HEALTH ISSUES

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Environmental Health Unit

The City of Ballarat offers a broad range of Public Health Services including:

Noise Control

In conjunction with the Police, Council's Environmental Health Unit is able to investigate complaints relating to noise from residential premises. For complaints after hours all enquiries should be directed to the Police.
Further information regarding Residential Noise and prohibited times for noise can be found on the EPA Victoria website.

Septic Tanks

The Environmental Health Unit offers advice on the siting of Septic Tank Systems and is responsible for overseeing their installation. Application forms are available from The Phoenix, 25 Armstrong Street South Ballarat.

Septic Tank Application Form

Food Surveillance

Council's Environmental Health Unit is responsible for the supervision of all aspects of food production and sale within the Municipality. Any concerns about food production and food handling should be directed to 5320 5702. Council conducts a food sampling program, a regular program of inspections and responds to all complaints regarding food quality.

Nuisances

Apart from noise nuisance, conditions likely to affect health should be referred to the Environmental Health Unit. Concerns about premises such as Motels, Caravan Parks, Hairdressers and Tattooists should also be referred to the Environmental Health Unit.

Health Promotion

Concerned about maintaining a healthy lifestyle? Talk to the Environmental Health Unit about measures you can take to maximise your health.

Council's Environmental Health Unit, Ballarat Community Health, Ballarat Health Services' Liver Clinic, University of Ballarat's Medical Clinic and Hepatitis C Victoria have joined together to form a Safe Skin Partnership raising awareness of hepatitis and safe tattooing/piercing practices. A number of local tattoo/piercing premises have joined.

We have produced a brochure and poster around hepatitis C and further information can be provided by Ballarat Community Health Centre on 5338 4500.

Tobacco

The Environmental Health Unit offers advice and assistance on all tobacco and smoking related issues.

An annual tobacco test purchasing program is run to check that tobacco retailers in the municipality are not selling cigarettes to persons under the age of 18 years. Additionally annual inspections of all licensed premises with outdoor dining/drinking areas are accessed for compliance under the Tobacco Act 1987 as well as vending machine inspections and responding to all tobacco related complaints.

There are current tobacco reforms taking place including:

• A ban on smoking in cars if a person under 18 years is present
• A ban on sale of cigarettes at temporary outlets (e.g. horse races)
• A ban on certain fruit flavoured cigarettes
• A ban on display of tobacco products

These changed will take force from the 1st January 2011.

For further information on these reforms can be found at Department of Health Tobacco Unit website.

Are you a tobacco retailer wanting more information about the changes and other available download? Tobacco Retailers

Do you have a problem with tobacco smoke in the workplace? Workplaces

Are you wanting more information about the Tobacco Act and licensed premises/outdoor dining or drinking areas? Licensed Premises and Outdoor dining/drinking

Do you have a vending machine and want to know what the reforms mean to you? Vending Machine