Glenelg Shire mayor John Northcott said the smoking bans had received strong community support and involved much tighter guidelines for smokers in public areas commonly used by children and young people for recreational and sporting activities.

“The act was first introduced after it was recognised that tobacco use was so injurious to the health of both smokers and non-smokers that it warranted restrictive legislation,” Cr Northcott said.

“The intention of the new bans is to strengthen the existing smoking laws by restricting a child’s exposure to second- hand tobacco smoke whenever children are undertaking passive or recreational activities within a public place.

“Council will use state government funding to implement an education campaign, erect appropriate tobacco signage and develop enforcement protocols.”

Under the Tobacco Act amendment smoking will be banned:

- at or within 10 metres of children’s playground equipment in an outdoor public place;

- at or within 10 metres of a skate park that is an outdoor public place;

- at or within 10 metres of a sporting venue that is an outdoor public place during an organised underage sporting event, including training or practice sessions and during breaks or intervals in play and in an outdoor area of a swimming pool complex that is a public place.