Health Policy, Regulations & Standards
The City of Sydney manages many aspects of environmental health in the city, either in partnership with other government agencies, or in some cases has sole responsibility.
Smoke-free Environment
From 2 July 2007 all enclosed areas of licensed premises that are open to the public must be non-smoking, according to NSW legislation. All enclosed areas of Star City Casino with the exception of private gaming rooms must also be non-smoking.
For a definition of ‘enclosed’ please refer to the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000.
There are penalties if a person smokes in a smoke-free area. Environmental Health Officers based in NSW Public Health Units are authorised to enforce the legislation. Environmental Health Officers monitor compliance, investigate complaints and conduct inspections.
Individuals are encouraged to take up complaints about non-compliance with the Smoke-free Environment Legislation directly with proprietors. Proprietors have their own legal obligations to ensure that patrons are not smoking. To obtain more information or to make a complaint, contact your local Public Health Unit or the Tobacco Information Line.
NSW Health – Tobacco Information Line
Tel: 1800 357 412
Email: tobacco@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/health-promotion/tobacco
The City of Sydney is responsible for enforcing other conditions of licensed premises, such as operating hours andnoiselevels. It responds to breaches of approval conditions for Places of Public Entertainment (POPEs), Restaurant Seating on Footways, and conditions of Development Consent.
The City of Sydney also has a role in reducing the impact of cigarette butt litter. People littering on the street can be fined by a City Ranger or Police Officer ($60 for an unlit or extinguished cigarette, $200 for a lit cigarette). Personal ashtrays are available free for individuals from the One Stop Shop and Neighbourhood Service Centres.
The Clean Harbour Partners Program works with businesses to prevent pollution from their business or premises entering the stormwater system. It does this through education campaigns and materials, and by supplying businesses with one free wall mounted ashtray to install on their building exterior.
Food Shops and Related Issues
City of Sydney Environmental Health Officers regularly monitor food hygiene practices within food businesses for compliance with the Food Act 2003 and the Food Standards Code. Part of this role is to provide advice to food business owners and operators on these requirements. Council staff are easily contacted for food hygiene advice through Council’s customer call centre.
Microbial analysis of food contact surfaces and other possible sources of cross contamination is also done during routine inspections. This is used to promote awareness and education regarding microbial contamination.
The City of Sydney's Environmental Health Officers also follow up on complaints regarding either the quality of food, contamination of food, or unclean food premises. The City also works in partnership with the NSW Food Authority in addressing food related matters such as labeling, allergens in food and food borne illness investigations.
Public Health Inspections
City of Sydney Environmental Health Officers undertake regular inspections of
- Premises that conduct skin penetration procedures
- Boarding houses and backpacker accommodation
- Sex industry premises; and
- Premises that provide hair and beauty treatment.
Examples of skin penetration premises include ear piercing, tattooists and acupuncturists to name a few. You can download Skin Penetration guidelines and a code of best practice from NSW Health, which were produced to assist businesses comply with the legislation, and provide best practice solutions to infection control, ensuring the safety of clients and staff.
Routine inspection are carried out on the other public health industries to protect their clients, customers and the general community from possible disease transmission, and ensure infection control practices are in place.
General Nuisance Complaints
The Local Government Act 1993 lists a number of orders covering a variety of general nuisances. The City's Environmental Health Officers regularly undertake inspections and serve notices dealing with such issues as accumulated rubbish, overgrown vegetation and unsightly articles.
Cooling Tower Inspections
The Public Health Act 1991 requires that all cooling towers are registered with the corresponding local council due to the potential risks associated with Legionnaires Disease.
As there are over 2000 cooling towers within the City of Sydney LGA, Environmental Health Officers conduct regular inspection and samples to ensure compliance with acceptable microbial standards.
These standards are included in the NSW Code of Practice for the Control of Legionnaires Disease which you can download as a PDF document.
Swimming Pool Sampling
The City of Sydney LGA includes approximately 200 public pools and spa baths of various sizes, all of which a regularly tested by Environmental Health Officers for chemical compliance, followed by microbiological sampling should the chemical sample fail.
Public pools are required, under the provisions of the Public Health Act 1991, to comply with NSW Swimming Pool Guidelines. You can download these guidelines as PDF documents.
Environmental Issues
In NSW, The Protection of Environment Operations Act 1997 provides the legislative basis for environmental protection in areas such as noise, air and storm water pollution, to name a few.
The Act provides City of Sydney Environmental Health Officers with regulatory tools including clean up, prevention and infringement notices, which are applied to the management of environmental issues and pollution events.
Noxious Weeds
The Noxious Weeds Act 1993 allows for the City of Sydney to declare certain weeds as noxious in its LGA. These weeds are then targeted by Environmental Health Officers, seeking their removal and ultimate control of the weeds.
Legislation and Codes of Practice
The major pieces of legislation which can be found on the NSW Legislation website include:
- Protection of Environment Operations Act 1997
- NSW Public Health Act 1991
- Food Act 2003
- Local Government Act 1993
- Noxious Weeds Act 1993.
Environmental Health Section Codes of Practice and General Information include the following:
- Construction Hours/Noise within the Central Business District
- Mobile Food Vendors – restriction from unsuitable roads
- National Code for the Construction and Fit-out of Food Premises
- Pigeon Information Sheet
Downloads
- City of Sydney's Code of Best Practice for Skin Penetration | PDF 94Kb
- NSW Code of Practice for the Control of Legionnaires Disease | PDF 474Kb
- Public Swimming Pool and Spa Pool Guidelines | PDF 185Kb
- Minimising the risk of Cryptosporidium Contamination in Public Pools and Spas | PDF 68Kb
- Pool and Spa Sanitisers Guide | PDF 361Kb
- Pigeon Information Sheet | PDF 59Kb
For More Information
Food Standards Code
Website: www.foodstandards.gov.au
NSW Environment
Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au
NSW Food Authority
Website: www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au
NSW Health
Website: www.health.nsw.gov.au
NSW Legislation
Website: www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
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