Case studies: How local governments are leading the - Quit Victoria

Fact
Sheet
2 Case studies: How local governments
are leading the way for smoke-free
outdoor areas
Smoke-free policies in outdoor areas are a positive way local governments can
protect the health and wellbeing of residents. Throughout Australia there is both
state and local government legislation restricting smoking in outdoor areas.

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Across the country numerous
councils have adopted policies to
make more outdoor areas smoke-free.
The following case studies showcase
examples where councils have led
the way in implementing smoke-free
policies in outdoor areas.
Monash City Council
Monash City Council was the first
Victorian council to ban smoking at
children’s playgrounds. A new local law
was made by resolution of Monash City
Council and came into effect at all 126
council playgrounds from 1 July 2007.
The local law proposed by Cr Paul Klisaris
protects the health and wellbeing of
children. Cr Klisaris believes the ban has
a positive effect on children as they model
their behaviour on adults.
“This campaign has proven very
successful and has strong support within
the community,” said Cr Klisaris. “In
addition to the positive health message
this has sent our children, a secondary
benefit of the ban was the reduction in
discarded cigarette butts”.
Monash residents were informed of the
new local law through a public awareness
campaign and no smoking signs were
erected at playgrounds. The council was
also required to gazette the decision in
the Victorian Government Gazette.
The local law stipulates a non-compliance
penalty of $107 for individuals, although
the council has not yet been required to
issue this fine. Monash Mayor Charlotte
Baines said that although enforcement
was difficult to monitor, people who
unknowingly smoke in an area covered
by the ban are often informed by other
community members that they are in a
no-smoking area.
“It is virtually self-policing. No smoking
signs were erected in all playgrounds.
In nearly all cases, the signage has been
sufficient to result in deterring people
from smoking near the playgrounds,”
said Cr Baines.
In recognition of the new local law the
City of Monash was awarded the state
winner of the Heart Foundation’s Local
Government Award in 2008.
For more information visit
www.monash.vic.gov.au
Surf Coast Shire
In early 2008 the Surf Coast Shire received
a request from a local community group,
the Surfrider Foundation, to consider
implementing a policy of smoke-free
beaches within the shire.
A working group was formed to investigate
the issue. Members of the group included
the Surf Coast Shire, the Great Ocean
Road Coast Committee, Barwon Region
Waste Management Group, Department
of Sustainability and Environment, Parks
Victoria and Surfrider Foundation.
The objectives of the smoking ban were to:
1. Provide community leadership
by taking measures to protect the
health and social wellbeing of the
community members;
2. Minimise cigarette butt pollution in
public places including beaches and
open space areas;
3. Improve public amenity and
maintenance of public property;
4. Improve the health of community
members; and
5. Raise community awareness of the
issues associated with smoking.
Surf Coast Shire adopted an educative
approach with the initial implementation
of the local law. Signage has been in
place since adoption in 2008 with
brochures and other promotional
material distributed throughout the shire.
Additional signage and butt bins will be
installed for the 2010-11 summer season.
Audits undertaken by the Great Ocean
Road Coast Committee (which manages
the foreshore) have indicated a drop in the
amount of litter from cigarette butts since
the introduction of the smoke-free policy.
Cr. Libby Mears, the Mayor at the time
when the changes were introduced,
said: “The success of the restrictions is
a testament to the co-operation of local
agencies, including the Great Ocean
Road Coast Committee and the Surfrider
Foundation, the community’s respect for
the coast and the work of council staff”.
The council was awarded the state
winner of the Heart Foundation’s Local
Government Award in 2009.
For further information:
Governance and Regulatory Services
Surf Coast Shire
Ph. (03) 5261 0600

