annual report - City of Bayswater

Peter Doggett, Environmental Health services
Emergency risk
management
In 2008-09 the City’s emergency
risk management (ERM) project
team implemented strategies
identified in the ERM project final
report 2006. The focus during the
year was to develop information
and training forums for both the
community and staff in relation to
emergency management functions.
A staff training program was held
on 23 July 2008 to inform City of
Bayswater staff about the relevant
emergency plans currently in place,
and the roles and responsibilities
of local government and various
hazard management agencies in
emergency situations.
A community information forum was
held on 16 April 2009 to educate
the local community on emergency
risk management. Case studies, as
well as practical tips on prevention
and preparedness for storms and
fires, were provided. Twenty five
people attended the forum.
Immunisation
In 2008-09 the City ran free
immunisation clinics once a month
on a rotation basis at Bayswater,
Morley, Maylands, Hampton Park and
Noranda. The vaccination attendance
rate through the City’s Child Health
Clinics was 935 this year compared
with 984 in 2007-08.
In 2008-09, the childhood influenza
vaccination was added to the
recommended schedule and the
City’s immunization clinics provided
free flu vaccine for children aged
between six months and five years
old. The program also included
booster doses for children under five
years of age, who have had the flu
vaccine in the past.
The City also continued to provide
school vaccinations for 12 year olds
such as hepatitis B and diphtheria,
tetanus and whooping cough,
chicken pox and cervical cancer
vaccine. The immunisation program
has been successful in reaching its
target population, with the support of
local schools.
The emergence of the human swine
influenza was a concern in the
community during the first half of
2009. The City‘s immunisation team
was trained and prepared to play
an important role assisting relevant
health authorities in their preparations.
Mosquito control
Noranda Infant Health Clinic
The City’s environmental health
team had a comprehensive
program of mosquito control. The
program focused mainly around
the river foreshore areas between
October and April. The City’s
officers attended to complaints
from other breeding sources such
as containers, blocked gutters
and unused swimming pools in
residential properties as well as
breeding in roadside gullies, lakes
and drains.
A weekly mosquito trapping
program was undertaken in spring,
summer and autumn to determine
the species present and breeding
concentration levels. Control
methods included larviciding and
maintenance of drainage channels.
Maintenance of drainage channels
reduces water pooling where
mosquitoes breed and is regarded
as the most effective and desirable
method of controlling mosquito
breeding. The maintenance work
completed at Wright Crescent and
Clarkson Reserve on the Swan River
foreshore has resulted in significantly
lower mosquito breeding levels at
these sites.
city of bayswater annual report 2008-09 21