Compass Pools Australia has announced their 2021 Compass Pools Dealer Award Winners! The winners were announced at our virtual awards ceremony by our Compass Pools CEO, Anthony Cross and team member Steve Vimpani. This years’ standard of entry went above and beyond expectations, and we would like to say a massive congratulations to all our 2021 award winners and nominees!

Winners of the ‘Excellence in Pool Design’ Award:

Ultimate Pools

9.4m X-Trainer in colour Evolution. Pool installed by Ultimate Pools Ltd

BG’s Pools & Spas

6.2m Plunge in colour Viridian. Pool installed by BG’s Pools & Spas

North West Pools

16.6m Custom Contemporary in colour Evolution. Pool Installed by North West Pools

Compass Pools Newcastle

11.8m X-Trainer in colour Evolution with Sunpod. Pool installed by Compass Pools Newcastle

Compass Pools Melbourne

11.8m X-Trainer with Spa and wader in colour Pearl. Installed by Compass Pools Melbourne

Aquastyle Pools

10.2m X-Trainer with X-Trainer Spa in colour Evolution. Pool installed by Aquastyle Pools

Compass Pools Sydney

Central Pools

7.15m X-Trainer Slimline in colour Viridian. Pool installed by Central Pools

Winner of the ‘Most Outstanding Media Presence’ Award:

Compass Pools Newcastle

5m Plunge Pool in colour Quartz. Pool installed by Compass Pools Newcastle

Winner of the ‘Most Outstanding Pool Innovation- Design and Installation’ Award:

Adam Martin

Adam Martin of Compass Pools Melbourne

Winner of the ‘Most Innovative and Adaptive Dealer’ Award:

Compass Pools Melbourne

10.2m X-Trainer with Spa in colour Quartz. Pool installed by Compass Pools Melbourne

Winner of the ‘Trailblazers Award- Women in the Pool Industry’:

Jan Cazemier

Jan Cazemier who co-ordinates the NZ Compass Pools Dealers

Winner of the ‘Compass Values Award’:

Russell Fagan

Russell Fagan of Compass Pools Sydney

Winner of the ‘Barry Vercoe- Excellence in Customer Service Award’:

Luke Geering

Luke Geering of Smart Self-Cleaning Pools

Winners of the ‘Compass Pool Builder of the Year’:

Local Pools & Spas

10.2m X-Trainer in colour Pacific. Installed by Local Pools & Spas

Azure Pools

10.2m Vogue in colour Sapphire. Pool installed by Azure Pools

At Ultimate Pools we work with you to understand exactly what you want from your pool investment. We partner with you throughout the entire project and precisely manage the pool installation. Each pool is installed with the care and attention to detail that we would want if it was our own pool.

Once your swimming pool is in, we take pride in ensuring all the benefits of owning a Compass Pool are optimised. We take you through the initial handover, followed by quarterly visits over the first year to ensure everything is working as it should. We derive job satisfaction from seeing our customers getting the most out of their new pool and making the process as uncomplicated and stress free as possible.

Then it’s time for you to relax with friends and family knowing you can enjoy a low maintenance pool of exemplary quality and with the continued support of Ultimate Pools.

Literally living on a ridge line, our clients wished to extend the living and entertaining areas of their home to make their hilltop paradise functional and beautiful without obscuring any views from the home.

The challenge was working on an extremely sloped section with only narrow access way past the existing dwelling on the narrow ridge line.

Pool equipment needed to be hidden from eyesight to keep the natural flow of the view from the house without being obscured.

The photos probably speak for themselves in this instance! The pool and surrounds are an amazing feat of engineering and enhance the rugged landscape while making an absolutely breathtaking entertainment area from the rugged ridge line.

The customer, who is a university professor, was looking for a place for exercise and solitude on his remote farmhouse in Waitoki. There were a couple of options for placement of the pool but with soil and slope stability taken into consideration we found the best spot which would also take advantage of the aspect of the sun.

This was an amazing feat of engineering as the pool was delivered to site – all the way from Newcastle, Australia- in two fibreglass pieces which had to be joined together on site and lifted into the excavated hole in one piece.

As the pool is Vantage self-cleaning, special consideration had to be given to the hydraulic system to ensure that it would clean efficiently in such a large swimming pool.

Our design brief was to provide the client with a lap pool for exercise with close proximity to his home and to maximise the use of a large flat area.

The second part of the brief was to make the pool super easy to care for, which we did with a salt chlorinator, automatic dosing, and the vantage self-cleaning system.

Our design brief for this client was to transform his remote property into a sanctuary for exercise and time out. This amazing 20m long lap pool provides the perfect opportunity to swim year-round for health and wellbeing. The beautiful Evolution colour finish accentuates the surrounding property, while the Vantage self-cleaning system and automation means the pool is immaculate and ready for its owners to enjoy whenever they seek time out from life’s demands. 

