Stage 4 Stay at Home Restrictions Update

Posted By Peita Otterbachon August 11, 2020

Firstly, please rest assured that the health and well-being of the Albatross family - that's you, our customers, families looking to invest in a swimming pool and of course our team have and continue to remain our priority.

Following the recent Stage 4 Stay at Home Restrictions, we have been consulting with Business Victoria and the Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Victoria (SPASA VIC) to gain clarity on the definition of Permitted Work Premises (specific to the Construction sector and swimming pool building) and the interpretation of the Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas No 10).

As of Monday, 10 August 2020, we can confirm the following:

New Pools

Our Pool Design Consultants are working remotely and with the help of Google Earth, Zoom (and Google Meet), continue to help potential clients through the swimming pool research and quotation phase of their project. Please note. our Display Centres in Dandenong and Warrandyte are temporarily closed. Considering a new pool? We would love to hear from you! Contact us today on 03 9844 3114 or tell us about your project via an online Pool Enquiry.

New Pool Construction Projects

New Swimming Pool Construction Projects can only continue to proceed if:

there is a new home being built
no one resides in the existing home while construction is underway
if a property is occupied, we can only return to make emergency repairs. Critical repairs to residential premises are permitted but only where required for emergency or safety.
building inspections (i.e. safety barrier inspection) can continue at this stage

Project Stage	Stage 4 Impact
Contract Signed & Permit Underway	We may be temporarily closed but our team continue to work remotely. We will continue to process your permit application as normal.
Issued Pool Building Permit & Project Not Yet Started	We are not permitted to visit your property (unless a true building site i.e. residence is being built) and begin building your swimming pool. Once restrictions ease, we look forward to getting your project underway.
Stage 1 Complete, Landscaping and Fencing Underway	Based on advice received, it is our understanding that your landscaper and fencer are not permitted to continue work at your property. We'd invite you to consult with them directly on this.
Stage 1, Landscaping & Fencing Complete	Once your safety barrier is inspected and approved (inspections can still take place at this stage as we understand it), we will return to install your pool interior and commission your new pool once restrictions ease and we are permitted to do so.
Ringwood Head Office	Ringwood Head Office is temporarily closed however, our team are still contactable on 03 9870 3011 (during normal business hours) or via email construction@albatrosspools.com.au

Pool Renovations

We are not permitted to attend your property during Stage 4 Stay at Home Restrictions. Once restrictions ease, our team look forward to restoring your Albatross pool back to its former glory.

Pool Stores & Display Centres

Our Pool Stores and Display Centres in Dandenong and Warrandyte are temporarily closed. We may be closed, but our online pool store remains open with Click & Collect and Home Delivery options available. We have a number of other Stage 4 contact free services available to help prepare your pool for the season a head. Stay up to date on all-things-Pool-Store and LIKE your local Albatross Pools Pool Store Facebook Page - Dandenong Pool Store Facebook Page or Warrandyte Pool Store Facebook Page.

Pool Service

If you have a genuine emergency (burst water pipe, broken down sanitisation system, filtration equipment breaks down or your pool is considerably leaking), our team are permitted to service your pool and attend your property. If however, it is not of an emergency nature, we will not be able to attend your property until restrictions ease. To log a Support Request in preparation of restrictions easing or if you have an emergency, please visit support.albatrosspools.com.au

Thank You for your Patience

Due to remote operations and reduced team members, we ask for your patience and understanding if there are delays in responding to your enquiry. Rest assured our team are doing their absolute best to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

On behalf of the entire team, we thank you for your continued support and we look forward to a fabulous summer a head! If you have any questions, please contact us on 03 9870 3011 or via email pools@albatrosspools.com.au.

Let’s do the right thing and Stay Home. Stay Safe.

a message to our customers

Posted By Peita Otterbachon March 18, 2020

We will keep this short and try to be somewhat upbeat as we collectively experience very challenging and uncertain times.

As the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 continue to evolve, the well-being of the Albatross family - that's you, our customers, families looking to invest in a swimming pool and of course our team are our priority.

Based on Government recommendations, our business will continue to remain open and trade as normal (until otherwise advised). A number of hygiene practices have been introduced across every location to ensure we can continue to provide services to our local community in a clean and safe environment.

If you are not in isolation and not exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, we look forward to seeing you in store! We have however moved to our Winter roster and we appreciate your patience if you find yourself waiting to be served by our team.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and continued business. Like many small family businesses (and even big businesses) our team rely on the continued support of the local community, particularly during challenging times.

Being a pretend coffee drinker, I like to grab the occasional 'iced-coffee' on my way to work after dropping off the kids in the morning at day care. To my surprise, the barista thanked me for my business this morning...he was genuine and reminded me how important it is to still engage and support local business (as long as we are safe to do so).

On a lighter note, a big thanks to our new Albatross Pool owners who have remained optimistic and shared pictures of their recently finished backyards to let us know where they will be (i.e. Poolside) if and when they are required to self-isolate 🙂

We will continue to communicate if our services change in any way across our locations over the coming months.

Kindest regards,

Peita Otterbach, Albatross Pools

Victorian Building Authority Changes

Posted By Peita Otterbachon August 23, 2016

PRESS RELEASE

Victorian Building Authority changes effective 1 September 2016

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) will be rolling out major changes in relation to Victorian Domestic Building Contracts Legislation effective 1 September 2016.

How will these changes impact building a swimming pool?

According to the VBA and Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) websites, a domestic swimming pool purchased from 1 September 2016, the following will apply:

A registered building practitioner (your chosen pool builder) must provide you with a copy of the Domestic Building Consumer Guide – with enough time to read and understand it and the contract - before you sign a major domestic building contract (i.e. the swimming pool contract)
The Domestic Building Contracts Checklist must be included in major domestic building contracts
A registered building practitioner (your chosen pool builder) who enters into a major domestic building contract (i.e. swimming pool contract), must not appoint a private building surveyor on your behalf. A registered building practitioner may recommend a private building surveyor, but you are free to appoint a private building surveyor of your choice.
An owner-builder will not be able to enter into a contract with a person to carry out work over $5,000 unless that person is a registered building practitioner.

As registered building practitioner and a Swimming Pool and Spa Association Victoria (SPASA VIC) member, we encourage you to talk with your chosen pool builder to ensure your swimming pool project complies with the VBA’s Victorian Domestic Building Contracts Legislation changes effective 1 September 2016. Please note, the listed changes are not applicable to any swimming pool project sold prior to 1 September 2016.

Further information can also be found at:

VBA Website: http://www.vba.vic.gov.au
Consumer Affairs Victoria – Domestic Building Contracts Checklist & Doemstic Building Consumer Guide: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing-and-accommodation/building-and-renovating/plan-and-manage-your-building-project/domestic-building-consumer-guide
SPASA VIC Website: http://www.spasavic.com.au