Each issue, SPLASH! provides Quick Links so you can find more information on a topic or access important downloads. Here are the Quick Links from the December 2008/January 2009 issue.

 

The link for the Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) application guidelines from the Pay Small Business on Time article (p9) is here.

 

Download the NSPI Safety Suction Guide (p23).

 

Access the World Aquatic Health Conference online tutorials (p13).

 

Download the Your Home Renovators’ Guide and Technical Manual (p14).

 

The new and interesting websites (p25-26) are the National Regional Profile, Estimating Network, Poolside and Zodiac.

 

Guidelines for the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) from the story on Rudd’s $300m (p51). 

 

Download the SPASA information sheet on equipotential bonding from the story on high electrical currents in Gold Coast swimming pools (p51).

According to Gary Munson, rumours of Premium Quality’s demise are vastly overstated.
 

Munson almost paraphrases Mark Twain to say that rumours of Premium Quality’s imminent closure are greatly exaggerated. “Rumours are rumours,” Munson says. “We had an incredibly bad year last year. We’ve had to reorganise ourselves, and I’ve changed the structure of the company. Where I’ve had distributors, I’ve offered the staff some partnerships in places like Melbourne. That’s generated more income and in Sydney I’ve taken on a partner.

 

“It’s been tough, but the people who’ve been spreading the rumours look pretty silly now, because we were supposed to be out of business four months ago, and here we are, still going.”

 

Munson says that there were a number of factors affecting the company’s performance last year, including high debt levels and an unsustainable pricing model, which were already having a negative effect when the company was hit first by Chinese price hikes, then compounded by the falling dollar. They found themselves in the situation where they’d accepted forward orders based on prices they’ve been given, then two weeks later would get a 44 per cent increase in the cost from China. And each time they went back, the prices went up again.

 

Six years ago, Munson had a health issue, and the family moved a manager into the business. “He did a marvellous job,” says Munson. “Growing the business from an $8.5 million company into a $22 million company. But unfortunately the company ran into a loss situation.” Munson managed to cover those losses through his own assets, but the business still had to be straightened out. He says quoting under-cost to get business had delivered them a poor balance sheet. He gives the example of providing national prices for products without sufficiently taking into account delivery costs.

 

“One thing you can’t do is offer country people free-into-store. You can’t build the delivery cost into the price, because then you won’t be competitive in the city. It needs to be a situation where delivery is added, or a customer has to by X amount to get free-into-store.” He quotes the example of a pallet of acid costing $110 to get to a warehouse in Brisbane. The profit would probably be about $1 per item, making it about $196 dollars per pallet. However, the same pallet delivered to Darwin could cost $850. “And we were still selling them for the same price!” he says. “Those contracts have all been reviewed.” Munson is reinvesting in PQ because he believes the company has a future.

 

They had such a great August and September that they’d run short of some bulk products, but he says that by the time this edition of SPLASH! is published, they’ll have a full arsenal of products, including the more profitable blended products.

 

He makes a point of praising his clients, saying that the loyalty of PQ customers has been sensational. Poolwerx in particular has been excellent. Munson says he’d like to give a big thank you to all his loyal customers and suppliers who’ve given unyielding support and are responsible for turning it around from the dark to the light.

The formation of a national peak body for the Australian aquatic industry looks likely to go ahead.

The body, drawn from WA’s LIWA Aquatics, Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) and the various Aquatic and Recreation Institute (ARI) bodies in NSW, SA and Tasmania, will be called the Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFA).

 

ALFA’s aim will be to lobby federal government in conjunction with the State bodies, and promote the aquatics sector as key in getting the community involved in physical activity. The State bodies will remain in place and continue to deal with State authorities. The nuts and bolts of the arrangement are still being worked out, but SPLASH! understands there is a general consensus that the formation of ALFA should go ahead in the very near future, for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

 

splashmagazine.com.au will keep you updated.

Latest pool data shows an 18 per cent decline in new pool approvals over the 12 months to October 2008 compared with the previous 12 months.

 

This conforms with anecdotal evidence which had been suggesting a roughly 20 percent decline due to poor weather and the continuation of concerns about the drought, combined with interest rate concerns earlier in the year, and financial crisis issues later in the year.

 

While the data shows all markets are down, WA has suffered the least setback, down only eight percent, while Qld is down 13 per cent, Victoria down 19 per cent, NSW down 20 per cent and SA down 23 per cent.

 

The figures come from Reed Construction Data (1800 80 60 60).

After the Queensland Coroner published his report on the entrapment death of Amanda Boyce at a Noosa resort, the National Swimming Pool Institute of Australia (NSPI) began work on an Industry Advisory Guide.