This fun-loving young family were working with an area which required extensive retaining to put a pool in. They had been stung with a quote of over $150,000 from another pool company, so were thrilled to learn that we could use our prefabricated composite constructed pools to save thousands in costs. There were limited options in terms of pool placement on the property due to the house being on a valley line with extreme slopes.

This site required major engineering to create a retained base on which to support the pool shell when it was delivered to site. Only a pool such as our freestanding composite pool would work. The pool was craned on to site.

An engineered retaining wall was used to form a base for the pool to be installed on. The pool itself was tailor made specific to the site in Newcastle, Australia before being shipped to NZ. This included Maxi Ribs purpose designed for the site measurements. The pool itself was craned into place over the house.

The family requested a big outdoor entertainment area with space to watch their young children play in the pool. The colour was chosen to work in with the natural environment and landscaping. The pool area works as a perfect extension of the house which has a modern theme and amazing outlook over the valley.

This swimming pool was designed for a fun-loving young family who were looking for an extension of their home and entertainment area with fabulous views across the Muriwai Valley. Making the most of a steeply sloped section, this self-cleaning Compass X-Trainer pool in the popular Quartz colour is the perfect addition to the designer home. The Van Der Walle family could not speak highly enough of their experience with Ultimate Pools and are thrilled with the final result.

Compass Pools Melbourne recently attended the Victorian Pool and Spa Show (https://www.spasashow.com.au/) on the weekend of 10^th & 11^th August 2019.

Held at the spacious Melbourne Convention and exhibition Centre.

Despite the cold, wet weekend, visitors to the show were upbeat, joining in on the backyard revolution as an increasing number of people are installing pools and spas and renovating their outdoor space for a year round entertainment.

The event was co-located with the exciting new Backyard and Garden Show where visitors discovered everything from landscape, garden and outdoor living products to design and renovation ideas, not to mention experts on hand providing the most up to date advice.

Award for the Best Shell Scheme Stand

Compass Pools Melbourne were also awarded the Best Shell Scheme Stand at the show for Compass’ concept yellow display pool.

This display pool was built to showcase the fact that you can build a Compass pool just about anywhere.

From fully inground, to fully out of ground, and anywhere in between. The display pool also showcased a couple of PLEXIGLASS porthole windows built into the pool shell.

If you would like to know more about any of the pools we manufacture, please contact us. We are always happy to help.

Henty Machinery Field Days is home of Australia’s premier mixed farming event. Located in the heart of the nation’s food bowl in southern NSW, on the Cookardinia Road just off the Olympic Highway, mid way between Wagga and Albury.

Two Compass Pools Dealers Talking About Self-Cleaning Pools

Supreme Pools, the local Compass Pools Dealer, of Albury / Wodonga were at the show talking to visitors and displaying the range of Compass fibreglass swimming pools. Compass Pools are the Home of The Self Cleaning Pool.

Talking with visitors to the show also indicated that a lot of people are unaware that they can install a fibreglass pool out of ground. Compass Pools can manufacture a fibreglass pool that is self-supporting and can be installed partially, or fully out of ground. The Compass Maxi-Rib technology can be added to any shape or size pool in the Compass Pool range to create a fibreglass pool that can be installed on sloping sites, above ground, or even on rooftops!

Creative Outdoors & More are the new Compass Pools dealer located in Wagga Wagga, in the Riverina region of New South Wales. They were also in attendance at Henty Machinery Field Days. Give either of these Compass Dealers a call if you are after a pool in the Albury / Wodonga or Wagga Wagga areas and they can explain to you why a Compass Self Cleaning Fibreglass pool is such a great investment.

Self-Supported Self-Cleaning Compass Fibreglass Pools

All of us at Compass Pools want to send our huge congratulations to our Sydney dealers, Local Pools and Spas, who won four awards at the prestigious NSW SPASA Awards recently. It was a hugely successful night for them. We’re delighted at their success as we enjoy a long-lasting and highly productive relationship with them.

The Local Pools and Spas team scooped a total of four awards at this year’s Gala Dinner, which was held on July 8^th at Luna Park Ballroom. The awards they won are:

• Gold – Residential Fibreglass Pool over $60,000 (Metropolitan)
• Silver – Residential Fibreglass Pool over $60,000 (State)
• Bronze – Residential Fibreglass Pool up to $40,000 (Metropolitan)
• Bronze – Residential Fibreglass Pool $40,000 – $60,000 (Metropolitan)

This success boosts the excellent reputation of Local Pools and Spas even further as a highly respected pool and spa company in the Sydney area. We want to congratulate them on a wonderful result.

What is SPASA?

