AUTHORISED environmental health officers will be appointed by the City of Wanneroo chief executive rather than a Department of Health employee.
The new Public Health Act 2016, replacing the 1911 act, allows local governments to appoint the officers instead of seeking approval from the department, which could take several weeks.
Under the act, local governments are enforcement agencies and the officers are responsible for investigating public health matters within their boundaries.
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The City’s report said the act was being implemented over three to five years and stage three commenced in late January.
Councillors gave support for the change at the March 7 meeting, which the report said would ensure the City had “adequate powers and capacity to implement, monitor and enforce its powers and duties of the act”.
At the same meeting, further power was delegated to the chief executive in regards to determining development applications.
It means that where an objection raising relevant planning considerations is received, the chief executive can approve applications that comply with State planning policy R-Codes.