The guide has now been released and is available for download from www.splasmagazine.com.au. This report raises several issues of liability risk for builders and service personnel. Barry Mulligan, the principal of Billabong Pool Service and Supplies, was instrumental in getting a Safety Committee together through SPASA Queensland.

 

The co-ordination and publication was taken over by NSPI when it became obvious that these hazards were not restricted solely to Queensland, but were concerns being raised in every state of Australia, New Zealand and the USA. NSPI has been working with APSA in the USA to develop International Agreements and Understandings on these hazards.

 

The objective of the exercise was to create industry awareness, and to foster concepts and techniques to identify and provide solutions for these hazards, particularly for existing facilities (that may have been built prior to any Standards being adopted). The guide doesn’t focus so much on the devices themselves, but more on the outcome. It was put together with input from a number of builders, national manufacturers, national service providers and consultants such as Don Bullock, who spoke at SPLASH! on this topic. 

 

Download the guide here.

Five months after the departure of Brian Hardiman, The Swimming Pool and Spa Association of NSW (SPASA) has appointed a new general manager, Spiros Dassakis.

 

Dassakis will for oversee SPASA and drive the association’s branding, growth and financial development, in addition to managing the trade day and the consumer expo. Dassakis has more than 16 years experience in developing and implementing solutions for a diverse range of private and public companies, including a number of key management roles in construction, property development, hospitality and retail.

 

For the past four years he has been general manager of Landmark Property Group Australia, a property developer with construction arms in NSW and Queensland. Prior to that he had been group operations manager of a large company, overseeing the operations of 32 subsidiaries. Dassakis says he looks forward to promoting SPASA NSW, its members and the industry.

 

“My previous roles across a range of industries have provided me with a strong platform to manage the organisation’s growth and enhance its strong industry presence,” he says.

A series of high electrical readings in Gold Coast public swimming pools has the council mystified.

 

Gold Coast Councillor and Community and Cultural Development chairman Bob La Castra said that consultants have been brought in, and have suggested the higher than acceptable currents might be the to do with the breakdown of the equipotential bonds.

 

However, the council is at a loss to explain why all pools have come back with higher than average readings, even though they were built many years apart and have not been part of an overarching equipment or accessory replacement program.

 

While the consultants attempt to discover the cause of the increased current, the council shut all seven aquatic centres at Helensvale, Miami, Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Palm Beach, Southport and Woongoolba. Councillor La Castra says that they would be shut for at least five weeks (from the time of writing) while investigations are carried out.

 

The closures have created problems as school aquatic events are planned for the end of the school year, while swim clubs and squads are struggling to find a body of water for their training, leading them to search both privately operated pools and even unused school pools for free lanes. The problem has been exacerbated by preparations for both the Pacific School Games in early December, and the Junior Pan Pacs and Youth Olympics in January.

 

SPASA Queensland recently put out a reminder about electrical safety and equipotential bonding of swimming pool cages. With an equipotential bond in place, an earth fault that might cause current to flow back to the point of supply (through reinforced concrete, grates, ladders, fences or even the pool/spa water itself) can be safely diverted. The Electrical Safety Office of Queensland requires that any steel in the pool structural shell, and any steel in the bond beam, deck or surrounds, be electrically bonded together, and bonded to certain other components (ie any other metal object within 3m of the water’s edge). SPASA and the ESO recommend that builders discuss the equipotential bond process required for a specific scope of works with a licensed electrician, then develop and maintain the most appropriate work method and process to ensure that all electrical pool/spa bonding is preformed legally and safely under the contract.

 

Contact SPASA Queensland directly for more information on the equipotential bonding process, or download the SPASA Info Sheet here.

Fair Trading Commissioner Lyn Baker has announced $45,000 funding for Pointsbuild to provide essential training for pool builders.

The funding had been provided through the NSW Office of Fair Trading’s Home Building Grants Program, an annual program that provides funding for education and research projects relating to the home building industry and trades.

 

“The Grants Program also provides financial support to projects that encourage apprenticeships in home building trades,” Baker says. “In the last financial year, the Office of Fair Trading received 6224 complaints relating to the building industry. By supporting education and research projects, Fair Trading is working to reduce the number of complaints and disputes, raise consumer awareness and raise industry standards.

 

“The funding provided to Pointsbuild will enable it to deliver the Basic Legal, Financial & Technical Training Certificate III for pool builders, through its website. This certificate will equip pool builders with technical skills as well as information on risk-averse practices and basic legal and financial information.

