The SPASA AGM was held last night at the association office and we'd like to thank all who attended. Members received a copy of the 2015 Annual Report and detailed briefings on current activities within SPASA.

After serving his 2 year term as President, Rob Kruber handed over the reins to the newly elected President, John Darcy and introduced the Board for 2015/16.

The following 2015/16 Executive and Board portfolio appointments are:
President - John D'Arcy
Vice President - Callum Ross
Treasurer - Lindsay Hartshorne

The association takes this opportunity to pass on our most sincerest thanks to outgoing President Rob Kruber. We thank Rob for the tremendous work he has done in contributing to the success of SPASA and wish him all the best for the future.

Brendan provided the Treasurer's Report FY/2015 in Lindsay's absence, highlighting the following results:

Net Surplus / Profit FY15 $58,599
Gross revenue FY15 $2,060,320
Retained Earnings FY15 $1,030,822
Retained earnings exceed $1,000,000 for the first time

Attendees heard from VBA Director of Regulations, Jarrod Edwards  and Peter and Greg from Rigby Cooke Lawyers who presented on the recent amendments to the SPASA Domestic Building Contract.

We were also lucky enough to secure guest speaker Jason Cunningham of The Living Room fame who provided an entertaining and engaging presentation on “Have Your Cake & Sell it Too, The 7 Key Ingredients for Business Success”. Jason spoke passionately and provided expert advice on the common financial problems facing households and business owners in a way that members enjoyed and, most importantly, understood.

Two prize winners (2 x $100 SPASA credits) were drawn by Alf Woods from those who completed the online survey – the winners are Minke Pools & Anthony Polkinghorne from Integrated Pools. Congratulations!

A copy of the slide-presentation can be found HERE and the Annual Report HERE. These items are stored in the Member Area of our website.

We recently collated pool permit figures provided by the industry regulator, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) with those published in trade magazines alongside our SPASA Contract sales with very interesting results. 

As reported in our August 2014 Bulletin, the Building Permit figures published in the swimming pool industry magazines are accompanied by disclaimer text which acknowledges the significant limitations of the data that they rely upon.  “…they are not comprehensive and don’t include all pools built or even all DA’s (Development Applications) lodged…..Additionally, not all councils are forthcoming with data or report on time; councils in some states such as Queensland and Victoria are particularly reluctant”.  Our graph couldn’t make this point any clearer.

Happily when we compare SPASA contract sales with building permit data we remain confident that the majority of consumers are choosing a SPASA Pool Builder Member to install / construct their swimming pool, and are therefore doing so with a compliant SPASA Construction Contract.

A LANDMARK pilot program of before-school pool lessons will pave the way for teaching all children to swim within a decade, Life Saving Victoria says.

LSV and the YMCA are calling on the State Government to introduce mandatory swimming lessons in all primary schools after the drowning deaths of 79 kids in Victoria in the last decade.

Sixty per cent of children leave primary school without being able to swim but LSV plans to change that with a program successfully tested in Shepparton recently.

Almost 70 grade 4 students from two schools participated in the before-school program.

Barely half could swim 100m when the lessons began, but that figure had soared to 86 per cent by the end.

LSV chief executive Nigel Taylor said they were now planning a metropolitan pilot.

To read more of the article click HERE

SPASA members do so much good work that goes unnoticed -  consumer shows are a great way of showing this off! 

What can exhibiting give to your business?
There are many benefits to exhibiting, the greatest would be generating sales leads - thousands of potential customers looking for your solutions will be in front of you. There is nowhere else where you get the opportunity to be face to face with so many people who are genuine prospects.

Taking a stand may seem like a big expense for an uncertain reward. However, if you choose the SPASA Pool & Spa Show, an event that is perfectly targeted for your business, and do a little planning beforehand, it will reap great rewards.

With an additional $100,000 investment towards an extensive advertising & PR campaign, this Summer consumer show is set to be bigger than ever.

If you need further proof of why you should exhibit read the facts and figures in the Exhibitor Flyer HERE.

If you are looking to gain new skills, or move your current skills to the next level, SPASA has the course for you.

Our wide range of training programs and low fee structure provides a highly competitive option.

Download the 2016 Industry Training Flyer HERE or visit the SPASA Industry Training page on the website for more information.

If you have any questions about the courses on offer, contact Rowena on 9501 2010 or rowena@spasavic.com.au

To place an order for your Injury Hotspots posters, follow these steps:

Select the poster/s you wish to order here and enter the quantity you require. You can order up to 10 posters per industry and 50 posters in total.
Fill in your delivery details. Please note, posters can only be sent to Victorian addresses.
You will receive your posters in approximately 10 working days.

