Public Swimming Pool & Spa Regulations – Public Health & Wellbeing Act

Public comment and submissions were invited on the proposed regulations and Regulatory Impact Statement for the Public Health and Wellbeing Act.  Proposed regulations regarding public swimming pool and spas were discussed at the last Facility Management Standing Committee with industry feedback compiled and submitted by the due date of 16 October.
 
ARV continues to have discussions with the Department of Human Services on the proposed introduction of the supporting regulations and the impact that they may have on water testing regimes for the industry. It is hoped that these can be resolved early in the new year.
 
As of 1 January 2010, the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (PHWA) will repeal the ten sets of regulations made under the Health Act 1958 including the:
  • Health (Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity) Regulations 2002
  • Health (Exempt Businesses) Regulations 2005
  • Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1999
  • Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001
  • Health (Legionella) Regulations 2001
  • Health (Pest Control) Regulations 2002
  • Health (Prescribed Accommodation) Regulations 2001
  • Health (Prescribed Consultative Councils) Regulations 2002
  • Health (Registration of Premises) Regulations 2002
  • Health (Seizure) Regulations 2003
A single set of regulations, the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009, have been drafted and are proposed to replace the above ten sets of regulations and support the new Act. These new Regulations will be effective from 1 January 2010.
 
It is proposed that the draft Regulations will cover:
  • aquatic facilities
  • nuisances
  • pest control
  • immunisation
  • notification of high lead levels in blood
  • prescribed accommodation and registered premises
  • cooling tower systems and Legionella risks in certain premises
  • governance and management of a number of consultative councils established under the Act
  • notification, management and control of infectious diseases, micro-organisms and medical conditions
For a copy of the proposed regulations please visit www.health.vic.gov.au/phwa/ris.htm