ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH “NOT IN ISOLATION” THE REGIONAL APPROACH NSW Local Health Districts Mid North Coast Local Health District Local Government Areas ∗ Port Macquarie-Hastings Council ∗ Kempsey Shire Council ∗ Nambucca Shire Council ∗ Bellingen Shire Council ∗ Coffs Harbour City Council Resources ∗ There are around 24 staff in the region between both Councils and the Ministry ∗ Ministry staff are exclusive EHO’s ∗ The larger Councils have specific EHO’s that rotate through functions ∗ The smaller Councils traditionally have Health and Building surveyors that cover the facets of EH and Building and land use related issues David Basso (EHO) EHA NSW MNC Regional Group ∗ The EHA (NSW)Inc. Mid North Coast regional group has been meeting now for almost 20 years ∗ The quarterly meetings of the group have given rise to a range of joint region-wide surveys, seminars, inspections etc. for Regulated Environmental Health functions Never short of issues ∗ Matters of a strategic and reactive nature include; ∗ Rave parties – Bellingen and Coffs ∗ Drug labs ∗ Floods ∗ Bellinger River snapping turtle ∗ Abandoned Antimony processing site – Urunga ∗ Sewerage overflows ∗ Oyster Aquaculture ∗ Water Recycling ∗ Diesel spills and truck rollovers Scheduled activities ∗ Skin Penetration ∗ Public swimming pools ∗ Private drinking water supplies ∗ On site sewerage management ∗ Food Businesses ∗ Mosquito vector program ∗ Legionella control Aboriginal Environmental Health ∗ The Ministry of Health employ Aboriginal Trainee EHOs – some positions shared with regional councils ∗ This facilitates outcomes in Aboriginal communities and good range of experiences ∗ A good example of programs that the Ministry are involved with include ‘Housing for Health’ Across The Region # Food business premises – 1387 # OSSM – 22806 # Public swimming pools – 227 # Private Swimming pools – 5120 # Skin Penetration premises – 126 # Cooling towers/warm water systems – 40+ # Brothels – upward of 12 # Water carters – 30+ OYSTER AQUACULTURE ∗ River closures by the NSW Food Authority have caused stress on local industry. This has particularly been the case on the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers within the Bellingen Shire. ∗ A healthy and sustainable oyster industry is a true indicator of river health and human impact in a local context. Reporting initiative – oyster aquaculture ∗ With the support of the Ministry of Health, Department of Industry and Investment and the NSW Food Authority, a sub group of member Council’s have embarked on an annual reporting strategy for on site sewerage management systems within the SEPP 62 Oyster Aquaculture areas. Nambucca River Oyster Aqua Culture Oyster Aqua Culture Zone as provided by Nsw Fisheries Management To preserve Health and Amenity within this area and surrounds , extending from the Macksville Bridge through to Stuart Island and the tidal reaches of this area Tourism and Environmental Health ∗ The region sustains a healthy tourism industry ∗ The positive impacts that the team associated with our activities contributes to overall tourism experiences ∗ I believe that those I enjoy my working relationships with across Councils and with the State have pride and contribute towards healthy and happy tourism experiences in our neck of the woods RMS – Highway upgrade ∗ The current upgrades to the Pacific Highway will provide an arterial road within the region that will, upon completion, enhance connectivity and theoretically improve efficiencies of service delivery. ∗ The project sunset is around 2020. This is part of the east coast upgrade from Newcastle through to the Queensland border. EXPERIENCES Info links ∗ Visit NSW –North Coast http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north- coast/attractions ∗ Nambucca Shire Council - www.nambucca.nsw.gov.au ∗ North Coast Public Health Unit- Environmental Health http://mnclhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services/north-coast- public-health/environmental-health/ Thanks! Anthony Brandie Senior Health & Building Surveyor Nambucca Shire Council PO Box 177 Macksville NSW 2447 Direct: (02) 6568 0240 Mobile: 0438 068 949 Email – [email protected] .