DESPITE a lack of health inspectors to enforce a ban on smoking in Summer Street, councillor Reg Kidd will formally put the motion on Tuesday night.
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The motion will cover the main street between Peisley and Hill streets, including the already out-of-bounds Post Office Lane, in order to reduce littering and anti-social behaviour.
While existing legislation forbids smoking in much of Summer Street anyway, Cr Kidd said a lack of enforcement meant rules were not followed.
Only Dubbo and Bathurst have health inspectors to enforce non-smoking legislation.
“We ran an education campaign called Only Nutters Litter Gutters for people who throw cigarette butts in the gutters - that’s part of the tools, but people are still doing it,” Cr Kidd said.
“Why couldn’t we put on a contract health inspector? It may only be for a few hours a week to have some follow up on compliance.”
“The council can fine you for parking five minutes over, why can’t they fine you for this?”
Cr Kidd said enforcement upfront would lead to eventual acceptance of the rules.
In a report, council staff said existing leases over properties in the central business district could limit the implementation of extended smoke free areas and the required resourcing would come at a cost.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
