Environmental Health

On this page




 

What is environmental health?

The environment can directly and indirectly impact on our health and wellbeing. Environmental health examines the interaction between the environment and our health. To find out more, visit ehinz.ac.nz.

Our Environmental Health team is dedicated in ensuring that Invercargill residents and visitors stay safe and healthy.  We promote, protect and improve the health of the community by monitoring and inspecting a variety of activities and premises to make sure that the relevant legislative requirements are met.

The Environmental Health team ensures that the people or business are registered and inspected to guarantee compliance with the required legislations. The team deals with:

  • Camping Grounds
  • Funeral Directors
  • Hairdressers
  • Offensive Trades
  • Tattooing and Skin Piercing
  • Mobile Trader
  • Food Business
  • Health and Food Nuisance

Our Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are responsible for monitoring, inspection, compliance and enforcement while our Environmental Support Officer deals with the admin and registration.

The team can also provide information and advice on:

  • Asbestos Contamination
  • Buskers
  • Methamphetamine Contamination
  • Recreational Water


 

Contact us

Contact the Environmental Health team on:


 

Bylaws

The main bylaws that we operate under are:

  • The Health and Hygiene Bylaw (refer to the Bylaws page), which sets out the standards for acupuncture, body piercing, electrolysis, and tattooing (including traditional and semi-permanent colouring).
  • The Environmental Health Bylaw (refer to the Bylaws page) which includes mobile trading, the Central City alcohol ban, solvent abuse, untidy sections and abandoned vehicles.


 

Do I need a licence or permit?

When running a business or an event in Invercargill boundary, it is always good practice to research and check with the local council to ensure you are complying with any legislative requirements. 

Under environmental health, if you’re running a food business, hairdresser shop, mobile trading, camping grounds, funeral homes (with mortuary), offensive trades and beauty, tattoo & piercing shop, then you might need a licence. If you are also busking in the street, then you must let us know.

Businesses might need to meet different type of requirements which could depend on the type of business or event, location, condition of the building and so on. So we do recommend you check with the other departments:

 

  • Do I need a resource consent?   Your proposed business must comply with District Plan rules – we recommend you get in touch with a duty planner to discuss any requirements.

Planning team

  • Do I need a building consent?    Your proposed business must comply with the Building Act 2004.   We recommend getting in touch with our building services team to discuss your project and clarify requirements and what plans and paperwork should be included in your application. 

Building team

  • Do I need an alcohol licence?  If you intend to sell and supply alcohol, you need the appropriate licence.  You must contact the District Licensing Committee.

District Licensing Committee

  • What trade waste requirements need considered?  We recommend you get in touch with our Trade Waste Officer to discuss any requirements under Trade Waste Bylaw 2017 (refer to the Bylaws page). Refer to Drainage and sewage.
  • You can also contact any department via Post:

Name of team
Invercargill City Council
Te Hīnaki – Civic Building
101 Esk Street
Private Bag 90104
Invercargill


 

Registering your business

If you want to open or take over an existing business or premises, you should contact us for the business to be re-registered and inspected.

To learn more, visit Registering and changes to your business.

 

Inspections

An Environmental Health Officer will inspect any premises with health licences or sites that cause a nuisance. Officers will also verify food businesses and alcohol inspectors to ensure compliance with any relevant Acts, Regulations, Standards or/and Bylaws.

Additional inspections may be undertaken, if we receive a complaint or if the premises and procedures are in unacceptable condition which may be charged.


 

Asbestos contamination

Properties contaminated with asbestos can be a health risk. This usually happens when the building material containing asbestos gets disturb which not only affects the residents, but also the neighbouring properties. To prevent health risks associated with exposure to asbestos, different agencies work together to ensure that the effects are minimised.

 

Methamphetamine contamination

Properties contaminated with methamphetamine pose a serious health risk, especially to their occupants.

The Council ensures that any information relating to meth contamination which is held on a property file is relayed to future owners through the Land Information Memorandum (LIM) process.

If you have a general enquiry or a complaint about contamination, you should contact the Police or Public Health South.

 

Recreational Water

The term ‘recreational water’ describes any body of water (still or flowing) that people come into contact with when they undertake recreational activities (bathing, water sports, domestic shellfish collection etc) (Ministry for the Environment).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been established with parties involved in this area to work cooperatively to ensure that the water quality guidelines for marine and freshwater recreational areas are implemented and managed across Otago and Southland.

If you have an enquiry, you can contact Environment Southland, Public Health South or the Environmental Health team of the Invercargill City Council.

 

Complaints

Please get in touch if you have any concerns or feedback about our service.   

Our environmental health team also investigate a range of matters relating to public health, including:

  • unregistered premises
  • foreign matter in food (i.e. hair, glass, general food safety etc)
  • industrial noise – businesses that causes noise contravenes the District Plan
  • concerns about any premises, business or activities that was mentioned in this page.
  • complaints relating to health nuisance, i.e. pests related to the said premises, cleanliness or a premises, no ablutions, etc. 

Some complaints that relates to smell, fumes, smoke or odour will go to Environment Southland. 

Illnesses may need to go to Public Health South. For serious concerns, please call the emergency services.

For more information, refer to the Environmental Health Complaints page.

 

Fees and Charges

Fees are charged for new and renewal of registration applications which must be paid before a current registration certificate will be issued.

Registration renewals, including an inspection, are required annually. These will be invoiced automatically at the appropriate time.

Additional fees may be charged at any stage including revisits, complaints and how long these problems or ongoing matters of concern are addressed.

For a full list refer to Environmental Health on the Fees and Charges page.

 

Need help?

If you have any question, issue or concern, please do not hesitate to ask us. Contact the Environmental Health team on: