Public Health Act 1997

If a person, public authority or Agency fails to exercise a power or perform a function or fails to comply with a direction or requirement of the Director under this Act when required to do so, the Director or a council may exercise that power or perform that function at the expense of that person or body.

Any costs or charges incurred by the Director or a council under this section – is a debt due – to the Crown, if the Director incurred the costs or charges; and to the council, if the council incurred the costs or charges; and is recoverable in a court of competent jurisdiction.