Health & Environment

The Health and Environmental Services Department has one of the broadest portfolios of services for the residents and ratepayers of the City of Botany Bay.

They cover a wide spectrum of responsibilities from safeguarding the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frogs to maintaining an efficient regular garbage collection; from monitoring for Legionella disease to registering local dogs and cats.

The management and improvement of the local environment is one of the primary tasks of the Department and it is the Council's frontline in protecting and enhancing the environment.

The Department also assists the Council meet the requirements of the State Government for an annual State of the Environment Report which keeps local residents informed and up to date on actions taken to protect and enhance the local community environment. The report is made widely available and is posted on this web site.

The Waste Management and Cleansing section provides the budget for such activities as household garbage collections, recycling services, waste minimisation education, street cleaning, litter bins, rubbish removal and pavement washing as well as cleaning public halls and community buildings.

Health services include child immunisation, administering public health and safety provisions of the Local Government Act, and the inspection and regulation of areas such as food outlets, hairdressers and beauty parlours, body piercing, advertising signage, pest control and swimming pool testing. Animal Control Services provide registration for household pets, their control, and if necessary, impoundment as well as monitoring barking or nuisance dogs.

Regulation Enforcement is seen in the activities of the Council Rangers who deal with abandoned vehicles, rubbish dumpers, illegal parkers, vandalism and graffiti, environmental offences and other breaches of Council by laws as well as providing security for Council buildings and other community assets.

The Department 's portfolio also covers Asset Management ensuring Council buildings are maintained, repaired and protected as well as recommending improvements and alterations that are required. They are also responsible for ensuring energy efficient practices are applied in Council activities.

Local Government is becoming increasingly involved in the environment and this Department provides the engine room. The staff carry out such duties as environmental education and monitoring, air and noise monitoring, inspecting contaminated sites, complaint investigation, water monitoring, environmental offences and penalties as well as assessing development applications and policies from the environmental viewpoint.