When it comes to the hopes and dreams of Australians, owning a backyard pool is up there with a lifetime supply of Vegemite, a 100-year winning streak for the Wallabies, and never encountering a trapdoor spider.

As important as it is to have your own spot to splash around on a hot day and float around in circles on your giant inflatable swan, it’s also vital to ensure a safe space for the little ones.

This all comes down to a great fence. To help ensure pool fence safety, there are a number of Australian pool fence regulations to abide by that give you a solid set of rules to follow to help keep that backyard pool as safe as it is fun.

Check out this step-by-step guide for installing a fence around your backyard pool.

Step one: Check your local pool fence regulations.

Step two: Acquire a building permit. You will need to have this issued by a registered building surveyor.

Step three: Let the work begin. Create a string line on the ground where you want to build the fence. Keep in mind you will need to leave room for the gate.

Step four: Use a panel from your new fence to space out where the posts will be, then use a power auger to dig post holes 600mm deep. If you struggled with making the bird feeder in high school and haven’t so much as touched a hammer since, you may be best off chatting with a professional fence installer. Run a quick search to find one near you and request a quote.

Step five: When setting the posts in place, do not use fast-setting concrete, and use your string line to ensure each post is the same height. A spirit level will help you check that each post is standing straight upright. If you require a professional concrete tradesmen you can check out it here.

Step six: Again, use a string line to ensure each fence panel is aligned correctly, and make sure the gap between the bottom of the panel and the ground is no larger than 80mm.

Step seven: When you buy the hinge for the gate, pick up a pack that includes a clear guide to help you drill holes in the right places. And don’t forget to install the gate so that it swings away from the pool.

Don’t forget some of the fencing requirements for above ground pools in Victoria need to abide the rules from the Victorian Building Authority. They require that all pools and spas built after 2010 have a complete barrier with no direct access from the house. They must be 1.2 metres high, and have self-closing and self-latching gates. You cannot legally prop open these gates, and you must move away any items (such as chairs, pot plants, and compliant dogs) from the fence so kids can’t use them to scale the barrier.

Keep in mind that no matter how glorious your pool fence looks upon completion, it will all be for nothing if it doesn’t meet your local fencing requirements.