2015-04-28 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  28 APRIL 2015


(ii)     Environmental Health Activities
          95% of the annual inspections for the Shire’s 496 licensed premises have now been
            completed. These inspections include food, environmentally relevant activities,
            accommodation and personal appearance services. In addition 69 reinspections
            completed during this quarter.
          Approved 15 new operators of existing regulated premises and 14 new regulated
            premises, total of 29.
          Investigated and resolved 228 customer service requests.
          Attended development assessment planning meetings to provide expert environmental
            health and waste advice. Assessed 9 development applications and providing requests
            for information or conditions of approval and advisory notes.
          Continued to update customer service scripting on environmental health issues.
          Received notifications from Qld. Health showing the usual spiking in identified food
            poisoning cases over summer months, being:
            o     50 campylobacter and 38 salmonella cases, (food poisoning). This follows a state-
                  wide trend.
            o     1 incidence of pertussis (whooping cough) and
            o     1 cryptosporidium (typically from swimming pools).

(iii)    Pest and Vector Control Activities
          Investigated and resolved 118 customer service requests.
          Conducted 5 aerial mosquito control treatments each covering 980 hectares.
          Continued routine mosquito light trapping at 6 main breeding locations. The traps are
            inspected weekly, finding higher numbers after rain and high tides. Overall 2,911
            mosquitoes trapped and identified mainly as disease carriers. Rat bait stations were
            also monitored in commercial areas.
          Received notifications from Qld. Health showing the usual spiking in mosquito borne
            diseases over summer months due to specific high rainfall events, including:
            o    58 Ross River virus,
            o    10 Barmah Forest virus
            o    2 Dengue Fever (most likely associated with residents infected in North
                 Queensland).
          Completed the third-quarter of pest plant management survey, including 393 private
             property inspections
          Treating 581 km’s of public roads to remove pest plants.
          Participated in the public consultation process and provided information for the draft
             Pest Management Plan.
          Completed feral deer survey of 100 properties in Tinbeerwah in response to substantial
             property damage. 30 feral deer in Cooroy area were destroyed.
          Extended the fox control program to respond to increased fox activity in coastal and
             other urban areas.
          Continued to respond to feral dog attacks on stock, poultry and pets.

3.       STAFF

      In January the Environmental Health Coordinator returned to work after a long period of
        illness.
      On April 15 David Baker retired from Council after 15 years of service. His position will be
        filled in the next financial year.




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