Toward a smoking ban on the Joondalup's beaches (in Western Australia).
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Half an hour's drive north of Perth along the Mitchell Freeway is the satellite city of Joondalup.
The region around Joondalup is renowned for its white sandy beaches and clean environment. The rolling sand dunes of the coast contrast sharply with a chain of inland lakes and the large area of natural bushland and National Parks.
Smokers who light up on beaches in the City of Joondalup face $50
on-thespot fines under an unprecedented crackdown revealed by the
council yesterday.
Joondalup mayor Troy Pickard said the move, supported by all
councillors, would make Joondalup the first WA council to push for such
a ban.
He said council officers would patrol 17km of beaches from Marmion to
Burns Beach and fine smokers flouting the new regulations.
Joondalup chief executive Garry Hunt said once drafted, the proposed
law would be put out for public comment and then go back to the council
for approval before being gazetted. The process could take a year.
Although the exact area affected had not yet been decided, bans were
not likely to extend to beachfront cafes, picnic areas, carparks or
shops such as those at Hillarys Boat Harbour, Mr Pickard said.
He claimed businesses at Hillarys supported the move. “It’s a bit
premature to work out where you draw the line but effectively if you’ve
got sand in between your toes, you are not allowed to smoke,” Mr
Pickard said.
He did not rule out extending the ban beyond the beach if there was public support.
“If the council took it the next step after public feedback, then yes,
those sorts of places — parks, reserves, outside of council buildings —
are all potentially up for grabs,” he said.
“This is just the first step to get some feedback from the public.”
The move was modelled on Manly, Mosman and Warringah councils in NSW,
most of which had bans extending to public spaces like carparks and
reserves as well as the beach, he said.
Mr Pickard said the bans reflected changing community attitudes to
health and social and environmental impacts of smoking and litter.
Health Minister Jim McGinty applauded the move and called on other
councils to consider similar bans. If there was widespread support from
other councils, Mr McGinty said he may consider a Statewide ban.
Fremantle mayor Peter Tagliaferri, said moves to ban smoking on the
port city’s beaches could be considered once planned bans on smoking in
alfresco cafes were in place.
But Cottesloe mayor Kevin Morgan said bans on Cottesloe beach had not been considered by the council.
“My view is these types of laws prohibiting things in public places are
not necessarily the way to tackle an addiction and health problem,” Mr
Morgan said. “If we are trying to tackle a littering problem, littering
infringements are the way to go.”
Australian Medical Association WA president Geoff Dobb said the ban
sent a positive message to the community about the dangers and social
nuisance of smoking and would reduce litter.
Australian Council on Smoking and Health director Stephen Hall called on other WA councils to follow Joondalup’s lead.
“Clearly it’s about lifestyle and people are sick of sucking in other
people’s second-hand smoke when they are on the beach,” Mr Hall said.
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