The Heart Foundation and Quit are calling on local councils to ban smoking from parks, playgrounds and outdoor cafes as part of a joint initiative to discourage people from lighting up.
The organisations contacted all Victorian councils last week, encouraging them to introduce smoke-free outdoor policies and providing advice on how to make them work.
The latest Victorian Population Health Survey reveals that 22 per cent of the Brimbank’s population smokes, which is higher than the Victorian average of 19.1 per cent.
A further 19.6 per cent of people have kicked the habit, while 58 per cent are classified as non smokers.
“We know the majority of Victorians want smoke-free alfresco dining areas, playgrounds and beaches,” Heart Foundation CEO in Victoria Kathy Bell said.
“Smoke-free outdoor areas are already the norm in other parts of the country and its only a matter of time before that happens in Victorian as well.”
A number of councils have already banned smoking from outdoor areas such as beaches, playgrounds outdoor shopping centres including Monash, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Frankston, Port Phillip and the Surf Coast councils.
“Smoke-free areas give smokers a reason not to light up, helping many to cut their tobacco consumption and eventually stop smoking for good,” Quit Executive Director Fiona Sharkie said.
“Smoke-free areas also help to de-normalise smoking for children, so that they’re less likely to take up the habit later in life.”
John MacDonagh, Brimbank Council’s Acting General Manager of Community Wellbeing, said the council was developing an alcohol and drugs action plan which would consider the smoking issue.
Mr MacDonagh said 48 smokers poles had been erected at known hotspots for dumped cigarette butts, with the council seeking funding to install a further 11 at other problem sites.
“All Council offices and facilities are Smoke free, and council actively discourages smoking in the vicinity of doorways of Council buildings,” Mr MacDonagh said.
