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Page Last Updated:
Tuesday, 6 October 2009 |
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Home>Residents>Environmental health
Council’s Environmental Health Unit consists of trained public health professionals and experienced administrative support staff. The Unit provides a variety of environmental and public health services including health education and the enforcement of relevant State legislation.
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 Immunisation (Council and school based)
Health and infectious disease regulations (pools and spas)
Registering a new or existing business
Food premises
Health premises
Caravan parks
Tobacco legislation enforcement
Noise
Private Water Supplies (tanks, bores)
River pool water quality sampling
Head lice
Other
| Immunisation (Council and school based) | | Council runs immunisation clinics on a monthly basis at the alternate venues of Myrtleford, Bright and Mount Beauty. Immunisation is available free of charge for children for the standard childhood vaccines, and adults (for particular vaccinations only). All vaccines are administered by accredited nurses or Council's Medical Officer of Health.
Parents are invited to attend any council session to receive vaccinations. Please ensure that your medicare card and your child's health record book is brought to the session for updating. We also request that you wait for 15 minutes after vaccinations.
The standard immunisation schedule is available directly from the Department of Human Services' National Immunisation Program Schedule factsheet.
For immunisation session dates within the Alpine Shire, please read Council's 2009 immunisation program.
For more detailed information on vaccines available, fact sheets, reactions and other information visit the Department of Human Services Immunisation information page.
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| Health and infectious disease regulations (pools and spas) | | Any premises that operates a swimming pool/spa, available to the public, must meet the requirements under the Health (infectious Disease) Regulations 2001.
These Regulations govern public swimming pools and public spa pool standards. The potential for outbreaks of infectious diseases through the use of pools, if not maintained to the standards specified in the Regulations, can be high. Part 7 of the Regulations outlines the minimum requirements to ensure that the pool operates for the benefit of the patrons.
Advice and guidance on pool operation and water treatment can be found on the:
Pool Operators Handbook Top
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| Registering a new or existing business | | If you are planning to open a new business, whether it be a business that sells, prepares or handles food, provides accommodation, a hairdresser/beauty parlour services, conducts skin penetration activities (ear piercing and tattooing), or operates a caravan park, there is legislation in place that requires the registration of these businesses with Council.
Registration commences the day that you are approved and issued with your certificate of registration. All registrations issued expire on 31 December each year.
An application to renew registration must be submitted before the current registration expires. The application fee that is paid with the first registration covers the initial inspections of the premises and approval of the plans.
Premises registered under either the Health Act, Food Act or Residential Tenancies Act are required to meet minimum standards for construction, fit out and general operation. Before purchasing an existing business, there are a number of steps that you should take.
Further information:
Anyone contemplating opening a new business should also make contact with the following organisations. They may be able to provide you with additional assistance and let you know if any other approvals, registrations or licences will be required. This list is not exhaustive but may be of assistance.
Within Council (ph: 03 5755 0555)
* Statutory planning - for town planning advice
* Building - for any building/fire compliance requirements
* Local laws - for advice in relation to advertising signs on footpaths and street furniture
* Rates office - to discuss what rates and charges are likely to apply
Other contacts:
* North East Region Water Authority - for advice on water supply and grease traps - ph: 1300 361 622 or www.nerwa.vic.gov.au
* Liquor Licensing Victoria - ph: 9655 6696
* Consumer and Business Affairs Victoria - ph: 1300 558 181
www.consumer.vic.gov.au
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| Food premises | | Food Act legislation
The Victorian Food Act 1984, along with the Food Standards Code and the Food Safety Standards, cover all businesses that handle, pack, prepare and sell food. Therefore all businesses, regardless of their size, that are involved with food, must be registered, and must comply with the requirements of the legislation.
Please be aware of the Food premises guidelines which cover design and construction, ,
Food Premises (vehicles),
Food Safety supervisor,
Food poisoning and complaints
New and Altering a Kitchen - Food Premises Planning Guide - plans and specifications
Maintenance Schedule
Cleaning and Sanitising
Thermometers - Requirements of Food Safety Standards
and specific information on Bed and Breakfast accommodation and guest houses.Top
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| Health premises | | Personal care and body art industries guidelines
The principle purpose of this set of guidelines is to assist those involved in the personal care and body art industry to comply with the Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001 by providing information on:
(1) how infection can be associated with the procedures employed in the industry, and
(2) precautions to protect clients and employees.
