Public Health

Cowra Council is responsible for ensuring that all registered public premises comply with relevant laws that are designed  to ensure health and safety standards are upheld at all times.

Cowra Council is also responsible for a number of core services that promote the importance of public health in the community.

To find out further information about Council’s role in food safety and public health, please explore the FAQ’s below:

Frequently Asked Questions

What public health services is Council responsible for?

Council administers the following public health services within the community:

Skin penetrations register

Public health legislation regulates body decorating and grooming practices carried out by people who are not registered as health professionals. This industry generally includes:

  • Acupuncture
  • Beauty treatments
  • Body, nose and ear piercing
  • Cosmetic enhancements
  • Colonic lavage
  • Tattooing
  • Blood Cholesterol and glucose measurement

Council is required to keep a register of all skin penetration premises and administer an annual inspection program to ensure that relevant public health standards are being maintained. 

Cooling towers register

A cooling tower is a device that lowers the temperature of the water or other liquids by the process of evaporative cooling or an evaporative condenser that has an incorporated device containing either a refrigerant or heat exchanger. Legionnaires disease can be associated with contaminated water including cooling tower water systems and spas, with most of Australia’s outbreaks being linked to cooling towers.

Under relevant public health legislation, Council maintains a register of water cooling systems within the Cowra Local Government Area. Property owners with cooling towers must notify Council and install the system in accordance with relevant Australian Standards.

Public swimming pools

Council is responsible for carrying out an annual inspection of public swimming pools, spas and baths to ensure they are complying with statutory requirements to ensure health and safety standards are upheld at all times.

Community Sharps

Council also plays a key role in administering the Cowra Community Sharps Management Program. This program is designed to help educate users of community sharps and to eliminate the risk of community sharps being disposed of incorrectly and causing harm to people.

Community Sharps refers to needles, syringes, lancets and similar items which are often used to maintain the health of an individual, a loved one or for animal health care by pet or livestock owners. The Cowra Community Sharps Management Program offers free disposal containers to sharps users which can be obtained from and returned to participating pharmacies for safe disposal.

Participating pharmacies in the Cowra Shire include; 

- Optimal Pharmacy at Kendal Street, Cowra

- Optimal Health Hub at Railway Lane, Cowra

Please Note: The free Community Sharps Containers and disposal of containers ARE NOT for commercial generators of sharps waste.

How can I find out other information?

If you would like further information in relation to any of the public health services provided by Cowra Council, please contact (02) 6340 2040.

 

 

 

 

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