 

“Pointsbuild will also use the funds to undertake research into the educational needs of builders and pool builders in order to develop teaching modules that are relevant.” Baker says there is a definite need for this online education program.

 

“Builders are very time-poor and most are reluctant to take time off work to complete training courses,” she says. “With an online education program, they can learn during their spare time. This online program will also benefit those living and working in regional areas that may not be able to physically attend classes.

 

“It is essential that builders get access to training. As part of their licensing requirement, they are obligated to obtain continuing professional development points.”

The first national Environmental Awards for the swimming pool industry have been presented at a gala dinner on the Gold Coast by SPLASH! magazine, as part of SPLASH! Week.

The results were:

Residential Environmental Award (Sponsored by Foundation Sponsor, Sunbather)

Winner: Aquastone

Finalist: Out from the Blue

 

Commercial Environmental Award (Sponsored by Sancell)

Indoor Pool Award: Harry Seidler and Associates

Outdoor Pool Award: SSL

 

Pool Shop Award (Sponsored by Pentair)

Highly Commended: Poolside Frankston

 

Entries for the awards were received from every state in Australia and also from New Zealand.

 

“We were very excited at the quality of the entries,” says SPLASH! Publisher, Simon Cooper. “The aim of these awards was to celebrate and encourage environmental swimming pool design and construction. If our industry is to thrive in these tough times, we need to show the community that we take this issue seriously, and that we are on top of both the perceived and real challenges associated with it.

 

“There’s no point in hoping the issues of water and energy conservation will go away, because they won’t,” he says. “As we can see from the highest levels of government, both water and energy are going to become more expensive and are likely to become more highly regulated in the future. The SPLASH! Environmental Awards is one way of encouraging solutions, and acknowledging those businesses trying to overcome those challenges.”

 

Many Australasian innovations were featured in the projects entered in the Awards, and a high degree of creative thought by local designers, architects and builders was also evident. Cooper thanked the judges, who were experts in their fields, including Julian Gray, CEO, Smart Approved WaterMark; David Hallet, General Manager, Archicentre; Peter Seebacher, Australian Greenhouse Office; and Alan Lewis, Pool Consultant, Aquazure; as well as the SPLASH! editor, Chris Maher, who facilitated the judging process.

 

He also pointed out that the awards would not have been possible without the support of the sponsors, including Foundation Sponsor, Sunbather (who was involved with the Awards from the very beginning), Pentair and Sancell.

 

For more info click here.

The codes from the story Sartor Leaves a Legacy on page 7 are available here.

The link from the story on page 12 about the Diving Board Safety Network.

 

A link to the ALGA’s submission on the Housing Affordability Fund from page 16.

 

The story on the the SPLASH! Environmental Awards in the Sunday Telegraph (mentioned in SPLASH!, page 46).

 

Link to the SPASA Victoria website where you can download a copy of the WNP logo (from page 20).

 

A link to the Aquatic Facility Safety Assessments report mentioned on page 56.

David Crowley, business manager at chemical importer Redox, has contacted SPLASH! to provide more details on the price increases from China.

 

He says that the Chinese excise was imposed on fertilizer compounds as an attempt to slow the export of these products from China, and therefore aid the local farmers during their peak spring growing season. Many compounds used in the Pool Industry (UV stabiliser, SDIC, TCICA) are actually derived from urea which is a fertilizer compound, and were affected by the excise.

 

He says that some of the big price jumps seen on these compounds were more related to the price spike on crude oil, as urea is produced from a base component called naphtha, which is cracked off the crude oil stream. He sees there could be some hope for reduced prices as the oil price comes down, but that is likely to be counteracted by the falling Aussie dollar. The transport restrictions mentioned in the previous issue of SPLASH! were related to the movement of Dangerous Goods, and have now been lifted. However, the removal of the export rebate (which saw the cost of some pool chemicals jump by 13 per cent) remains in place.

 

Crowley sees the potential for prices to drop as and if demand contracts in key markets, particularly the United States, freeing up availability in China.

Western Australia lost 30 per cent of its gas supply following an explosion at the Varanus Island hub in June. While the facility has since been repaired, full production is not due to be returned until December at the earliest.

 

This has led to a gas shortage at many heated aquatic centres in the west. In response, the Leisure Institute of Western Australia (LIWA) developed a schedule for facility managers to minimise gas usage within their centres.

 

At present, most centres are at Level One, which includes reducing water temperature to minimum levels, maximising use of heat blankets, reducing hot water temperatures in change rooms, reducing air temperatures and maximising the use of natural light. Various pools are using different methods/restrictions to minimise their overall usage.

