent system must still skim the surface, distribute sanitiser and filter the full water body. Maytronics’ Dolphin range is among the best-known robotic offerings in Australia. Depending on the model, units clean different combinations of the floor, walls and waterline, with varying filtration and connectedcontrol features. Basket selection also affects the result. Coarser options can accommodate larger leaves without blocking as quickly, while fine inserts collect smaller particles but may require more frequent cleaning. Matching the insert to the prevailing debris is more useful than assuming the finest option will always perform best. “Robotic cleaners give owners a second filtration system that operates independently from the pool equipment,” says David Dean, marketing and customer experience manager at Maytronics Australia. “Choosing the appropriate filter for the debris and emptying it regularly remain important. The robot complements the primary circulation and filtration; it does not replace them.” The growth of cordless robots adds convenience but also makes informed advice more valuable. Runtime, charging arrangements, pool coverage, replacement parts and after-sales support can matter as much as headline suction or battery claims. For retailers and technicians, cleaner selection is therefore an opportunity to discuss the pool environment rather than recommend a model solely on size or price.
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Seven circulation warning signs Pool builders and service technicians can help owners recognise circulation problems before water quality deteriorates or equipment comes under unnecessary strain. During handover or a service visit, explain what normal water movement looks like and encourage customers to report these warning signs.
1. Algae returns to the same place Persistent growth behind steps, beneath ledges or in corners may indicate limited water movement. Chemistry, sanitisation and brushing should also be checked before circulation is assumed to be the cause. What to tell the owner: Brush the area, test the water and note how quickly the algae returns. Avoid repeatedly adding chemicals without investigating why the same location is affected. Professional response: Assess return direction and flow, then determine whether treated water is reaching the problem area.
2. Debris settles in a predictable area Fine dust, pollen or leaves repeatedly collecting in the same patch suggests the circulation pattern is not carrying the material towards a skimmer, drain or cleaner. What to tell the owner: Photograph where the debris gathers before removing it. A recurring pattern can help the technician identify the cause. Professional response: Observe the pool through a filtration cycle and adjust the returns where appropriate. Persistent deposits may require closer assessment of the hydraulic layout.
3. Some returns feel weaker than others Differences between outlets may reflect their position or intended configuration. A sudden change can also indicate incorrect adjustment, a restriction or imbalance. What to tell the owner: Empty the skimmer and pump baskets and check whether the filter is due for cleaning. Report any sudden change rather than altering unfamiliar settings. Professional response: Confirm valve positions, inspect the filtration equipment and compare return flow with the commissioned settings.
been correctly cleaned. Use this as the pool’s normal starting point and watch for a significant change.
settings. Aim for gentle surface movement towards the skimmer rather than excessive turbulence.
Professional response: Follow the manufacturer’s recommended pressurerise threshold and investigate readings that remain abnormal after routine maintenance.
7. Water quality varies around the shell
5. Air appears in the pump basket or returns A few bubbles after start-up may clear quickly. Persistent air can be caused by a low water level, poorly seated pump lid, dry or damaged O-ring, or another suction-side leak. This can affect prime and reduce circulation. What to tell the owner: Check that the water level is high enough and ensure the pump lid is seated correctly. Never open the pump while it is operating. If the air remains, ask a pool professional to inspect and, where appropriate, lubricate or replace the O-rings. Professional response: Check the pumplid O-ring, unions and other suction-side seals. Lubricate serviceable O-rings with a manufacturer-approved product and investigate the suction line if air continues entering the system.
6. Leaves keep missing the skimmer Wind will influence surface debris, but leaves and insects that continually circle the pool may point to an unsuitable water level, poorly directed returns or insufficient skimming flow. What to tell the owner: Maintain the recommended water level and observe whether debris reaches the skimmer while the pump is running. Professional response: Review return direction, skimmer draw and pump
Recurring cloudiness, localised staining or inconsistent test results can indicate uneven distribution of treated water, although chemistry and surface conditions must also be considered. What to tell the owner: Note where the problem appears and whether it follows heavy use, rain or a change to the operating schedule. Avoid taking a diagnostic sample beside a return outlet. Professional response: Compare samples from several locations and assess circulation, filtration and sanitisation together. Make the handover practical Before leaving a new installation or service visit, show the owner: • The correct water level. • How to empty the skimmer and pump baskets. • Where cleaner debris is collected. • The normal clean-filter pressure. • The intended pump schedule. • What healthy return flow looks like. • How to operate the valves and which positions are normally used. • Which changes warrant a service call. • Equipment must be switched off before baskets or filters are opened. Owners should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and leave leak investigation and internal servicing to a qualified pool professional.
Filter maintenance is as important in maintaining clean clear water Image: Tectonic Pools
4. Filter pressure moves away from normal A rise above the clean starting pressure commonly indicates accumulated material or a return-side restriction. Unusually low pressure accompanied by weak flow may suggest a suction problem. What to tell the owner: Record the gauge reading immediately after the filter has
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Giving debris another exit
Robotic cleaners have changed more than the way pool surfaces are maintained. By retaining debris within the unit, they create another removal pathway independent of the pool’s primary hydraulic circuit. For Andres Gomez, Aiper’s vice president of sales, the industry opportunity lies in helping owners understand how the two functions work together. “A robotic cleaner does not replace the pool’s circulation and filtration system,” he says. “Its role is to collect material from the surfaces it reaches before that debris breaks down, becomes suspended or adds unnecessarily to the load on the main filter.” Cordless technology has made robotic cleaning more accessible to owners who want to avoid cables and plumbing connections. Convenience, however, should not become the only selection criterion. Shell shape, surface finish, steps, slopes, surrounding vegetation and the material entering the water all influence the cleaner required. Aiper’s Scuba V3 reflects the growing emphasis on deliberate coverage below the surface. Its onboard filtration, adaptive route planning and floor, wall and waterline cleaning are designed to collect material where it settles without sending it through the installed filtration system. The EcoSurfer S2 works at the other end of the debris journey. Operating on the surface, the solar-powered robotic skimmer collects floating leaves and other material before it becomes waterlogged and sinks. Together, the two products demonstrate how robotic cleaning is expanding from a floor-cleaning task into a layered approach to interception. “Cleaner selection should begin with the conditions around the pool,” Gomez explains. “A property exposed to leaves may need a different filtration strategy from one affected mainly by sand or fine dust. Understanding the debris helps determine the coverage and filter configuration required.” Maintenance completes the process. An overloaded basket can restrict water movement through a cleaner and reduce collection performance. Owners should be shown where debris accumulates, how frequently the basket may need attention and why cleaning requirements rise after wind, storms or heavy use.
Contacts: www.aiper.com.au
evolutionwls.com.au www.fluidra.com.au www.maytronics.com.au www.tectonicpools.com.au www.waterco.com.au
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Whatever the model, a cleaner can reduce the burden on the main filter only when it suits the pool, follows an effective route and is emptied regularly. Whole-pool circulation must still distribute treated water, support surface movement and carry suspended contaminants towards the primary filtration system.
A more useful definition of performance
The next major improvement in residential filtration may not come from a single product. It may come from treating the shell, plumbing, equipment, cleaner and owner as connected parts of the same outcome. Manufacturers are giving the industry larger filters, refined media, programmable pumps and cleaners with onboard filtration. Applied well, these technologies can reduce water use, energy consumption and maintenance. Used to disguise weak hydraulic design, their value quickly diminishes. A large cartridge cannot circulate treated water through a quiet corner. A robot cannot replace surface skimming or sanitisation. More pump speed cannot make restrictive pipework efficient. Builders have the earliest opportunity to establish the fundamentals. Purposeful fitting placement, accessible plantrooms, appropriate capacity and well-planned plumbing give technicians a pool that can be commissioned, monitored and maintained properly. Service professionals complete the process by preserving the intended settings, recognising changes in pressure or flow and explaining warning signs in language the owner understands. For the customer, the result feels much simpler: clear water, predictable maintenance and equipment that is not working harder than necessary. That is what effective filtration looks like when you follow the flow. n
Pool equipment housed with plenty of access in an Acoustic Box setup Image: Tectonic Pools
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SPASA guide:
Swimming pool and spa sanitisation marketing claims SPASA policy manager Ben Makepeace updates us on the launch of the new guide to sanitisation marketing claims.
A
t the SPLASH!2026 Trade Expo, SPASA’s CEO Kristin Brookfield and I launched the latest SPASA guide, Swimming pool and spa sanitisation marketing claims. The next day I was able to host a panel with members of the working group to talk through the guide’s development process from genesis to holding a copy in our hands. For those who were unable to attend, this article will give you a brief overview of what we covered.
The issue
Over recent years, SPASA members have raised growing concerns about the inconsistent way sanitiser performance is measured, tested and promoted. Performance claims are often difficult to compare, challenging to verify and, in some cases, potentially misleading. This inconsistency creates uncertainty for consumers, pool professionals and regulators alike, undermining trust in product performance while raising important questions about safety, compliance and fair competition. To develop this guide, SPASA extended an expression of interest (EOI) for participation in the working group, and then brought together around 15 dedicated industry representatives and technical specialists to assist in the guide’s development. I have thanked these hardworking individuals multiple times over the course of this launch, and it’s another good opportunity to thank them again for their generously donated time, robust discussion, and passion for the project.
Key considerations
The group moved forward with developing the project scope and terms of reference, which included some key considerations the group would stay 40 SPLASH!
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focused on during the process: • Clear, consistent, and scientifically valid terminology in all communications. • Manufacturers and suppliers to hold documented, verifiable evidence supporting any marketing claims. • Exclusivity or compatibility statements between sanitisation systems and other products. • Alignment with, and utilisation of, existing Australian, international standards and other credible sources. • Commercial and practical implications of compliance with guidance, including cost, innovation, and competitive positioning. • Consumer and trade education.
When to use the guide
The guide has been designed for manufacturers, distributors, retailers of pool products, pool and spa builders, installers, technicians, other pool and spa professionals and ancillary trades, industry regulators, and consumers seeking greater clarity on sanitisation systems and product claims. It also supports training providers and educators in delivering accurate and reliable information across the sector. The advice set out in the guide is designed to be helpful in a range of situations including: • Designing or marketing sanitisation systems or related products. • Making product claims related to sanitisation efficacy, water quality, or chlorine levels which are based on the results of testing. • Evaluating product comparisons or validating system effectiveness. • Reviewing labelling, terminology, or supporting evidence behind marketing claims. • Educating consumers or industry
Good reading: the new guide
By Ben Makepeace participants about system performance and compatibility, and the impacts of sanitisation on other components of the pool system. • Commissioning a pool or spa.
Guide topics
The guide includes a range of topics: • Overview: includes the foreword, a note about SPASA’s role in the publication, the introduction, and a section on applying the guide. • Clear guidance for claims: an outline of acceptable testing and evidence principles. • Claim guidance tables: outlining claim types, when the claim is acceptable, and when the claim is not acceptable. • Standardised testing protocols: covering evidence hierarchies, types of testing, existing testing standards and more information relating to gathering evidence to support claims. • Outcomes and claim validation table outlines claim types with the types of sanitisation systems, performance metrics, conditions, evidence, and disclosure which would be expected to accompany those claims. • Innovation and testing: the guide cannot consider all emerging tech and innovations, so we put considerable effort into discussing that. • Testing in practice: outlines primary and supplementary sanitisers, as well as complementary processes, and a range of example claims for each system which would be acceptable or not. • Examples of credible organisations and evidence sources: an overview of how to go about validating claims, highlighting testing standards, test providers (such as labs, academia, and research organisations), evidence hierarchy, claim-evidence fit,
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published guidance information as well at those available from manufacturers and industry, and provides some notes about protecting IP. • Holistic sanitisation systems: highlights that sanitisation is typically achieved by a coordinated multi-element system, comprised of primary, secondary, and supplementary systems, and has further notes on innovation in this context. • Emerging technologies: this section of the guide speaks to the reality that there is new and emerging tech all the time, and the guide cannot cover or pre-empt future innovation. Indeed, SPASA intends to update the guide in the future to reflect changes in technology, but these changes could also be triggered by classification changes or regulatory changes. • Reference material: contains a detailed glossary of terms, to assist consumers in understanding the language used in the guide, as well as an appendix containing references to relevant standards, the Model Aquatic Health Code, and relevant Australian and New Zealand Government bodies. n
Why local manufacturing matters to your business
Building the library of industry guides SPASA now has a range of guides, with more in development. You can access them here: www.spasa.com.au/resources/ industry-guides. These include: Contracts Guidance Note #1 is a detailed guide to help builders in managing cost increases and your pool building contract. Applying the NCC to Swimming Pool and Spa Projects Guide is a document which helps to guide users developing Performance Solutions, and provides some examples which include referencing AS 2783 as well as AS 1838 and AS 1838 to satisfy H1P1, and using AS/NZS 3500.2 when addressing H2D2(2). Consumer Reference Guide – Pool Safety Barriers was developed in conjunction with Standards Australia and is primarily aimed at consumer education relating to the standards relevant to permanent pool safety barriers, as well as temporary fences. Prefabricated Spa Pool Compliance provides a summary of the requirements for: compliant spa pool outlets, integrally moulded skimmers, electrical approvals, Legislative requirements, recall notices, and safety messaging.
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SPASA is actively taking input on future guides and would like to know what guide topics would be useful for you? Let us know by emailing me ben@spasa.com.au. Ben Makepeace launching the guide at SPLASH!
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SPLASH! Expo
The 2026 edition of SPLASH! proved to be the best yet, breaking a series of records and presenting the most polished event to date.
The expo floor drew more than 3500 registered visitors. Photography by Steve Ryan
SPLASH! 2026
raises the bar once again
T
he highly successful 2026 SPLASH! Trade Expo held in August filled every hall of the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, taking up more floor space than any other swimming pool and spa trade expo held in this part of the world. There were more exhibitors – 140 in total – and the expo also drew almost 4000 registered visitors. Hundreds of the latest industry innovations were on display, including a dedicated innovation showcase, and thousands of products were presented and discussed in detail on exhibitors’ stands. Attendees and exhibitors spoke glowingly of the event. SPASA chairman Anthony Grice says SPLASH! 2026 was outstanding. “I’ve had fantastic feedback,” he says. “In fact, we hit a record this year. We’ve taken out a record amount of floorspace at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, and of course we had a tremendous number of people through the front doors over the course of the two days. “The industry can celebrate the terrific job the exhibitors have done in presenting their innovation to our broader industry.” 42 SPLASH!
