The City of Greater Bendigo is undertaking smoking and vape-free trials at a number of public sites in Greater Bendigo until Friday June 28, 2024.
The trial areas include:
- Civic Gardens
- Library Gardens
- Dai Gum San
- Canterbury Gardens
- Tom Flood Sports Centre
- Funloong Playspace - Hargreaves Mall (already legislated smoke and vape-free location)
- Lake Weeroona Playspace (already legislated smoke and vape-free location)
- Eaglehawk Playspace (already legislated smoke and vape-free location)
- Ewing Park Playspace and Skate Park (already legislated smoke and vape-free location)
- Barrack Reserve Playspace, Heathcote (already legislated smoke and vape-free location)
City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Manager Andie West said the Victorian Government has already introduced legislated areas like play spaces, skate parks and sporting venues where people cannot smoke and vape.
"The City carried out consultation with young children between 2021 and 2023 who told us they wanted to see more areas where smoking and vaping is banned," Ms West said.
"In response to this feedback from local children we are now trialling a number of areas that may become smoke and vape free in the future.
"The trial involves placing signage at the trial locations to inform them of the trial and to raise awareness that some of these areas are already smoke and vape free zones.
"Through the trials we want to find out if the wider community supports more smoke and vape-free locations across Greater Bendigo."
"If the trial is successful, further consultation will be undertaken before any formal changes are made. The City will only make more sites smoke and vape free if the community supports it."
The consultation is being undertaken with a funding grant from VicHealth and in partnership with Bendigo Community Health Service, Bendigo Health, Heathcote Health, Department of Education and Sports Focus.
