Welcome to the SPASA August Bulletin
This month celebrates the achievements of our members at the 2013 Awards of Excellence, recaps the successful Winter Show and looks ahead to upcoming training and meetings. As the weather gets warmer, you can sense summer is just around the corner....
SPASA Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner 2013
Over four hundred and forty Victorian Swimming Pool and Spa industry leaders attended the 2013 SPASA Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner last night, held in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria.
Olympian and SPASA ambassador Nicole Livingstone hosted the glamorous event saying, “We all look forward to a chance to catch up and see how the Victorian industry continues to advance innovation and quality pools and spas”.
CEO of SPASA, Brendan Watkins said, "This year's record number of entrants again demonstrate an excellence across the board - it demonstrates that SPASA members are true leaders within the Australian industry.”
“Each year we see an expanding array of amazing pools, spas and new products. Our association is growing markedly and we’re very lucky here to be enjoying record participation from industry. Of course, consumers will ultimately be the winners – there’s never been a better time to invest in a pool or spa.”
Key industry stakeholders enjoyed the spectacular “unusualist” performance from Raymond Crowe - but the true star of the show was the dazzling array of pool, spa and product entries in the 2013 Awards program.
Industry mainstays, Aloha Pools and Out from the Blue stood out - winning six gold awards each. Aloha Pools took out the prestigious 2013 Pool of the Year Award sponsored by Remco Pool Covers & Enclosures. The winning entry is truly inspiring.
Founded initially in 1966 by his father Lindsay Fell, well-known SPASA member Greg Fell has steered Aloha Pools to significant Awards success, and industry prominence, for many years. Greg, and now accompanied by his son Travis, has been building pools and spas of excellence for 30 years. Aloha Pools are renowned for pool constructions that are both visually stunning and built to the very highest standards. Aloha Pools are timeless.
Aloha picked up six Gold Awards including: Best Residential Concrete Pool Over $100,000 sponsored by Rheem Pool Heating and Best Innovative Pool or Spa, sponsored by Insurance House Group.
The 2013 Major Product Award, the SPASA Sustainability Award - sponsored by the Savewater! Alliance was won by The Pool Enclosure Company for their Telescopic
Pool Enclosure. The Pool Enclosure Company (TPEC) supply a premium range of
retractable swimming pool enclosures, home enclosures and spa domes. Making
swimming pools and spas enjoyable throughout all seasons.
The Product Innovation Award for 2013 was won by Pentair Water Australia for their IntelliTouch easy-touch automation system - thanks to sponsor Poolside Magazine. The Pentair Water IntelliTouch is compatible with iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and wired indoor control panels. Easy for pool and spa owners to program themselves and designed to automate virtually all pool and spa equipment, this product is indeed a winner.
Rainwise Coburg has - for the fourth year in a row - won the SPASA Water Neutral Pool Award, proudly sponsored by Yarra Valley Water. Rainwise has everything a pool or spa owner may need in relation to water harvesting, usage and conservation. And very clearly they are experts in advising on pool and spa water conservation!
The Salesperson of the Year Award was won by much-admired industry figure,Daina White from Poolside Frankston. Well done Daina, well deserved.
Best Water Feature was awarded to first time Award entrants Tassie Pools &Spas. David and Sonya Payne, Tasmanian residents and long time SPASA members, were in attendance to receive the Award from sponsor Outdoor Design & Living.
Naughtons Pools & Spas, based in both Shepparton & Echuca, again won Best Concrete Pool by Country member sponsored by Swimple.
From Geelong, Gordon Avenue Pools & Spas for the second year won the Best Fibreglass Acrylic, or Vinyl Lined Pool by Country Member, this Award was sponsored by Waterco.
We'd like to thank our team of generous sponsors:
Category Sponsors
2013 Award Winners Gallery
While Aloha Pools took out the prestigious 2013 Pool of the Year
Award, dozens of other members - from all member categories - were also recognised for their outstanding achievement.
Members are encouraged to take a look at the stunning gallery of Highly Commended and Gold Award winners that now lives on the SPASA website.
And whether or not you were able to attend on the night, members are invited to visit the Member Area of the SPASA website to see speeches from SPASA President Gary Kilworth and Chair of Judges, David Luck. Photographs taken throughout the event will also be loaded into this area in coming days.
Winter Show Hits Sweet Spot
Countering
the pre-election lethargy and financial gloom, the SPASA Spa & Pool Show
managed to post a very respectable attendance – which was an increase of more than
10% on last year’s result.
The all-important feedback from exhibitors was very positive – quality leads in abundance.
As members are aware, the Victorian retail / high-volume markets in recent times have been subdued – SPASA members were very happy to get in front of a purchase-ready spa and pool audience.
The new Spa & Pool Show TVC http://www.spasashow.com.au/ was much appreciated by consumers and members alike - 44% of attendees reported seeing the advert in the lead up to the event.
Thanks to Carolyn, Rose and Asher for again keeping up with consumer enquiries on the SPASA stand.
