You must obtain approval from the Chief Health Officer to construct, alter or extend a commercial or public aquatic facility before any construction works can begin.
Mandatory requirements for design and construction of facilities are outlined in the:
Only the occupier of the property where the aquatic facility works are planned may apply for approval (regulation 8).
Application materials may be professionally prepared on the occupier’s behalf by third parties (e.g. designer or consultants), but must be signed by the occupier.
Application form and checklist
Complete the:
Email completed application form and checklist to Swimmingpools@health.wa.gov.au (20Mb email limit).
All required information must be submitted with the application, otherwise this may delay the overall assessment and approval time for your application.
Hard copies can be posted to:
Department of Health
Water Unit
PO Box 8172
Perth Business Centre WA 6849
The checklist (Word 187KB) lists the relevant undertakings, specifications, scaled drawings and schematics required to demonstrate compliance of proposed works with all requirements of the Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Operation, Management and Maintenance of Aquatic Facilities (PDF 362KB)(the Code of Practice).
Tender documents and generic engineering, electrical or design plans that don’t support intended compliance are not needed, and simply add to assessment timelines.
Once an application is received, assessment timelines generally range from 4-8 weeks, but may exceed this depending on information provided or other circumstances.
Note: Certain systems will require post installation certification from installers or relevant certifying professionals confirming that the systems in question comply with Code of Practice requirements, including:
- Structural engineering
- Electrical system installation, and equipotential bonding of metallic components
- Water heating systems
- Mechanical ventilation systems
- Lighting systems meeting required lux levels
- Other elements as required
Compliance
Before opening to the public all aquatic facilities must obtain a:
- certificate of compliance and
- permit to operate
issued by the Chief Health Officer.
When construction work is completed, the occupier or owner’s agent is required to contact the Water Unit on 9222 2000 to organise an inspection.
Officers from the Department of Health or occasionally local government (as requested by the Department) will undertake a final inspection to confirm construction compliance.
Notice of inspection is generally required 2 weeks prior to completion, however in regional areas further than 5 hours drive from Perth, advice should be received a minimum of 6 weeks in advance.
Code of Practice and legislation
Refer to the management of aquatic facilities in WA for details on complying with the:
Role of local government
Local governments are encouraged to advise the Department when aquatic facilities commence construction.
This will ensure that developers or builders are identified and dealt with appropriately if they commence construction without CHO approval.
Local governments are required to collect monthly water samples from every public aquatic facility water body within their district.
Where the CHO has granted an exemption, particular operators may be delegated this responsibility and trained by local government to collect their own microbiological water samples for their facility.
In these cases, local governments will still provide operators with appropriate advice regarding the results of these samples.
Local governments must also enforce the legislative requirements of public defined aquatic facilities within their municipality.
Complaints regarding public aquatic facilities should be referred to the environmental health section of the respective local government authority (external link).
More information
Water Unit, Environmental Health Directorate
Postal Address: PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre WA 6849
Phone: 9222 2000
Email the Water Unit
Last reviewed: 12-12-2023