For more information please read the Health premises guidelines or visit www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/regulations/hlth_guidelines
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| Caravan parks | | The Residential Tenancies Act requires registration of all caravan parks. Many caravan parks also operate a kiosk and as such registration under the Food Act may also be required.
All caravan parks are required to have in place an Emergency Management Plan. It is advisable to obtain a copy of this plan prior to taking over so that you are fully aware of your obligations under that plan.
If you intend opening or buying a caravan park, please talk with Council’s Environmental Health Officers.
Caravan Park Fire Safety Guidelines.Top
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| Tobacco legislation enforcement | | Over the past few years a number of new laws controlling tobacco have come into effect in Victoria. As a result we can now enjoy a smoke-free environment while eating out, tobacco advertisements and promotions have been limited, shopping centres are now smoke free and as of 1 September 2007, smoking in gaming venues and licensed premises was also restricted. The laws are also aimed at reducing the sale of cigarettes and tobacco to children.
Complaints about sale of tobacco products to children are to be referred to Council’s Environmental Health unit for investigation. Council’s Enviornmental Health Officers also ensure that tobacco advertising and point of sale display comply with the Tobacco Act and that required “Warning Signs” are displayed.
For further information about the new laws please visit - www.health.vic.gov.au/tobaccoreforms or contact Council’s Environmental Health unit for a brochure - 'Selling Tobacco - Learn The New Laws'.
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| Noise | | Residential noise
It is part of life that we all make noise, whether we are talking to others, playing music, entertaining, mowing the lawn, working around the house or just going about our daily business. What is enjoyable to one person may be noise to another. Excessive noise can affect people’s quality of life.
Police and Council officers can require offenders to cease unreasonable noise. Police are best placed to respond to late night noise such as parties, or issues where alcohol or threatening behaviour is involved . Council officers are most suited to address long-term issues, involving prescribed items, plant and equipment, machine and animal noise. Investigations of complex issues may require a collaborative approach between both Council officers and police officers.
Information about residential noise and what you can do about it can be found on the EPA website below.
EPA website - Residential Noise information
EPA publication - Annoyed by noise?
Animal noise
Barking dogs, bird and other animal noise are regulated under provisions in either Council's Local Law or more specific leglislation under the Domestic Animals Act or nuisance provisions of the Health Act
Contact Council Local Laws Officers or Environmental Health Officers for specific advice.
Other noise
EPA has guidelines for other types of noise to assist local government in resolving complaints. These guidelines cover noise from construction sites, domestic refuse collections, commercial and industrial noise, and motor vehicles.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the EPA website:
EPA website - Noise prevention and control in Victoria
EPA website - Noise publications and resources
Bird scare guns
The control of bird scare guns is regulated under the following Council policy:
Policy for Control of Noise From Scare GunsTop
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| River pool water quality sampling | | Weekly water quality sampling for E.coli at the two river pools in Bright and Porepunkah is undertaken by Council during November, December and January. These E.coli results are used by Council to provide the weekly update of the condition at each site.
Bright - Centenary Park
Porepunkah - Riverside Park
Water quality condition ratings are calculated using the results of the previous five weeks of sampling. These will be indicated once five weeks of sampling data are available.
The ratings are indications of recreational water quality over the previous five weeks, and do not give a measure of risk to the health of river users on any given day. River users should take care at all times and not swallow river water. They should also be mindful of other potential hazards such as high flows, unseen objects and litter.
Information regarding water quality ratings, geometric mean, E.coli and other details regarding water quality analysis can be found on the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) website, and by following the links below:
EPA Information - Water quality ratings
EPA Information - E.coli
EPA Information - Geometric meanTop
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| Head lice | | For information on head lice, please visit the Department of Human Services website.
Also general Information about head lice can be found at the following sites:
www.jcu.edu.au - an excellent award winning, Australian based website containing accurate information and original research about head lice. It offers very practical and easy to follow advice to deal with the frustration of head lice (pediculosis).
http://www.headlice.org - National Pediculosis Association®, Inc. (NPA) is a non-profit American based health and education agency “dedicated to protecting children from the misuse and abuse of potentially harmful lice and scabies pesticidal treatments”. The NPA are advocates of “no-nit” policy.
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| Other | | | The Environmental Health team cover a range of other services for which information sheets are available at the bottom of this page. Top
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