The 2011 Heart Foundation smoke-free policy survey shows less than half the state’s rural and regional local councils have restricted tobacco use in public outdoor areas.

Cr Whitton has encouraged other councils to play their part in reducing smoking.

“I certainly encourage other councils having smoke-free areas,” he said.

“We don’t want to dictate to other councils how to run their city, but it certainly worked for Orange.”

Orange received national attention last year after it introduced smoke-free zones in the city’s CBD, parks and at council venues.

Heart Foundation CEO Tony Thirlwell is now pushing for more councils to follow examples set by councils like Orange.

“The lack of uniformity means there is a patchwork effect that now mars our state and needs to be rectified immediately so that it is clear for people to know where they will be protected from the harmful fumes of cigarette smoke as they travel between council areas,” he said.

“We urgently need statewide legislation to ensure we have a consistent approach right across NSW that reduces exposure to toxic cigarette smoke.”

Cr Whitton said council aimed to respect smokers’ rights, while providing residents with smoke-free areas and encouraging people to quite smoking for health reasons.

He said council could take further steps in discouraging smoking in smoke-free zones.

“Probably the hardest part is the actual policing of it,” he said.

“We really rely on the responsibility of the public to take head of the zones.

‘We probably need more policing around eating precincts.”

Smokers can be slapped with a $110 fine for smoking in smoke-free zones.