$2000 fine for not keeping pool fence closed

A LISMORE pool owner has been fined $2000 in Lismore Local Court for failing to ensure gates and other access to pools are kept securely closed when not in use.

A LISMORE pool owner has been fined $2000 in Lismore Local Court for failing to ensure gates and other access to pools are kept securely closed when not in use.

Hayden Hamshaw of Chilcotts Grass challenged a $550 fine issued by Lismore City Council earlier this year for failing to ensure that the gates were kept closed when not in use.

He was recently convicted and fined $2000 by Magistrate David Heilpern and was also ordered to pay council's legal costs of $784.

Mr Heilpern noted that Mr Hamshaw's actions in not complying with the pool fencing and access laws were "flagrant, blatant and deliberate".

On average 33 Australian children under the age of five drown each year.