• Local Air Quality
• Companion Animals
• Environmental Levy
• Environmental Health
• Flora & Fauna
• Sustainability Strategy
• Manly Environment Centre
• Noise
• Marine & Coastal
• State of the Environment Report
• Education for Sustainability
• Waste
• Stormwater
• Bushland
• Weeds in Manly
• Smoke Free Zones
• Manly Highlights
• Hill To Harbour Tours
• Scientific Advisory Panel
• Fair Trade In Manly
• Sustainable Tourism
• Trees in Manly
• Climate Change
• Ocean Care Day 2008
• Pesticide Use
• GreenPower
• Sustainability Fair 2009
• Sustainable Business Awards
• Waterbout Our Future
• Science of the Surf

Manly's Smoke Free Zones

Council’s initial Council resolution regarding Smoke Free Zones was taken on 17 May 2004 Manly Council, at its Ordinary Council Meeting, where it was resolved to ban smoking on:

• Manly's ocean and harbour beaches;
• Within ten metres of all children's play areas under Council's care;
• On all Council playing fields and sporting grounds; and
• For all events run or sponsored by Council

A Smoke Free Working Party was formed in July 2004 and their aim was to prepare a smoking ban implementation strategy, which included an education and awareness campaign and advice regarding the installation of signage.  The Working Party included representatives from each of the surf clubs on ManlyBeach and the Cancer Council NSW.

Legal advice to Council confirmed that under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) and the Local Government (General) Regulation 1999, Council has the power to:

• Erect suitably worded and strategically placed notices in “public places”, including public reserves, Crown reserves, public bathing reserves, public baths, public swimming pools, public parks and public roads) within the local government area of Manly prohibiting smoking;
• Serve, by means of an authorised person, $110 penalty notices upon any person who fails to comply with the terms of any such notice;
• Demand the name and address of any person reasonably suspected of failing to comply with the terms of any such notice;
• Remove from community land any person who fails to comply with the terms of any such notice, and;
• Otherwise prohibit smoking as a condition of entry to any place owned or occupied by Council within the local government area of Manly.

The Local Government and Shires Association's Legal Division confirmed this advice and that Manly Council's power to enforce such a ban encompasses areas below the high water mark from “point to point” between headlands.

Building on the initial Council resolution, on 23 August 2004 Manly Council resolved to:

• Erect internationally recognised no-smoking signage;
• And in positions deemed appropriate by the General Manager, to ban smoking in the vicinity of playgrounds and playing fields and on Manly beaches.

On 18 October 2004 Manly Council further resolved to extend its smoke free zones to include:

• Areas within ten (10) metres of the entrances to Council owned or managed buildings, as well as balconies or covered areas of those buildings:
• Al fresco dining areas on public land;  for a list, download here:  Cafes and Restaurants with Smoke Free Zones - 96 KB
• That this policy be enforced in any leases, licences or other estates that apply to Council owned and managed lands and properties.

Manly Council called for Expressions of Interest from creative agencies for the development of the Smoke Free Zones education and awareness campaign in September 2004.  SHOROC, a regional organisation consisting of Mosman, Manly, Warringah and Pittwater Councils, joined Council in this process and the Smoke Free Zones logo and slogans were developed for the campaign.

In addressing both the health and environmental issues associated with smoking, the campaign focuses on the benefits of having Smoke Free Zones in creating cleaner, healthier and happier spaces for people to live and visit.  The philosophy behind the Smoke Fee Zones campaign is for Council to engage community support for Smoke Free Zones, rather than adopting a heavy handed enforcement type approach, so compliance is largely self-regulated.

The Smoke Free Zones campaign involving Manly, Mosman and Warringah Councils was launched at midday on Wednesday 1 December 2004 at the steps to the OceanBeach at the end of The Corso, Manly and remains ongoing.

The commencement of the public education and awareness campaign began with buses operating out of the Brookvale bus depot and ferries operating between Circular Quay and Manly, carrying the Smoke Free Zone Campaign posters of “Cleaner.  Healthier.  Happier” and “These are the only butts we want on our beaches” slogans.

On 23 April 2007 Council resolved to extend the Smoke Free Zones to include within bus shelters and Council owned parking stations.

Other initiatives taken so far include:

• The development of the Smoke Free Zones logo.
• The establishment of a website www.smokefreecouncils.com.au with information on the Manly, Mosman and Warringah Councils smoke free initiatives and links through to their Council websites.
• The installation of notices using the international symbol for no smoking at entrances to all beach areas, with particular attention being made to the OceanBeach.  Smoking is not permitted on the sand of any Council beaches.
• The installation of notices at children's playgrounds on Council land and at Council's playfields and sporting grounds.
• Manly Swim Centre has become a Smoke Free Zone.
• Council’s events, including the annual International Jazz Festival and the Manly Food and Wine Festivals are Smoke Free events.
• The inclusion of smoke free clauses in all agreements with restaurants using Council land for al-fresco dining.
• Promotion through Council’s Safe Summer campaigns, Council publications, Council stationery, loudspeaker announcements on ManlyBeach, Customer Service surveys.
• Assistance with the design of a Smoke Free Outdoor Public Spaces kit for local government in conjunction with the Cancer Council NSW, Heart Foundation, Local Government and Shires Associations and other Councils.

Many Councils have contacted us for updates on the development of our campaign and are watching us with interest.  We are happy to provide information on our experience.

The Smoke Free Zone logo and slogans were developed with the thought of them being used throughout other Council areas and are available for use by other Council’s in helping promote their Smoke Free Zones.  For more information please send an email to records@manly.nsw.gov.au.