 

For example, the Beatty Park Leisure Centre has opted to: 1. Close the outdoor 5m deep diving pool and leave the thermal covers on; 2. Reduce the shower temperature by 3.5 degrees; 3. Reduce the indoor air temperature by 1.5 degrees; 4. Reduce the 50m outdoor pool temperature by 2 degrees; 5. As well as reducing overall lighting throughout the centre as the state electricity supply was being affected by the gas crisis, with regards to turbine gas supply.

 

Levels Two and Three are seen to be last resorts and include limiting open times and access, cancelling targeted programs and diverting services to the nearest open facility. For more information, email Jeff Fondacaro at jeff.fondacaro@vincent.wa.gov.au.

In-floor cleaning manufacturer Paramount Pool & Spa Systems has joined with Poolrite to distribute and promote the Cyclean range of in-floor cleaners to both the concrete and fibreglass markets.

Paramount has been at the forefront of in-floor cleaning for more than 30 years, manufacturing in the US for distribution throughout the world. Dan Kwaczynski, General Manager for Poolrite, says that in-floor is a premium product and the Paramount/Poolrite relationship will stand both companies in good stead for the future.

Queensland is going to be hosting a consumer pool show again.

 

“We haven’t had one for a while,” says David Close of SPASA Queensland. “So we decided it was time to test the market again.”

 

The show will be titled the Pool & Lifestyle Expo, and will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre, Southbank, from June 26 to June 28, 2009. For more information or to book a stand, contact SPASA.

Lo-Chlor has extended its global expansion with two new facilities: one in Arizona, USA, and the other in Staffordshire, UK.

 

The establishment of Lo-Chlor Limited in the UK provides the company with a hub to better service the European Market, where Lo-Chlor has experienced tremendous growth over the past two years. Lo-Chlor Chemicals currently has distribution in the Netherlands, Spain and the south of France, and distance had been a key factor limiting potential growth. With the new facility in the UK, they can now offer the same quality products without the delay of shipping goods from Sydney.

 

Lo-Chlor Chemicals had been trading in the US for more than 10 years but in January 2006 the company split from its long standing business partner, Team Horner. Lo-Chlor Chemicals LLC was then established on the West Coast of the United States, in November 2007. Lo-Chlor has long been a well-respected and well-known brand in the US market and has established a good name for itself over the past decade.

 

Lo-Chlor Chemicals LLC will be servicing all parts of the US other than Florida and has provisions for supplying its specialty range into Canada some time in 2009. Lo-Chlor has for many years been chipping away at the export market and is now Australia’s largest exporter of specialty chemicals.

 

The two new facilities are:

Lo-Chlor Chemicals LLC (USA) 1959 S. Power Road, Suite 103, PMB 168 MESA, Arizona 85206, USA;

Lo-Chlor Limited (UK) Alrewas House, Main Street, Burton on Trent, Alrewas, Staffordshire, England.

Each issue, SPLASH! provides links so you can find more information on a topic or access important downloads. Here are the links from the August-September 2008 issue.

1. Links relating to the housing affordability story (from SPLASH! page 7): the Senate Select Committee on Housing Affordability’s report “A good house is hard to find” can be found here. And a link to a Housing Affordability Fund consultation paper can be found here.

 

2. For the tax decision tools and superannuation obligation calculators for the building industry (from SPLASH! page 9), click here.

 

3. For the information on and the ability to offer feedback to the South East Queensland Water Strategy (from SPLASH! page 9), click here. 

 

4. For the discussion document on the changes to the NZ Fencing of Swimming Pools Act (from SPLASH! page 16), click here.

 

5. For a copy of the Towards Urban Water Reform discussion paper from the Productivity Commission (from SPLASH! page 22), click here.

 

6. For the report into changing attitudes to recycled water from the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment (from SPLASH! page 22), click here. 

 

7. For information on the fundraising efforts for Julian from Wellington (from SPLASH! page 27), click here.

 

8. For the full presentations given at the 2008 Australian Water Safety Conference (from SPLASH! page 29) click here.

 

9. A PDF of the Swimming Pool Standards Committee (SPSC) questionnaire regarding the efficiency and performance of swimming pool pumps (from SPLASH! page 44) can be downloaded here. Print out it out and send the completed questionnaire to Peter Seebacher, AusEng Pty Ltd, 28 Jackson Crescent, Pennant Hills, NSW, 2120, or scan it and email it to to pjs@auseng.com.au.