SPASA (The Swimming Pool and Spa Association) is Australia’s peak body for the swimming pool and spa industry. It represents all sectors throughout the industry. Its aim is to maintain and improve standards and growth throughout the industry nationwide, representing it to state and federal agencies as well as overseas bodies.

The SPASA Awards of Excellence are held regionally every year – 2017 is the 31^st year they have been held. As one of Australia’s most prestigious prizes for the pool and spa industry, competition is fierce, and the Awards ceremony is a highlight of the annual calendar for the pool and spa industry in each state.

What are the NSW SPASA Awards and why do they matter?

The NSW SPASA Awards of Excellence are given to the “best of the best” pool and spa industry businesses from NSW and the ACT. The Awards are judged by an independent panel who select the best pool and spa industry contributors from a number of areas:

• Retail
• Sales
• Service
• Manufacturing
• Products
• Construction

With many excellent companies to choose from, the selection process is rigorous. The Awards demonstrate the excellent standards set by their recipients at all times. Only companies which are members of SPASA are eligible for the awards, which shows a commitment to quality and compliance.

What makes an excellent pool builder?

Most pool builders who are serious about their craft are members of SPASA, which they join voluntarily. Membership is only available to licensed specialist pool builders. Once they join, they are bound by a strict Code of Ethics, demonstrating that they offer the very highest standards in swimming pool and spa construction.

All materials used and services offered by SPASA members must meet established industry standards and comply with all relevant state and federal legislation. This offers you increased protection as a consumer, as all SPASA members must provide statutory warranty entitlements.

To become a SPASA member, a pool builder must be able to demonstrate a history of excellent industry knowledge and ethical trading practices. Members can complete a SPASA Industry Training Program each year to maintain the highest standards and stay informed about all the latest developments within the swimming pool and spa industry.

This is why, if you’re looking for an excellent pool builder whose work will last, it makes sense to choose a SPASA member.

About Local Pools and Spas

Local Pools and Spas is the most awarded pool building company in the whole of NSW. A family-run business established in 1998, it has been working with Compass Pools from the beginning to provide the highest quality fibreglass swimming pools to homes and families in and around Sydney. Its products have won numerous awards, as has its beautiful Display Centre in NSW.

We want to let everyone at Local Pools and Spas know how thrilled we are at their latest successes, and we hope to continue working with them for a long time to come.

Each year, SPASA Victoria showcases excellence in the swimming pool & spa industry at the annual Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner. These prestigious awards cover a range of categories from finished pool & spa installations to the latest equipment innovations. Compass Pools Melbourne, our dealer building pools in the Greater Melbourne region, has again received multiple awards this year.

There are multiple categories available within this prestigious event. Judges may award a Gold and/or Highly Commended, or no award, in each category.

The Awards of Excellence are designed to:

• Promote achievement in design, construction, innovation & professionalism across the industry
• Encourage a high degree of competency & professionalism by members
• Provide a means & opportunity for consumers to identify Award winners

We are proud to announce that Compass Pools Melbourne, the authorised Compass Pools Australia dealer, has been successful again this year. One of their pool installations was awarded Gold and four pools were awarded Highly Commended by the committee. The official SPASA Victoria website lists all the awarded pool builders for each of the categories. These are the successful fibreglass pool installations by Compass Pools Melbourne:

Paradise in the Country

Sitting gently in the environment, the two lanes lap pool allows multi purpose swimming. The pool features a glass wall which is still a very new technology in the fibreglass pool building industry.

Renovation Designed Around the Pool

The customer wanted their courtyard to be part of their everyday living. Their daily life ‘lives’ with the pool – morning, noon and night. Glass panels were positioned to be ‘balanced’ with the courtyard.

Photography

Paradise in the country. Living out of town this client wanted to have the swimming and aesthetic pleasures of a river or natural body of water view. They wanted the pool to sit gently yet tastefully with the view.

Artistic Design

The customer did not want a negatived edge due to the evaporation rate of the water running over the edge but did want the look of extended water view or disappearing edge. This was the reason the glass edge was added to the project. They didn’t want blue water to contradict the landscape. They wanted to enhance not contrast.

Originally looking at a long lap pool they decided that they needed more lap swimming but in proportion to the large deck space. A skinny pool would look wrong in size. Hence, they made it two lanes instead of one!

Degree of Difficulty

This site was very easy due to wide access, however, the height difference did cause some complexity. The pool was engineered by Compass Pools Australia the Maxi rib technology to allow the pool to be ‘free standing’. This pool was originally sold with the base of the pool shell sitting on the natural ground. This would have meant the client had to walk 5 or 6 steps down to the pool from the house (as the house was sitting high on the hill). The pool was then re-engineered to have a floating slab constructed so that the pool was raised to sit almost level with the finished height of the house. They didn’t want long continuous deck so they broke it up with one step down.

