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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

Since 2 July 2007 all enclosed areas of licensed premises that are open to the public are now required to 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 Surveyors 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 and noise levels. 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 is 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 are 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 labelling, allergens in food and food borne illness investigations.

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Free Food Hygiene Workshops

Any person who works in, or runs a food business with the City of Sydney Council area is welcome to attend a Free, Council provided Food Hygiene Workshop. The workshop will consist of a basic overveiw of food safety, legislation, common food hygiene issues, and how to best comply. If you are interested in attending please fill in and forward this form.

Please remember that places will fill up fast. If there are no seats available in your nominated course we will ensure you are allocated a seat in the next available session. Confirmation of your booking will be made with you once finalised.

Downloads

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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.  

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General Nuisance Complaints

The Local Government Act 1993 lists a number of orders covering a variety of general nuisances. The City's Environmental Health Surveyors regularly undertake inspections and serve notices dealing with such issues as accumulated rubbish, overgrown vegetation and unsightly articles.

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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 Surveyors 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.

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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 Surveyors 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.

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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 Surveyors with regulatory tools including clean up, prevention and infringement notices, which are applied to the management of environmental issues and pollution events.

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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 Surveyors, seeking their removal and ultimate control of the weeds.

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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

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Downloads

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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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Please Note:
While care is taken to ensure accuracy, the City of Sydney cannot guarantee that information expressed here is correct and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. The City of Sydney makes no warranty or undertaking, whether expressed or implied, nor does it assume any legal liability, whether direct or indirect.