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Visitors were particularly impressed by the quality of suppliers’ stands, the effort put into presenting their offerings, and the innovation on display.
Record gala event
Grice also says SPASA’s Australasian Awards of Excellence Awards Gala, held on the first night of the SPLASH! Expo, was sensational, with hundreds of people attending the black tie event. He believes the number of people supporting the marquee gala is an excellent indication of the state of the industry. “It was an exceptional night. We had almost 500 people celebrating the success of the industry and their peers, including our fantastic fibreglass pool manufacturers and installers, our concrete pool builders, our spa industry, our service industry, and our retailers. “In fact, we had the full gamut celebrating their successes and the things that they do to make our industry so great. And the gala dinner was an absolute sellout.” He says the industry support for the entire SPLASH! 2026 has been incredible.
“We came two years ago, which was a great experience, and I was quite overwhelmed by the size of it this year. Wow.”
Kristin Brookfield at the presentation of the SPASA guide: Swimming Pool and Spa Sanitisation Marketing Claims. There is more on this guide on page 24
“If you think of what we’ve endured as an Australian economy over the past six months, there have been a few headwinds. There’s been the economic headwinds, and of course, for our members, there have been challenges around labour shortages, increases in operating costs, the drop in consumer confidence, and changing consumer expectations. “Yet the support by exhibitors and the turnout by industry members was outstanding. I think what this show demonstrates is a sense of resilience from our members, from our manufacturers, and from our partners in really focusing on continuing to invest in their businesses, and to invest in the innovation that helps our industry thrive. “And you don’t have to look further than just walking around the expo and looking at the innovation that is flourishing from our manufacturers – and that keeps us in pretty good stead for the season ahead and the seasons beyond that. “I hope everyone enjoyed themselves on the Gold Coast, and we look forward to seeing our members back here in 2028.”
Plans for the future
SPLASH! 2026 was organised by the SPASA team assisted by Wise Connections, and led by SPASA CEO Kristin Brookfield. “SPLASH! 26 was absolutely amazing,” she says. “I’m so impressed and proud of the team and everything they put together. It took two years in the planning, two years for all of our exhibitors to be prepared and for us to put the program together. It was a fantastic event. “The exhibitors gave us so much energy and put such an amazing commitment into being part of SPLASH! It’s not a small exercise and we recognise that this year they really dialled it up again from 2024.” This year there was a record number of exhibitors – a feat that was managed by filling the whole hall and the extra areas. Brookfield is keen to see if they can manage the footprint next edition to see if it can be even bigger in 2028. And while the event was primarily focussed on the trade floor, it was also important it retained the educational elements. “Everyone wanted to see the exhibits. The exhibitors certainly put that investment in, and wanted people to be coming to visit them. But I felt it was really important that it was also an educational event. The masterclasses and the seminar stage were ways for us to give people a break and let them sit down and get off their feet, while being part of something else.” She says they will analyse the feedback on the topics to ensure they are supporting the builders, retailers, manufacturers and suppliers. This edition had a slightly different format, with the
drinks on the Tuesday evening and the awards on the Wednesday evening. Brookfield says the feedback so far had been very positive about the change, and the popularity of the All-INdustry drinks on the Tuesday night was testament to this, despite the expo not starting till the next day. “We had a fantastic turnout with 1000 people coming for a short drink and a get-together, and they were then able to go off and continue with networking events off-site. SPLASH! is about getting together and networking and seeing all your business partners, so I thought it was a really good balance – and there was certainly a good vibe in the room.” Additionally, on the Wednesday evening, the guests were relieved of the rush to leave the expo before getting to the awards gala. “The awards on Wednesday night were our biggest ever. That was a fantastic night. We had really good feedback about the overall delivery on the night, and we had the highest number of people attending, as well as the equal highest number of entries. “We had some really creative entertainment, and brought a bit of fun to the night with the noisemakers, and the great band. I think people left on a bit of a high.” Brookfield also had some feedback regarding the participation from international exhibitors at the trade expo. “The pool industry, as I’m learning, is a global industry. We have companies across the world that are manufacturing and supplying products for the industry. And it’s just right that we would have some of that showcased at our show here in Australia. We say it’s the largest pool show in the southern hemisphere, and it is. “This year, we had a slightly smaller footprint than in the past from the overseas contingent, and I was pleased to see more exhibitors designing large plan stands and investing in their presence. We also made an effort to move the exhibitors around the hall to integrate more effectively. “I would like to see SPLASH! 2028 grow again and I think there are some simple ways that we can do that. And I also think we need to look at how we get that balance right in terms of who’s in the hall and the time people have available to visit the exhibits, versus those education sessions. “We’ll have a bit of a play around with that. But I’m confident 2028 can be our biggest show again,” she says. “I’d love to thank our event partners. Our platinum partner was Fluidra, our gold partner was Pentair Pool, and our silver partner was Reece Irrigation & Pools. They’ve contributed and supported us all year in pulling the event together along with some of our amazing activation and event partners who participated during SPLASH! 2026.” n October/November 2026
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SPLASH! Expo
01 01. The expo started in style with the sold out WAVES breakfast on the Wednesday morning 02. Anthony Grice, CEO of Clark Rubber and chairman of SPASA, visiting the Maytronics stand at SPLASH! 2026 03. Justin Nicholas, general manager of Cooke Industries, says the company has been on journey recently with significant changes to their range. Historically, they’ve been known for in-floor cleaning and auto levellers such as the Australian-made Water Witch. But they have been getting requests to supply a greater range of products to their builders. “So we’ve gone out and picked certain products: Pentair pumps and equipment, Pool Lab chlorinators and self-dosing systems, Spa King blowers, Spa Electrics lights, and Aquea equipment, just to pick out what we believe are the best in their field, and support our builders and other trade customers through those added items that will complement everything else that they’ve been getting from us. So we’ve become more of a one-stop shop for some of those builders who put a lot of trust in us, and we help them through everything on site as well, to complete the pool build.” This is part of a longer interview with Nicholas and managing director Cliff Cooke which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH!
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04. Clinton Alley, managing director of Fluidra ANZ, was excited about the future. He says Fluidra had a good first half of the year in the residential sector, although the consistency month to month hadn’t been there – driven largely by what’s happening in the local economy. However, the prospect of renovating the large number of ageing pools in this market leaves a positive outlook for growth. He is also excited about the prospects for Fluidra’s increasing push into the commercial sector. “This is the second SPLASH! Expo where we’ve had a dedicated commercial stand,” he says. “At the last one, we actually unveiled Chadson which we had just bought a couple of days before.” He believes the Australian commercial market is untapped to some degree, especially the semi-commercial sector, looking at smaller facilities and the trend towards wellness. The full interview is published on page 27.
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05. Anthony Cross, CEO of Compass is seen here with Max Reps, a young man on work experience in Australia from Compass Europe. They are resting in the Cali Four, the latest in Compass’s wellness range that is soon to be introduced into the US. Compass wanted to set up the pool and adjacent “poolside” area as a space to meet and bond with the wider Compass network in a relaxing environment, including have cold beer on hand. Max is the son of Franz Reps, the major shareholder of Compass Pools in Europe. As soon as he turned 18 he flew from Germany to Australia to learn all aspects of the business, including working on pool installations. This is part of a longer interview with Cross and Reps, which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH!
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06. Bipin Menon, Pentair APAC’s pool category director, says that the big installed base of swimming pools in Australia helps protect our market from some of the global and local economic headwinds, including the delays and increased costs associated with current supply chain issues. He says consumers are tightening their purses for new builds, adding that while the number of new builds is holding, the total value of those builds is declining somewhat. He also says that the current supply chain crisis is different to the one experienced during covid, as that one was on the back of a surge in demand, whereas demand is slowing locally at the moment due to interest rate rises and cost of living pressures. He believes pool automation and energy efficiency equipment will become increasingly important in the future, pointing to impending legislation on gas heaters as one example, as well evolving consumer sentiment. The full interview will be published in a future edition of SPLASH!
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07. Julian Brady, founder of PSQ, launched the new PSQ AI 3D high resolution render at SPLASH!. “You can take a photo of a backyard, select the pool type, custom concrete, fibreglass, precast, any pool type. Then 35 seconds later, it is rendered for the client with landscape and pool and glass fencing, whatever you like, instantly in the backyard. It costs $99 a month for 30 renders, and it will operate anywhere in the world. From talking to the builders at SPLASH!, they’re seeing this as an amazing tool for their sales teams. Do a 3D in 35 seconds and attach that to the quote. It’s another little sales tool that hopefully the industry is going to embrace. 08. James Cain from EvoHeat says that while they have been hearing about end-users’ tightening financial situation, that is not the whole story. “While there are people who are obviously doing it tough, and interest rates are having a big impact on them, there’s also a whole other market above that that don’t really see the impacts, and it hasn’t changed their behaviour at all. So while the lower end is having it a bit of a tough time, a lot of the bigger projects still charge forward. And bigger builders are just focused on getting the best product. So being a premium brand has really protected us through the circumstances. Our customers and endusers are really focused on getting something from a company that’s going to be around in five to ten years when their warranty is going to be the most important, and also that the company’s got a good history and a good level of service. We’re also seeing a lot of consumers using AI to try to determine products and find the best products, which is not always the best solution. AI is huge benefit in some ways, but also can be a trap for people because there’s a lot of information that’s not available online for the AI to digest and be translated to customers. So they’re only getting half the story.”
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09. Carl Voshege, managing director of Remco, says he’s noticed an evolution in the way consumers view swimming pools. “I think one of the biggest changes we’ve observed is that people are no longer looking just for a swimming pool for summer. They’re looking for a pool that can deliver year round so they can extract the most out of their investment. Things like swimming machines have become front of mind, so they can spend half an hour doing a workout in the backyard, whether you have a three-metre pool or a seven-metre pool – then jump out and start your day. I think this is happening across the pool market. I think people are becoming smarter about how to use their pools.” October/November 2026
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“This is the first time we’ve been to SPLASH! - it’s been mind-blowing. To be honest, I’m lost for words with it. It’s been absolutely incredible to see what’s here.” 10. Tanya Modde from the Sydney-based 33-year old business Para Mobility is seen here demonstrating the all Australian-made Pelican pool and spa lift. While she is sitting in the sling transfer, they also have a water wheelchair – and for the bigger aquatic centres, they have a platform-style lift and a seat attachment. “This one is mobile. You do have to anchor it when it’s in use, but you can move it around to the pools and the spas in the aquatic centres or the hotels. We’re always looking to improve our products, and Pelican in particular is the leading choice in Australia.” 13
11. The seminars were held adjacent to the show floor without causing disturbance by using the silent seminar technique, with headphones for the audience members. 12. Paul Robbins, Reece Group operations lead, says that helping their customers become more productive and efficient on site is a key aim. “We’ve got a network of over 650 branches around Australia and New Zealand, and over 50 of those are dedicated irrigation and pools branches, which are there purely to service our customers in those sectors. And within that network, we’ve got over 100 delivery vehicles that are ready to get deliveries out to our customers on site, basically when they need it. So yeah, we can do that really quick turnaround and make sure that they’ve got the products they need on the site when they need them – which obviously helps them be more productive and ultimately more profitable.” This is part of a longer interview which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH! 13. Face-to-face discussions are one of the most important aspects of events like SPLASH! Here Zac Dejonovic from Tectonic Pools discusses engineering issues with Innovezza.
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14. Zarah Littlejohn, the Pink Tradie Ladie (with Jack Hardy of AEI Insurance Broking Group). “I am co-founder of CNH Pools with my husband, and I went out and jumped on the tools and whacked on a pink shirt and flourished into Pink Tradie Lady, and then founded Supporter On Site, which is an alliance initiative for businesses to be able to show that they support women in male-dominated industries and within the construction industry as well.” She has a number of pool industry businesses on her books, including Reece Group, who are one of her sponsors. Sponsors can use of the Supporter On Site alliance badge to show they publicly support women in trades, and help alleviate the gap with retention. “It’s built around positive site culture and professional standards, giving businesses that voice and visibility, so women know where to go to get that support, so they can flourish and we can retain them in the industry because we are amazing! We do amazing things!” The Pink Tradie Ladie was on the panel at the WAVES breakfast. “This is the first time we’ve been to SPLASH! - it’s been mind-blowing. To be honest, I’m lost for words with it. It’s been absolutely incredible to see what’s here.”
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15 15. There was a lot to look at this year’s SPLASH!, with more exhibitors than ever before. 16. Bryan Goh, chief operating officer at Waterco, was excited by the amount of innovation the company is bringing to market, including their big launch of Opti. “The inventor approached Waterco with this idea of measuring free chlorine reagents, and it’s a missing piece of that jigsaw. We all know that ORP is not reliable and can be influenced by a mix of temperature and water chemistry. So we’ve always wanted to actively pursue something that could measure free chlorine. So we took that on as a project about 12 years ago. The product worked, but we wanted to ensure that it was durable. It also worked in many different scenarios. We had to do a lot of field testing and trials to get to that point. So today we launch a chlorinator that can measure pH, temperature, and chlorine. In commercial pools there are ways to measure free chlorine, but they can be quite expensive probes, and they’re just not affordable for residential. Part of this project was to try to make something that was affordable and viable for residential.” He says Waterco’s R&D focus has been on automation, and they’ve got people working on software with the ultimate goal of remote monitoring. They also launched the Pro Series leaf rake, devised by a pool owner who discovered a better way to do things. Her ideas resulted in the venturi-flow leaf rake with adaptable fine and course replaceable nets. This is part of a longer interview which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH!
