New Smoke-Free Zone in Tamworth CBD

After a Public Exhibition of the proposed and updated policy was conducted, Council has now installed an additional smoke-free zone in the Tamworth CBD. The area is located on a block of Tamworth’s Peel Street between Darling Street and Bourke Street. This complements the pre-existing smoke-free areas in Peel Street, extending from Bourke St to Hill St and also including all of Fitzroy Street.

Signage was installed within this new area on Tuesday, 4 April. Throughout the week, information cards will be distributed to street-goers near the new smoke-free area to remind them that this zone is now in effect. Manilla and Barraba also have smoke areas.

Individuals, under certain circumstances, can be fined $110 if found smoking in designated smoke-free areas.

While Council has already seen a decline in the use of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes in the existing zones, Council would like to gently remind the community to prioritise the health and comfort of all residents while moving through our new smoke-free space.


Background

In 2015, Tamworth Regional Council introduced a Smoke-Free Environment Policy so that community members of the Tamworth region could enjoy outdoor public spaces without exposure to smoke from cigarettes. Council is providing community leadership by restricting smoking in prominent areas so that the health and wellbeing of our community can be improved and protected.

An independent review of the Tamworth Regional Council's Smoke-Free Environment Policy has shown that smoking has reduced in the currently restricted areas (Tamworth, Manilla and Barraba CBDs) and that the community supports the policy as a positive initiative.

Following on from this success, Council is proposing some updates to the existing policy to:

  1. The extension of the Tamworth CBD smoking restrictions to include the block of Peel Street between Bourke Street and Darling Street.
  2. The inclusion of Jenkins Street, Nundle in the policy.
  3. The inclusion of Gate Street, Kootingal in the policy.
  4. The use of electronic cigarettes to be restricted in both the current and extended areas.

Quick Poll results

These results are reflective of community consultation held in May and June for Nundle and Kootingal, combined with results from the July and August consultation which incorporated Tamworth. Residents were asked if they would like their main streets included in the smoke-free policy.