Obvious Perceived Qualities

The aim in fibreglass pool building is to make sure edges still look sharp. To do this, as the pool builder you have to combine existing manufactured practises that are not easily changed with on site adjustments. Manufactured pools do restrict the individual aspect of a look and as the builder, you need to push the boundaries of what the shell was originally designed for ‘to get the look’. An experienced fibreglass pool builder can do this and make it look like all one beautiful vessel.

Innovation

Glass is common with pools, but only with concrete construction. Glass has very rarely been used with fibreglass pool given the fibreglass shell is flexible by nature. Any people who wanted a ‘wow’ factor with a swimming pool always had to revert to concrete pools.

PWe had the manufacturer build one edge with a ‘drop edge’ on the pool shell. Once in position, the Compass Pools Melbourne team could measure and have a custom made stainless steel channel designed.This was then fixed and sealed to the pool. The glass then sits in this and it is hidden so it doesn’t look ‘tacked’ on, The inside of the pool shell then has a matching tile to cover this edge.

Desirability

The client wanted the benefits of fibreglass pool with the smooth surface and ease of maintenance but was worried it would look like an old fashioned pool. By giving clients the advantages of these pools but constructing it with the ‘wow’ factor it gave them the best of both worlds.

Amenity

This pool was designed for regular lap swimming but they also wanted to have a pool proportion to space. They wanted it to be easy to get to (not having to walk down many steps to get to the pool). They also recognised that it enhanced their view and made them enjoy it more.

2017 SPASA Victoria Awards

Photography

This house renovation was designed around the pool. The customer wanted their courtyard to be part of their everyday living. This photo captures how their daily life ‘lives’ with the pool – morning, noon and night

Artistic Design

When designing this pool with the client, Compass Pools Melbourne had to work out where the glass panels could be positioned so they were ‘balanced’ with the courtyard yet had to be built between the fibreglass structural support ribs. These engineered free standing support were non-negotiable as to their position. They had to work with a prefabricated product and manoeuvre it in an existing space and we needed to make it look ‘balanced’ and not have the windows ‘off centre’.

Degree of Difficulty

This site proved to be somewhat difficult for many reasons. Inner city Melbourne (Richmond) meant that the fibreglass pool delivery had to consider trams/clearways and working in a small space. The house was existing and with the tight space in Richmond, we couldn’t have a crane lift the pool into space. They had to use two small cranes and a custom built trolley to end up wheeling it through the kitchen area into position.

Obvious Perceived Qualities

The pool shell is manufactured with a ‘void’ to allow them to build the glass windows. It’s important that the fibreglass shell look like one with the glass and not just ‘inserted’ in ….i.e. not two different structures. It had to blend. It is not till you explain how it’s built that people realise there is a marriage between the fibreglass and landscaping (or deck fit out & tiles) to make this look complete.

The fibreglass shell was manufactured with recesses built into it. These recesses were trimmed out on site. Glass was measured up and glued into position and sealed watertight. Secondary glass window – removable for cleaning was used on the outside so that the pool would comply with fencing regulations.

Innovation

Glass is common with pools but previously only with concrete construction. Glass has very rarely been used with fibreglass pool given the fibreglass shell is flexible by nature. Any pool buyers who wanted a ‘wow’ factor with a swimming pool always had to revert to concrete pools construction. This is not the case anymore. This client wanted the colour of the water visual from the house. The pool was only able to be positioned free standing (due to site conditions) and they did not want to look at ‘box or wall’. It brings the pool and the life of the pool into the house.

Desirability

The client wanted the benefits of fibreglass pool with the smooth surface and ease of maintenance but was worried it would look like an old fashioned pool. By giving our clients the advantages of these pools but constructing with ‘wow’ factors gives them the best of both worlds.

Amenity

This pool is used day and night and we are not even talking about when the kids are swimming. At family meal time, the pool lights are on, the pool has in-floor cleaning so it always looks crisp and clean. It had to have infloor cleaning given it was on show every time anyone was in the kitchen. The beautiful pool colour had to be sparkling all the time.

2017 SPASA Victoria Awards

Would you like Compass Pools Melbourne to build your dream pool?

1. Sunpod water feature (1.5m x 1.5m)
2. Gemini self-cleaning chlorinator and pH adjuster
3. Remote control for your Spa Electric light

Offer finishes on Expo weekend (Saturday 25th Feb & Sunday 26th Feb 2017) at two display centres:

• 2 Marshall Road, Airport West
• 1 Males Road, Moorooduc

To claim the offer, call Compass Pools Melbourne on 1300 764 2700, email the dealer or just come to one of the two above-mentioned display centres to discuss your pool project. Compass Pools Melbourne is looking forward to hearing from you!