There’s little wonder why Australia has one of the largest percentages of private pool ownership in the southern hemisphere. Our country is hot, arid, and in the summer months, quite inhospitable to anyone not lucky enough to live near a source of water. In Brisbane, the average temperatures during the summer months are around 30 degrees Celsius, while in Perth, the maximum heat levels sometimes approach the values of 38-39 degrees.
NSW is a bit cooler than other parts of Australia, and that’s due to its latitude. That said, heatwaves have started to become a massive issue even in previously cooler regions, with temperatures of 40 degrees, now becoming something of a common occurrence. In fact, only a couple of days ago, on January 10th, the maximum temperature in Sydney peaked at 42.2 °C, marking a record for this year. Clearly, Australians have a good reason for investing in pools, and for this reason, no less than one in seven Aussies live in a home adjacent to one.
Plus, there are also the financial benefits. The average house price in a city like Melbourne is around $1 million. Pools, when properly maintained, can add between 10% to 15% to the median real estate value of a property. So, considering that you can often build a luxury pool with less than $75,000, the potential ROI of one is hard to ignore. Pools, outside of their recreational benefits, can act as genuine investments. That said, there are also things to consider before going for one, especially when it comes to security. For example, investing in slat fencing in Sydney is not an option, but rather a requirement, as the last thing you want is to put the safety of your loved ones in jeopardy.
It's a Compliance Obligation
In Sydney, pool fencing is legally mandated by the Swimming Pools Act of 1992, and works in conjecture with the 1926.1 Australian Standard for pool-specific safety barriers. The goal of the act was to limit the risks of drowning for small children left unsupervised and to limit unrestricted access to private pools and spas, for installations in which lifeguards are not present. Under section 7 of the Act, owners must ensure that their pools are surrounded at all times by child-resistant barriers, such as aluminium slate fencing and that these barriers are kept in a good state of repair.
As for the technical requirements for the pool-designed aluminium slat fencing, the effective height of the barrier, as measured from the ground level of the pool, must be of at least 1.2 meters, the gaps between the bottom of the fence and ground cannot be larger than 10cm, and the horizontal members of the fence must be spread out so they don’t crate footholds. Likewise, per the regulations imposed by the Swimming Pool Act, the gap between the vertical rods of the fence cannot be greater than 10cm, and owners must ensure there’s a 900mm NCZ zone surrounding their pool.
Not least, if a boundary fence is being used as part of the pool barrier, its height must be at least 1.8 meters, and the gates of the fence must be self-closing as well as self-latching. These regulations can be overwhelming at first and make the purchase of slat fencing in Sydney a bit head scratching. But ultimately, it’s for the best.
The Stats Don’t Lie
The safety of our loved ones is the most important thing and the specifics of the Swimming Pool Acts had, ultimately, a profound impact in decreasing the incidence of child drowning in Australia’s major cities. From 2002 to 2017, the Swimming Pool Drowning Index in Australia dropped from 13.3 to only 5.7. That’s a 56% reduction that most experts attribute to the implementation of the Swimming Pool Acts.
Per the findings from the national drowning report released in 2025 by Royal Life Saving Australia, 10% of the 357 drowning deaths over the last 12 months, in our country, occurred in swimming pools. It’s a testament to the positive impact of the Swimming Pool Acts of the last twenty years. That said, for pool owners, the implementation of these tasks also brought new decisions to make, particularly when it came to the design of the pool fencing. The most stylish of solutions were and remained glass panels accompanied by metal outermost frames. That said, for most families, slat fences represent a better value.
What Are the Practical and Financial Benefits of Aluminium Slat Fencing?
Let’s start with the most basic ones. Aluminium slat fencing boasts excellent durability, and it’s a perfect choice for harsh climates characterised by both high humidity and canicular temperatures. After all, during the summer months, NSW is known for its subtropical climate, in which air humidity can, in some cases, reach mid-90s levels. Slat fencing is a cost-efficient way to fall in line with the regulations laid out by the Swimming Pools Acts, while also keeping the overall design of your backyard relatively uniform.
Aluminium slat fencing looks good, is low maintenance, goes well with the vast majority of the design decisions specific to Aussie houses, and is also quite eco-friendly, as aluminium is fully recyclable. But the number one reason for going with slat fencing at the detriment of other fencing solutions has to do with prices. The upfront costs associated with slat fences are lower than with solutions that incorporate frameless glass panels, and the maintenance, in the long term, is also a bit more straightforward.
Will aluminium slat fencing look as good as a pool fence flanked by aluminium poles? No, probably not. But it’s a more cost-efficient solution, that’s easier to install, and that will also have a positive impact on your property’s real estate valuation. For this reason, they are one of the most versatile pool barrier solutions for Australian residential properties. Durable and cost-efficient, slate fences present the sweet spot between looking stylish and being practical, and therefore, their popularity in our country is rising.