MPBAA Media Centre

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Last Updated: 08 October 2020

Please read the below information to help clarify the current government restrictions around pool service and maintenance activity in metropolitan Melbourne.

Sector Guidance for Construction Businesses Within Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria

Can pool maintenance businesses operate under the Second Step?
Pool maintenance for private homes is only able to occur for essential or urgent repairs. The worker requires a Permitted Worker Permit.

What constitutes an emergency or safety reason for repairs?
Emergency repairs are urgent repairs and maintenance which must be undertaken to ensure safe and secure use and occupancy of properties and work premises, fulfil make good obligations, prevent individuals (including workers) from injury, to prevent property damage or damage to goods, or for urgent repair to an essential service (for example for example fixing a roof or restoring an electricity connection). If you need to have a tradesperson over, maintain your distance, wear a face covering and minimise physical contact through contactless payment or another non-cash method.

As advised to SPASAVIC by email from the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions on 1 October 2020:

"In the recently published Reopening Roadmap, pool cleaning and maintenance has been classified as 'Repairs, maintenance and cleaning' and is only permitted to operate for emergency and safety reasons, including essential maintenance, in Metropolitan Melbourne's Second Step of reopening. Essential maintenance refers to work that if not performed, would lead to the emergence of substantial safety hazards or risk to the community; this applies to both public and private areas."

The Department of Health and Human Services - Homes and property: Metropolitan Melbourne Second Step:

Can maintenance occur under current restrictions?
Yes. Maintenance and repair activities for inhabited properties can be completed but only if it is urgent and essential. People coming into your home must wear a face mask. You should always keep at least 1.5 metres distance between you and the tradesperson.

Landscaping and gardening services that can be conducted entirely outside safely, contact-free and by one person operating alone at all times, such as basic landscaping, lawn mowing, tree lopping and gutter cleaning are permitted, subject to restrictions.

Work at uninhabited properties must be undertaken in accordance with the construction sector guidance. Workers should abide by their employers’ COVIDSafe plans when performing emergency repair work.

What is considered an emergency repair for a tradesperson to enter my home?

Emergency repairs or urgent and essential repairs are those which must be undertaken to keep members of the household safe, to prevent members of the household from injury, to prevent property damage or damage to goods, or for urgent repair to an essential service (for example a water connection or internet service).

If you need to have a tradesperson enter your home, maintain your distance, wear a face mask and minimise physical contact by paying with a direct bank transfer or contactless payment.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

Victoria Police can issue on the spot fines of up to $1,652 for individuals and up to $9,913 for businesses for:

• Refusing or failing to comply with the emergency directions
• Refusing or failing to comply with a public health risk direction
• Refusing or failing to comply with the Public Health Directions to provide information

Victoria Police can issue on the spot fines of up to $4,957 for people who live in metropolitan Melbourne who are found to be in regional Victoria without a lawful reason. This fine will also be issued if you gather outdoors in groups larger than five people, you have visitors to your home without a lawful reason, or you visit someone in their home without a lawful reason.

Fines of up to $20,000 for individuals and $100,000 for businesses are possible through the court system. Individuals who do not wear a face mask and do not have a lawful reason can be fined $200.

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Last Updated: 30 September 2020

Business Victoria have updated their Industry Restart Guidelines - Small-scale Construction FAQs which includes updated information on:

• Landscaping/gardening information - Page 7
• Pool Maintenance - Page 10
• Defined emergencies or safety reasons - Page 13
• Information on Solar - Page 12

Specific guidance on Pool Maintenance is provided under 'Permitted Activities' on Page 10:

Can pool maintenance businesses operate under the Second Step?
Pool maintenance for private homes is only able to occur for essential or urgent repairs. The worker requires a Permitted Worker Permit.

Industry Restart Guidelines Small-scale Construction FAQs

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Last Updated: 29 September 2020

SPASAVIC and LVML have again urged the Victorian Government to review the easing of restrictions to allow outdoor work with zero contact under COVID-Safe protocols as a matter of urgency for:

• Pool Service Technicians who must be allowed on an occupied property to maintain the health and safety of pool water
• Pool Builders who form a sub-sector of the Construction industry, to carry out their duties in a completely contact-free manner and must be allowed to re-start incomplete projects
• Landscape Builders, who under the technical wording of the latest announcement can work on their own, however two people are required on site to comply with OH&S regulations, effectively negating this

These rulings are totally inconsistent and unfair on everyone working in the pool and landscaping industry who take their COVID-Safe work environment seriously.

Read SPASAVIC & LVML Second Advocacy Letter to Government HERE

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Last Updated: 27 September 2020

The Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Victoria (SPASAVIC) is extremely disappointed with the Premier’s announcement today regarding the construction of small-scale projects, where small teams operate in a completely Covid-Safe environment, with no contact with the community.

SPASAVIC urges the Government to provide further clarity on when small-scale construction will be allowed to proceed in backyards whilst people reside at home, well away from the construction site.

Along with construction, pool service technicians work outside of the home and can carry out their duties in a completely contact-free manner. Under the guidelines given to sole traders for garden maintenance, it is absurd to assert that pool service technicians cannot operate under the same guidelines and totally inconsistent and unfair on other sole operators who take their COVID-Safe work environment seriously.

CEO of SPASAVIC, Chris Samartzis says, "We implore the Victorian Government to consider the COVID-Safe work environment that our entire industry has adopted during this pandemic and allow residential pool and spa construction and maintenance activities to re-commence.

The guidelines around sole traders are totally inconsistent and discriminate against one industry from another.”

SPASAVIC Media Release - SPASAVIC Implores Government to Clarify and Re-Consider Construction Industry Activity - 27 September 2020

For further information please contact:
Kathryn Barres – Marketing Communications Co-ordinator
Telephone: 03 8526 7799 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For Media Comment: Chris Samartzis, CEO SPASAVIC – 0418 443 758

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Last Updated: 18 September 2020

Did you know that SPASAVIC Pool Shops are open for business?

SPASAVIC Pool shop members can help you with:

• Contact-free pool water testing
• Online sales of pool chemicals & equipment
• Click & collect orders

SPASAVIC Pool Service & Maintenance members are also available for emergency pool maintenance and repair works.

Find a SPASAVIC Pool Shop or Pool Service & Maintenance member HERE

Listen to our radio advertisement HERE

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Last Updated: 11 September 2020

SPASAVIC and Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers (LVML) have collaborated to send a unified message to the Victorian State Government in response to its proposed roadmap out of the current COVID-19 Restrictions.

Our combined message is simple: 

"Landscapers, Pool & Spa Builders and Pool Technicians need to be allowed to continue delivering essential well-being benefits whilst maintaining employment for thousands of Victorians from September 14th 2020".

SPASAVIC & LVML Letter to Government - Advocacy Letter to Government Re: The Impact of COVID-19 on Our Two Vital Industries - 10 September 2020

SPASAVIC & LVML Media Release - Advocacy Letter to Government Re: The Impact of COVID-19 On Our Two Vital Industries 9 September 2020