How to ensure pond safety for children?

[wonthaggi90]

 

Wondering what some ideas are to make this pond safe for children. It’s quite large, don’t have the exact measurements. We have a 2 year old and another baby on the way. Is there any good ideas out there for us? 

[JacobZ]

Hi @wonthaggi90,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

While the National Construction Code (NCC) and the Australian Standards for pool fencing (AS 1926) don’t directly cover ponds, they serve as a reference for pond safety, especially if ponds are over certain depths.

Many states suggest that ponds deeper than 300 mm should be treated with the same caution as pools. Although not always legally required, this is a recommended safety standard in households with young children.

I'd suggest starting by contacting your local council to enquire whether there are any regulations in your area that you should adhere to.

Ultimately, the best method of making this pool safe for your kids is to install a physical barrier. We offer a range of pool fencing that is compliant with AS1926 which would be a good option for you.

It looks like a tricky area, so contacting a pool fencing professional is likely the best way to go.

For added safety, you could add some solid structures within the pond that in the event of your children getting in could be used to self-save. 

Allow me to tag @Jewelleryrescue, @Dave-1 and @Nailbag to see if they have any ideas.

Jacob

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @wonthaggi90 

Nice  rural  looking pond by the way .

As @JacobZ   best to  get guidance  from your local area as to what may suit your situation.   Dont dob yourself into council yet ( do some  low key enquiries ) into to your pond  as  this may require you to have yearly costly inspections  just to see if you gate works  well  etc I am all for kid safety but not fees .  

Some areas with large water bodies indicate you  need to fence your house in full rather  than you water  body.     So I am saying potentially as a smaller option  just   for your  young ones make a  fenced kid safe play area at your house using pool fencing and pool gate at  your house  back door leads into until your kids big  enough to teach them to swim might be the ultimate safe  measure.  Plus a  play area might  be a clear  area so any snakes around might be ease  spotted if  toys  kept reasonably tidy so  consider lining any  fence with snake/ rodent  2mm mesh wire. A double safty feature.

Pool fencing is as cheap as $125 a panel 2.4 m and posts are easy to install the hardest part is hanging the pool gate .  I just installed two sections of pool fence asa  saftey rail on a  raised 400mm garden bed for elderly fall protection.  I think you could do it with a  little DIY study.

Clearly  too fence around a  pond in dense bush is near mission impossible given  kids  can use nearby brush  as ladders so a  whole clearing around the pond  would  be needed.

Native and domestic animals will need that water  to live so you cant fence them out of the pond directly you could be fencing out local populations of koalas or many other species.

Simplest and best solution

I would  make a safe  play area for them the back door opens  into so they  can  play inside and out and not have to lock the back door to them playing. 

The pond and snake lessons  can  come  when the older.

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @wonthaggi90 

Ponds in my area if over 200mm deep need fencing so I would check out your local councils website. They also do checking via googlemaps, lol yep. And I was informed by them that I had a pool even

Wisest move to fence it in, the feeling if you hadnt and something sad happens is off the scale. I like @JacobZ's ideas for fencing as it will blend in especially being black and is easy enought to install.

With the pond Id actually go for a further back then closer to the water, it may use some extra pool panels but the view of your pond is worth keeping pristine. The councils website will have whatever rules that need to be followed listed.  It mainly comes down to no one being able to climb it, physicallly solid. and nothing inside or outside that can be used to climb it.

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @wonthaggi90 

Personally I would treat this as a pool and follow the guidelines for fencing as @JacobZ as mentioned. Remember pool fencing is not just to protect your own children but those of your neighbours. The range of ProtectorA1 panels he linked is a very easy and cost effective DIY solution. However there is also an abundance of 2nd hand compliance fencing also available which would be where I would be looking at. Last summer I installed approved glass panels for a mate of mine that retailed for over $2K that he bought for $250. We bought new spigots for another $200 and reinforcing timbers for under the deck for similar.

I like this style of fencing for your application as there is not cleaning maintenance and still allows the family to enjoy semi-uninterupted view of the pond and wildlife.

Regards, Nailbag