Alternatively, you can download and print the posters instantly at worksafe.vic.gov.au/hotspots

Reproduced Article

A man has had his builder’s registration cancelled and received a $10,000 fine following an investigation by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).

Four allegations were found proven against Mr Andrew Renn in relation to the construction of a timber deck, pergola, carport and associated landscaping at a property in Hawthorn. The job was quoted at $120,000, which was agreed upon by the homeowners. Once the quote was accepted, Mr Renn requested a 50 per cent deposit to begin works. Legally, he was only permitted to request a five per cent deposit.

After numerous requests for additional payments and issues with the progress of works, the homeowners arranged an inspection which found that Mr Renn had completed less than half of the contracted work. This led to an investigation into Mr Renn’s conduct by the VBA.

Read more HERE

Reproduced Article

The VBA has created a swimming pools, spas and their safety barriers checklist to advise home-owners of their obligations, before, during and after construction.

In Victoria, the design, construction and installation of swimming pools, spas and their safety barriers are subject to strict building requirements under the Building Regulations 2006 (the Regulations). The Regulations also contain ongoing legal obligations for pool and spa owners to maintain their safety barriers at all times.

Compliance with the Regulations improves safety outcomes. Non-compliance, for any reason, can increase the risk of drowning and lead to prosecution by the VBA or local councils. Any home-owner who engages in building a pool or spa and associated safety barriers must familiarise themselves with the Regulations.

The VBA has a role in creating greater awareness of the Regulations and the need for compliance. This includes providing information on the safe installation of swimming pools, spas and their associated barriers.

Swimming pools and spas in Victoria must comply with the following requirements:

• All swimming pools and spas with a depth of more than 300mm (30cm) must have a safety fence or barrier that meets the Australian Standard. This also applies to inflatable or relocatable pools and spas.
• A swimming pool or spa and associated safety barriers can be constructed by a registered builder or by an owner-builder who has obtained a certificate of consent from the Building Practitioners Board.
• A registered builder must be engaged under a written domestic building contract to carry out building work in excess of $5000 (including labour and materials) and an owner-builder must obtain a certificate of consent for work in excess of $12,000.
• A building permit, issued by a registered building surveyor, must be obtained to construct a pool or spa, as well as the associated safety barriers. You can apply for a building permit through your local council's municipal building surveyor, or to a private building surveyor.
• During construction, a temporary safety barrier must be in place and maintained to ensure it is in proper working order. Talk to your registered builder to agree on who will be installing and maintaining the temporary barrier, and later the permanent barrier, and ensure this is written into the contract.
• All outdoor swimming pools and spas built since 1 May 2010 must not have direct access to the pool area via a door from a building, such as a house or a garage.
• Swimming pool gates must be self-latching and self-closing, and should never be propped open. It is illegal to do this.
• Safety barriers must not be installed near trees, barbeques or other structures that children can use to climb up and over to access the swimming pool or spa. Any objects that children might use to climb into the swimming pool or spa area, such as pot plants and chairs must be moved away from the barrier.

Once the pool or spa is built, it should not be used until a permanent safety barrier is installed and a certificate of final inspection is obtained from the relevant building surveyor.

A builder has been reprimanded and had his registration suspended for four months after he demanded payment for the frame stage before the work was completed, and also failed to complete the domestic building work in the agreed timeframe.

Domestic builder Peter Hall, of Bella Haven Homes Pty Ltd, was hired to build a house and garage in Craigieburn for a total cost of $267,000. After commencing the work, he sent the homeowners an invoice for the frame stage, which they paid. However, the frame stage was not completed and approved until five months after the payment was made. Work on the project then stalled when a number of defects were identified, and the owners weren’t able to move into their new home until almost six months after the completion date agreed in the contract.
 
After the homeowners made a complaint about Mr Hall and the building work, the VBA inspected the home and conducted an investigation. The VBA then referred the matter to the Building Practitioners Board for an inquiry into Mr Hall’s conduct.

Read the full Media Release HERE

Your business holds a lot of sensitive data and information that cyber criminals would love to access. Think about what you store online – and think about what it would mean if it was lost or stolen.
 
The Australian Government’s Stay Smart Online website offers advice to small businesses and other Australians about being secure and safe online.

They released a Small Business Guide to help you put in place some basic online security practices to protect your business. The guide was developed in collaboration with Australia Post, ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac and Telstra, and can be found at www.staysmartonline.gov.au/smallbusinessguide.
 
Stay Smart Online also has a free email Alert Service for people who want to keep up‑to‑date with current online threats and how to address them.  To sign up for the free Alert Service and for further information visit the website at www.staysmartonline.gov.au.

