Temperatures rising in the big pool debate

With climatologists warning our summers are going to get ever hotter and the drought seemingly endless, there is a lively debate in progress over the future of backyard swimming pools.

On the one hand rising temperatures mean they will have a longer ‘season’ in more temperate areas of Australia. On the other, water restrictions are making continued use of them increasingly problematical.

 Pool owners now have to consult their local authority over just what they can and can’t do. In some areas it is illegal to fill pools without a permit, in others permission has to be sought to empty them. Put that alongside maintenance costs and safety requirements and it is not surprising that some homeowners are having second thoughts about whether it is worth the trouble.

 On balance it is a question of lifestyle. For growing families there is no better way of keeping the kids amused than a pool on a summer’s evening after a baking day. Weary wage-earners enjoy its cooling and calming effect, and friends and neighbours will eagerly accept invitations to summer barbecues if a pool is part of the attraction.

 On the inevitable downside, very young children and weak swimmers need constant supervision; hassles about maintenance produce stress, and pool parties can give the hosts palpitations over the potentially lethal combination of alcohol, glass and deep water. As one former owner says “It’s rather like boats – better to have a friend who owns one than owning one yourself.”

 Real estate agents have mixed feelings about pools. In larger, more expensive properties they are expected and not to have one can be a drawback. However, in more modest dwellings, where the pool takes up most of the back garden, it can be a disadvantage.

 For those who might want to get rid of their pool, the obvious solution is to fill it in. Replacing it with lawn or other plantings will still require some water – a paved courtyard is another possibility. One enterprising former owner turned his into a subterranean garden office, where only the chalet-style roof rises above the old lip of the pool.

 Whatever your feelings, consult an HIA builder or landscape designer for options. If you can’t bear the thoughts of doing without, HIA pool designers will be happy to offer suggestions for minimising water loss and maintenance costs.

 Need a tradesperson? Find an HIA professional convenient to you at tradebuild.com.au