Smokers in Perth will have to find a new place to light up from Tuesday, as the city enacts a ban on smoking on selected streets.
The new regulations, which come into effect on Tuesday, November 22, will make it illegal to smoke cigarettes or vape on city streets.
The move is aimed at improving public health and reducing the amount of litter on the city’s streets.
It is also hoped that the ban will encourage more people to quit smoking.
After it was approved by the council in July, the City of Vincent Council last week announced plans to enforce the ban in parts of North Perth, Mt Hawthorn, Leederville, William St, and Beaufort St.
The ban includes Angove and Fitzgerald streets in North Perth, Scarborough Beach Rd in Mt Hawthorn, Oxford St in Leederville, and some adjacent laneways.
In a recent interview, City of Vincent Mayor Emma Cole stated that the council’s public health plan had always been focused on achieving high levels of health and well-being for residents.
“The council’s smoke-free policy aims to create a healthier environment for everyone in the city, and I’m proud to say we’ve now reached that goal,” she said.
“This is a significant public health achievement and it’s something that the council and the community can be very proud of.”
“The smoke-free areas will include no smoking and no vaping signage because vaping levels, especially among young people, are rising across the country.”
“We will focus on educating our community and raising awareness about our smoke-free areas and the benefits of not having exposure to second-hand smoke in the first six months of the rollout.”
After six months, officers will be allowed to make decisions about enforcing the new rules, as long as they follow some key principles.
Penalties of $100-$200 will only be handed out after six months of the ban.