A New Head for Victoria's Building Regulator
Minister for Planning Matthew Guy has today welcomed the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) board appointment of former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Commissioner Joe Dimasi as the Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Dimasi will commence on Monday 9 September. Mr Guy said that Mr Dimasi’s appointment followed a period of change for Victoria’s building regulatory structures and is part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s focus on building a strong, new industry regulator.
“The experience that Mr Dimasi will bring with him from the ACCC and his previous government roles will ensure strong regulatory foundations, a consumer focus and operational leadership for the new VBA,” Mr Guy said.
“This is proof positive that the Coalition Government is building a new regulator that is first and foremost focused on education, regulation and consumer protection.”
VBA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Bill Kusznirczuk said he looked forward to the wealth of experience and new ideas Mr Dimasi will bring to the role.
“Mr Dimasi will bring stability to our organisation and provide a solid base for the VBA’s direction and additional responsibilities as part of the Coalition Government’s reform program.
The new VBA will provide comprehensive, high quality service to consumers, while providing rigor and regulation to the building industry,” Mr Kusznirczuk said.
“The VBA will improve consumer outcomes by providing appropriate balance, fairness and independence while also ensuring that disputes are resolved quickly, fairly and cost efficiently.”
Mr Dimasi’s significant years of experience with the ACCC include senior roles setting up regulatory functions in areas including telecommunications, energy, transport and water.
Mr Dimasi was appointed a Commissioner with the ACCC in December 2008, after having served since 1996 as head of ACCC’s Regulatory Affairs Division.
Prior to this position, Mr Dimasi had been an Assistant Commissioner of the Industry Commission (now the Productivity Commission).
Mr Dimasi has been a senior economist in Victorian Government departments including Treasury, Premier and Cabinet, and Business.
Mr Guy thanked current acting CEO Greg Hyams for his significant contribution to the establishment of the VBA and for his assistance in transitioning to the current regulatory regime.
“Mr Hyams has lead the organisation through significant change and has provided strong leadership when it was most needed,” Mr Guy said. “I’m very pleased that he will continue with the organisation in a different capacity and that his organisational knowledge will support the new CEO.”
“The appointment of Mr Dimasi will support the Board of Commissioners and deliver robust industry regulation and stronger consumer protection.
This appointment is part of the reforms that will make the VBA a one stop shop for domestic building consumer protection, building practioners, plumber regulation and eventually, architects.”
US Media Reacts To Usher Entrapment Scare
The issue of drain entrapment hit the US media when the 5-year-old son of hip-hop artist Usher, got his arm lodged in a pool drain and nearly drowned.
As reported in poolspanews.com, on August 5th, Usher Raymond V tried to retrieve a toy that had fallen in the drain of a family pool in Atlanta when his arm became stuck. After rescue attempts by his aunt and maid failed, two men working on the property were able to pull him free. In a televised interview, the child’s mother, Tameka Foster Raymond, said the boy was underwater for nearly three minutes.
Usher Raymond was released from the hospital a week later, and his father posted a picture of the youngster back at home with a cast on his arm, playing a board game with his family.
The Atlanta Police Department is continuing its investigation and could not offer information about the drain. Many have concluded from the nature of the accident and aerial footage of the pool that the drain cover must have been off and that the pool must have only one drain.
Industry professionals thought much of the media coverage surrounding the incident has been constructive and lacking some of the scary undertones marking news about past incidents. In this case, reports contained discussions of drain safety and instructed homeowners on how to safeguard their own pools.
Some of this coverage involved pool professionals. When builder Ronnie Gibbons was contacted by a local television station for an expert’s perspective, he invited the reporters into his own backyard to discuss drain safety and see his own entrapment-prevention measures in person. Gibbons, who had no tie to the Usher incident, encouraged homeowners to have a professional ensure that the drain cover has the VGB stamp and to add a backup device if a second drain isn’t present.
“I strongly believe that the public is not fully aware of the danger of main drains,” said the vice president of construction at Gibbons Pools in Islandia, N.Y. “To me, it was important just to be able to get the message out.”
Some of the coverage, however, went over the stipulations in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Act, the only federal law addressing entrapment prevention. Some wondered if government entities might seek to apply VGB’s requirements on commercial pools to residential installations.
Steve Dunn, a distributor in central California, has heard these concerns from some of his customers. “The concern is regulation and having to inform customers that they need to upgrade when customers don’t want to spend money,” said the vice president of Commercial Pool Systems in Martinez, Calif. “They have a lot of customers who are on the fence through this economy, who can barely pay their bills, and [service techs] are afraid they might lose some accounts [if] they have to shell out money to retrofit for VGB.”
But some would prefer that VGB drain covers be mandated on residential pools, even existing ones, believing that’s what it would take for homeowners to take safety measures. Dunn counts himself in that group, as does Gibbons. His company will not service residential pools that don’t have approved drain covers, as well as a second main drain or backup device.
But he doesn’t expect the incident with Usher’s child to result in legislation. “I don’t think that the government will make it where all existing pools need to be changed,” he said. “Who’s going to check it?”
Some saw the attention given to the incident as an opportunity to promote pool safety. The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals and the Consumer Product Safety Commission each sent out press releases outlining drain safety. APSP’s Georgia Chapter has reached out to Usher to discuss the possibility of collaborating on a safety promotion, but has not heard back. The organization hopes to talk with the performer once things settle down.
