Community Development - City of Stirling

Community Development
Building
OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT
To provide a Building Control Service for the City
of Stirling.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS
Record level of construction activity in excess of
$250 million
MAJOR ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE
AND/OR EXPECTED OUTCOME:
Major item of expenditure – salaries
DIFFICULTIES/CHALLENGES
ENCOUNTERED - PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS:
High levels of building activity resulting in staff
shortages.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
INITIATIVES;
Improved quality control through the
assessment process
SWIMMING POOLS
The State Government promulgated legislation
under Section 245A of the Local Government
Act on January 11, 1991 requiring all local
authorities to inspect every private swimming
pool within their municipal district at least once
before July 1, 1992 and then periodically at least
once in every four-year period.
Prior to the introduction of the State
Government Legislation in Western Australia 10
deaths occurred in 1988 of children aged 0 to 4
years, five deaths in 1989 and eight more deaths
in 1990 prompting the government to amend the
Private Swimming Pool Fencing Legislation.
Statistics indicated that after implementation
and completion of the first round of private
swimming pool inspections, infant deaths in
private swimming pools reduced to only one in
1993 and three in 1994.
In the year July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999, two
deaths occurred within the City of Stirling, the
first being an elderly gentleman and the second,
a four-year-old boy. Both cases were the subject
of a coronial investigation. Pool security was not
considered to be a contributing factor in either
of the deaths.
Two rounds of the Private Swimming Pool
Inspection Program have been completed with
the third and current round under way. This
round is scheduled to be completed on or
before June 30, 2000 and within statutory
requirements.
The third round of the Private Swimming Pool
Inspection program began on July 1, 1997 and
is due for completion by June 30, 2000.
Number of pools estimated at
commencement of the third round
of the Inspection Program 7,771
Number of new pool applications
processed 204
Number of pools removed or cancelled
(July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999) 76
Total number of pools inspected to
June 30, 1999 5,041
Generally, problems related to the improper
maintenance of self-closing gates and difficulty
of gaining access to some properties.
A small number of owners required repeated
visits to ensure remedial works were undertaken.
For the first time, pool owners received a Pool
Inspection Levy of $10 included on their rates
notice. This fee will be charged each year over
the four-year inspection period to cover the full
cost of the inspection of $40.
This billing method has significantly reduced the
The construction
of Innaloo
Central Shopping
Centre saw
shops being
leased in record
time, continuing
Stirling’s
phenomenal
growth.
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