Smokers are jokers says Dawn Crichlow who is pushing to make Southport a smoke-free suburb

SOUTHPORT is set to become the state’s first smoke-free suburb, with plans underway for a major crackdown on the habit to butt it out forever.

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SOUTHPORT is set to become the state’s first smoke-free suburb, with plans underway for a major crackdown on the habit to butt it out forever.

The days of the Gold Coast City Council being a legally toothless tiger in shutting down smoking in public are set to end, with new legislation set to be introduced allowing city leaders to make people stub out or face fines.

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The new powers, set to be considered by State Parliament next month will ban smoking at public transport waiting spaces such as bus stops and light rail stations, as well as public pools, pedestrian malls, areas near Government buildings and skate parks.

Councils will be given wideranging powers to ban smoking other places.

Jason Clayton 23, from Arundel, is not impressed with the proposed smoking ban. Picture: David Clark

And where there’s smoking there is fiery Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow who is leading the push to ban the butt from the streets of the city’s central business district.

The evergreen councillor has been campaigning to rid the city of smokers for more than five years and said the matter would be taken seriously.

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Cr Crichlow welcomed the new push and warned a crackdown on smokers was imminent.

“Previously all we could do was put the signs up warning people not to smoke but this is fantastic news because I want Southport to become the first smoke-free suburb.

“I am thrilled by this because the extra cost of having to clean up the mess of smoking butts costs ratepayers thousands of dollars every year so the new rules will make a serious difference.

“We will have officers out in force for at least the first month ready to fine, fine, fine people smoking where they are not allowed.”

Councillor Dawn Crichlow would like to see smoking ban in all parts of Southport. Picture: David Clark

More than 3700 people die each year as a result of smoking.

Under the new laws, the four metre smoking buffer outside eateries will be extended to five metres.

However, Cr Crichlow’s crackdown has been laughed off by smokers, including Arundel resident Jason Clayton.

The 23-year-old said any push to limit smoking would be ineffective.

“If that is what they want to too then good luck to them,” he said.

“I question how the council plans on policing so many people who are smoking.”

A push by Cr Crichlow to outlaw smoking in 2010 ran out of puff after a council report found a ban would cost ratepayers $600,000 a year and be too hard to enforce.

Included among the costs were the hiring of a police officer at $103 an hour to patrol with two council officers and $180,000 of advertising.

On-the-spot fines of $150 were not expected to make up the shortfall.

Brisbane City Council banned smoking in the Queen Street Mall in 2012.

Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor, himself a former smoker, said blanket bans could be problematic.

“I am against smoking full stop but I do think that the people who do smoke need a place to do it,” he said.

“Even places like Singapore provide smoking rooms.”