10. For a chance to WIN a dozen bottles of of wine, fill out the SPLASH! Readers Survey. A link to a PDF of the SPLASH! Magazine readers survey (from SPLASH! page 93) can be downloaded here. You will have to print it, fill it out, then fax it to 02 9660 9786 or scan it and email it to chrismaher@intermedia.com.au. Please read terms and conditions on the PDF. For privacy information click here.

The swimming pool and spa industry, though the active participation of individual members and SPASA NSW, has been in discussions with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) regarding the delays in labelling pool chemicals.

There has been hope that the use of online templates would streamline the process of applying for labels, which would have a benefit for many members of the industry from chemical suppliers to pool shops and ultimately end-users. However, glitches have been reportedly found in the process, delaying the successful implementation of this scheme.

SPLASH! will report more in following issues as the situation develops.

Waterco has sold the part of its chemical business which supplies supermarkets, mass merchants and hardware customers. It was bought by Pool Resources in June 2008.

Waterco has retained the part of its chemical business which supplies independent pool stores and the Swimart chain. As part of the sale, Pool Resources has become  responsible for the Bankstown site and will take over the lease. In a statement, Waterco said it would like to thank its chemical customers for their support over the years and is confident that Pool Resources will build on this strong relationship.

 

Waterco remains a supplier of swimming pool equipment and accessories to the supermarket, hardware and mass merchant stores.

Village Roadshow has announced it will spend up to $70 million to buy the 24ha Aussie World site on the Sunshine Coast, and turn it into a state-of-the-art waterpark. Village Roadshow owns Warner Village Theme Parks which includes the Gold Coast’s Wet’n’Wild waterpark.

 

The new waterpark is to be called Wet’n’Wild Sunshine Coast. It is anticipated the revamped park will employ up to 300 people. This is the second recent waterpark proposal for the area, after an application was lodged by Adventura Waterpark to build a $110 million waterpark at Caloundra. However, the parks are in close proximity of each other, raising questions about the viability of two waterparks in the area. Village believes they have the advantage, as the Aussie World site has existing infrastructure, is zoned for entertainment and has an on-site spring, providing a ready source of potable water.

 

It is anticipated Wet’n’Wild Sunshine Coast will have 10 new water rides including an uphill water roller coaster and a tornado bowl slide. It is expected to be opened in time for the 2009/2010 summer season. Adventura Waterpark believes it will be first out of the blocks, however, remaining on track for a mid-2009 opening.

SPASA Victoria has launched the Water Neutral Pool campaign to encourage and recognise the building of water-friendly pools – which can even mean harvesting up to 6000L of water each year for use in the garden and around the home.

SPASA Victoria is publically calling on all pool owners to take three easy steps to make their pools water-wise. General Manager Brendan Watkins says the Water Neutral Pools program can deliver environmental, economic, and most importantly water savings. “This is about setting a new standard in responsible pool ownership. Water Neutral Pools utilise both water harvesting and water saving devices to minimise water use,” he says. “A Water Neutral Pool has a water tank to collect rainwater used to top up the pool, a cover to conserve water lost through evaporation and a backwash minimisation system to prevent excessive backwashing.

“Each year a Water Neutral Pool can harvest thousands of litres of water that can be reused around the garden and in the laundry.”

Well-known environmentalist and meteorologist Rob Gell assessed the Water Neutral Pool program and participated in the program launch in April. Watkins urges SPASA members to get behind this program and promote the Water Neutral Pools program to consumers. He says they should work with consumers as they build a Water Neutral Pool or retrofit an existing pool to ensure compliance. He also suggests members register their own pools.

“Knowing that many SPASA members are proud pool owners, we are encouraging them to ‘put their best foot forward’ and register their own Water Neutral Pool. It’s easy, because SPASA members have the ability to self-assess.

“All they have to do is complete the Certification Form telling SPASA of the three vital features installed. Then SPASA will send a free fence plaque and Certificate of Compliance.”

 

You can access a certificate here.

Mike Hammon of the Great Lakes Pool Service in Forster, NSW, has come across a couple of potty skimmers on his rounds: one had already been repaired, with the cover plastic-welded in place. A second one, however, had not been repaired and represented a danger to children.

 

Here is what he did to repair it:
1. Measured up the opening in the pool shell.
2. Found a deck lid (in this case a Hydro Baker one the owner already had).
3. Took the measurements and the deck lid to a local metal fabricator.
4. An aluminium checker plate was made with a hole to perfectly fit the deck lid, with four countersunk screw holes.
5. Ground the edges and round off the corners of the metal to make them smooth and safe.
6. He then drilled four matching holes into the shell, filled with these holes with plugs and securely affixed the metal plate to the shell using 10gauge stainless steel screws.
7. Put the