City of Port Adelaide Enfield council adopts motion to consider smoke ban on Semaphore Rd

A popular beach town could go “smoke-free” under a major proposed health shake-up from the local council.

A major thoroughfare running through one of South Australia’s star beach suburbs could soon be a smoke-free zone.

Port Adelaide and Enfield councillors voted unanimously this month for a report into making the western section Semaphore Rd, which connects Semaphore Beach and its famous jetty with a line of shops and restaurants, free of cigarettes and vapes.

Semaphore councillor David Wilkins proposed the motion and told NewsWire this week a Semaphore local had asked the council to consider the ban.

“We actually had a local resident reach out to our mayor, who raised the concept of it,” he said.

“The resident is particularly passionate about it because she lost her father in 2020 to sinus cancer, which they have shared with us, was likely caused by passive smoking.

“As a result of that, she’s asked whether we can put in smoke free areas, so we’re protecting people in the community.”

Semaphore lies in Adelaide’s western district, bordering Port Adelaide to the east and West Lakes to the South.

It’s a popular tourist spot, with the foreshore clock tower, jetty and steam train rides that run from the beach to Fort Glanville and back all drawing in families from the city and interstate.

Semaphore is a popular beachside suburb in Adelaide's west. Picture: Duncan Evans / NewsWire

The proposed smoke-free zone would cover the western section of Semaphore Rd. Picture: Google Maps

The retro Odean Star cinema also sits on Semaphore Rd alongside eateries like Zambrero and Yo-Chi.

Mr Wilkins said a smoke ban would elevate the strip’s attractiveness even further.

“We’ve got the beach, the cinema, it’s very much a place we want to encourage people to come and visit,” he said.

“This proposal would really help create a welcoming environment to come and visit and support our local traders.”

Staffers will now prepare a report and interview businesses on the thoroughfare to gauge their position, including the pubs that serve the strip.

“I think it will likely be supported because it’s about encouraging people to come and visit,” Mr Wilkins said.

Staff will also investigate whether the council has the legal authority to implement the proposed ban.

Cancer Council SA senior manager for prevention Christine Morris praised the idea.

“It’s fantastic to hear that local councils are taking a proactive approach to keeping South Australians safe from the harmful effects of smoking, by making more public spaces smoke-free,” she told NewsWire.

“South Australia is leading the nation in providing smoke-free spaces since new laws were introduced last year and we welcome continued action to protect community members from exposure to second-hand smoking, especially vulnerable people and children.”

Several councils have voted in recent years to adopt sweeping smoking bans in a bid to improve health and local amenity.

In 2019, North Sydney Council voted to make its entire CBD district a smoke-free space, though the policy does not include private property and relates only to public domain owned and operated by the council.

Community consultation, taken before the vote, found 80 per cent of respondents backed the ban, while nearly 20 per cent opposed the proposal.

The City of Melbourne, meanwhile, has designated 14 smoke-free areas across its densely-packed council area, progressively rolling out new zones since 2013.

They now include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Queen Victoria Market and Princess Park running track.

The City of Melbourne has designated 14 smoke-areas across the city, including the Royal Botanic Gardens. Picture: Supplied

Specific streets and lanes within the CBD are also smoke-free, including McKillop St between Bourke St and Collins St, and Goldsbrough Lane between bourke and Little Bourke St.

In 2021, Glen Eira City Council, which takes in parts of Melbourne’s east, passed a local law banning smoking across 14 zones.

“The objectives of the local law are to promote a physical and social environment free from hazards to health, in which the residents of and visitors to the municipality can enjoy a quality of life that meets the general expectations of the community,” the legislation states.

Semaphore already has some smoke-free areas.

In 2021, Mr Wilkins organised a ban on smoking outside libraries, community centres and council chambers.

“It just makes it such a more welcoming and inviting environment,” he said.

The City of Port Adelaide Enfield council areas covers a vast portion of Adelaide’s north, stretching from Klemzig in the east to Semaphore in the west and the Osborne naval shipyard in the north.

Originally published as City of Port Adelaide Enfield council adopts motion to consider smoke ban on Semaphore Rd