Peter Hulin hopes his fellow Warrnambool City councillors will back a motion to ban smoking in the CBD.
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Cr Hulin said he had raised the issue a few years ago and would again try and seek support for a ban in the wake of the new restrictions in Melbourne's Bourke Street mall.
"I certainly would like us to be a leader in this area," he said.
"A lot of people have health issues and to have someone walking past them that is smoking is extremely traumatic for them at times.
"I feel sorry for children that are dragged around by smoking parents."
Cr Hulin said he was concerned about the health impacts of passive smoke and the discarded cigarette butts in the city's rejuvenated CBD.
"I will be calling for a report on it," he said.
Related content: Moyne Shire councillor calls for smoking ban in Port Fairy's CBD
Cr Sue Cassidy, who owns Unisex Cuts, said she would support a ban.
However, she said there would need to be a designated area for smokers.
"It is an addiction and I want my staff to be happy and come to work," Cr Cassidy said.
"We would have to look at where they would go to have a cigarette."
Cr David Owen congratulated Moyne Shire councillor Jordan Lockett for calling for a ban on smoking in Port Fairy's CBD.
"I'm very supportive of Jordan's idea," he said.
"There is nothing worse than second hand smoke.
"We're probably not doing anyone any favours by having second hand smoke wafting around the CBD."
The push for a ban comes in the wake of Melbourne City Council imposing a smoking ban in the Bourke Street mall.
City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said smoking took a terrible toll on the community and the ban would let the 60,000 daily mall users breathe easier.
"Every year about 4000 Victorians die from smoking-related illnesses, and it affects the health and wellbeing of thousands more," she said.
"There is no safe level of exposure to smoking."
Quit Victoria director Sarah White expects the ban to be adopted by other councils throughout the state.
"Quitting can be hard for some, and not having the smell of cigarette smoke and the sight of people smoking around can really help people trying to quit to stay on track," Dr White said.
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