Shellharbour surf lifesavers have backed a planned smoking ban at the city's beaches.
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Shellharbour City Council this week endorsed the ban at all ocean and lake beaches and in alfresco dining areas, adding to its existing ban at sports grounds and children's playgrounds.
The public now has its chance to comment on the policy before it is adopted.
Warilla-Barrack Point Surf Life Saving Club's Steven Krinks applauded the stance and said it would lead to cleaner beaches.
"We're just constantly seeing people put their butts in the sand and smoking in the patrolled area where there's a high concentration of kids and the patrol people themselves are subjected to passive smoking," he said.
The new policy would make Shellharbour the first Illawarra council to ban smoking at beaches.
But the move is part of a broader trend for increased smoking bans in council areas.
Wollongong and Kiama councils both have some bans in place.
Wollongong is also looking at a ban in alfresco dining areas and in the Crown St Mall, while Kiama this week debated a ban in the town's main streets. The matter was referred to its health and sustainability committee.
A report to Shellharbour's Tuesday council meeting said in addition to the health impacts of smoking, cigarette butts posed a "huge threat" to waterways and wildlife.
While the council could not amend current agreements regarding alfresco dining, it could add the no smoking requirement to new agreements or when existing agreements were renewed.
"I think the community have to be responsible in their behaviour and that smokers have got a right to smoke but that shouldn't be forced on to non-smokers through passive smoking," Deputy Mayor Marianne Saliba said.
The policy would be enforced through "self-policing", rather than punishments.
However, it is understood the council would bear the cost if it was required to police the ban.
Fines of up to $110 would apply.
More than half of NSW councils have some sort of outdoors anti-smoking policy, the majority of which cover playgrounds and sports fields, a 2011 Heart Foundation survey found.
The survey showed alfresco dining areas were smoke-free in 30 councils, but only 15 had bans at beaches. The State Government has introduced legislation to ban smoking in playgrounds, public sports grounds, swimming pools, public transport stops and the entrances to public buildings.
