Council takes steps toward smoke-free Derwent Valley
In 2023, Derwent Valley Council declared a Smoke Free Zone for the length of High Street, New Norfolk. The initiative includes the establishment of the smoke-free zone, supported by a public education campaign through Quit Tasmania. Signage to identify the area as smoke-free will be installed shortly, along with signage at children’s playgrounds across.
Mayor Michelle Dracoulis says Council’s declaration supports Tasmanian Legislation of having Smoke-Free Zones around eating venues, children’s playgrounds and car parks and is in support of public health outcomes.
“With smoking being the leading preventable cause of death in Australia, this initiative will help reduce the prevalence of smoking and the harm it causes in our community. This area of health promotion is currently receiving active attention from the State Government and positions our community well to trial further interventions designed to contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of our community”.
Council is currently working with the Department of Health to develop a social profile of the Derwent Valley which includes health statistics and data. This project is the precursor to Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy currently in development, with the smoke-free initiative falling under that strategy.
Council’s smoke-free initiative aligns with the Tasmanian Government’s ‘Healthy Tasmania Five-Year Strategic Plan 2022–2026’, the Department of Health Tobacco Action Plan 2022 – 2026, and TASCOSS smoke-free communities project.
Smoking leads to a wide range of diseases including many types of cancer, heart disease and stroke, chest and lung illness and stomach ulcers. It claims around 24,000 Australians each year.
More information about this initiative can be found here - www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/smokefree