The Southern Mallee District Council has a number of public and environmental health responsibilities to administer. Currently these are attended to by our Manager of Building and Regulatory Services who can be contacted by e-mail at council@southernmallee.sa.gov.au

More information about Environmental Health can be found at the Australian Institute of Environmental Health site www.aieh.org.au

Topics the Council can assist you with include:

• Food Recalls
• Food Safety and Food Complaints
• Septic Tank and Plumbing approvals, inspections and complaints
• Immunisation Services
• Mosquito control and Mosquito borne diseases
• Other Environmental issues
• Food Safety Information Sessions

Food Safety and Food Complaints.

Council administers the Food Act in South Australia and carry out routine inspections of food preparation areas and sales outlets. Adequate standards of hygiene and food handling are expected and where standards are breached orders can be issued and on the spot fines given.
The Australia and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) has been developing a nationwide set of standards for all States and Territories to use in administering food law. These new standards were introduced in 2000 - Sale Food Australian - a guide to the Food Safety Standards.

This standard consists of the following:

• Standard 3.1.1 - Interpretation and Application
• Standard 3.2.2 - Food Safety Practical and General Requiriements
• Standard 3.2.3 - Food Premises and Equipment

More information on the national standards is available at www.health.gov.au/anzfa

Council also handle consumer complaints where substandard or contaminated food has been sold. Formal complaints can be lodged in complete confidence.

Septic Tank and Plumbing approvals, inspections and complaints

All sanitary plumbing work in South Australia must be carried out be a licensed plumber. Where septic tanks are to be installed or plumbing is to be installed or extended, a Council permit is required.
Council assess the applications under the SA Health Commissions' Standard for Installation of Septic Tanks. Copies are available from the Public Environmental Health Service of the Department of Human Services. More information is available at the PEHS web site at www.health.sa.gov.au/pehs/topics/htm

Mosquito control and Mosquito borne diseases

Mosquitoes are a common nuisance in wetland areas of Southern Australia and we are fortunate that life threatening mosquito borne diseases like malaria and Japanese encephalitis are not able to be transmitted by local species.
Diseases such as Ross River Virus can be transmitted by the local species and EHO's undertake monitoring and control measures where practical.
Council is currently working with the Department of Human Services and other councils to develop a Statewide Mosquito Plan.
Interesting details about mosquitoes and control measures are to be found at the Mosquito Control Association of Australia web site www.mcaa.org.au

Other Environmental issues

Council may be able to assist you with questions or complaints about any of the following. If not directly able to help, the officer should be able to direct you to the appropriate organisation to help you.

• Headlice - see also www.health.sa.gov.au/pehs/topics/topic-headlice.htm
• Rats and rodent infestations
• Pollution complaints
• Insanitary or substandard housing
• Burning of plastics or other air pollutants
• Food poisonings
• Poor standards of animal keeping
• Any other environmental health concerns.