Mr Rees said there had been ongoing debate about pools, including whether pools built before new laws were enacted in the early 1990s should be fenced.

"I'm happy to have a look at that," Mr Rees said. "The challenge is to get the balance right between making sure children are safe and not having onerous regulations."

A Unanderra swim centre also joined the chorus of voices supporting tighter backyard swimming pool regulations.

McKeon Swim School program director Siria Thomas said she would support compulsory inspections of backyard swimming pools by local councils.

"I think that's a fantastic idea. It is such a huge killer of our children we should be doing everything humanly possible to prevent these deaths," she said.

Ms Thomas has spoken to parents of drowning victims and witnessed the "complicated grief" that follows a child drowning.

"There is a lot of guilt and a lot of blame; it is a difficult thing for the families to process," she said.

Yesterday Shellharbour City Council said it conducted 169 pool inspections over the past financial year, which accounts for 5 per cent of pools in the area.

Kiama Municipal Council said it wrote to all pool owners last month reminding them to comply with safety standards and encourage them to check that their cardiopulmonary resuscitation chart was up-to-date.

Wollongong City Council said it carried out pool inspections during the development consent process.

Mt Kembla parent John Davies said when he considered building a new swimming pool his mind turned to the safety of his two-year-old son Brock.

"We built a fence around the pool and we are making sure there is nothing he can climb," Mr Davies said.

"We emphasise to (Brock) that he is not allowed to go down to the pool unless mum or dad are with him and I think he understands."