Ponds

stonecutter1309 · Mar 05, 2008 1:56 pm

Helyn

Quote:

As for fencing - if a pond is only about 50cm deep - I don't see why you should bother.

Not sure of legalities but if you or your family/friends have little children I would do so - toddlers can drown in few cm of water and can do so silently.

No legal requirement in NSW to fence ponds - I can't imagine the govt fencing the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park!

Helyn · Mar 05, 2008 5:33 pm

My point is I would do it anyway whether you have to by law or not rather than take risks with safety which could have such devastating consequences.

I agree, public lakes and such are not always fenced but I think thats another issue entirely and not really a comparison.

Anyway, its up to you - just pointing out potential dangers and what would be my priority following a family experience.

stonecutter1309 · Mar 05, 2008 5:35 pm

Helyn - just curious - but would you forgoe a pond rather than have a pond that's fenced?

If I was forced to fence a pond - I'd give it a miss - you can actually grow water chestnuts in a bucket of water!

Helyn · Mar 05, 2008 5:52 pm

Well, to be honest I'm not sure how I got into this discussion (I think it was the now deleted raspberries that caught my attention LOL) as I do not have a pond and I have no intention of having a pond.

If I had small children, (which I don't) I think I would just forgo the pond.(which I'm not getting anyway.)

This is like the old Geoffrey Robertson Hypothetical show !!!

homeone · Mar 05, 2008 5:54 pm

...and then there's the issue of pond maintenance. :wink:

royalblue · Mar 05, 2008 7:14 pm

Hmmm... how does one respond to such a dilemma? :th:

Yak_Chat · Mar 05, 2008 10:56 pm

Quote:

This is like the old Geoffrey Robertson Hypothetical show !!!

Nowhere near as intelligent of entertaining :wink:

PhoenixStar · Mar 07, 2008 8:17 pm

Al, hope you caught Burke's Backyard tonight???

Guess what he built....A POND!!!!!!!!!!!

:lol:

jules21 · Jun 09, 2008 11:33 pm

i'm building a pond in my melbourne backyard that will be 3 feet deep.

does anyone know if it needs a fence?

the backyard is completely enclosed - single fronted connected terrace house means only access to backyard is via back door or back gate. i've read something about that qualifying as a fence, in effect?

to_do_list · Jun 10, 2008 1:06 am

jules21

i'm building a pond in my melbourne backyard that will be 3 feet deep.

does anyone know if it needs a fence?

the backyard is completely enclosed - single fronted connected terrace house means only access to backyard is via back door or back gate. i've read something about that qualifying as a fence, in effect?

On this website is a good reference, follow the link....Government Site Links > Victoria http://www.poolfencing.com.au/default.h ... t=d20.html.

A dam or tank on a rural property; a watercourse, such as streams or rivers; and ornamental ponds (birdbaths and fishponds) or fountains are not considered ‘swimming pools’. Paddling pools and domestic spa baths (which are emptied after each use) are also excluded.

By my reading you don't need one as it's not a "pool". Reading it though it sounds like councils may also have specific regs.....naturally nothing like a bit of multi layer democracy.

jules21 · Jun 14, 2008 5:14 pm

thanks for that - i'll take it no fence is needed.

i'd also appreciate any advice on construction - at the moment i've dug out a rectangle below ground level. but it's not a perfect rectangular excavation - as there is some rock protruding.

i am thinking about bricking up the sides and fibre-glassing the base around the rock 'feature'.

any clues as to whether that would seal or should i use a liner? the liner would be difficult to fold over the rock though, and hard to get around behind one side of the wall which will be part of an adjoining retaining wall.