Environmental Health & Building Officer

The Shire of Mukinbudin contracts the services of an Environmental Health & Building Officer from the Shire of Yilgarn. This Officer deals with all issues relating to health, building and town planning. There are also some environmental issues that the Officer handles on behalf of Council. Currently the Officer travels to Mukinbudin on the first Wednesday of every month.

The Officer’s role is mainly legislation compliance, and covers issues under the Health Act 1911, the Liquor Licensing Act 1988, the Environmental Protection Act 1986, the Local Government Act 1995 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960, the Town Planning and Development Act 1928, and any regulations or local laws made under these Acts.

While most of the work is inspectorial and compliance, there are also a lot of educational aspects to the job too. By educating those that need to comply with the abovementioned legislation and having them automatically comply with the requirements, makes the job of the Environmental Health & Building Officer that much easier.

To assist those interested in establishing a business or carrying out any building work within the Shire of Mukinbudin, the following is a summary of issues covered by the Environmental Health & Building Officer. Please note if your proposed business or building work falls within these issues. If it does you are more than likely required to lodge an application with Council first.

Health Issues

The Officer deals with a range of jobs relating to health, including:

• Inspection of food premises such as cafes, supermarkets, butcher shops, etc, including itinerant food vendors, food vans, and temporary food premises;
• Take food samples from manufacturing food premises for compliance with the National Food Standards;
• Assist/advise the Swimming Pool Manager with the running of the Mukinbudin Swimming Pool;
• Inspect public buildings for compliance with the Health (Public Buildings) Regulations 1992 and the Health Act 1911;
• Inspect hairdressing establishments;
• Inspect body piercing or tattooing or beauty therapist establishments;
• Inspect lodging houses, bed & breakfast establishments, farm stays;
• Inspect intensive agricultural premises, stables, or offensive trades within or adjacent to townsites;
• Issue work schedules requiring certain work to be carried out so that the premises and/or activity complies with the relevant health legislation, carry out follow-up inspections to ensure that the work is completed satisfactorily;
• Assess applications relating to health issues, advise/assist the applicants with their application, and notify the applicant of the outcome;
• Monitor the re-use effluent scheme used to water the sporting oval by taking monthly samples of effluent water and sending these to Perth for analysis;
• Investigate any notifiable disease diagnosed;
• Assess planning and building applications for compliance with the Health Act 1911 and any regulations or local laws made under the Act;
• Assess applications for the installation of septic tank systems or aerobic treatment units (ATUs) for single dwellings less than three storeys in height, and for small volume situations whether commercial/industrial/rural development, and carry out the inspection and test of all such installations. All applications for installations outside these situations require approval from the Health Department of Western Australia. The Officer completes a report regarding the application and forwards the application, the Local Government report, and the plans of the system to the Health Department for assessment and approval;
• Handle complaints from food poisoning to offensive odours to rubbish accumulating on town lots;
• Report to Council on any of the abovementioned health issues that require a decision from Council, and act on its decision; and
• Advise Council and stakeholders of any amendments to the legislation and how it will affect the local situation.

Environmental Issues

The Officer deals with several issues of an environmental nature, including:

• Monitor the landfill site and ensure that the site is licensed and complies with the conditions of that licence;
• Assist the Chief Executive Officer with any environmental issues;
• Handle complaints regarding noise, dust, etc; and
• Advise Council of any amendments to the legislation and how it will affect the local situation.

Building Issues

The Officer deals with all building inquiries and applications, including:

• Advise owners as to whether their building proposal (new/addition/alteration) will comply with the Building Code of Australia, whether prior planning approval is required, and assist them in submitting a completed building application to Council;
• Assess all building applications, including swimming pools, for compliance with the Building Code of Australia;
• Approve the application and issue a Building Licence, with or without conditions, to the applicant;
• Carry out site inspections to assess building progress, compliance with the Building Code of Australia, and that there have been no alterations to the plans without prior approval;
• Assist the Administration Officer to provide relevant statutory bodies with information regarding building licenses issued each month;
• Inspect private swimming pool fences within townsites and issue work schedules when required;
• Assess existing buildings and advise on possible up-grading work;
• Inspect and report to Council on any derelict or un-completed or dangerous building, and advise as to what action should occur; and
• Advise Council of any amendments to the legislation.

Planning Issues

The Officer deals with all planning issues, including:

• Advise owners as to whether an application requires planning approval from Council, and assist the applicant in completing the planning application for Council’s assessment;
• Report on the planning application to Council and advise the applicant of Council’s decision;
• Arrange any advertising of a planning application (if applicable) seeking the public’s comments on the proposal and report back to Council;
• Notify neighbours of a proposed planning application and seek their comments, and report back to Council;
• Advise owners on town planning issues, including amalgamations and subdivisions of town lots, and Home Occupations;
• Assist the Chief Executive Officer with any planning issues; and
• Advise Council of any amendments to the legislation and how it will affect the local district.

For more information or advice, please contact the Shire office by telephoning (08) 9047 1102, or contacting the Environmental Health & Building Officer, Wendy Dallywater directly, at the Shire of Yilgarn by telephoning (08) 9049 1001 during working hours.