Smoke free environments

In 2005, Kiama Municipal Council introduced Smoke Free Zones at all sporting grounds. Since then, playgrounds, public swimming pools including rock pools and alfresco dining areas are now Smoke Free Zones. Anyone inside these Zones is expected to refrain from smoking.

There is substantial evidence linking passive smoking with a range of serious and life threatening health impacts including heart disease, cancer, asthma and other respiratory problems. Children exposed to passive smoking are at an increased risk of asthma, SIDS, acute respiratory infections and ear problems.

Alongside the detrimental health effects caused by passive smoking, cigarette butts present a major issue to the environment and can be hazardous to children. Children need a clean environment and fresh air for good health. Both residents and visitors of the Municipality have the right to an uncontaminated, healthy environment.

Through implementing the Smoke Free Policy, Council aims to:

• improve the health of community members, especially children
• raise community awareness of the negative health outcomes associated with smoking
• contribute to protecting the environment by reducing pollution generated from smoking and cigarette butt littering on Council owned parks and playgrounds
• to maximise the health benefits of sport particularly for children by removing the risk of passive smoking from the immediate surrounds of sporting fields and playgrounds.

This Policy recognises that community attitudes towards smoking in public areas have been changing over a period of time. This change is based on mounting evidence showing the harmful effects of passive smoking.

 

Smoke-free sporting grounds

 

    

 

In January 2005, Council was approached by a number of sporting clubs concerned about smoking at Council playing fields. This prompted Council to commence investigation into the issue. Smoke free sporting grounds were also raised as an issue of concern during the consultation conducted as part of the development of the Public Health Plan 2005-2008.

POLICY

This Policy prohibits:

• smoking on or around all Council outdoor playing fields and sporting grounds excluding the car-park
• smoking within any designated ‘Smoke Free Zone’ identified by Council signage.

In addition to the prohibitions identified above, Council have implemented the following strategies:

• erect and maintain suitable signage to prohibit smoking within areas deemed necessary and appropriate according to the details outlined above
• implement educational programs to support the Policy and to promote community awareness and acceptance
• encourage sporting clubs using Council facilities to become actively involved with the program, assisting Council in the promotion and self-enforcement of its Policy
• adopt a policy of persuasion rather than enforcement in regards to applying the prohibitions
• provide designated areas where smoking is allowed outside of the ‘Smoke Free zones’ and provide bins for the appropriate disposal of cigarette butts.

Self-enforcement will be encouraged through the development of a Memorandum of Understanding with participating sporting clubs using self-enforcement, education and persuasion.

For further information regarding Smoke-Free Sporting Grounds, please download the following resources:

• Creating Smoke-Free Environments Kit
• Creating Smoke-Free Environments Booklet
• Creating Smoke-Free Environments Brochure

Smoke-free playgrounds

  

POLICY

• All playgrounds in the Kiama Council area are Smoke Free Zones.
• The Policy prohibits smoking in, and within 10 metres of all children’s playground areas.
• The areas are sign posted and/or stencilled to identify these areas.

Where the playground is within a sporting ground or facility the following policy applies:

• Smoking is prohibited on or around all Council outdoor playing fields and sporting grounds excluding the car park.
• Smoking is also prohibited within any designated ‘Smoke Free Zone’ identified by Council signage.

Rock pools

POLICY

This Policy prohibits:

• Smoking on or around all Council swimming pools excluding the car-park.
• Smoking within any designated ‘Smoke Free Zone’ identified by Council signage.

In addition to the prohibitions identified above, Council will:

• erect and maintain suitable signage to prohibit smoking within areas deemed necessary and appropriate according to the details outlined above
• implement educational programs to support the Policy and to promote community awareness and acceptance
• encourage sporting clubs using Council facilities to become actively involved with the program, assisting Council in the promotion and self-enforcement of this Policy
• adopt a policy of persuasion rather than enforcement in regards to applying the prohibitions
• provide designated areas where smoking is allowed outside of the ‘Smoke Free Zone’ and provide bins for the appropriate disposal of cigarette butts.

Smoke free alfresco dining

Research suggests that the level of tobacco smoke in outdoor areas can reach those similar to indoor venues dependent on wind conditions and the number of smokers. This exposure can pose health risks to children and people with chronic health conditions. Policy in this area would also protect the health of wait person staff that are unable to remove themselves from second hand tobacco smoke exposure and are repeatedly exposed to it through their work.

While business proprietors and their staff are responsible for ensuring that their alfresco dining areas remain smoke free, patrons are encouraged to observe the ban.

For further information regarding smoke free alfresco dining areas, please refer to the National Heart Foundation and Cancer Council’s Smoking bans in Alfresco Dining areas: Attitudes of café and restaurant owners/managers

 

Regulation

Council does have the authority to enforce non-compliance of the policy through Section 632 (1) of the NSW Local Government Act 1993, with a penalty of $110.00. Additionally, under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, Council also has the power to enforce a $200.00 fine for the littering of a lit cigarette and a $60.00 fine for an unlit cigarette.

For the Smoke Free Playgrounds Policy to be effective, the community will need to be aware that the policy can be enforced and that Council is committed to providing a smoke free environment for children, residents and visitors. Council encourages residents and visitors to ‘self-enforce’ the Policy and make others aware that these areas are “Smoke Free Zones”.

 

Further Information

Smoke Free Councils- Smoke-Free Outdoor Areas: A Resource Kit for Local Government

Cancer Action- Smoke-Free Outdoor Areas: People’s Right NOT to Smoke!

Cancer Council- Outdoor Smoking: A Background Paper

Heart Foundation- Smoke-Free Policy in Outdoor Areas: A 2011 Survey of NSW Councils