Trial of smoking, vaping ban

A NUMBER of public places in Bendigo have gone smoke and vape-free until late June under a city council trial.

A City of Greater Bendigo official said the move followed consultation with young people between 2021 and 2023, which indicated that they wanted to see more areas where smoking and vaping was banned.

The trial areas include the Civic Gardens, Library Gardens, Dai Gum San at the Golden Dragon Museum, Canterbury Gardens and the Tom Flood Sports Centre.

City community partnerships manager Andie West said the trial areas might become permanently smoke and vape-free.

“The trial involves placing signage at the trial locations to inform them (users) of the trial and to raise awareness that some of these areas are already smoke and vape-free zones,” Ms West said.

“Through the trials, we want to find out if the wider community supports more smoke and vape-free locations across Greater Bendigo.”

The State Government has already legislated areas like play spaces, skate parks and sporting venues where people cannot smoke or vape.

Already legislated smoke and vape-free sites included in the trial are FunLoong playspace at Hargreaves Mall, and Lake Weeroona, Eaglehawk, Ewing Park, and Barrack Reserve playspaces.Residents can have a say on the trial by completing a survey on the city’s Let’s Talk platform until Friday 28 June. “If the trial is successful, further consultation will be undertaken before any formal changes are made,” Ms West said.

“The city will only make more sites smoke and vape-free if the community supports it.”

The trial is in partnership with Bendigo Community Health Service, Bendigo Health, Heathcote Health, and the Department of Education and Sports Focus, and is funded by VicHealth.