A little-known law which requires portable paddle pools to be fenced is being flouted in the ACT, despite home pools remaining the most common location for drowning death and injury for children.
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In the ACT, a demountable pool or spa that can hold water deeper than 30 centimetres is required to have a certified pool safety barrier,a Environment and Planning Directorate spokeswoman said.
However, the ACT government has no pool safety inspectors to enforce the legislation.
Four children under five have drowned in backyard pools in Canberra over the past 12 years.
Royal Life Saving said the number of serious, non-fatal accidents was much higher.
A discussion paper on swimming pool fencing, released by the ACT government in 2007, said the territory has the lowest drowning rate in Australia, yet there was too much at risk to become complacent.
"Australian Water Safety Council findings and experience suggest that it is, unfortunately, only a matter of time until there is another drowning in a home swimming pool in the ACT," the paper read.
The discussion paper also suggested new safety elements such as a swimming pool register, the need for basic signage, regular inspections and penalties for not maintaining a pool fence could be implemented in Canberra.
The ACT government is considering feedback from consultation on the discussion paper and reviewing similar reforms recently implemented in NSW and Queensland.
Royal Life Saving chief executive Justin Scarr said its new campaign, Make It Safe, reminded parents and guardians to be watchful around backyard pools.
"Children drown quickly and silently, it is important that children are actively supervised within arm's reach at all times," he said.
"Parents and carers of young children should always keep watch, ensure there is a designated adult supervisor watching at all times and to ensure the person supervising has not been drinking alcohol."
For the Hastings family in Canberra's south, a certified pool fencing barrier for their temporary demountable pool was not enough to ensure peace of mind.
Jo and her husband, Chris, bought a pool to cool off in on hot summer days and encourage their children Aislinn, 2, and Ethan, 4, to become more confident in water.
In addition to a pool fence, the gate is chained and padlocked shut when the pool isn't in use.
They also ensure their back door is locked and the children are not allowed in the backyard without a parent.
"It's only a small pool, they can both touch the ground ... [but] the kids know they're not allowed to go in there [without an adult]," Mrs Hastings aid.
Mrs Hastings said she realised the high cost of fencing a $150 temporary pool, but the safety of her children was paramount.
