Can you build a pool over a sewer line in Queensland?

Work near existing City of Gold Coast sewer, water and stormwater pipes is regulated by the Queensland Development Code MP1.4. Many applications can be assessed by a private certifier, but some must be referred to the City, so ask your certifier early.

Is a concrete pool built on site?

Yes. In-ground concrete pools are formed on site, commonly with sprayed concrete (shotcrete is the wet mix and gunite the dry mix in pool construction), which is why they can follow a custom shape. Your contract should cover what happens if rock or wet weather affects excavation.

How deep should a concrete pool be?

There is no single right depth. Because a concrete pool is formed on site, the depth is set in the design for how the pool will be used, and QBCC says the contract should state the water depth.

Are pool surrounds included in a concrete pool quote?

Not always. QBCC suggests confirming exactly what the price includes, such as pool surrounds, landscaping and fencing, so ask each builder to list them in the written quote.

Concrete Pools Gold Coast

Why people choose concrete

A concrete pool starts as an excavation lined with steel reinforcement, then sprayed or poured concrete forms the shell. In pool construction, shotcrete means the wet-mix spray and gunite the dry mix. Because the shell takes the shape of the dig and formwork, a concrete pool can follow an unusual boundary, wrap around a deck, step down a level or include built-in benches and a wide entry step.

That flexibility is the main reason to choose concrete over a fibreglass shell, which comes in the sizes and shapes of a manufacturer's range. If you want something compact, a plunge pool can be built in concrete too.

Decisions to settle early

Shape and depth. Decide how the pool will be used. Laps, lounging and children playing in the shallow end all lead to different depths and step layouts.
Interior finish. The finish affects the look and feel of the water, and QBCC lists it among the details a contract should state.
Filtration and equipment position. QBCC says the pump and filter must not sit where a child could climb them to reach the pool.
Fencing and surrounds. Ask whether the quote includes the fence, coping, paving and landscaping, or only the shell.

What can change once digging starts

The ground is the part of a concrete pool nobody can fully see in advance. Rock and wet weather are the examples QBCC gives of events that can move a schedule or price, and it recommends the contract includes provisions for unforeseen events such as finding rock during excavation or wet weather, so ask each builder how they price that risk and what happens if it occurs.

Pipes and easements are worth checking before the design is fixed, and your certifier will say whether the site needs an engineer's structural report. The Gold Coast pool building guide covers those checks, the builder licence, the contract, deposit limits and home warranty insurance.

Next step for your concrete pool

Send your suburb and what you have in mind, even if it is a rough idea of size and shape. If you are still deciding between concrete and fibreglass, say so.

Concrete Pools Services We Offer

✓Custom-shaped Pools

Freeform or geometric shells formed to fit the yard, the house and the way the pool will be used.

✓Pools with Built-in Features

Benches, wide entry steps and depth changes formed into the concrete shell.

✓Compact Concrete Pools

A smaller concrete pool or plunge pool for a courtyard or narrow yard.

How it works

1
Design the shell
Agree the shape, depth, steps and finish, and where the equipment will sit.
2
Approve and check pipes
The certifier approves the pool and flags any sewer, easement or engineering issue.
3
Dig and form
The site is excavated, reinforced and the concrete shell is sprayed or poured.
4
Finish and certify
The interior is finished, the fence is certified and the pool can be filled.

Concrete Pools on the Gold Coast