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At a glance
Below are further examples of councils around the country that have adopted
smoke-free policies in outdoor areas.
Victorian councils
• Frankston City Council will commence a smoke-free trial in their Central
Activity District from November 2010.
• A local law to ban smoking in children’s playgrounds was adopted by
Moonee Valley City Council in 2008.
• The City of Moreland implemented a ban on smoking at children’s
playgrounds in 2009.
Queensland councils
• Brisbane City Council recently announced its intention to ban smoking in
its pedestrian mall, Queen Street Mall.
Western Australia councils
• The City of Fremantle was the first local government in Western Australia to
adopt smoke-free alfresco dining areas in 2008. The successful policy has
been embraced by alfresco dining venues and residents.
• The Town of Vincent banned smoking in children’s playgrounds in 2003.
In addition, events at all Town-owned reserves and facilities are smoke-free.
The Town prohibited smoking in its outdoor dining areas in January 2009.
• The City of Joondalup recognised the health, social and environmental
concerns of their community and gazetted a local law banning smoking
on all its beaches in 2007. The city banned smoking at alfresco dining areas
in 2008.
• The City of Cockburn’s children’s playgrounds, council buildings, bus stops
and events were declared smoke-free in 2008. Smoking is also prohibited
within 10 metres from other people on beaches.
New South Wales councils
• The Heart Foundation in NSW and the Cancer Council NSW commenced
working with local governments to adopt smoke-free policies in outdoor
areas in 2007.
• As of July 2010, 76 (50%) NSW councils have implemented some form of
smoking ban in outdoor areas.
• Since the NSW project inception there has been a 171% increase in councils
implementing smoking bans in outdoor areas.
• As of July 2010, 22 councils have implemented local laws in relation to
alfresco dining areas.
New Zealand councils
One third of all New Zealand councils have policies that restrict smoking in
outdoor areas such as playgrounds, parks, swimming pools and reserves. For
more information about smoke-free councils and detailed New Zealand case
studies, visit www.smokefreecouncils.org.nz.
Council adopted
an educative
approach
with the initial
implementation
of the local law
Victorian council survey
Has your council adopted a smoke-free policy in outdoor areas? The Heart
Foundation and Quit Victoria are conducting a survey to assess the number and
type of existing smoke-free policies in Victorian local governments. Contact the
Heart Foundation in Victoria on (03) 9329 8511 to be included in this survey.
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Mosman Municipal Council
Mosman Municipal Council first banned
smoking in children’s playgrounds,
sporting fields, bushland, foreshore
reserves and beaches in June 2004. In
September 2004, smoke-free bans were
extended to alfresco dining areas and
within 10 metres of council owned
buildings. These bans were so popular
with residents that, in 2007 council
extended them to cover all parks, public
squares, bus shelters, council car parks,
beaches and alfresco dining areas.
Smoking is also banned within 10 metres
of the entrance to council-run buildings.
For further information:
Max Glyde
Mosman Municipal Council
M.glyde@mosman.nsw.gov.au
Ph. (02) 9978 4000
Manly Council
Manly Council initiated a Smoke-free
Zones campaign to engage community
support for smoke-free outdoor areas.
Neighbouring councils Mosman
Municipal and Warringah Council
partnered for the campaign to ensure the
message about the smoking bans was
consistent across the local area. For more
information regarding the campaign visit
www.smokefreecouncils.com.au.
For further information:
Jo Bramma
Manly Council
Jo.bramma@manly.nsw.gov.au
Ph. (02) 9976 1757
Launceston City Council, Tasmania
In 2003 Launceston City Council
introduced a strategy to address growing
concerns about passive smoking in public
outdoor areas. Smoking is prohibited
in all council owned and controlled
buildings, Launceston Aquatic, Lilydale
Swimming Pool and the immediate area
of playgrounds.
No smoking signs are displayed at smokefree
areas and butt bins are placed around
the perimeter to encourage compliance.
The council was recognised for its work
when it received a Heart Foundation
Local Government Award in 2003. The
council is continuing to build on existing
smoke-free policies by introducing
smoke-free outdoor dining areas in the
Central Business District in 2011.
Hobart City Council, Tasmania
Hobart City Council first banned smoking
in Council playgrounds and parks in 2008.
From August 2010 smoking is no longer
permitted in Hobart’s main Central
Activity Districts of Elizabeth Mall,
Hobart Bus Mall and Wellington Court.
A 2009 survey carried out by an
independent research company as part
of council consultations found 72 per
cent of Elizabeth Mall business owners
supported smoke-free dining in the mall.
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