Council bans all public smoking

By Jim Dickins

March 18, 2007 12:00

First smoke-free municipality in Australia

Beaches, parks, playgrounds, public events included

Residents asked to dob in illegal smokers

SYDNEY suburb Mosman is set to become the first officially smoke-free municipality in Australia - if not the world - after banning smoking in every council-controlled public space.

The blanket prohibition, passed unanimously by council last week, cements Mosman's reputation as Australia's most zealous anti-smoking neighbourhood, taking its war on cigarettes even further than advocated by the NSW Cancer Council.

Residents themselves will help enforce it, according to councillor Andrew Brown, who said Mosmanites had taken on a vigilante-style role in the campaign against nicotine.

“Members of the public will approach people who they see smoking on the beach or in parks and tell them it is not allowed and they risk a fine of $110,” Mr Brown said.

As well as beaches, outdoor dining areas, children's playgrounds, public events, playing fields and the grounds of council-managed buildings - already covered by existing restrictions - smoking will now be banned from all parks, public squares, bus shelters and council car parks.

The only public outdoor place smokers may light up will be some footpaths and roads, but they must check they are more than 10m away from any council-managed building or children's playground.

The council only stopped short of a total ban in public due to the practical impossibility of installing enough signs, legally required in order to make smoking an offence.

Mosman caused a sensation three years ago when it became the first local government to ban smoking in outdoor dining areas, following a previous ban on beaches.

NSW Cancer Council tobacco control manager Wendy Oakes said there was mounting evidence such restrictions reduced actual smoking rates, as well as the dangers of passive smoking.

Mr Brown said smokers also left litter and the latest move took Mosman Council's battle with the butts as far as it was possible to go.

Mosman restaurant worker Christian McGrath, 23, said smokers in the area felt like second-class citizens. “Now, all of a sudden, they're making us out to be bad people,” he said.

Mr McGrath said he was always careful to avoid smoking near others, especially children and pregnant women.

“I think if you're in an open space and you're not sitting next to someone and not breathing on them, you should be able to smoke,” he said.