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17. Rob Emmett, managing director of Hayward Australia, says there have been considerable changes in the business over the past year. “Over the past 12 months, we’ve had a big shift in the way we go to market. We used to operate as much of the industry does, or the manufacturers within the industry do in Australia, which is selling direct to the trade. So selling direct to builders, direct to retailers, direct to service techs. Now we have focused on selling through distribution. As we all know, there are some fantastic distributors within our industry. You just have to walk around the show here and see how many there are, and the good job that they do in serving their customers.” He also says that people now expect innovation as a given, and this comes from both the trade and the consumer – and using distributors means Hayward can focus on manufacturing rather than direct selling to trade. This is part of a longer interview which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH! 18. Derek Prince, managing director of Daisy Pool Covers, launched their latest ground-breaking innovation, Cover Vision. This product enables a pool builder or dealer to contact Daisy with the street address of the swimming pool, then using aerial photography, Daisy supplies the measurements, outline and shape of the pool, and a quote for the cover – all within a couple of days. “They can buy an oversized rectangle or a custom pre-cut pool cover that goes on the swimming pool,” he says. Not only can they measure the pool from the air, but they can also figure out the water level. It has been five years in the making. “The whole aim of this is not just to help the builders sell more, but also do the job quicker, easier, and with less cost.” It is all done online through the Daisy dealer portal. Prince says SPLASH! is their platform to launch it to the industry, and they’ve had really good responses out of it.
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19. Spa-Craft had a centrally located stand that attracted a lot of attention. The Madimack bike also attracted some interest, on top of their range of spa equipment and products. October/November 2026
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“We’re seeing a lot of consumers using AI to try to determine products and find the best products, which is not always the best solution.” 20. BWT Australia managing director Craig Buchanon (right, with Andrew Kelly) says the company was at SPLASH! to launch multiple products, the main one being the BWT Mineraliser, which is manufactured, designed and engineered in Brisbane. “The R&D has taken us three to four years. So we started this project back in SPLASH! 2022, in the embryonic stages of us discussing it, and then engaged a company in Melbourne to do the design and gave them multiple ideas.” Buchanon says they have diversified their range, with multiple chlorinators, filters, heat pumps, pumps and pool robots. “We’ve got the full equipment pad,” he says, as well as being a serious player in robots – a market that has grown exponentially over the past 12 months. He says SPLASH! has been fantastic. “We were absolutely inundated yesterday morning; we couldn’t move on the stand.” This is part of a longer interview which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH! 21. Visitors to the BWT stand got to experience the thrill of F1 racing.
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22. Candy Gold and Gary Clark from Aqua Quip, who is celebrating its fiftieth year in 2025, and for the past 35 years has been selling pool lighting. Gold says that over that time, there have been many changes in the industry – and in lighting. “Consumers today are looking for simple solutions to lighting. I mean, something where they can get home of an evening and just turn the lights on with one switch and get everything that they are looking for.” The other big thing is that, as the extended family is spending more time at home, more time is also spent in the swimming pool, and so lighting becomes more important. Clark also says lighting installation is becoming easier for builders now, and Aqua Quip lights have quick connect couplings and connections to make installation even easier. “It makes it easier for our lights to go in anyone’s pool,” he says. This is part of a longer interview which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH! 23. Joe and Mark Spelta from Placid Pools were visiting the SPLASH! Expo on their biannual pilgrimage from Cairns. They will have their 50 year anniversary coming up in two years’ time. They describe North Queensland as one of the toughest environments for a concrete pool builder, especially due to the rain. “Even today in Cairns, they had to stop work because it was too wet – which is rare for August, but it’s just what we’ve got to deal with,” says Mark. They’ve noticed the weather’s been dragging on longer and into the months that used not experience much rain. “But other than that, we’ve had a pretty good run of building, and we’re doing a lot of high-end stuff at the moment. And putting in a lot of fibreglass spas out of our pool shop, and saunas as well.” 24. The XTool engraver on the Reece stand had people of all ages transfixed.
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25 25. There were a number of tiling companies at SPLASH!, including Europe Imports which had an impressive array from the Ezarri range.
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26. Austin Fripp from Europebbletec has been looking after things in Europe and the Middle East, but travelled back to Australia for SPLASH!. He says the Middle East market has slowed down a little bit due to the shipping issues. “We just do pebble, And it 99 per cent commercial: water parks and lazy rivers, wave pools, outside ordinary pools – but bigger ones. We’ve done some in Saudi, and we’ve got a big one coming up Albania. France is a good market too. This show looks good, it’s the biggest show that I’ve seen here, actually, and the best and brightest.” 27. Josh Clinen, sales and marketing manager, says Pool Systems is looking to grow. “PoolCorp purchased Pool Systems about 15 years ago,” he says. “The initial acquisition was just the Queensland branch, then made other acquisitions along the way: New Line Pool Products, Adelaide Pool Power Equipment. Then we had a couple of Greenfield sites on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne. We’re at six branches now, and the involvement of PoolCorp, especially over the past couple of years, has been significant in what we do here.” Pool Systems has 12,000 SKUs (8000 active), with about 4000 to 5000 stocked lines at any given time. They focus mainly on maintenance equipment, which includes the Aussie Gold brand which has been in the market for 40 years. “We’re looking at significant growth opportunities over the next couple of years. We have some pretty hefty targets put on us by our parent company, PoolCorp, and we have close alignment with our European business, SCP, which is also in the US. We are heading towards a massive couple of years.” Clinen says their stand saw plenty of visitors. “It was it was a very active show, and missing it two years ago meant that we had to do something special this time around and have a proper presence at the show this year. We had a number of customers come from all over the country, and people that had actually never heard of us, which is always interesting. I’m incredibly happy that I was able to be here and have a stand this time around.” One new product that attracted attention was the Vektro Orkka, a service tech specific product specifically designed for the guys on the road. “We haven’t made it available for retail sale. There is no RRP. It is for the professional. I believe that professionals need the equipment to show their value to customers. There’s nothing worse than a service tech turning up with the exact same product that the customers use. We want them to have specialised products. We want them to look like they are the experts in what they do, and this product allows them to do that.” 28. As well as promoting the WaterLink Spin, Hiren Maiwala from LaMotte Pacific was talking to visitors about the LaMotte Academy. “The academy is designed for all pool professionals, especially pool store owners and pool technicians. This course was developed to standardise training sessions for expert advice so that they can educate homeowners. It involves chemistry, how sanitation happens and what test factors affect the efficacy rate of the chlorine. There is a psychology unit built into this course to help the technician be confident and build rapport with the customers. When the customer walks into the store, they are expecting something out of you. Pool store owners are like doctors, and the customers rely on them to give perfect and confident advice. This course is designed to make the technician confident, recommending products and building the long-term relationship with the customers. It costs $199 and we’ve seen a lot of interest because people see the value in it.”
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29. Dan Kwaczynski, managing director at Maytronics, says he views the current disruption in the robotic pool cleaner market positively. “Maytronics has been the leader for over 40 years now, and it’s really exciting having so many competitors come in because it just spurs innovation, and so that innovation gives a lot of consumer benefit ultimately at the end of the day, and feeds the whole industry. It’s a really exciting time, and we don’t mind how big the robot market gets – we just want to be at the forefront of it.” Their latest product, the Dolphin Eon cordless robotic cleaner, was attracting a lot of attention. “The Eon’s the latest cutting-edge product we’ve released to market – and it’s going to be award-winning over its journey. It’s in that cordless space, which is a new space for the industry overall. It’s got some great features that are patented, like backwashing inside the filter, which is a world-first patented technology, as well as extended battery life. Lots of great features that the market is really just loving.” This is part of a longer interview which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH! October/November 2026
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30. Ex-pool builder Harry and Kristina Modric from Vodalogic were at the show talking about their new retrofit auto filler. “It comes in seven colours and sticks on the side of the pool. It measures water every five minutes, and also temperature in the pool, and it’s controlled via an app. Our Bluetooth solenoids are wireless as well, so you can mount it anywhere around the backyard,” says Harry. “You simply plumb it up through the garden tap into the existing plumbing, so you don’t need to run new pipe, and tee it into the return line or the solar return. and because it’s wireless, you don’t need to run wires across your backyard. It gives you a temperature notification as well – so there’s some smarts to it. There’s more coming out next year, this is just our first rollout.” They’d been doing the R&D for about five years, and released it just in time for SPLASH! 31. After two decades as a marketing mainstay of industry behemoths Zodiac and Fluidra, Jonas Ryberg has now ventured out on his own, consulting to the industry on marketing strategy. “To suppliers, retailers, builders – pretty much anyone looking for help. They can be big projects, small projects, I’m pretty flexible.”
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32. The Aussie Undercover team of Steve and Sandra Lothian with Darren Bartlettt (left). 33. Supreme Heating director Colin Mauger believes there is still life in solar rooftop pool heating, but he looks at it from two different perspectives. “There’s a consumer or a retail perspective, where I think it’s still a very viable solution, and then there’s the trade sector through the industry itself. And I think the difference there, and the demise of the popularity of solar pool heating, is a direct result of the convenience that the heat pump provides to the industry itself. So I think if you look at the heat pump, it’s such a good, healthy story for the industry. PV gives us the ability to promote the use of a swimming pool every day. And my view’s always been, if we can get the pool owner using the pool four times more, for example, than what they were, then isn’t that a wonderful endorsement for having a pool and living the dream – and it’s so good for the industry itself.” Supreme Heating’s business is now 80 per cent heat pumps, and 20 per cent solar pool heating, with just one solar product, reinvented for the convenience of the installers. 34. AIS Water CEO Elena Gosse launched her latest book at SPLASH! – Unspoken Truths of Pool Water Disinfection. “It’s guidance to decision makers of what questions they need to ask when it comes to pool water disinfection, because when most people look at the swimming pool, they see relaxation, sunshine, and unhurried afternoons. When I look at the swimming pool, I see something very different. I see biology at work. Too many conversations in the industry are about price – it’s like we are comparing mobile phone plans – but we are actually talking about people’s health. What we really need to talk about is the chemistry of the water, the longevity of the technology, the long-term benefits. Because let’s face it, a lot of technology that is in the market wouldn’t survive the warranty period. But they sell on price – it’s about the low quality, cheap imports – it’s about overpromises and under deliveries. We want to boost the integrity of the industry. It’s mostly about the commercial market – product specifiers, engineers, pool operators, decision makers like the owners, councils, governments. We are all educated people, and no one needs to be sold to, we need to be equipped with the knowledge. And when you have good knowledge, you make better decisions.” Contact AIS water on 61 (07) 3396 5222 for a free copy of the book.
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35. Michael Griffin of Pool Ranger with his sister Clare, launching their catalogue which also celebrates the history of the 35-year-old company. “It started way back in 1991,” says Michael. “My old man, John Griffin, started Baracuda in Australia in 1977. When I was a kid, I was putting Baracudas together by the thousand, and my sister was too. And then 1991, he sold all that, and Pool Ranger began. And we started off in a very small space in Brookvale. We ended up having four warehouses in the one street at one stage. And then in 2009, we made the big move a 5000-square-metre warehouse in Warriewood. We expanded into Perth around 2016, and we’ve got a good group of people there. We’ve got 28 staff in Sydney and nine in Perth.” The catalogue has 8000 items in the range, which Griffin proudly states is the biggest catalogue in the market. “We’ve got great suppliers like Naked chlorinators and Pentair, and we have our own chemical range. We supply about 2000 customers in New South Wales and about 400 in Perth. My sister’s second in charge of the company. She does a lot of the marketing, and I pretty much run the show. We have five salesmen on the road in New South Wales and three in Perth. Business has been good. We’ve got a great team. I love being a Ranger.”
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36. Poolwerx were seeking new partners or existing retailers interested in joining the franchise network. And were handing out cute rubber duckies as well. 37. Country manager for Aiper, David Sholl (centre), says their stand had high foot traffic. “It was driven by the live water tank demonstrations showcasing our new Scuba V3, the world’s first cognitive AI powered essential robotic pool cleaner. We were able to show off our obstacle evasion, debris-seeking and auto-parking capabilities. We had a great mix of pool builders, store owners, pool technicians and general instructor people come visit us, and it was great to make new connections and catch up with existing partners.” Aiper also held a launch event at the Cali Beach Club in downtown Surfers Paradise as part of SPLASH!. There is more on that in the news section of this edition. 38. Sean Ralph of Pool Pro hosted a lively stand, and many thirsty visitors stopped by for a beer. “It’s fantastic – we’ve been doing SPLASH! every year it’s available. We’ve got a lot of products, and we’ve had our drinks on, which is always a sensation. We’ve got more and more products coming out, so the stand needs to get bigger and bigger. We’re a distributor for Splash Me, the pool automation unit. We’ve got pumps, chlorinators, lights that all talk through the system, and an automatic backwash valve also that talks through the system. We’ve got an eco-chlorinator coming out, and with the price of chlorinators these days, it’s a more affordable price point chlorinator. And we’ve got robots and a heater range. We purchased Klorman Industries a year-and-a-half ago, so we’ve got a full New South Wales presence now – we’re right through the East Coast. We’ve got distribution centres in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and an agent in South Australia and Perth, and we do Darwin from Queensland.”
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39. Attentive techs from Jims Pool Care on the Fluidra stand. 40. Greg Cox from Spa Electrics says the show was fantastic, especially on the first day. He says he’s noticed changes in the way consumers have approached pool lighting over the past 50 years the company has been going. “Consumers are spending a lot of money on swimming pools, so ultimately, they want to light it up. We want to make it a feature, as opposed to just a hole in the ground full of water, looking cold, looking miserable. That’s where our pool lights come into play. Where we light it up and give it a really good sense of feel, an ambience at nighttime when you have your friends over for barbecues and entertainment.” They have found blue and white lights are popular, as well as multicoloured, where there are seven different colours, and four different light shows. “And with the with kids, come Halloween time, you know they want the red in the pool. The expectation now is that they want multiple choices in lighting.”
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“Isn’t that a wonderful endorsement for having a pool and living the dream – and it’s so good for the industry itself.”