Some individual companies plan to follow suit with their clients. “I think it’s a good opportunity to drive home a very important safety message,” said Brian Duncan, president of Pitch Perfect Pool Services in Martinez, Calif. “We plan to put out a letter to our customers. We’re pretty well familiar with most of our customers’ pools, but we’ll offer up a free evaluation and let them know what the cost would be to put in an up-to-date, VGB-approved cover.”
Especially in the Atlanta area, consumers are hungry for information. “[The incident] has led to a significant increase in phone calls from homeowners asking if their pools are safe and if they need to make any modifications,” said Shawn Still, general manager, Olympic Pool Plastering, and board member of APSP’s Georgia Chapter.
SPASA Industry Training - Remaining 2013 Dates
The next round of SPASA Industry Training courses will be held early September and covers Chemistry Training, both Basic and Advanced.
This will be the last opportunity to attend Advanced Chemistry training in 2013 - make sure your staff are adequately trained for summer!
SPASA's CPD-accredited Industry Training is designed in consultation with leading industry experts and will ensure you and your staff remain up to date with current industry best practice.
Book fast or risk missing out! Registrations can be made via the booking form found in the members area and sent to carolyn@spasavic.com.au to confirm your attendance.
Remaining Dates:
Chemistry - Basic: Monday 2nd September 2013
Chemistry - Advanced: Wednesday + Thursday 4th & 5th September 2013
Construction Induction – White Card training: Wednesday 18th September 2013
Industry Regulations / A Vital Industry Overview: Wednesday 23rd October 2013
Chemistry - Basic: Thursday 24th October 2013
Welcome New SPASA Members - August 2013
The Board of SPASA warmly welcomes new members to the Association.
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New Provisional Members:
Lanark Australia Nepean Building Permits & Consultants |
Upgrade To Full Membership:
Lime Crete Paving & Landscaping Principals or Directors: Darren Hearn COTTO
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Off the Deep End...
Featuring profiles on new members to the association.
This month we catch up with Darren Hearn from Limecrete Paving to discuss what's different about poured limestone paving...
What
does your business offer?
Lime Crete paving and landscaping offers poured limestone paving, a unique
blend of Australian crushed limestone that is poured en masse in a similar
method and thickness to concrete. Designer
handcrafted finishes and textures reflect the warm natural organic appeal of
this elegant paving. Lime Crete Paving and Landscaping is a company
specialising in the installation of decorative poured limestone.
We also specialise in handmade swimming pool
coping, cantilevered poured “bench top” edging, retaining walls and mosaic
limestone features. Natural thermal
properties of limestone keep this surface cool under foot throughout the summer
months, making our product a perfect choice for pathways, swimming pool
surrounds and entertaining areas.
What
are the most exciting & challenging parts of your business?
The most exciting and challenging parts of our business would be new and fresh
ideas of how to implement our reconstituted limestone in different ways for
different jobs.
Some
clients may want a modern contemporary look with a thin {dry-cut} 500mm x 500mm
pattern with a soft Mt Gambian limestone texture and the next job may require a
totally different look with a rustic heavy texture with thick axed joints in a
large random pattern in a West Australian limestone “rich biscuit” colour.
What’s
a typical day in your world?
A typical day in my world is that there is no typical day. If
we are pouring limestone… a 12 to 14 hour day is on the cards. Up at 4.30-5.00
and drive to the yard in Seaford, pick up the truck and some of the crew and
head to the job, wherever that may be. Try
and arrive home in time to have dinner with the family, a couple of beers may
be in order.
What’s
something you’ve always wanted to do?
I’ve always wanted to sky dive……or sing in tune!
Who’s been your greatest inspiration?
My greatest inspiration would have to be my wife Karen…….but don’t tell her I
said that.
Bonus question... Boardies or Budgies??
Boardies for me.
View www.limecretepaving.com.au to view their outstanding project
gallery.
SPASA Calendar of Events 2013
Chemistry (Advanced) - Wednesday 4 September & Thursday 5 September, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill
Retail /Service Sector Meeting - Wednesday 4 September, SPASA, Building 10, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill
White Card Training - Wednesday 18 September, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill
SPASA Industry Regulations: A Vital Industry Overview - Wednesday 23 October, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill
Chemistry (Basic) - Thursday 24 October, SPASA Training Centre, Notting Hill
Annual General Meeting - Wednesday 13 November, SPASA, Building 10, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill
Pool & Spa Expo 2014 - Friday 31 January – Sunday 2 February, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, For bookings contact Vee at AEE on 9676 2133
Annual Golf Day - Friday 14 March 2014, Kingston Links Golf Course
Spa & Pool Show at MCEC (Winter Show) 2014 - Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 August, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, For bookings contact Vee at AEE on 9676 2133
Partner Association Events
South Australia– Pool & Spa Show ~ 6 & 7 July
Queensland – Awards Night ~ 13 July
Western Australia – Awards Night ~ 20 July, Pool Expo ~ 7-8 September
