When you remove or decommission a registered pool or spa, you need to let us know. This is so we can remove your pool or spa from our register and you will no longer have to fulfil ongoing compliance obligations.
Notify us of removal of swimming pool or spa
If your pool is less than its depth away from any building or boundary fence, you may need to get a building permit to remove your pool.
How to remove or decommission a swimming pool or spa
To remove or decommission your pool or spa, you need to remove everything that makes the structure a swimming pool or spa.
This could include:
- completely removing the pool or spa
- removing the ability for the pool or spa to hold more than 300mm of water
- removing any access like ladders
- removing any filtration systems
- filling the excavation area with clean soil that is endemic to the site and compacting it in layers.
The main consideration is ensuring it is unable to hold water.
You may choose to bury your pool or remove it completely. However, burying the pool may cause issues for future development on the property.
The steps you need to take will depend on the kind of pool or spa you have.
Above ground pool or spa
For solid-sided pools and spas, you should:
- remove liner, ladder and filtration system
- drill four to six 50mm holes in the base.
Above ground pool or spa installed below ground
If you want to bury the pool with the retaining walls and steel frame still in place, you will need to:
- remove liner, ladder and filtration system
- fill the excavation site with clean soil endemic to the site and compacted into layers 30cm or less.
If you want to bury the retaining walls, you should:
- remove all of the pool structure and filtration system
- break down the retaining walls to a minimum of 60cm below natural ground level
- remove the demolished material to an approved disposal site
- fill the excavation site with clean soil endemic to the site and compacted into layers 30cm or less.
If you want to completely remove the pool, you will need to:
- remove all of the pool structure, walls, filtration system and footings
- break down the retaining walls to a minimum of 60cm below natural ground level
- remove the demolished material to an approved disposal site
- fill the excavation site with clean soil endemic to the site and compacted into layers 30cm or less.
Below ground concrete or fibreglass pool or spa
If you want to bury the pool, you will need to:
- cut at least two 50x50cm squares in the base of the pool (deep end) and remove all the fibreglass or concrete from the pool
- remove the filtration system and any ladders
- remove the demolished material to an approved disposal site
- fill the excavation site with clean soil endemic to the site and compacted into layers 30cm or less.
If you want to completely remove the pool, you will need to:
- excavate and lift out the fibreglass pool shell where possible
- demolish and remove the pool shell material to an approved disposal site
- fill the excavation site with clean soil endemic to the site and compacted into layers 30cm or less.