Smoking Banned in Martin Place

SMOKERS are banned from lighting up in Martin Place for 12 months from today.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the new measure this morning, saying rangers would patrol the central pedestrian mall for 12 months.

“This trial ban will protect visitors including many children and families by reducing their exposure to harmful second-hand tobacco smoke,” Ms Moore said.

The City surveyed businesses and 757 smokers and non-smokers to gauge community opinion.

The majority of non-smokers said Martin Place was less pleasant because of passive smoke.

“We have asked the community what they think about this issue and more people showed a preference for Martin Place to be a smoke-free zone,” Ms Moore said.

“Thousands of people pass through Martin Place every day, so it’s important we make the right decision for our workers, residents, visitors and businesses.”

The ban applies to all public outdoor space in Martin Place.

The trial has the backing of the Cancer Council, Council Institute and Heart Foundation.

“Creating smoke free public outdoor spaces will not only reduce the harmful spread of second hand smoke, but will also support people who have quit or are trying to quit,” the Heart Foundation’s Julie Anne Mitchell said.

Smoking is already prohibited in some areas of Martin Place under state legislation, including within four metres of a public building doorway.

The government will also enforce smoking bans in outdoor dining areas from July.

The Martin Place rule comes into effect just days after the Wentworth Courier reported Town Hall was clamping down on littering smokers, fining 379 of them in three months. Now smokers will have to look for other places to smoke their Parker&Simpson cigarettes online.