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41. Jimmy Lamb works for Dryden Aqua, the manufacturer of glass filter media AFM. Dryden Aqua is based in Edinburgh, with another factory in Switzerland, and Lamb came to Australia to support BioGuard who has exclusivity over the products in Australia and New Zealand. Lamb is a 27-year veteran of the pool industry with an engineering background. His list of roles is impressive: immediate past president of the Institute for Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE), the swimming pool allied and trade association (SPATA) technical standards committee in the UK, the current vice president of the British Swimming Pool Federation (BSPF), which includes SPATA, the Hot Tub and Spa Association (BISHTA), Cool Promotions, PIP and the UK show SPATEX. We asked him his impression of the Australian industry and of SPLASH! “I attended a couple of the masterclasses this morning. One on chemistry, and one on hydraulics and automation. I quite enjoyed the formats. It was like an open forum with a number of well-qualified speakers, rather than death by PowerPoint, which is how we do it back in the UK. So some interesting ideas to take away.” He says the biggest issues in UK aquatics are similar to here. “I think very similar to here, from what I heard this morning – and that’s a lack of training, really a bit of a lack of professionalism, and a lack of understanding, particularly on pool hydraulics.” This is part of a longer interview which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH!
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42. Seline Yuang from Beatbot says the trade show was really good “We met a lot of professionals and had the chance to talk with many clients directly. A lot of people came through our booth and were very interested in our brand. We are new to Australia, although we were here two years ago with a smaller booth.” Their new cleaners Sora P7, P3 and P1 were being launched in Australia at SPLASH!, after having been launched earlier in the US and Europe. 43. Rob Sterland on the Pentair stand. Sterland won the Australasian Professional of the Year at the Awards Gala. The full list of award winners can be found on page 56. 44. Grahame Bateman (right) and Brad Weir from Neptune Benson Australia (Xylem), with Heather Gath, SPASA’s event and exhibition manager. Bateman says public expectations have changed regarding public aquatic facilities, and that attitude has flowed onto business, government and regulations. “The public expect that if their children are going to an aquatic centre, they don’t come home with an ear infection or an eye infection. Once upon a time, if little Johnny came home with one, they might take him to the doctors. These days, if he comes home with one, they’re looking to blame someone and to put the onus back onto the operator, the council, or whomever. The health of the water has become more in focus. Regulation and guidelines have also improved, and they’ve improved through improved knowledge and greater exposure. And when you have conferences like this with shows attached, and spas being one of the key drivers, you’re getting an interplay of information from people from all over the regional areas, metropolitan areas, coming in, giving their experiences, and that then allows SPASA, as one of the industry leaders, to influence government regulation.” This is part of a longer interview which will be published in a future edition of SPLASH! 45. Aquea launched their new skimmer range which comes with a Swingloc basket, suitable for fibreglass and concrete pools. 52 SPLASH!
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46. The Jewels 4 Pools team of Kathleen Garner, Kathy Rhodes, Temujin McAlister and Crystal Yu, who says that the residential market has been a bit of challenge of late, but large commercial jobs have been coming in, both here and overseas. They recently did a big donutshaped pool renovation in the Desert Palm resort in Alice Springs. She hopes there is more proper training for pebblecreting, to bring some more workers into the trade. 47. Ethan Dawson and Sean Ferris from JJ’s Pools & Spas, Bundaberg. “It was really good. It was really interesting to see all the things on offer. One thing I saw which was really cool was the self-reliant robot cleaner, the only thing you had to do was change the cartridge. It cleans the pool, then goes back to the docking station. In Bundaberg we have a lot of retirement living, and I’m not sure how able they would be to pull it out of the water. So if the robot can do it itself, that’s easy. Our only concern was the company was not based in Australia, and they didn’t have anywhere in Australia to service them.”
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48. Peter Goodman (centre) with Debbie Vernon from Peregian Breeze Pool Shop on the Sunshine Coast, and Korey Forster of Swimart Lawnton in Brisbane. Goodman: “The show was awesome, and we met a lot of friends we haven’t seen for 30 years, and made some new connections too. We were looking for new products we could implement in the shop.” Forster: “There was a lot of new stuff to look at that we could see coming up. The Aiper AI robot that can sense the dirt in the water was interesting – but there were also some basic robots that can do the job for a cheaper price. It was worthwhile coming; I’ll do it again.” 49. David Watson has been doing pool consulting in Western Australia for 30 years, and was on a panel at one of the expo seminars on hydraulics. He also pens articles on interesting questions that irk him and which he feels he must resolve, such as pH and water balance issues amongst other things. More of his articles are slated to appear in future issues of SPLASH!
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50. Shane Sneddon of Pukka Pools in Auckland. “It was worth coming over. It was a really, really good trade show. We came two years ago, which was a great experience, and I was quite overwhelmed by the size of it this year. Wow. You can see it’s growing. And quite a lot of people were here this morning. All the stands were looking clean and bright. Everyone’s happy, and got a big smile of their face. And it’s great to see so much innovation. I was interested in looking at Maytronics new Eon robot, and at the Fluidra stand, some people really pushed the boat out on some good designs – eyecatching. Business is pretty good in Auckland. After the covid rush everyone thought, oh I can look after my own pool. But now they realise they haven’t got the time. And there’s 30,000 more pools to look after. So it’s pretty good.” 51. Mark Witham from Perth Spa Service found a lot of things that suited his side of the industry this year. “There was a lot of new stuff. I was looking for smaller heat pumps to service the spa side of the market instead of the bigger ones, and I found some people from China who were bringing in the smaller heat pumps. And had a good chat with Spa-Craft.” n 49
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IRLearning becomes
SPASA Training S PASA’s industry training division, the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which since 2009 has been known as the Institute of Research and Learning (IRLearning), has reverted to full SPASA branding and is now operating as SPASA Training. Executive manager Rachael Bambry says the return to the SPASA brand creates a clearer connection between the industry’s peak association and the education and professional development they provide to the industry. “As the swimming pool and spa industry changes, the way we develop the workforce must also change with it,” she says. “Across Australia, businesses are looking for skilled people, experienced workers are seeking recognition for what they already know, and employers increasingly want training that is practical, flexible and directly relevant to their operations.” Bambry says SPASA Training is firmly focussed on meeting those needs. The change comes at a time of considerable growth and activity in training body, with new professional development programs, industry partnerships and qualification reviews underway, along with expanding the brand’s footprint in Australia and New Zealand. Earlier this year, the RTO now known as SPASA Training achieved renewal of registration for a further seven years, providing a strong foundation to continue building its accredited training offering. “As an RTO, SPASA Training delivers nationally recognised qualifications across swimming pool and spa service, pool and spa building, landscape construction, retail, leadership and management. Our range of specialist and professional development programs is also constantly growing,” says Brambry.
allows training to better reflect the people they serve across the pool and spa industry. “This approach is also extending to businesses, with SPASA Training increasingly working directly with employers to develop training solutions for their teams. These can include group enrolments, RPL programs, targeted skills development and programs tailored around particular business needs.” While formal qualifications are essential to building the professionalism of the pool and spa industry, they are only one part of workforce development. Shorter professional development opportunities give people the chance to build knowledge in specific areas without necessarily enrolling in a full qualification. This year has seen continued delivery across areas including water chemistry, hydraulics, aquatic technical operations, pool safety inspection training and other specialist industry topics.
Above: The new SPASA Training logo
“The goal is to create learning pathways throughout a person’s career.”
Professional development beyond qualifications
However, Bambry says the focus is not simply on delivering qualifications. “Different people enter training with very different levels of experience,” she says. “Someone new to the industry may need structured learning and assessment, while an experienced technician or business owner may already hold substantial skills that can be recognised through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).” She says that providing different pathways 54 SPLASH!
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Serenity Pool’s Patrick Lemcke and Marcus Deane when they became the first trainees in Australia to start on the pathway to a CPC40820 Certificate IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Building earlier this year. SPASA Training’s Anita Zaplin is seen with Serenity Pool’s Luke Dehey, next to Deane and Lemcke
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SPASA Training’s Anita Zaplin conducting a training session at SPLASH! 2026
One of the newest additions is the Four Pillars of Pool Care, a four-part series designed to strengthen knowledge across some of the fundamental areas of pool care. Online learning is also continuing to expand, including specialist content in areas such as spa diagnostics, creating additional opportunities for people to build skills at a time and pace that suits their work. “Over time, the goal is to create learning pathways throughout a person’s career, whether they are entering the industry, developing technical capability, moving into leadership or looking to deepen their knowledge in a specialist area.”
Extending the reach into New Zealand
Another major development in 2026 has been the expansion of training into New Zealand. SPASA Training has received approval to deliver the Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service online to students based in New Zealand, opening an Australian industry qualification pathway to a new group of learners. SPASA is also working with Vertical Horizonz in New Zealand as part of its broader partnership focused on new qualifications in New Zealand that will build its industry reach. While the Australian qualification operates separately from the New Zealand qualifications framework, the expansion creates an opportunity to share technical knowledge, strengthen industry capability and build closer connections between the Australian and New Zealand sectors.
Helping shape the qualifications of tomorrow
Bambry says that an equally important part of SPASA Training’s work happens away from the classroom. “Industry qualifications need to keep pace with changing technology, products, work practices, regulation and employer expectations. The Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service and other relevant qualifications are currently being reviewed through BuildSkills Australia, with SPASA represented directly in the technical committee process. “Having industry at the table during these reviews is critical. Qualifications should
“Having industry at the table during these reviews is critical.” accurately reflect the work being performed in the field and provide meaningful outcomes for both students and employers.” SPASA also continues to advocate for greater recognition and government funding for the industry-specific qualifications that now exist. In some jurisdictions, swimming pool and spa businesses continue to face situations where broader or less industry-specific qualifications attract government funding while specialist pool and spa qualifications do not. Addressing those inconsistencies remains an important part of SPASA’s advocacy to promote a skilled and sustainable workforce.
What comes next
Bambry says the next phase for SPASA Training will be about continuing to broaden access to training while strengthening the connection between education, employers and industry. “That includes expanding professional development, creating further online learning, working with more businesses on workforce solutions, strengthening training opportunities in New Zealand and continuing to represent industry during qualification reform,” she says. It also means making training easier to navigate. “Whether someone is looking to enter the industry, gain a qualification, formalise years of experience, develop a team or simply improve their knowledge in a particular area, there should be a clear pathway available to them.” In 2025, hundreds of people participated in training and professional development through SPASA Training under its previous name, in nationally recognised qualifications, workshops, e-learning and other industry-focused programs. “Those numbers tell part of the story, but the broader measure is the impact those skills have when they return to the workplace,” she says. “For SPASA, investing in training is ultimately an investment in the capability, professionalism and future of the swimming pool and spa industry.” n October/November 2026
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2026 SPASA Australasian Awards of Excellence Once again the best projects, products, services and people from around Australia and New Zealand have been recognised at the SPASA Awards of Excellence.
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undreds of people from both sides of the Tasman celebrated at a spectacular event on the Gold Coast to recognise the best of the industry’s best. Held as part of SPLASH!, nearly 500 people gathered to applaud the efforts and accomplishments of dedicated builders, retailers, technicians, suppliers and many others from around Australasia who have made the industry proud. In a resounding vote of confidence in the industry, this was the biggest gala ever held, with the largest number of guests and the largest number of entries. It was a fun and creative evening, with noisemakers on the table to ramp up the energy levels, acrobatic dancing and mesmerising singing to entertain the diners, and photo booths for guests to remember the night. The swimming pool and spa projects on display demonstrated the skill and enthusiasm of the entrants, providing an excellent showcase of the industry. Below is a full list of the winners and finalists.
Major awards
Business of the Year: Aloha Pools Finalists: Leader Pools, Tectonic Pools, Fluidra Group Australia,
Acacia Landscapes & Pool Construction, Rogers Pools, Rainwise Pools Adelaide, Aqua Technics Pools Concrete Pool of the Year: Acacia Landscapes & Pool Construction Finalists: Leader Pools, Transform Pools and Spas, Rod Hardy Plunge Pools, Rogers Pools, Elite Pools and Landscapes, King’s Gardens & Pools Fibreglass Pool of the Year: Endless Pools & Spas Finalists: Capital Fibreglass Pools, Hi Tech Pools, Pooltech NT, Mayfair Pools & Spas, Gen2 Pools, Rainwise Pools Adelaide, Barrier Reef Pools Perth Commercial Project of the Year: Hydrilla Finalists: Endeavour Pools and Spas, Mayfair Pools & Spas, Pools By Design, Hydrilla, Aloha Pools Best Pool Store: Everclear Pools SA Finalists: Swimming Pool Kits Direct, Calipso Pools & Spas, Poolwerx Christchurch, Poolwerx Mt Gravatt, Rainwise Pools Melbourne, The Pool Shop Group Spa of the Year: Graziani Pools Finalists: Leader Pools, Transform Pools and Spas, Spa World, Queensland Family Pools & Spas, SA Pool Building, Aloha Pools Product of the Year: Pool Design Pack, Pool Safety Network Finalists: Opal Ultra Cartridge Filter, Waterco; Bulkhead 56 SPLASH!
