Occasionally we come across a fibreglass pool build where there is plenty of room in the backyard for a pool installation, but the access to the site is limited. If your property backs on to a laneway or street it doesn’t mean we can’t build a pool for you, but you may have to get a Traffic Management Plan for your building permit to be approved. Below we outline a recent project where we had to obtain approval to use a shared laneway to install the new pool.
Murray St, Caulfield
Neighbouring the beachside suburbs of Elsternwick and Brighton, we had an enquiry for a new fibreglass pool build in Caulfield. The humble weatherboard home was nestled at the end of a popular street, beside a laneway. The customer had his eye set on the Palazzo 7×3.5m pool shell, with full automation to take care of his pool equipment and surrounding lighting. Our Construction Manager visited the site to check that there wouldn’t be any issues with the pool the customer had in mind, and upon reviewing the site, he confirmed it would be a good fit for this Caulfield backyard in terms of size and positioning. The customer had confirmed there was access at the side fence, so we went ahead and began to arrange the necessary documents to get our customer into his new pool in time for summer.
Upon applying for the building permit, we were advised by council that the laneway neighbouring the property, where the side fence access was available, was a shared laneway which provided access for pedestrians so we would have to apply for a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) for both traffic and pedestrians.
Any time you require a brief shut down for access for the pool installation you must obtain council approval. This requirement is in accordance with the Road Management Act 2004, the Road Safety Act 1986 and Australian Standard AS 1742.3 2009: Traffic control devices for works on roads. It is important to note that if your pool builder is planning on using a shared public road or laneway and they do not obtain the necessary traffic management permits you can be fined up to $5,000.
The company preparing your TMP must be a professional in accordance with the Australian Standard AS1742.32009. If the individual or company provides inaccurate information it may result in a delay or rejection of your application, so make sure your pool builder is aligned with a TMP professional if they are assisting in the management of your plan. The application must include customer details including the address, a brief description of the works including the proposed dates and times, as well as the recommended traffic management plan. Your pool builder should work with you the whole time to complete the necessary documents, so choose a builder that has experience in dealing with TMPs who can take the hassle out of the application.
Of course there is an extra cost involved in obtaining a Traffic Management Plan such as this one, and it can take up to 10 business days to gain approval. Luckily this customer promptly approved the extra cost and supplied the relevant information, and because we caught the issue early enough the timing of the pool build was not affected. If your property does have limited access for cranes and excavators it is always worth flagging with your pool builder at your earliest convenience so they can make necessary arrangements as quickly and inexpensively as possible.
Below you will find some images of this Caulfield pool construction, featuring the Palazzo Pool Shell in Volcanic Ash colour. Here you can see the side fence access neighbouring the adjoining laneway.
As you can see, no pool installation is too hard for Master Pools to manage. Whether it is a limited access site, you have power lines on your property, or you simply need help asking your neighbours permission to use their driveway, we have extensive experience in all kinds of solutions to get you swimming faster. You can read some more case studies on installation here, or if you would like a free site visit to discuss your new fibreglass pool build in South East Melbourne, Bayside, Mornington Peninsula or surrounding suburbs please contact our construction experts here.