1% - Waikato District Council

80NAVIGATING THE FUTURE | WAIKATO DISTRICT COUNCILSustainable EnvironmentEnvironmentalhealthStrategic Direction ContributionsPrimarySecondaryEnvironmental health focuses on the keeping the communityhealthy. Monitoring is a many faceted role, from food outletsto ensure they keep high hygiene standards, liquor outletsto ensure they keep to the conditions of their licenses, tohazardous substances and contaminated sites. As with anyregulatory activity any non-compliance is dealt with on a caseby-casebasis with measures taken depending on the natureof the non-compliance. Measures available regarding foodand liquor outlets range from providing education and advicethrough to prosecution and seeking closure of the premises inaccordance with provisions of the applicable legislation.General food service businesses now have the ability tovoluntarily opt out of the current inspection regime and intoa risk-based food control system. The council has obtainedapproval as an audit agency and the Environmental HealthOfficers have been approved to audit the new food controlplans operated by those businesses opting into the voluntaryprogram. Uptake of the voluntary system by food businesseshas been relatively slow.ObjectiveSafe and Thriving Waikato: The community’s healthand wellbeing is protected.Noise control is also an important part of improving, promotingand protecting public health. We also provide advice onpublic health aspects of resource consent applications andmonitor related compliance conditions. Managing land useinformation and requirements related to contaminated andpotentially contaminated land is also an important aspect ofkeeping our environment healthy. The council is continuing todevelop its processes and systems in this area. The NationalEnvironmental Standard (NES) for Assessing and ManagingContaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health came into forceon 1 January 2012 to provide a level of national consistency inthe management of potentially contaminated land. Whether wewill need more resources is still unclear but it is possible moretechnical expertise could be required.Proposed level of serviceFood sold within the district is safe.Liquor outlets operate responsibly and comply with legalrequirements.Noise complaints are responded to in a timely fashion.Nuisance complaints are responded to in a timely fashion.How we’ll know we are on trackTargets10/11 Actual Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Years 4-10Percentage of “at risk” registered food premises inspectedper year.100% 100%Percentage of “at risk” liquor premises inspected per year. 100% 100%Percentage of excessive noise complaints responded towithin agreed timeframes. (Due to geographical characteristicsof the district, response times will vary in different partsof the district)Percentage of public nuisance complaints respondedto within 2 working days.Potential significant negative effectsThere are no significant negative effects identified with this activityNewMeasureNewMeasure90%95%