The number of swimming pool owners who need to apply for special exemptions could be reduced with recent developments around the interpretation of legislative framework for providing barriers.
In 2006, a new standard, NZS8500, was introduced to the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 and the Government was now considering making the standard "a cited document under the Building Act 2004 and the FSPA", a report by Lakes Environmental building manager Peter Laurenson said.
Queenstown Lakes District Council's community services committee meeting heard applications would be made in compliance with the standard and dealt with through building consent rather than through the committee, in an effort to reduce the number of applicants who need to apply for any special exemptions.
"These would only be necessary to be considered by the committee should they fall outside of the design parameters of standard NZS8500," the report said.
Councillor Cath Gilmour said "my feeling is that it's aiming at the right end and that is safety".
An application for an exemption was swiftly accepted.