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Third generation family business Aloha Pools won the 2026 Business of Year
Jaden Tauren, CEO of Aloha Pools accepting the award
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Concrete Pool of the Year: Acacia Landscapes & Pool Construction
Winterisation, Fluidra Commercial; Connect Live and Connect Display, uDrew; Luxury Vortex Elementa, Spa World; Evo Force-Ai, EvoHeat; Professional of the Year: Rob Sterland, Pentair Pool Finalists: Zac Dejanovic, Tectonic Pools; Jo Staines, Calipso Pools & Spas; Michelle Bennett, Poolwerx Christchurch; Matt Casey, Pool Controls; Narelle Bartolone, Mega Spa Australia Enhancement of the Year: Aquarius Pools Finalists: Glazed Co, Auckland Inground Pools, Flotech Pools, SA Pool Building, JC Contemporary Fencing Freeform Pool of the Year: Transform Pools and Spas Finalists: Rod Hardy Plunge Pools, Flotech Pools, Award Pools & Spas, Panas Pool Services Prefabricated Pool of the Year: Leisurescape Pools & Spas Finalists: Capital Fibreglass Pools, Local Pools & Spas, Ultimate Pools, Queensland Plunge Pools, Plunge by Elite, West Coast Plunge Pools Renovation Project of the Year: King’s Gardens & Pools Finalists: Leader Pools, GDM Pools, Humphreys Landscaping, Living Style Co, Adelaide Classic Pools, Barrier Reef Group WA Small Pool of the Year: Noble Pools Finalists: Leader Pools, Dynamic Pool Designs, Pooltech NT, Blue Ocean Pools, Rainwise Pools Adelaide, TLC Pools, P & B Pools Specialty Project of the Year: King’s Gardens & Pools Finalists: Transform Pools and Spas, Mayfair Pools & Spas, Flotech Pools, Hydrilla, Add A Splash Pools Vinyl-Lined Pool of the Year: Add A Splash Pools Finalists: Classic Pools, Albatross Pools, Vinyl Lined Pools Service
Business
Best Concrete Pool Builder: Aloha Pools Finalists: Tectonic Pools, Graziani Pools, Rogers Pools, Elite
SPASA CEO Kristin Brookfield with Clinton Alley, managing director of platinum sponsor, Fluidra ANZ, and Anthony Grice, chairman of the SPASA board One of the amazing pool projects that helped Aloha Pools win the big business award
Pools and Landscapes, Leader Pools, Acacia Landscapes & Pool Construction Best Fibreglass Pool Builder: Aqua Technics Pools Finalists: MFP Easy, Mayfair Pools & Spas, Capital Fibreglass Pools, Pooltech NT, Rainwise Pools Adelaide, Summertime Pools, Aquify Pools Best Mobile Service Business: Poolwerx Wavell Heights Finalists: Plus Pool Maintenance, Total Pool Service, Poolside Christchurch, Calipso Pools & Spas. Jim’s Pool Care Glenelg
Commercial Project of the Year: Hydrilla
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Enhancement of the Year: Aquarius Pools
Fibreglass Pool of the Year: Endless Pools & Spas
Best Prefabricated Pool Builder: Instant Pools Finalists: Ultimate Pools, West Coast Plunge Pools,
Education & Training Excellence Award: Barrier Reef Pools Perth Finalists: The Fibreglass Pool Company South West Brisbane;
Best Professional Service Business: uDrew Finalists: ACT Certification, Newport Consulting Engineers,
Marketing Campaign Award: Waterco Finalists: Compass Pools Manufacturing Australia, Hot Spring,
Plunge Pools Direct
FMG Engineering, Pool Site Quote (PSQ) Best Spa Retailer: Halo Spas Adelaide Finalists: Spa World Marsden Park, Spa World Tauranga, Spa World, Spa World Braybrook, Mega Spa Australia, Spa World Tasmania, Alpine Spas Best Supplier: Pentair Pool Finalists: Fluidra New Zealand, Glazed Co, Compass Pools Manufacturing Australia, Fluidra Group Australia, Europe Imports Best Vinyl-Lined Pool Builder: Add A Splash Pools Finalists: Poolsabove, Vinyl Lined Pools Service, Pleasure Pools Community Project: Hydrilla Finalists: Image Air Conditioning Display Pool/Centre: Aqua Technics Pools Finalists: Queensland Family Pools & Spas, Dynamic Pool Designs
Best Pool Store: Everclear Pools SA The entertainment was spectacular on the night
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Aquachem
Naked Freshwater Pool Systems, Barrier Reef Group WA, ACT Pools Multi-Location Pool Store: The Pool Shop Group Finalists: Poolwerx Mt Gravatt, Summertime Pools, Sapphire Pool & Spa, Friendly Pool and Spa Care NT New Pool Store: Poolwerx Ellenbrook Finalists: Poolwerx Seven Hills, Summertime Pools Mornington, Poolwerx Christchurch Online Pool Store: Swimming Pool Kits Direct Finalists: Everclear Pools SA, The Spa Shop Single Location Pool Store: Everclear Pools SA Finalists: Rainwise Pools Melbourne, Poolwerx Wavell Heights, Calipso Pools & Spas, Poolwerx Wagga Wagga, Poolwerx Christchurch
Person
Construction Tradesperson Award: Zac Dejanovic, Tectonic Pools Finalists: Dave Conlan, Rogers Pools; Peter Clarke, Summertime
Pools Adelaide; Fabricio Bouvier, Ultimate Pools; Steve Baines, Barrier Reef Group WA; Brendan Garratt, Summer Central Pools; Tom Hickey, ACT Pools In-Field Service Technician Award: Damien Cahill, Pool Controls Finalists: Dan Emery, Swimart Jindalee; Aaron Matthews, Pristine Pools Canberra; Lachlan Nash, My Pool Shop Melbourne; Aaron Poole, The Pool Shop Group; Alastair Wood, Poolside Christchurch; Karl Piteo, Advanced Pools; Martin Bubb, Friendly Pool and Spa Care NT Operational Excellence Award: Rob Sterland, Pentair Pool Finalists: Matt Westcar, Aquify Pools; Jo Staines, Calipso Pools & Spas; Michelle Bennett, Poolwerx Christchurch; Matt Casey, Pool Controls; Darren Godden, Aquatic Leisure Technologies Pool & Spa Barrier Inspector Award: Chris Thynne, Pool Safety Barrier Inspections Finalists: Neil Sharp, Brisbane Pool Safety; Granville Harris, Certified Pool; Rainbow Devlin, Ultimate Pools; David Eadie, Canberra Pool Inspections Pool Designer Award: Terry Nicholls, Queensland Family Pools & Spas Finalists: Tristan Peirce, tristanpeirce Landscape Architecture; Jodie Ranieri, Winrani Pools; Janaka Ambaruppa, Innovezza Pool Sales Representative Award: Terry Nicholls, Queensland Family Pools & Spas Finalists: Darren Hawkins, Rainwise Pools Adelaide; Teura Taylor, Aqua Technics Pools; Steve Westlake, Ultimate Pools; Abby Derbasi, Sydney Poolscapes; Tom Jones, ACT Pools Retail Service Technician Award: Ben Johns, Swimart Jindalee Finalists: Perrin Hoyle, My Pool Shop Melbourne; Lee Houghton, Poolside Christchurch; Marc Piteo, Advanced Pools; Nayelle Kelso, Friendly Pool and Spa Care NT; Jaz Hill, Swimart Frenchs Forest and Lindfield
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Rising Star Award: Vania Okumura, Aquify Pools Finalists: Max Gleeson, Rainwise Pools; Leah
Kuba, Ultimate Pools; Jordan Smith, Total Pool Service; Rod Wortmann, The Fibreglass Pool Company South West Brisbane; Dante Maur, Pleasure Pools; Kerry Stone, Barrier Reef Group WA; Jacob Lawler-Bromley, Friendly Pool and Spa Care NT Spa Sales Representative Award: Narelle Bartolone, Mega Spa Australia Finalists: Derrilee Noah, Summertime Pools Adelaide; Verla Dawick, Hot Spring; Elaine Kalache, Spa World Australia; Harry Whyte, Spa World Australia; Theo Katzourakis, Spa World Australia SPASA Training Excellence Award: Jacob, SPASA Certificate IV in Swimming Pool and Spa Building, Compass Pools Manufacturing Australia Finalist: Advanced Water Chemistry Training Program, Aquachem Supplier Salesperson Award: Ketan Jaiswal, Pool Controls Finalists: Nicole Stone, Fluidra; Daniel Chamoun, Glazed Co; Adam Gallagher, Compass Pools Manufacturing Australia
Small Pool of the Year: Noble Pools
Renovation Project of the Year: King’s Gardens & Pools
Product
Innovative Product Award: uDrew Connect Live Finalists: Bulkhead Winterisation, Fluidra
Commercial; Daylesford Raised Spa Designer Pool, Summertime Pools; Opal Ultra Cartridge Filter, Waterco Limited New Product Award: Pool Design Pack, Pool Safety Network Finalists: Freshwater IQ Precision Dosing System, Hot Spring; AstralPool Pinnacle Inverter Heat Pump, Fluidra Group Australia; Dolphin Liberty 600, Maytronics; Luxury Vortex Elementa Outdoor Sauna, Spa World; uDrew Connect Display; Pul Klean, Pul Products Portable Spa: Fisher Orbit Spa, Spa World Finalists: Vortex Aqualounge, Spa World; Outdoor Sanctuary, Swimco Aquatics; Malcolm Retreat, West Coast Plunge Pools; Matterhorn
Professional of the Year: Rob Sterland, Pentair Pool
In-Field Service Technician Award: Damien Cahill, Pool Controls
Construction Tradesperson Award: Zac Dejanovic, Tectonic Pools October/November 2026
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Product of the Year: Pool Design Pack, Pool Safety Network Best Fibreglass Pool Builder: Aqua Technics Pools
Pool & Spa Barrier Inspector Award: Chris Thynne, Pool Safety Barrier Inspections Spa of the Year: Graziani Pools
Spa Pool, Alpine Spas; Vortex Titanium Hydroplus, Spa World Tasmania; Halo Haven, Halo Spas Adelaide Sustainable Product Award: Evo Force-Ai, EvoHeat Finalists: EnviroTuff, Freedom Pools & Spas; Opal Ultra Cartridge Filter, Waterco Limited Swim Spa: Southern Oasis, Mega Spa Australia Finalists: Paris Dual Swim Spa & Landscaping, Leisurescape Pools & Spas; Columbus Swim Spa, Alpine Spas; Jackey Drive, Endeavour Pools and Spas; Vortex Hydrozone Pro Plus 1.3m, Spa World Tasmania
Project
Commercial Aquatic System: Commercial
Aquatics Australia Finalists: ProPool Heating, Commercial Pool Systems
Commercial Pool or Spa (Aquatic) over $1,000,000: Hydrilla Finalists: Aloha Pools, Hydrilla Commercial Pool or Spa (Aquatic) up to $1,000,000: Aloha Pools Finalists: Pools By Design, Mayfair Pools & Spas,
Villa Plunge Pools, Endeavour Pools and Spas 60 SPLASH!
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There was plenty of champagne on hand for toasting
Prefabricated Pool of the Year: Leisurescape Pools & Spas
Commercial Renovation: Endeavour Pools and Spas Finalists: Mayfair Pools & Spas, Imperial Pools, Just Swimming
Pool Renovations, Blue Marlin Pools East Concrete Lap Pool: Acacia Landscapes & Pool Construction Finalists: Tectonic Pools, Graziani Pools, Leader Pools, SA Pool Building, Award Pools & Spas, Norfolk Pools, Tassie Pools & Spas Concrete Pool & Spa Combination: Rogers Pools Finalists: Elite Pools and Landscapes, King’s Gardens & Pools, Rod Hardy Plunge Pools, Leader Pools, Alfresco Pools, Transform Pools and Spas, Perth Concrete Pools Concrete Pool over $240,000: Rogers Pools Finalists: Boardwalk Pools, Elite Pools and Landscapes, Leader Pools, King’s Gardens & Pools, Zen Building Pools Landscapes, Acacia Landscapes & Pool Construction, Tassie Pools & Spas Concrete Pool up to $160,000: Blue Ocean Pools Finalists: Esjay Landscapes + Pools, Leader Pools, Baja Pools, Rogers Pools, SA Pool Building, Principal Pools + Landscapes Concrete Pool up to $240,000: Alfresco Pools Finalists: Elite Pools and Landscapes, Norfolk Pools, Leader Pools, Pinnacle Pools, Rod Hardy Plunge Pools, Graziani Pools, Neptune Swimming Pools Concrete Pool up to $80,000: Blue Ocean Pools Finalists: Queensland Family Pools & Spas, SA Pool Building, Nemcon Pools, Winrani Pools, Principal Pools + Landscapes Courtyard/Small Pool over $80,000: Ultimate Pools Finalists: Leader Pools, Noble Pools, Striking Pools, Winrani Pools, P&B Pools, Adelaide Classic Pools Courtyard/Small Pool up to $80,000: Blue Ocean Pools Finalists: Dynamic Pool Designs, Pristine Pools Canberra, Rainwise Pools Adelaide, Rogers Pools, Tanzanite Pools, Pooltech NT, Principal Pools + Landscapes Enclosed/Indoor Pool: Mayfair Pools & Spas Finalists: Winrani Pools, Noble Pools, Leader Pools, TLC Pools, Factory Pools Perth Fibreglass Lap Pool: Mayfair Pools & Spas
Innovative Project Award: King’s Gardens & Pools
Freeform Pool of the Year: Transform Pools and Spas
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Rising Star Award: Vania Okumura, Aquify Pools
Vinyl-Lined Pool of the Year: Add A Splash Pools
Finalists: Countrywide Pools, Everclear Pools SA, Compass Pools
Newcastle, BG’s Pools & Spas
Fibreglass Pool & Spa Combination: Endless Pools & Spas Finalists: Capital Fibreglass Pools, Rainwise Pools Adelaide, Hi
Tech Pools, Factory Pools Perth, Mayfair Pools & Spas Fibreglass Pool over $120,000: Gen2 Pools Finalists: Capital Fibreglass Pools, Mayfair Pools & Spas, Compass Pools Melbourne, Awesome Pools & Spas, Barrier Reef Pools Perth Fibreglass Pool up to $120,000: Rainwise Pools Adelaide Finalists: Barrier Reef Pools Perth, BG’s Pools & Spas, ACT Pools, Ultimate Pools, Pooltech NT, Local Pools & Spas, Century Pools Fibreglass Pool up to $60,000: Everclear Pools SA Finalists: Barrier Reef Pools Perth, Pooltech NT, Poseidon Pools CQ, Ultimate Pools, Aquify Pools, ACT Pools, Pelagic Pools Freeform Pool over $120,000: Transform Pools and Spas Finalists: Award Pools & Spas, Flotech Pools Freeform Pool up to $120,000: Noble Pools Finalists: Mullum Pools, Albatross Pools, Rod Hardy Plunge Pools, Panas Pool Services Hotel/Resort Pool up to $1,000,000: Villa Plunge Pools In-ground Spa: Graziani Pools Finalists: Aloha Pools, Queensland Family Pools & Spas, Leader Pools, Mayfair Pools & Spas, Transform Pools and Spas, SA Pool Building Innovative Project Award: King’s Gardens & Pools Finalists: Transform Pools and Spas, Mayfair Pools & Spas, Add A Splash Pools, Flotech Pools, SA Pool Building Master Pool Builders (MPB) Project of the Year: Neptune Swimming Pools Finalists: Aloha Pools, Boardwalk Pools, Transform Pools and spas Pool Landscape Design: Neptune Swimming Pools Finalists: Blue Ocean Pools, Transform Pools and Spas, Living Style Co, Principal Pools + Landscapes, SA Pool Building Prefabricated Pool over $60,000: Leisurescape Pools & Spas 62 SPLASH!
