A possible ban on smoking in the Crown St Mall should be postponed until the mall refurbishment is completed in early 2014, Wollongong City Council staff have recommended.
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In a report to next Monday's council meeting, council staff have advised councillors to hold off on making a decision about a smoking ban until extensive community consultation has been undertaken.
But they said if councillors decided to put the ban in place at any stage of the process, its roll-out should coincide with the opening of the mall refurbishments, earmarked for early 2014.
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The report said all but one of the state's 152 councils had banned smoking in children's playgrounds, 69 had policies covering sports fields, 51 did not allow smoking at pools and 30 prohibited the act within alfresco dining areas. However only five had policies barring smoking in pedestrian malls.
George Takacs, who asked for the report to be prepared at the March 26 meeting, said he was happy with what was being presented to councillors.
"I think this provides us with enough information to take to the community to start the conversation," he said.
"I'd like to see during the consultation process whether having a smoking ban in place would change people's views about coming into the mall."
Acting Lord Mayor David Brown supported the suggestion of a delayed implementation date if the ban went ahead, and the need for community input into any decision that was made.
Michelle Blicavs also supported the 2014 start date, but reminded residents the council had not yet made its decision.
She welcomed the chance for community consultation but said it needed to cover the whole local government area.
Meantime, some of those who stand to be affected by a ban have already delivered their verdict.
Cafe owners who spoke with council staff as part of initial consultation said they were not in favour of a mall-wide smoking ban and questioned how the council would enforce it.
Regular Crown St Mall smokers Tegan Kent, Brett Cockburn and Mark Castellano said having a cigarette with their coffee was part of their daily routine.
"If we couldn't do it here [in the mall], we'd go elsewhere, as would others, and the cafes in the mall would lose business," Mr Castellano said.
Mr Cockburn said all three were considerate smokers around other people.
"We don't blow smoke in other people's direction," he said.
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