Hazards in your environment

Public Health in Maribyrnong

As part of the community of Maribyrnong, citizens must ensure that their actions and the way their land is kept does not effect other people in a negative and unreasonable manner.

As the governing representation of the community, Council has the responsibility to, when all other reasonable options have been taken, take action to prevent the harm or continued harm happening to any member of the community.


Mosquitos pose a significant risk to public health. In some countries they carry diseases such as Malaria, Yellow Fever and Zika virus. These life threatening diseases are not present in Victoria, however there have been some cases of Ross River virus, especially in the north after flooding. If you feel that you may have contracted a mosquito born disease, you should attend a general practitioner to seek further advice.

The public can protect themselves from mosquito related health issues by preventing their breeding around your home. Mosquitos breed in still and stagnant water such as ponds, buckets, bird baths, unused pools and pots, however any sort of sitting water can be a suitable breeding space for mosquitos. Take a look around your home or work place for any water that does not dry out daily. By removing stagnant bodies of water, you can help prevent further breeding around your home or work place.

You can also protect yourself from mosquitos by sealing your home with flywire screens and doors to stop them entering your home; by wearing long, loose fitting, light coloured clothing; avoid being outside at down or dusk; and using effective mosquito repellents (such as repellents containing DEET).

If you are concerned that someone around you is allowing the breeding of mosquitos on their land, please contact us.


Asbestos is a material which was used extensively in construction up until 2003, when it was banned. Asbestos was used because of its heat resistance and insulation properties that were ideal for housing. However the public health risk posed by the substance was not known for quite some time.

Asbestos fibres are hazardous if inhaled, posing a risk of asbestosis and cancer of the lungs. There is little treatment for the conditions, that have led to a number of unfortunate deaths in Australia.

If you believe that there is asbestos in your home you can use this tool to find and identify it. If asbestos is found on your property, you should hire a professional to collect and dispose of it in a safe manner.

Whilst a hazard when in small fibres, asbestos is not dangerous if still intact. If asbestos is friable it must be dealt with immediately in the correct way, preferably by a professional.

If you think that a neighbour has friable asbestos on their property and they are not willing to remove it safely, Council can organise for the owner of the property to dispose of the offending material.

If you think that friable asbestos is located on a work site or in the work place, Worksafe should be notified immediately.


Wastewater can lead to various health issues, most commonly gastro diseases and skin diseases. As Australia has extremely good control of wastewater and has a reputation for health and safe water.

There are times when waste water controls fail, and we need to ensure that those systems are repaired or rectified as soon as possible. This may be an issue that needs to be dealt with by water authorities, however if the issue occurs on a resident's property, they will be required to rectify the issue.

If you have a wastewater breech problem on your property it is important and required by law that you have a certified plumber deal with it immediately. If a neighbour has a wastewater breech problem and is unwilling to rectify the issue, Council can have them do so as soon as possible.


Excessive noise can lead to health issues such as anxiety and sleep deprivation. If this is happening it is important to seek medical advice regarding how to assist your health. If the noise is unreasonable, Council can, under the General Purpose Local Law 2015, act to curb the noise levels and even force the person making that noise to stop.

Some factors which can be considered when defining excessive noise are the EPA prohibited times for residential noise guides, if a health issue is diagnosed by a doctor, or if the activities being undertaken which create the noise are not reasonable in a residential area.

If you do have issues regarding excessive noise being made by a neighbour on their land and that neighbor is unwilling to act to mitigate the issue, Council can investigate the issue, and if a breach of the law is found, take action.

Odour, Dust and Smoke

Like excessive noise, odours can be excessive or obnoxious. In the case that they are effecting your ability to live the issue needs to be resolved. If the person responsible for the development or management of that odour is unwilling to act to rectify the issue, Council can investigate. If a person is found to be unreasonably making a significant and obnoxious odour, Council can take action.

Rodents and other pests

Historically, rodents are known to have been the bearers of illness and plague, and not without reason. 

Rodents and other pests can lead to spread of disease over a wide area; pests are and have been one of the greatest risks to public health known.

If your property or that of another harbours or encourages pests, the community and Council expects that the property will be altered to not allow harbourage of those pests and treatment to be done to eliminate any that reside there. If all reasonable action has been taken to have a person rectify a pest infestation issue and that person has been unwilling to do so, Council will investigate and take action to rectify the issue appropriately.