Public Health Services

Hay Shire Council has a role in conjunction with the NSW Health Service in public health issues, ranging from enforcing and monitoring of public health regulations such as food monitoring and skin penetration, to information and awareness campaigns.

Bees

Bees are an important part of our environment and become very active during spring and usually swarm between September and December. Swarming is a natural behaviour and is part of the reproductive lifecycle of honey bees.

Bee swarms on private property are the responsibility of the occupier. If swarms are a problem, check the Yellow Pages in the phone directory under Apiarists or Bee Keepers for people willing to collect bees in your area. For more troublesome swarms, it may be necessary to contact a pest controller.

Food Safety and Monitoring

When operating a food business, you will be required to follow a few simple steps outlined below to enable your business to gain approval to operate:

• Notify Council when establishing a new business, when business ownership changes, and if you wish to change the use of an existing building.
• Obtain a food handling certificate from the NSW Food Authority, and maintain a high standard of safety and hygiene, this paramount and is highly regulated. 
• Visit the NSW Food Authority website which provides a clear guideline on the requirements.

Council conducts annual and bi-annual food inspections under the Food Act 2003, you must notify Council if are operating a food business to enable these inspections to take place, failure to contact Council or a breach of your requirements may result in businesses being closed.

If you intended to sell food from a mobile venue, there are a number of rules governing where you can trade and how your vehicle is to be outfitted. Council has a Vending Vehicles Policy in place to provide some guidelines, and approval is required through a Section 68 Application. Further information is available from the NSW Food Authority website.

Stallholders and event organisers have obligations around temporary food stalls, which have to be approved and registered before food can be sold at fairs, festivals and other public events. Please see Council’s Street Stalls, Raffles & Fundraising Policy and the NSW Food Authority website.

Alfresco dining or outdoor dining is popular for customers providing a more social setting, there are a number of regulations and fees for businesses offering food outside. The following application form is required to be submitted to Council to seek approval before operating outdoor dining:

•  Application for Local Activity Section 68 

If you have a home-based food business (this can include childcare, bed & breakfast, catering business), you must comply to this Fact Sheet on Home-based Food Businesses.

For more information on food related enquiries, please visit:

Magpies

For most of the year magpies are a colourful and melodious part of our environment, however during the nesting season magpies may become a problem when swooping.

Swooping is a natural behaviour as the birds defend their nesting territory and usually occurs for about 8 weeks in spring from August until October.

There are things we can do to avoid being swooped:

• Avoid the swooping areas by taking an alternative route.
• Wear a wide brim hat and sunglasses.
• Carry an umbrella.
• Watch the bird as you walk through their territory, this may discourage attack.

Remember magpies are protected throughout NSW and it is against the law to kill or injure the birds, collect their eggs or harm their young.

Mosquitos

Mosquitoes are an annoying pest that transmits disease and parasites.

Some of the more common diseases known to be caused by mosquito bites are Ross River fever, Barmah Forest fever and rarely, the virus that causes Murray Valley encephalitis.

Mosquito breeding can occur in any stagnant body of water. To minimise breeding follow these simple tips

• change water weekly in bird baths
• stock ponds with fish
• make sure roof gutters drain properly
• remove pot plant saucers or fill them with sand
• check funnels of bromeliad plants
• screen or cover septic tanks and water holding tanks
• keep lawns and other ground vegetation short.
• drain unused swimming pools completely
• wear long sleeves and cover exposed skin particularly at dusk
• limit outdoor activities at dusk

Queensland Fruit Fly

Fruit flies are a significant threat to horticulture. They can have major impacts on Australia's capacity to trade competitively and can destroy commercial fruit orchards as well as home garden  fruit. The effective management Queensland fruit fly ensures producers can develop, maintain and enhance access into domestic and international markets.
Queensland fruit fly is a pest that requires everyone to be involved in controlling the insect and restricting its spread.

Links for assistance and management of Queensland Fruit Fly:

Skin Penetration

It is a requirement under the Public Health Regulation 2012 that all premises undertaking skin penetration procedures must register with their local Council.

A Skin Penetration procedure can be defined as:
- Acupuncture
- Beauty Treatments (Hair Removal, Manicure & Pedicure Treatments)
- Body, Nose & Ear Piercing
- Cosmetic Enhancements
- Colonic Lavage
- Tattooing
- Blood Cholesterol and Glucose Measurements

Inspections of these premises may be carried out to ensure the health of the public is protected when receiving these treatments and that all relevant standards are being met.

For more information on Skin Penetration, please visit the NSW Health Website linked below.
If your business or premises is in the Hay Shire and undertakes any of these procedures, please register by filling out the below form and returning to Council.

Snakes

Snakes are a natural occurrence within our environment and are active throughout the warmer months.

Snakes are protected within NSW and should not be harmed.

Council does not under any circumstance provide a service for the removal of snakes. Check the Yellow Pages in the phone directory for assistance with snake removals but do not attempt to catch or handle a snake for any reason.