An interview with Adele Gliddon, Environmental Health Officer at the City of Launceston in Tasmania
There have been many changes in the environmental health field since I commenced my career in Local Government in 1975. At that time I was employed as an Administration Officer with the Westernport Health Group (Shire of Phillip Island and Shire of Bass). I undertook environmental health studies and then acted in a part time capacity in the environmental health area.
In 1986, I accepted a position with the Launceston City Council and was ultimately appointed Departmental Manager. Launceston City Council, Environmental Services Department has 15 people when fully staffed as well as a part time immunisation team. Managing this team within budget and ensuring that the activities are coordinated to fulfil the commitments toward implementation of the Council’s Corporate and Annual Plan is always an interesting challenge. I believe that the key factors involved in ensuring the success of any Local Government area are communication and involvement of the team as a whole in decision making processes.
The Tamar Valley has a major seasonal air quality problem primarily due to the use of wood heaters during the winter period. This was identified in the late 1980s. A cooperative approach between all levels of Government – Commonwealth, State and the Councils of the Tamar Valley has seen improvement over the past four years, but there is still a long way to go before Launceston and the Tamar Valley reach the National Environment Protection Measure – Air Quality.
Community education programs conducted since 1990 have had a positive effect in raising the community’s awareness, but targeted education has been particularly effective, especially when linked to a Commonwealth funded program of subsidy to replace old inefficient wood heaters.
The air quality issue is complex and consideration must be given to socioeconomic conditions as well as health and environmental impacts. Cooperation of all the agencies is imperative if the NEPM standards are to be met. The Launceston community, indeed all communities, are now more aware of the adverse health effects of environmental pollution and the work load for Local Government is sure to increase as a result. Communities want, and indeed deserve, clean environments.
In these difficult times, there are the added pressures of the ageing workforce and recruitment difficulties. These issues are sure to become critical in the rural and regional areas where recruitment is generally more difficult. One of the ways in which this may be overcome is to provide training pathways for local people in a format which allows for part time distant education and employment opportunities.
