FAQ (Environmental Health)
To help you access information on common environmental health issues, the City of Albany has prepared a range of information sheets. Together with various posters and brochures, they cover a wide range of environmental health topics and answer frequently asked questions.
FAQ Topics
Click on an item below to jump to that specific FAQ Topic.
Asbestos removal
All asbestos cement products can be removed safely without posing a risk to the public or workers provided safe work procedures are followed.
Health: Asbestos and asbestos containing material (ACM) removal & disposal procedure information sheet
Beekeeping
Bees may be kept on properties zoned for agricultural uses. People may apply to keep up to two hives on properties not zoned for agricultural purposes (for example residential areas) in accordance with the Animals Local Law (Part 5 - Keeping of Bees).
Application for approval to keep bees
Burning / Wood smoke
What are some problems with wood smoke and what can I do to help?
Wood smoke is a pollutant that can adversely affect our health. Research has confirmed that the smoke produced by incorrectly operated domestic wood heaters produces haze/smog. The use of dry firewood makes a large difference in how much pollution your wood heater produces. Wet or green wood doesn’t generate much heat, causing the wood heater to smoke excessively.
Please refer to the 'Wood Smoke' information sheet.
Can I burn waste in my backyard?
You cannot burn rubbish in the City of Albany due to the smoke nuisance and fire danger. If you are caught burning rubbish you may be fined. Alternative options such as bulk waste collection, green waste collection, bin collections of disposal at landfill facilities are all available. Small amount of green waste may be burnt, however other disposal options such as mulching or disposal by green waste collections is recommended.
Health: Wood Smoke Information Sheet
Caravan parks and camping grounds
Information sheets are available from the City of Albany for developers wanting to establish or upgrade a caravan park or camping ground, or those park users wanting to place a rigid annexe or a park home on a caravan park facility.
Health: Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Planning Information Sheet
Dust and sand control
Standards have been developed to help minimise dust and sand nuisances from cleared land and building sites. Land needs to be cleared and filled to undertake development but there are obligations on developers to minimise the inconvenience their actions cause to neighbouring landowners.
Health: Dust and Sand Control Information Sheet
Food premises, vehicles and stalls
A food premises and vehicles information pack has been prepared by the City of Albany to provide information for proprietors, architects or builders who are seeking approval to operate, upgrade or construct a food outlet or vehicle that meets the public health requirements.
People wishing to provide produce (including cakes, jams, etc) to a food stall at a market, fete, carnival or other event are also advised that their produce must meet certain conditions and food labeling guidelines
Health: Food premises and food vehicles information pack
Health: Food Stalls Information Sheet
Health: Labelling requirements for food sold at markets information pack
Freezing foods
Some neighbourhood stores freeze chilled food, particularly meat products, to extend the product's shelf life and to meet customers' needs. Customers should be aware that this practice invalidates the use-by date shown on the product and does not provide accurate information for the purchaser on the quality of the product.
Health: Freezing and Relabelling Food
Hairdressers
This information pack provides information for those who wish to establish or who currently operate a hairdressing establishment in the City of Albany.
Health: Hairdresser Establishment Information Sheet
Links to other relevant agencies or Government Departments
Department of Health Western Australia
Department of Parks & Wildlife
Department of Environment Regulation
Water Corporation
World Health Organisation
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are causing nuisance, what is the City of Albany doing and what can I do?
The City of Albany does undertake regular monitoring and baiting of public areas in an effort to decrease the numbers of mosquitoes. However, it is still important the property owners and occupiers take measures to ensure that mosquitoes do not breed in their backyards and lead to an increase in nuisance.
Mosquitoes in your backyard
Mosquito control in your own back yard is as important as mosquito control in public areas. Millions of mosquitoes breed in back yards in water-holding objects such as buckets, tyres and unused water tanks. Effective control throughout the community will lead to a drop in the number of mosquitoes. The information in this brochure can also be applied to controlling midges.