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Pool Designer Award: Terry Nicholls, Queensland Family Pools & Spas
Finalists: Capital Fibreglass Pools, Ultimate Pools, Local Pools
& Spas, Plunge by Elite, West Coast Plunge Pools, Queensland Plunge Pools Prefabricated Pool up to $60,000: Leisurescape Pools & Spas Finalists: Queensland Plunge Pools, Compass Pools Australia, Ultimate Pools, Plunge by Elite, West Coast Plunge Pools Renovation over $80,000: King’s Gardens & Pools Finalists: Adelaide Classic Pools, Humphreys Landscaping, Living Style Co, Leader Pools, GDM Pools, Barrier Reef Group WA Renovation up to $40,000: Mayfair Pools & Spas Finalists: Just Swimming Pool Renovations, SA Pool Building, Urban Scapes Pool Design, Gold Star Pools, Aurora Pools Renovation up to $80,000: Adelaide Classic Pools Finalists: Queensland Family Pools & Spas, Mayfair Pools & Spas, Your Pool and Spa, Aquarius Pools, Panas Pool Services Residential or Commercial Lighting Feature: Aquarius Pools Finalists: Norfolk Pools, Bluvitalize Pool Resurfacing, Transform Pools and Spas Residential or Commercial Water Feature: Flotech Pools Finalists: Humphreys Landscaping, King’s Gardens & Pools, Adelaide Classic Pools, Transform Pools and Spas, Barrier Reef Pools Perth Safety Barrier: King’s Gardens & Pools Finalists: JC Contemporary Fencing, Auckland Inground Pools, Glazed Co, Rogers Pools Sustainable Project: Pool Heating SA Finalists: ProPool Heating, Countrywide Pools, Peachy Pools, Mayfair Pools & Spas Vinyl Lined In-ground Pool: Add A Splash Pools Finalists: Pleasure Pools, Vinyl Lined Pools Service, Albatross Pools, Aqualon Vinyl Lined Modular Pool: West Coast Plunge Pools Finalists: Albatross Pools, Classic Pools n Please see spasaawaards.com.au for photo credits.
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF SPLASH! 2026 YOU MADE IT ONE TO REMEMBER.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPLASH! 2026 PARTNERS Platinum Partner Gold Partner
Silver Partner
news
Safety
Commercial & Aquatics Waterco extends filtration warranties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 In brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 NAIS second edition held in Adelaide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Reducing OpEx in ageing public pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 The cost of community swimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
RLS releases National Drowning Report 2026 The latest National Drowning Report was published by Royal Life Saving Australia in partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia, showing there were 313 drowning deaths over the past 12 months, which is 10 per cent higher than the 10-year average. Headline data includes: • There were 313 drowning deaths over the past 12 months, a 10 per cent increase on the 10-year average. • The lowest rates of drowning were children 5-14 years, but this rises sharply by ages 1524 years. • 82 per cent of drowning deaths were males. • Drowning rates were above the 10-year average for every age group over 45 years. • The highest drowning rates were in people aged 65-74 age group. • 48 per cent of drownings occurred in coastal locations (151), including 66 drowning deaths (21 per cent) at beaches. • 29 per cent of drownings occurred at inland waterway locations (90), including 68 drowning deaths (22 per cent) at rivers. • 14 per cent of drownings occurred in swimming pools (41); 66 per cent of those deaths were in backyard pools. • Where country of birth was known, 39 per cent of the drowning victims were born overseas. • Inequities persist: drowning rates double for those from the most disadvantaged areas; nearly triple for regional residents; and nearly quadruple for remote residents compared to major cities. • Drowning increased in South Australia (up 29 per cent), Tasmania (up 25 per cent), Queensland (up 19 per cent), New South Wales (up 9 per
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National Drowning Report 2026 cent), and Victoria (up 8 per cent) compared to the 10-year average. Reducing drowning deaths of children 0-4 has been a priority. This year the age group has experienced a drop of drowning deaths to 39 per cent of the 10year average (a drop of 27 per cent from last year’s drowning numbers). The decline has been credited to pool fencing legislation and public education. The majority of drowning deaths (55 per cent) in this category occurred in swimming pools, mostly by unintentionally falling into the water (73 per cent). The highest number of drownings occurred in rivers/creeks (22 per cent), at the beach (21 per cent), in the ocean/harbour (20 per cent) and in swimming pools (14 per cent).
There were 41 drownings in swimming pools across all age groups this year, a 24 per cent increase on the 10-year average of 33 per year. The report identifies three major shifts reshaping drowning risk in Australia: swimming skills are declining across the population; Australia’s population is ageing; and a changing climate is reshaping when and how Australians meet the water. The Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 identifies three national imperatives to reverse these trends: Strengthening swimming and water safety skills for all; Localising water safety efforts; and Aligning policies and partnership for change. Contact: https://tinyurl.com/ Drowning-Report-2026
news
Aquatics
Architects regroup as Carnes Hill facility moves to tender Liverpool City Council has approved a development application and issued an EOI as it prepares to select a contractor for the brand-new Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre, supported by a $53.4 million Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant. The DA was approved on October 1, and the council aims to select a main construction contractor in early 2027. However, the architect, Brewster Hjorth Architects (BHA), has gone into voluntary liquidation. The directors of the firm, Ian Brewster, Andrew Hjorth, Larry Melocco and Rus Manaf, who formed the core senior leadership at BHA, and who have a long and successful history in the design of aquatic centres in Australia (amongst other projects), have now joined Fuse Architects as their civic team.
Render of the approved Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre. Liverpool City Council
Fuse Architects director Rachid Andary says the people, knowledge and commitment to thoughtful public architecture that defined BHA continue through Fuse Architects. “The depth of expertise within the former BHA team is immense, and the team is as motivated as ever to continue delivering outstanding public architecture,” he says. Prior to going into liquidation, BHA completed and issued 60 per cent tender documentation for Liverpool Council on August 31, 2026. Fuse Architects intends to reach out to the tenderers for the Carnes Hill project, with the aim of exploring opportunities to work with them to deliver a facility that meets the community’s expectations for an investment of this significance. Over the years BHA has designed a number of high profile Sydney aquatic centres including
the Willoughby Leisure Centre and Ashfield Aquatic Centre. However, it is the welldocumented construction problems at the newly opened North Sydney Olympic Pool that drew the practice into dispute with North Sydney Council, and ultimately led to the decision to liquidate. When completed, the Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre will deliver a range of facilities, including a 25-metre, eight-lane indoor pool, a dedicated learn-to-swim pool and a children’s splash pad packed with fun waterplay features and a café kiosk, designed with a clear eye on community needs. Council says these new facilities will give residents year-round access to high-quality swimming, fitness and family recreation, supporting healthier lifestyles and a more active and connected Liverpool.
Energy efficiency
New report released on commercial and aquatic heat pump installations
More than 230 major Australian industrial sites and commercial buildings will have switched from gas to large-scale heat pumps by the end of 2027, according to a new report published by the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP), which calculates that the number of major heat pump installations in existing buildings has doubled since 2022, and the pace is poised to accelerate.
“There’s a hidden energy transition happening in Australia – without fanfare but with very real benefits for energy efficiency and security and lowering production costs,” says Jarrod Leak, CEO of A2EP. For many aquatic centres, manufacturers, food processors and commercial buildings, industrial and commercial heat pumps are a major viable near-term opportunity to cut emissions and reduce heating costs. Leak says heat pumps are typically three to five times more efficient than the gas boilers they are replacing, leading early adopters to recognise that energy efficiency is business efficiency. Industrial and commercial heat pumps can offer 40 per cent to 60 per cent energy operating cost reductions over time. “We’ve tracked heat pump installations in every state and territory across a range of industry sectors,” he says. “Our study finds that aquatic centres, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, commercial laundries and universities are leading the race to renewable heat. The next sectors that could benefit from making the switch to heat pumps are brewing and malting, hospitals and aged care.” The report singles out the federal Community Energy Upgrades Fund
Major heat pump retrofit installations in Australia by year (CEUF) as an example of good government policy that is enabling heat pump upgrades at more than 40 community aquatic centres. “The transition to industrial and commercial heat pumps has started, but it can be turbo charged with smart government policy. This is a huge untapped, near-term opportunity to reduce emissions which Australia’s industrial and commercial sectors can’t afford to miss,” says Leak. Download the report here: https://tinyurl.com/Heat-Pump-Report October/November 2026
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Manufacturing
Waterco introduces 10-year warranties for aquatic filtration Waterco has demonstrated strengthened confidence in its commercial aquatic filtration range by replacing its five-year warranty plus five years pro rata with a full 10-year tank warranty. The comprehensive warranty applies to Waterco’s proprietary Micron Commercial Fibreglass Filters operating in aquatic applications at pressures up to 4 bar. Andy Gale, Waterco and Davey’s Australasian commercial business manager, says the decision reinforces their confidence in the engineering, manufacturing and long-term structural integrity of the filtration systems installed in aquatic centres, public pools, hotels, resorts, schools, universities and commercial leisure facilities. “Commercial aquatic facilities invest in infrastructure that is expected to perform
reliably for decades,” he says. “Our commercial Micron range is engineered as long-term infrastructure assets, manufactured using advanced in-house processes and high-grade materials, they deliver exceptional strength, corrosion resistance, and long service life. “Offering the full 10 years reflects the confidence we have in every fibreglass tank we manufacture.” He says this gives aquatic operators greater certainty when planning maintenance, managing lifecycle costs and protecting long-term infrastructure investments. Waterco’s new 10-year warranty applies only to approved aquatic applications and does not extend to water treatment, industrial or aquaculture installations. Contact: www.waterco.com.au
Andy Gale with a cutaway of a Micron filter
In Brief At the Onehunga War Memorial Pool in May, keen swimmer Lorraine Moser was halfway through her three kilometre swim when she had a sudden cardiac arrest and started drowning. Luckily for her, 19-year-old lifeguard Tash Corbin and 18-year-old Damon McKinstry were on duty as lifeguards and wasted no time in taking turns performing CPR. They continued for 20 minutes until the ambulance arrived, saving her life before she was rushed to hospital. Now, RNZ reports that she has returned to the pool to thank the dedicated young lifeguards. “I’m just so blessed that I was in the right spot and we had the right people that knew what they were doing and didn’t give up,” she says. “I really want to give them a heartfelt thank you, and encourage them to keep doing what they’re doing.” Royal Life Saving Society Australia has launched the We Swim multicultural community water safety program. Backed by $5 million in Australian Government funding, it aims to reduce drowning risk, remove barriers to water safety education, and build belonging for refugees, recently arrived migrants and multicultural communities. People born overseas account
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for one in three drowning deaths. RLS Australia is inviting councils, water safety groups, aquatic centres, swim schools, multicultural community organisations, settlement services, swimming clubs, lifesaving clubs, schools and universities, to apply for partnership. Contact: weswim@rlssa.org.au. An opportunity in the Sydney’s north west has become available, with a purpose-built, DA-approved swim school offered for urgent sale. Set across approximately 900+ sqm, the site features three generously sized pools designed to cater to a full range of learn-to-swim and aquatic programs, from infant classes through to squad training – with construction 60 per cent complete. Backed by a 20 plus 10-year lease, the property offers long-term tenure in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing corridors. Contact: https://tinyurl.com/SwimSchool‑Sale Collingwood Leisure Centre is undergoing a major electrification upgrade, transitioning from gas heating to an all-electric facility. This upgrade will reduce emissions by approximately 304 tonnes each year, improve energy efficiency, and supporting net-zero emissions through 100 per cent
renewable electricity supplied via the grid. The works will also enhance cooling and dehumidification in the pool and spa hall, significantly improving comfort, safety and air quality for members, visitors and staff. The works will include replacing gas boilers with efficient electric heat pumps; introducing cooling into the pool hall; upgrading the air handling system to decrease humidity in the pool hall; and installing a heat recovery system in the change rooms. The work will take four months, during which time the pool will be closed. Sydney Action Park is the latest incarnation of the Western Sydney waterpark formerly known as Raging Waters Sydney, and Wet ‘n’ Wild Sydney before that. Following an extensive renovation it has now opened for visitors. In June, the family-owned Eddy Group of Companies (the longtime operators of Jamberoo Action Park) purchased the Prospect waterpark from its previous international owners. The renovation includes painting, structural maintenance, thematic updates and landscaping improvements, as well as comprehensive safety inspections and improved amenities.
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Events
National Aquatic Infrastructure Symposium held for the second time Royal Life Saving Australia hosted the National Aquatic Infrastructure Symposium for the second time this October, co-hosting with the South Australian Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing. On the first day, delegates toured three aquatic centres: Adelaide Aquatic Centre, Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre and South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre, gaining insights from the facility managers and technicians as well as people involved in planning the centres. Day two included presentations from Shane Brodie of Sport Waikato; Yvette Audet of IAKS International; Melissa Higgs from HCMA Architecture + Design in Vancouver; and RJ Houston of Royal Life Saving. Other speakers included Rhyl Jones McCoy from Queensland University
Delegates at the Symposium
of Technology; Sue McGill of the Australian Sports Commission; Adam Trottman from the South Australian Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing; and Julie Byth from Sport and Recreation, Brisbane City Council, on the delivering community aquatic facilities in the context of Brisbane 2032. The Symposium brought together local government asset owners and aquatic managers, state and Commonwealth agencies and funders, contract operators, architects, engineers, planners and designers, researchers, suppliers and technology providers, peak bodies, and community and user-group representatives from across every state and territory, joining in a conversation about the future of public aquatic facility infrastructure in Australia.
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Infrastructure renewal and reduced OpEx in ageing commercial pools We asked Thorsten Muck, the global director of Fluidra’s commercial pool business, how owners and managers can make the most of a limited budget when upgrading their aquatic facilities.
