12:00a.m. 5th January 2009

| By Rae Wilson

Eleven-year-old Tom Chambers is all hot and bothered with nowhere to cool off after the council forced his family to empty their pool. Photo: Brett Wortman /180205

A Bli Bli father is outraged after being told he must pay a $460 building permit fee and have an architect draw up plans each time he erects a backyard pool for his kids.

Stephen Chambers said council officers turned up at his home on Christmas Eve and told him to dismantle the pool, which is five metres in diameter and 90cm high.

"A fencing permit I can understand but the building permit is ridiculous," he said.

"They tell me that because it holds so much water it does not class as a portable pool.

"They said it would cost me $3000 to $4000 to legally put up the $300 pool.

"It's just madness what they would put us through.

"We've had a pool out the back for nearly 10 years.

"We've had this one for three years. I put it up in summer and pull it down for winter."

Mr Chambers said his yard was fenced so no children could get in and his own children were 11 and 13 "so it's not like babies are running around".

"I went out on Christmas Eve and spent $200 on temporary pool fencing but that still wasn't acceptable because I didn't have a building permit.

"I know you've got to have rules but where does it stop? It's out of control."

Mr Chambers said council officers, who would return tomorrow to see if he had complied by pulling the pool down, had told him they would fine him $550 if he had not complied.

He said he questioned one of the officers about the Kings Beach ocean pool without success.

"He's been warning people that they need a building permit but Kings Beach doesn't need a fence," he said.

"He reckons their rules are different."

Mr Chambers said he was now considering putting an in ground swimming pool in his backyard because it would probably work out cheaper than the portable pool he puts up for his kids each summer.

A council spokesperson said the State Government’s pool laws applied to not only the traditional backyard pool but also many of the smaller pools that are popular purchases at this time of year.

"Council officers are required to enforce State Legislation and they are encouraging people to make sure they are aware of the laws – and how important it is that the appropriate safety measures are in place,'' a statement from the council said.

"Under the State’s legislation, the only pools that do not require pool fencing are portable wading pools that cannot be filled to a depth of more than 450mm and have a volume no more than 2,000 litres and have no filtration system.

"People buying a pool are advised to check whether they need fencing or a permit for the pool itself. Further information is available from Council’s Customer Service Centre on 5475 7272 or at www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.''