Up in smoke: How cigarettes could soon be BANNED in major Sydney business district in bold new plan to ‘claim back the streets’

LAUREN FERRI
23 July, 2019
DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Smokers in North Sydney’s CBD may have to put a stop to their smoke breaks

North Sydney Council are hoping to vote in favour of a smoking ban in the CBD

The plan is the next stage in making Sydney a completely smoke-free area

A consultation of residents and business found 80 per cent are in favour of ban

Smokers in Sydney’s second-biggest CBD may have to cancel their smoke breaks as cigarettes could soon be banned in public spaces.

North Sydney Council are hoping to ‘claim back the streets’ with a vote in favour of a smoking ban in the entire CBD.

The plan is the next stage in making Sydney a smoke-free area, with smoking bans in Pitt Street Mall, Martin Place, all public areas in Strathfield, parts of Manly, Bondi, Bondi Junction and Hurstville.

The plan in North Sydney is the next stage in making Sydney a smoke-free area, with smoking bans in Pitt Street Mall, Martin Place, all public areas in Strathfield, parts of Manly, Bondi, Bondi Junction and Hurstville

A consultation of residents and businesses in the area revealed 80 per cent were in favour of the proposal, stating second-hand smoke was bad for the general public’s health.

However, 18 per cent did not support the proposal because ‘smokers need somewhere to go’ and do not believe government should ‘regulate behaviour’, while 2 per cent weren’t fussed.

North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson told Nine News: ‘It’s time for non-smokers to claim back the streets’. 

Mayor Gibson is hoping the plan will make the North Sydney CBD a cleaner and healthier place for everyone.

‘We’ll have no butts littering the pavement, and people will be able to walk down the street free of cigarette smoke,’ she said.

Heart Foundation Director of Prevention, Julie Anne Mitchell, said exposure to second-hand smoke increases risk by up to 30 per cent.

The proposal is set to cover the entire North Sydney CBD, but will be rolled out in stages – with the first being awareness and promotion.

Once the signs are installed the following six months would focus on self-enforcement before fines would be considered.

‘We don’t want to have to fine people, we want them to come on board themselves,’ Mayor Gibson said. 

While four out of five people in the area support the move, not everyone is on board, with smokers unsure of where they’ll be able to go to get their fix.

Council will set out exactly where the border is and signage will be placed around the CBD. The project is expected to cost more than $20,000.