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oyal Life Saving Australia says that 500 Australian aquatic facilities need upgrading by the end of the decade. Expected costs for this exceed eight billion dollars, yet funding is falling further behind in attempts to alleviate the infrastructure decay. So, what is the best approach when you have a limited capacity to fund urgent infrastructure renewal? Thorsten Muck, the global director of Fluidra’s commercial pool business, says this situation is not dissimilar to the case of ageing infrastructure in Europe. “If you look in France or Germany or other places, I think the average age of a public pool is more than 50 years. They definitely have come to
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an end, so they really need refurbishment. But the pity is that now money is short. So, unfortunately, they decide to close down the facility instead of investing and making it modern.” Muck says that there are three ways to make the venue more attractive. “Digitise it, refurbish it, and make it more attractive so you have better revenue streams.” Then, even if you are able to refurbish it at a relatively low cost, you still have to save money while operating it. “I think this is the hard part when you run a pool. It’s not so much the CapEx, it’s the running cost you have per year. And if you are able to optimise that, you reduce the burden on the municipality. “And when you walk into a public pool that is
SRS Smith moveable floor improved the amenity of the Inverell Memorial Pool, enabling the one space to be used for multiple purposes
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“Digitise it, refurbish it, and make it more attractive so you have better revenue streams.”
they really understood that it’s necessary to do something because many of the facilities are outdated.” The municipalities must apply for the federal funding, and now that they’ve seen it is vastly oversubscribed, the federal government is expected to extend the program.
Timelines to improvement
Above: Refurbishing a leaking pool in Chile without removing the concrete vessel Above right: The Chile pool after the refurbishment
50 years of age, it might not meet the expectation of the younger generation, because it might look darkish, it might be smelly, and that’s not attractive.” Without the experience of fun and enjoyment in an aquatic facility, it becomes simply a functional place – which may help with people’s fitness and learning to swim, but does not attract new visitors. Muck says that while money is difficult to find, it can be achieved if you have an advocate on the council. This can be even more important in regional and remote councils where funds are particularly difficult to access. “It pretty much has to do with how the city council thinks and feels. If they understand the importance, then they say, okay, we have to do something to keep our facility alive. It might be even more the case in regions where they have a better understanding of the importance of learning to swim, which is essential to keeping people alive.” He says that in his native Germany, the swimming federation was able to create such political pressure that the German government is now funding public pools to get them refurbished. “They spend a billion euro a year to refurbish sports facilities in general. And now the public pools will get half a billion on top of that, because
To refurbish a public facility takes time to plan properly, then more time for the execution. “A timeframe of two to three years is nothing. And so it has to be planned really, really properly.” If money is tight, the first thing to decide is how the running costs can be reduced, and then use the savings from that to fund more infrastructure. One major problem with many older concrete pools is leaking pool vessels. “Traditionally pools were made from concrete and tiles. And of course, you can have an issue there sooner or later. “We have a solution where you can pretty much keep the concrete vessel – and you can decide if you want to take away the tiles or not. In many cases, we recommend removing them. “Then we install renovation panels, which are made from galvanised steel because that lasts the best in corrosive circumstances. This enables you to even the walls. Then you add a liner, and it is 100 per cent waterproof. And because it enables you to keep the concrete vessel, you have no dismantling. You save a lot of time, and you save a lot of investment. “That’s the solution we do quite frequently. You leave 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the structure untouched, and build everything around it.” This is considerably cheaper than building a whole new structure. The panels are manufactured in Barcelona, stacked flat into containers and shipped to the location. They are then installed using local partners.
Energy costs
Energy is a big drain on the aquatic centre running costs. But first you need to know October/November 2026
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where your energy is “leaking”. There is an energy solution provided by a company that belongs to Fluidra called Datapool. They install sensors in the plant room and gather an enormous amount of information. They then do a technical audit on that data, and produce a digital twin of the aquatic centre’s plant room and hydraulic system. This digital twin is then optimised and when moved into the real world, can provide savings of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent in running costs. “I have an example here from Spain, at a site where they had five pools, both indoor and outdoor. The operating cost per year was 360,000 euro. After optimisation with Datapool, the new operation cost was going to be 300,000 euro. “So, they’re going to save 60,000 euro per year – and the initial investment for Datapool for the services was 45,000 euro. Which means they have a payback time which is less than one year.” This model predicts a saving of 15,000 euro on running costs in the first year (when the Datapool cost is taken into account), and 60,000 euro per year after that. These savings will accumulate and can then be used to upgrade equipment, which will then further reduce costs. “And with this digital twin, we can think about the next steps, because we can simulate any change in the installation. So if they say, okay, we would like to go for a different pump, or we would like to integrate a heat pump instead of using gas or whatever, we can simulate everything. So, we can tell you upfront what the result is going to be.” Muck stresses the system works across all equipment, not just Fluidra equipment, and does not preclude specifying other brands. “The main idea with Datapool is that we use the savings that are generated by reducing the OpEx to invest this into the refurbishment of the plant room.”
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The Swim Wall in the upright position makes the pool more versatile, enabling different uses for the divided sections of the pool
Heating the pool with waste data centre heat doesn’t take up much space in a plant room, and is easily outweighed by the cost and environmental advantages
Hotta
Heating is usually one of the largest energy components in an aquatic facility, often consuming up to 30 per cent of a facility’s energy. Last year, Fluidra has invested in a fast-growing climate-tech startup called Hotta, which takes advantage of something that is very much in the news in Australia and elsewhere at the moment: data centres – or more precisely, the heat generated by data centres. Hotta operates modular data centre units that serve a dual purpose – processing digital workloads while simultaneously generating thermal energy. These units are installed at or near customer sites and directly connect to the pool facility’s water heating systems. Commercial pool operators simply use Hotta as they would a traditional heater – with no upfront investment, lower energy costs and no added complexity. “We use the waste heat of cooling down data servers to warm up the pool,” says Muck. You integrate the data server in the circular system, and you use the pool as a buffer to cool down the data server. Muck says this this has two main advantages. The first is that it requires no upfront investment. You just pay for the energy you consume on a 10 year contract. The second is that the centre’s energy bill is likely to be reduced by 30 per cent to 40 per cent. Hotta makes a contract with the energy provider for 10 years, and installs a data line through which they sell the cloud capacity from the data server to the market. The data centre itself is not related to the swimming pool – it is not used to run the pool; it is totally separate. “The data centre is just there, and the cloud capacity is sold to the market. And because this heat would be generated anyhow, it is considered waste heat, as you have to cool down the computer server in any case. So there is considerable CO2 reduction as well as reducing your energy bill.” The data centre is located in the plant room and
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Multiple uses for the same space helps maximum returns
is remarkably small. Muck estimates that for a 25-metre pool you would need two data centres, each the size of a photocopy machine. And it will generate enough energy to reduce the heating cost by up to 40 per cent. “The demand for computing is going to grow. Instead of building these huge data centres, let’s do it in a decentralised way. They really need a lot of water every day for cooling, but if you can integrate it in existing infrastructure, to me, that’s the smartest thing you can do.” [See the box on page 73 for information about a discussion around this topic in the Australian Capital Territory.]
Increasing utilisation
One way to reduce the cost per user is to increase utilisation. And you can do that by offering more options, including gamification. “It always helps when you have a pool that is super flexible to use. So you have movable floors, and maybe thermally isolated walls so you can have different levels of water temperature in one pool, and you can have moveable bulkheads or swim walls. “So then you’re able to have different groups in the same pool – you can raise the pool floor at different times so toddlers can enjoy a zero depth, or minimal depth pool, while other people can swim in a different part of the pool, or even play water polo at the same time. “How you increase the number of people who are able to use it at the same time is key, because the operating costs are the operating costs: it doesn’t matter how many people you have in the pool. So, if you’re able to increase that number, you have higher revenue,” he says. “The other thing is, how do I make it more attractive from an experience point of view? So to give you two examples. One is moveable floors that we integrate into pools now. They can be installed with a system where you can attach water features on top of it such as sprays, making it like a water park for kids.
Utilising data centre heat to warm the pool water
The savings enabled through Datapool analysis can be invested into refurbishment of the plant room
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“A timeframe of two to three years is nothing. And so it has to be planned really, really properly.”
“You’re able to lift the pool to almost a zero level, or let’s say 10 centimetres or 15 centimetres, so that you have water around, and then the kids can play all the time. “One step further is a system called Area H2O, where you have an interactive system with beams and lights and motion detection installed under the roof, which projects light on the floor so the kids can really play virtual soccer and things like that. “By including these sorts of features, you can make something more immersive out of the space. Instead of having it just a functional place, it becomes a place to play and have fun and to be socially interactive.” Muck says the way to achieve these benefits is by starting with proper planning. “Start by reducing OpEx to make the system smarter and create the buffer. Then use the buffer to invest in the facility, and into making the pool more attractive to younger people. “I’m quite fascinated by this topic because everything comes down to the same thing. Every year, a quarter million people are drowning, on a global scale. Even in highly developed countries like Germany, it’s between 400 and 500 a year. “We need to educate every single child. And that’s the vision. Educate every single child that is able to learn to swim. “Therefore, we have to make these places more attractive and more available.” n
The Swim Wall in the down position at retrofit installation at Wyong Pool
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ACT chief minister stamps out public pool data centre debate
The Greens recently put forward a proposal for the ACT legislative assembly to debate the use of data centres in the territory’s public swimming pools, as a way of making data centres become responsible for reducing energy and water use by considering co-locating them at public pools. But the debate was stamped out before it started by ACT chief minister Andrew Barr, who says that while the government supports efforts to improve energy efficiency, including recovering waste heat from data centres, public aquatic facilities are not appropriate locations for the infrastructure. Greens MLA Laura Nuttall criticised Barr’s handling of the Green’s proposal to open up the debate, especially his social media post of an AI-generated image of a giant city-block sized multi-storey data centre towering over a public swimming pool, including an AI-generated image of a frowning child in a swim cap. Nuttall says the Greens proposal was actually focussing on experiences such as in the United Kingdom, where going back to 2023 they have had data centres the size of washing machines powering public swimming pools. As described in this article, there is no need for separate buildings at all to take advantage of the cost and environmental benefits of drawing on the waste heat from data centres to warm the swimming pool water. The ACT government now plans to develop a data centre framework to determine where future facilities can be built and the standards they will have to meet, with a draft expected in early 2027.
Thorsten Muck (centre) on a panel at the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention in Melbourne
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The cost of community swimming As construction and energy costs climb, the industry is finding smarter ways to build, electrify and renew community swimming facilities. Veda Dante examines the practical models emerging across Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
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quatic centres occupy an unusual place in community infrastructure. They support swimming education, recreation, rehabilitation, competitive sport and social connection, yet they are among the most expensive public buildings to construct and operate. Heated water, humid indoor environments and long opening hours create substantial demand before a swimmer even enters the pool. As ageing facilities approach replacement, councils face more than an engineering decision; they must determine what their communities genuinely need, how much complexity they can afford and whether the finished centre will remain financially viable for decades. Across Australia, New Zealand and Europe, attention is shifting from headline technologies towards sharper briefs, better evidence and designs that consider construction and operating costs together.
Challenging the cost of aquatic centres For almost a decade, Derek Harbison has been asking whether Australia’s aquatic centres could be delivered differently. The director of energy-efficiency consultancy Negawatt Projects became involved in the push 74 SPLASH!
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to electrify aquatic facilities in Victoria and New South Wales in 2018. Since then, his work has included council reports, industry seminars, swim-school upgrades and new facility designs. The movement began with a series of conversations on the road. “At almost every aquatic centre we visited, managers asked the same questions: ‘How do we reduce our energy costs, and is there a better way to heat this facility?’” Harbison recalls. “Most of those centres relied heavily on gas. Technologies such as high-efficiency heat pumps, heat recovery and integrated renewable energy systems were not yet part of the mainstream discussion.” Those questions prompted a broader investigation into what was technically and financially possible. Harbison began collating operating data, studying successful projects and connecting engineers, architects, operators, suppliers and council representatives interested in accelerating the transition. That work helped form the foundation of Negawatt Projects. Energy use was only part of the problem. As Harbison became involved in more developments, rising construction costs emerged as an equally urgent concern.
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harder and more expensive to operate.” There are, however, Australian facilities where the objectives were met, budgets remained controlled and communities received assets suited to their needs. “We need to learn from those examples and apply the lessons much earlier,” Harbison says. Seminar discussions covered operator-led planning, simpler building forms, efficient construction methods and standardised elements that do not need to be redesigned for every project. Another recurring message was that the capital budget cannot be separated from future energy, staffing and maintenance costs. For Harbison, the next step is translating those conversations into the way councils brief, assess and procure aquatic projects. Affordability is not created through late-stage cost cutting. It begins by defining what the centre must do, resisting unnecessary scope and protecting the features that will make it economical to operate.
Engineering beyond the headline
Inverell Memorial Pool’ $30 million upgrade included massive solar arrays covering all buildings, vastly reducing their energy expenditure. Image: Fluidra
“Aquatic centres have become some of local government’s most valued yet least affordable community assets,” he says. “How they are planned, designed, built and funded needs much closer attention because project costs have risen dramatically.” The issue took centre stage at the Building LowCost Aquatic Centres seminar, hosted by Negawatt Projects at Melbourne’s Fitzroy Town Hall in September 2026. The one-day event examined why aquatic projects become unaffordable and how councils can deliver facilities that remain functional, efficient and financially sustainable. Speakers explored the widening gap between an operatorinformed business case and an expanding wish list of spaces, programs and architectural features. According to Harbison, complexity often accumulates gradually. Additional requirements are introduced as the project progresses, but when the budget comes under pressure, practical features needed to operate the centre efficiently can be among the first to disappear. “Functionality can be value-managed out of a project after the design has already become too large or complicated,” he explains. “The result may cost more to build while being
Even a tightly controlled brief must contend with the unusual energy profile of an aquatic centre. Pool water requires heating and treatment, indoor air must remain comfortable, and humidity needs to be managed without wasting large volumes of conditioned air. Each variable affects the others. A change intended to reduce one load can increase demand elsewhere, which makes apparently simple upgrades more complicated than they first appear. For Nick Yannakis, technical director and business director of aquatics at Beca, improvement begins with understanding those interactions.