Life Saving Victoria has launched its 'Every Day Life Saver' app! Transforming the way safety education is taught, the app uses gamification to make learning water safety, emergency response and CPR more engaging.

Targeted at Year 7 & 8 students, the online game takes 40-60 minutes to complete, and can be played on a PC, laptop or tablet.

To download the App from the Google Play and iTunes stores, visit: www.everydaylifesaver.com.au

A Phoenix-Ariz. company raised more than $400,000 on Kickstarter to put a solar powered pool cleaner into production.

Solar Pool Technologies launched the crowd-funding campaign on July 30 with the goal of raising $315,000. The project exceeded that goal with $408,078 from 758 backers by the time the campaign closed on Sept. 12.

The money will be used to produce the Solar-Breeze NX, an upgraded version of the original Solar-Breeze.

Read more HERE

Business Development / Account Management

• Be part of a great team
• Innovative product range

Work with a market leader in a fast paced, dynamic environment. BioLab is seeking another high performing individual to join our Sales Division servicing Western and Central Victoria.

 Key elements of the role include:

• Work in partnership with key clients
• Develop and implement local sales and marketing initiatives
• Work autonomously to deliver business growth strategies

The ideal candidate will have:

• A confident, consultative approach
• Previous experience managing multiple clients
• A focus on delivering results

Send application and resume to BiolabAUAP@biolabinc.com subject heading: BDM Victoria

All pools built in Tasmania should be subject to mandatory fencing laws, a coroner has said.

Coroner Simon Cooper made the recommendation as part of his findings into the 2014 drowning of a four-year-old Launceston boy in his grandparents' backyard pool.

The pool, which was built 10 years before pool fencing laws were introduced in Tasmania in 1994, had a solar dome cover.

The coroner found that the boy, referred to by the coroner as J, had fallen though the cover after climbing to the top of it. The boy's grandparents realised he was missing 45 minutes after he told them he was going outside to play.

One of the neighbours called in to search for him spotted a tear in the pool's padlocked cover. The child was found in the seven-metre pool but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

"I find that [the boy] climbed to the top of the pool cover and fell through it into the pool where he drowned," coroner cooper said. Coroner Cooper said he was an active, adventurous and inquisitive little boy who loved to play outdoors and climb.

To read more of the article click HERE

2016

NEW Consumer Guide & Member Directory published – Friday 5 February

Pool & Spa Expo + Outdoor Living at MCEC (Summer Show) – Friday 5 - Sunday 7 February

2016 Awards of Excellence Awards Entries Opening – Monday 22 February

Country Chapter Training Echuca – Tuesday 1 & Wednesday 2 March

Country Chapter Meeting – Wednesday 2 March

What Is The Pool & Spa Industry? A Vital Industry Overview – Thursday 3 March

Contract Training – Wednesday 9 March

Chris Dorrity Memorial Golf Day – Friday 11 March

Portable Spa Technician – Wednesday 16 March

Retail Best Practice – Monday 4 April

Hydraulics – Thursday 14 & Friday 15 April  

2016 Awards of Excellence Entries Close – Friday 15 April

Pool Construction Essentials – Wednesday 20 April

Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner Bookings Open – Friday 29 April

Chemistry Basic – Tuesday 10 May

Chemistry Advanced – Thursday 12 and Friday 13 May

Past Presidents & Life Member's Lunch – Friday 20 May

Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner Bookings Close – Friday 3 June

FREE OH&S Session – Thursday 9 June

White Card Training (Construction Induction) – Friday 10 June

Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner – Saturday 25 June

SPASA 2017 Advertising Offer Launch – Monday 1 August

Pool Construction Essentials – Tuesday 9 August

Contract Training – Wednesday 10 August

Spa & Pool Show at MCEC (Winter Show) – Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 August

Hydraulics – Tuesday 16 & Wednesday 17 August

Splash! Pool & Spa Show (QLD) – Wednesday 17th & Thursday 18th August

Chemistry Basic – Friday 19 August

Chemistry Advanced – Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 August

FREE OH&S Session – Thursday 8 September

White Card Training (Construction Induction) – Friday 9 September

SPASA Board Nominations – Wednesday 14 September - Friday 30 September

SPASA Board Ballot – Friday 7 October - Friday 4 November

SPASA 2016 Advertising Offer Close – Friday 28 October

2016 AGM – Wednesday 9 November

2017

Pool & Spa Show at MCEC (Summer Show) – Friday 3 - Sunday 5 February

Spa & Pool Show at MCEC (Winter Show) – Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 August

2018

Pool & Spa Show at MCEC (Summer Show) – Friday 9 - Sunday 11 February

Spa & Pool Show at MCEC (Winter Show) – Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 August