HOBSONS Bay beachgoers may be asked to butt out after councillors voted to revive an earlier push to ban smoking on beaches.
Councillors were debating whether to pursue a smoking ban at the municipality’s playgrounds when Williamstown councillor Angela Altair called for the proposal to be extended to “other public areas”.
“It would be great if we could include our beaches as part of this,” Cr Altair said.
She said an earlier push to stamp out smoking on beaches had been deemed “beyond” the council’s power.
But the city’s acting business finance director, Craig Bruckner, said council’s advisers had indicated the move could be legal.
“I’ve received advice that we could look at that (banning smoking on beaches) again,” Mr Bruckner said.
Councillors then voted in favour of an amended motion that resolved to investigate a smoking ban at playgrounds and “other public areas”.
A survey of residents will now determine community views on smoking bans at playgrounds and beaches.
The move follows Monash and Moonee Valley councils introducing local laws prohibiting smoking in playgrounds.
Cr Bill Baarini argued in favour of rolling out public smoking bans across the municipality.
“We know the effects of smoking, both direct and indirect, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t restrict where people can smoke in order to protect children and non-smokers in the community,” Cr Baarini said.