“When the budget comes under pressure, practical features needed to operate the centre efficiently can be among the first to disappear.”
New filtration as part of the Inverell upgrade. Image: Fluidra
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Finding savings before replacing equipment The Inverell indoor 25m pool leading to the outdoor 50m pool. Image: Fluidra
With more than 15 years’ experience and over 200 aquatic projects delivered across Australasia, Yannakis has worked on new facilities, redevelopments and decarbonisation programs. “Aquatic centres have a unique energy profile,” he says. “Pool temperatures, ventilation, humidity, operating hours and user demand are interconnected. Decisions need to be tested against the entire facility.” Electrification presents one of the sector’s largest opportunities, particularly when heatpump technology is considered alongside poolhall ventilation. Replacing a gas boiler without first assessing the site, however, can create new capacity problems or lock in an inefficient design. “Simply plugging in a heat pump to replace the boiler is one of the biggest mistakes an aquatic centre can make,” Yannakis says. “Councils need to understand the asset, plan how gas will be removed and obtain sound advice before committing to equipment.” Electrical supply, peak demand, climate, water temperatures and operating patterns all influence the result. A staged transition may also require existing and new technologies to work alongside one another before gas can be removed completely.
Making performance comparable
Beca uses purpose-built modelling to examine the relationship between pool temperatures, air conditions, humidity, ventilation and operating schedules. Yannakis is also helping develop an international aquatic centre benchmarking methodology through the IAKS Aquatic Expert Circle. Scheduled for release later in 2026, the framework normalises annual energy consumption to provide more meaningful comparisons. Instead of judging facilities solely by total usage, it accounts for the factors that make each site different. That distinction matters. A warm-water program pool operating throughout the day cannot be fairly compared with a competition pool used intensively during morning and evening peaks. Climate adds another layer. An approach developed for Auckland may need to be reconsidered for Melbourne, tropical Queensland or an inland community experiencing large temperature swings. “Benchmarking gives facilities a credible starting point,” Yannakis says. “Once performance is measured meaningfully, operators can see where improvement is possible and track whether changes are delivering the expected result.” 76 SPLASH!
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Existing centres introduce a different challenge. Original documentation may be incomplete, decades of alterations can obscure design intent, and plant may be operating under settings that no longer reflect patronage or programming. Before considering major capital works, Yannakis recommends establishing how the existing equipment is being controlled. Pool hall ventilation is a recurring opportunity. Some installations operate at excessive rates or do not respond effectively to changing temperature and humidity conditions. “We have worked with facilities where relatively straightforward control changes have saved tens of thousands of dollars a year,” he says. “Investigation should come before replacement because there may be substantial value available within the equipment already installed.” To help councils begin that process, Yannakis has adapted an energy toolbox developed for New Zealand into an Australian resource, starting with Victoria. The freely available tool will help facility owners understand their current position and map a staged path away from fossil fuels, rather than making hurried decisions when critical plant fails.
A shared industry response
Yannakis presented this work at the ARV Industry Conference 2026: Stronger Together, delivered by Aquatics and Recreation Victoria with Austswim and AusActive. His presentation also addressed the proposed update to AS 3633 on pool water quality, which was still open for public consultation at the time, alongside research into pool hall air quality and chloramine exposure limits. Drawing on a sustainability framework developed by Monash University students, he converted the research into practical tools and a call for collective action. “The central message was that the industry needs to own the energy challenge together,” he says. “We have built tools that allow facilities to learn from one another rather than working in isolation.” Yannakis also discusses aquatic centre electrification in a forthcoming episode of The Energy Exchange, produced by the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity and expected to be available through A2EP, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
“Benchmarking gives facilities a credible starting point.” Repeat what works, adapt what matters
With almost 40 per cent of Australia’s public aquatic facilities expected to reach the end of their useful life by 2030, councils cannot approach every replacement as a bespoke experiment. The Future of Swimming Pools initiative, led by Royal Life Saving NSW and Cox Architecture, is examining whether adaptable, repeatable
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“Simply plugging in a heat pump to replace the boiler is one of the biggest mistakes an aquatic centre can make.” concepts can make new facilities more achievable, particularly in regional and rural communities. Waterco is contributing watertreatment expertise developed over 45 years across varied climates, regulatory environments and operating conditions. The initiative has been covered previously in SPLASH! but its relevance to the efficiency discussion lies in a broader principle: standardising proven elements can reduce avoidable design effort and complexity, provided the final facility is still shaped around its location and purpose. For Waterco commercial business unit manager Andy Gale, modularity provides a dependable foundation rather than a universal answer. “A modular approach allows us to apply proven principles across multiple projects without starting from scratch each time,” he says. “It can create greater consistency, reduce unnecessary complexity and give councils a clearer understanding of how a facility is likely to perform over its lifetime.” A repeatable model can resolve familiar spatial, access and servicing requirements earlier. It may also improve consistency between projects and allow designers to spend more time on the conditions that genuinely vary.
Site-specific assessment makes the difference
A regional learn-to-swim pool operating for several hours each afternoon will not behave like a metropolitan centre running competition, leisure and warm-water programs from early morning until late evening. Climate can alter the equation again. An outdoor pool in northern Queensland must contend with humidity, heavy rain, high temperatures and a long swimming season. A Victorian centre is likely to carry a greater heating load, while an inland council may place more emphasis on conserving water. Source-water quality, patronage, opening hours, pool temperatures and existing infrastructure all affect the design. Energy tariffs, available electrical capacity and access to specialist service support can be equally influential. A remote facility may benefit from straightforward controls and off-site oversight, whereas a major urban centre could have an experienced technical team on site. “Modular does not mean identical,” Gale says. “It means establishing a sound framework, then adapting it intelligently to the community, the climate, the site and the way the facility will actually be used.” Those differences need to be identified before the design is locked in. Applying a standard
Modular aquatic centre plans as part of the Future of Swimming Pools initiative. Image: Cox
concept without testing local conditions risks transferring savings from the construction budget into higher operating costs. “Site-specific assessment is what turns a modular concept into a practical solution,” he adds. “The framework may be repeatable, but the final design still has to respond to the realities of that location.” He also points out that durability is an important aspect to consider. For consultants and operators, a longer warranty provides greater certainty when planning maintenance and replacement cycles. It also signals the manufacturer’s confidence in equipment expected to operate continuously. “Commercial aquatic facilities invest in infrastructure that is expected to perform reliably for decades,” Gale says. “Our full 10-year tank warranty reflects our confidence in the filters and gives operators greater certainty when planning for the life of the facility.” The wider lesson is that innovation does not always mean adding complexity. It can involve applying accumulated industry knowledge more consistently, selecting durable infrastructure and leaving enough flexibility to address the realities of each site.
Europe turns regulation into renovation
Europe’s push towards smarter, lower-energy buildings is accelerating a similar rethink of existing aquatic facilities. Passive House principles have helped move design towards tighter envelopes and lower heating demand, while the regulatory impetus comes from the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. “Europe’s experience shows how policy can move energy performance from an aspiration into a design and asset-management requirement,” says Fluidra APAC’s sustainability manager, Jeremy Tang. The directive introduces minimum standards for non-residential buildings, targeting the bottom 16 per cent by 2030 and bottom 26 per cent by 2033. It also
Waterco commercial filters are now guaranteed for 10 years. Image: Waterco
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The 1953 Prince Alfred Park Pool had an upgrade in 2013, and is now getting efficient heat pumps to replace the gas heating. Image: City of Sydney
strengthens expectations around automation, digital performance data and zero-emission new buildings. For aquatic centres, where heated water, humid air and extensive opening hours create unusually complex loads, inefficient assets are likely to face increasing scrutiny. Tang says the sector’s definition of efficiency is widening accordingly. “Energy efficiency in aquatic facilities is no longer simply about reducing energy consumption,” he explains. “It is about taking a holistic approach to preserving water and resources, from high-performance pool blankets and energy-efficient heat pumps through to water harvesting and solar generation.”
Audit before intervention
City of Sydney turning off the gas
The City of Sydney is upgrading the Prince Alfred Park Pool gas heating to a more efficient electric system, powered by renewable electricity sourced through their renewable power purchase agreement. The electrification project will replace the ageing natural gas assets that currently provides pool water heating and shower hot water with air-source heat pumps and thermal storage tanks. Once completed, the project will mark the halfway point of planned upgrades across their aquatic facilities. Similar upgrades have already been completed at Victoria Park Pool and Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool. At the same time, they are repairing the 50 metre pool’s lining system and handrails, repainting lane markings and maintaining other pool infrastructure. The council says these works will improve the pool’s environmental performance, support the transition to net zero emissions and help ensure the facility remains safe, efficient and reliable for years to come.
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Fluidra’s partnership with European Aquatics translates that policy direction into a practical refurbishment model. More than 24,000 public pools across Europe are considered obsolete yet replacing them all would be financially and environmentally unrealistic. The joint Refurbishment Programme offers participating facilities a free technical audit, followed by tailored recommendations covering safety, asset life, day-to-day performance, energy use and digitalisation. The order matters. Instead of beginning with a preferred technology, the process examines how the centre behaves and where resources are being
Contacts: www.beca.com
www.fluidra.com.au www.negawattprojects.com.au www.waterco.com.au
feature
lost. Operators can then distinguish urgent work from improvements suited to later budget cycles. An audit may reveal schedules that no longer reflect patronage, controls working against one another or ageing equipment consuming more energy than its output justifies. It also provides councils with evidence to sequence investment rather than responding to the loudest problem or the latest product claim. “We are seeing this integrated approach become a global best-practice trend,” Tang says. “Facilities are looking beyond individual technologies to create smarter, more sustainable operations that reduce environmental impact while delivering long-term value to their communities.” [There is more on auditing in the interview with Thorsten Muck on page 68.]
Corporate targets meet operating reality
Fluidra’s 2025 Integrated Report, released in 2026, records renewable electricity reaching 93 per cent of its consumption and Scope 1 and 2 emissions falling 70 per cent from the 2021 baseline. Products classified under the company’s internal sustainability framework accounted for 59 per cent of sales. Its 2026 goals include lifting renewable electricity to 96 per cent, reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90 per cent against the 2021 baseline and improving water
efficiency by a further three per cent. Fluidra also intends to support water-resilience projects capable of offsetting up to 20 per cent of its water footprint. Corporate targets do not provide a blueprint for running a municipal pool, but they reflect the same movement affecting aquatic infrastructure: broad commitments are giving way to measured performance, defined milestones and evidence of improvement.
From ambition to evidence
No single model will resolve the pressures confronting public aquatic facilities. A regional swim school, ageing municipal pool and large metropolitan leisure centre carry different loads, serve different communities and have access to different resources. The common thread is the quality of the decisions made before money is committed. A disciplined brief can prevent unnecessary scope. Benchmarking and modelling can expose where energy is really being used. Audits may uncover savings within existing plant, while repeatable design can avoid solving the same problems from the beginning on every project. Efficiency, in that context, is not a product category. It is the result of planning, engineering, procurement and operation supporting the same objective: aquatic centres that communities can continue to heat, maintain and keep open. n
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BUILD B UILD YOUR YOUR LEGACY LEGACY B ECOME A A MASTER MASTER POOL BUILDER BUILDER BECOME Master Pool Builders membership is a recognised mark of professionalism, quality and commitment within the pool and spa industry. It represents builders who consistently strive for excellence through ongoing professional development, innovation, integrity, sustainability and exceptional craftsmanship.
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new products
New IrriSense automated irrigator Aiper’s new version of their IrriSense system brings app-controlled irrigation to gardens without installing an underground system. Combining a controller, electric valve, and rotor sprinkler, it connects to a hose and can be set up in around 10 minutes. Users can map six zones, tailoring irrigation for lawns, garden beds and plants with different needs. EvenRain technology is designed to provide uniform coverage, while weather-responsive scheduling and water-use tracking help avoid unnecessary watering. Aiper claims water savings of up to 40 per cent, although results will vary with climate, pressure, programming and layout. Coverage extends to 445 square metres, with a maximum 12-metre spray distance. An additional outlet can expand the arrangement. Contact: www.aiper.com/au/home
Waterco adds new BWT skimmer to its range The BWT ES BewaSkimmer is a cordless, fuss-free automated skimmer that provides 24/7 pool surface cleaning, any time of day or night. It is suited to any type of residential in-ground or aboveground pool and cleans any shape or size. Powered by the sun, the skimmer works quietly and intelligently in the background; and guided by AI, it continuously adapts its cleaning path to collect leaves, debris and unwanted particles before they become a problem. With smart app control and live water temperature monitoring, the pool is not only cleaner, but also easier to manage, requiring less maintenance and providing more time to enjoy the swimming pool. Contact: www.waterco.com.au
WaterScupper illuminates the flow PAL’s innovative WaterScupper architectural water feature combines precision-engineered water flow with brilliant LED illumination to create a dramatic new focal point for luxury outdoor living spaces. Incorporating a Treo Mini LED light, the WaterScupper delivers the soothing sound of flowing water and elegant illumination, with adjustable RGB colour and brightness, creating an unforgettable focal point for pools, spas, fountains and raised water features. Designed for premium residential and commercial projects, it is available in multiple shapes and finish options, providing designers and builders with new opportunities to create visually stunning aquatic landscapes that transform both daytime and nighttime experiences. Contact: www.pallighting.com
Enhancing light with Ezzari Hexa The way sunlight catches the water can define the character of a pool, spa or aquatic space. Ezarri’s Hexa collection is designed to enhance that effect, with hexagonal glass mosaics creating depth, movement and changing light patterns across the water’s surface. Manufactured entirely from 100 per cent recycled glass, Hexa combines contemporary design with strong sustainability credentials, giving architects and designers an environmentally responsible finish without compromising the visual impact. Within the collection, the Iris series – Azur Hexa, Jade Hexa and Perla Hexa – responds to changing natural and artificial light, creating subtle shifts in colour and shimmering visual depth. Contact: www.europeimports.com.au
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