A PUSH to ban smoking in Port Fairy’s central business district is likely to fail.
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Moyne Shire officers are recommending to the council that there be no changes to current smoking controls.
Their recommendation follows a petition from 45 people calling for a no-smoking zone to be established in the CBD.
The petition was organised by resident Michael Price who spoke at the council’s last monthly meeting and tabled 45 signatures from traders, residents and visitors who supported a ban.
In a report to tomorrow’s council meeting, environment manager Robert Gibson says existing state legislation reflected community expectations and standards about smoking in public places.
He said existing controls limited exposure to second-hand smoke and made adults who smoked less visible to children “thereby reducing the normalcy and social acceptability of smoking behaviour”.
Mr Gibson said smoking was already banned in or adjacent to children’s playgrounds, outdoor skate parks, public swimming pools, under-age sporting events, patrolled beaches, licensed premises and vehicles carrying children under 18.
“While some people could argue that smoking in Port Fairy’s commercial or other streets is visible to children, the government and society has not yet moved that far in controlling and prohibiting smoking.
“Consequently, council should follow the state government’s controls.” The council meeting will be held at the Mortlake offices from 4.30pm tomorrow.