“Fight the Bite” campaign
The City of Albany is supporting the “Fight the Bite” campaign which encourages individuals to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes in three ways – covering up, using repellent and cleaning up areas around the home where mosquitoes can breed.
Further information is available at: http://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/fightthebite
Homemade Mosquito Trap
You can help reduce the number of adult mosquitoes on your property by building and maintaining a simple mosquito trap, as shown in the download below.
Homemade Mosquito Trap
Health: Mosquitoes In Your Backyard Information Sheet
No rinse sanitisers
Sanitisers are chemical agents designed to kill bacteria and microorganisms. They are critical ingredients in keeping work areas clean.
Health: Sanitisers Information Sheet
Noise
I have a noise complaint. Who can help me?
You will need to fill in an Environmental Health Complaint Form. You can also put your complaint in writing, either by email [email protected], or by using Report It Online Form, or by mail to Environmental Health, City of Albany, PO Box 484, Albany.
If the noise issue occurs after hours please contact the Albany Police Station to see if they are able to deal with it. Police action or reports can be used as evidence by the City of Albany. Please refer to the 'Noise' information sheet.
The Noise information sheet below summarises the conditions that apply to 'specified equipment' as described in the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997.
General information is provided in the Noise Overview information sheet concerning the standards applying to neighbourhood noise, power tools, construction sites, intruder alarms, music and party noise.
More detailed information sheets are also available below on Musical Instruments, Intruder Security Alarms and the Housing Industry Association Recommendations for Noise Control on Building Sites, as these are common sources of complaint.
Should you wish to discuss a noise concern you may have, please contact one of the City's Environmental Health Officers on 9841 9333.
Health: Noise Information Sheet
Health: Noise Overview Factsheet
Health: Musical Instruments Noise Information Sheet
Health: Noise Intruders Security Alarms
Keeping poultry and pigeons
Certain restrictions on the numbers and location of poultry have been set in the City of Albany Animal Local Laws.
The City of Albany Animals Local Law 2020 also address the issues of numbers of pigeons, loft construction and flight times. Refer to the document for a summary of the requirements.
Public buildings
In an endeavour to protect the safety and wellbeing of the public, any venue where an event or function will be held, including temporary public buildings such as marquees, is inspected to ensure it meets the required standards and has adequate exits, lighting, ventilation and sanitary facilities.
Under the provisions of the Public Building Regulations it is necessary for some public buildings to have an emergency evacuation plan. This information is presented to help organisations prepare an emergency evacuation plan for their building.
Health: Event Public Buildings Information Sheet
Health: Evacuation Plan Guidelines for Public Buildings
Rainwater tanks
With water becoming recognised as a valuable commodity, water tanks are becoming more and more popular within both residential and rural areas.
For further information please contact one of the City's Environmental Health Officers on 9841 9314.
Health: Rainwater Tanks Information Sheet
Rats
Rats pose a major health risk to the community. They carry and transmit many diseases, contaminate food and food preparation areas with their fur, droppings and urine, cause damage to buildings and create foul odours with their colonies.
Health: Rats Information Sheet
Skin penetration
Tattoos, body piercing, branding, cutting and scarification are all types of body art and can also be defined as skin penetration. Regulations provide for proper hygiene and control of infectious diseases.
Health: Skin Penetration Information Sheet
Syringe disposal
Unfortunately syringes, from both medicinal and illegal usage, are often dumped in public places. This information sheet advises on safe disposal.
Health: Syringe Disposal Fact Sheet
Wastewater Management - Septic tanks, aerobic treatment units and grey water
In an endevour to protect the environmental quality of the local harbours and other water bodies in the Albany area, the City of Albany assesses all applications for on-site effluent disposal on health and environmental grounds. Up to date information, covering all areas or wastewater management, can be found at the following website: Department of Health, Public Health - wastewater management
Further information
For further information on a wide range of up-to-date information and helpful fact sheets, visit the Department of Health’s Population Health A-Z directory of health topics.