Councillor George Brticevic calls for investigation into banning smoking in Campbelltown CBD

One business owner warns a smoking ban on the main street in Campbelltown could do more harm than good. Here’s what’s proposed.

A Campbelltown councillor is calling for an investigation into whether smoking could feasibly be banned on the city’s main street, but one business owner warns it could do more harm than good.

Councillor George Brticevic has given notice of his intention to move a motion at council’s Tuesday night meeting that seeks for council to present a report on the feasibility of banning smoking and vaping in the public areas of Queen Street, Campbelltown.

Considerations for the report include consulting with businesses, the community and other stakeholders, the geographical boundaries of any ban and designated smoking areas.

Cr Brticevic said in his five years of being a mayor and councillor for Campbelltown he had heard many complaints about Queen St with a lot of them centred around smoking.

“People don’t like walking through smoke and it can have an affect on people with health issues,” he said.

“I know there are some laws already in place and it might be complex but I want to see the feasibility of such a ban.

“Everyone has the right to do whatever and smoking is legal but it does impact others.”

Cr Brticevic said 20 or 30 years ago, pubs were not family friendly but a smoking ban changed the dynamic, adding a similar change could be brought about for Queen Street.

He said there was plenty of investment in the local area with multi-million dollar developments, and this could be way one to further welcome people to the main street.

Tim Pickles, the owner of Tim’s Garden Centre on Queen Street, said he disagreed with the concept of a smoking ban on the CBD’s main strip.

“Smoking is not illegal so people should be allowed to smoke somewhere,” he said.

Councillor George Brticevic has called for an investigation into banning smoking in Campbelltown CBD.

“This morning I was looking down Queen Street and the only business that actually had people around it was the place that sells cigarettes.

“Gradually, we are getting rid of businesses that actually attract people.”

Mr Pickles said the focus should be on finding ways to revitalise Queen Street, and a smoking ban could do more harm than good.

He said while he was not a smoker he could still acknowledge it was a social activity for some, and it created a sense of community.

“We need to be looking at ways to bring people and communities here, not getting rid of them,” Mr Pickles said.

“Stopping those 20 people who smoke on Queen Street every day isn’t going to make more people come here, I can tell you that much.

“Queen Street has been killed with all the parking taken away and I think this could do more harm than good.”

The National Health Survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that since 1995, the proportion of adults who are daily smokers has decreased from 23.8 per cent to 13.8 per cent in 2017-18.

However, over recent years the daily smoking rate remained relatively similar.

It also found that on average, current daily smokers smoked 12.3 cigarettes per day, which is just over half a pack and on average, men smoked more than women.

Seta Berbari runs a cafe on Dumaresq St, just off Queen St, and said she would be open to hearing more about the proposal.

“When you go to Japan, they have a smoking ban in the streets but they have lots of areas that are full of trees that are for people who want to smoke,” she said.

George Brticevic. Picture: File shot/Matthew Vasilescu

“So it keeps the streets smoke free, but there is still a welcoming space for them.

“Something like that could help could make things a bit cleaner.”

Ms Berbari said while she was open to ways to help keep the CBD clean, it was also important to be respectful towards people and their choices.

Campbelltown councillors will vote on the notice of motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting.