THE lack of proposed designated smoking areas in Lismore's city centre is concerning business owners who employ smokers. Under a draft Lismore City Council outdoor smoke-free area plan that has been placed on public exhibition for 28 days, the smoking areas in the CBD would be relegated to the outskirts of the CBD. This would be outside the main block bordered by Magellan, Keen, Woodlark and Molesworth streets. Cr Neil Marks, addressing council on Tuesday night, said business owners feared smokers' productivity would fall because it could take them longer to walk to smoking areas.
Cr Marks said businesses had told him they would no longer employ smokers as, "that way they'll at least get a full day's work out of them". Cr Peter Graham questioned whether the smoke-free area policy would work, given the lack of smoking areas in the city centre. Cr Graham Meineke said it would be a difficult policy to enforce. Cr Simon Clough argued it was a very balanced policy that would be phased in over a year.
Cr Vanessa Ekins expressed concern that many of the smoking areas were near the river, raising the prospect of more butts going into it. Cr Isaac Smith said the plan would make the city centre cleaner and research showed the more you inconvenienced smokers the more quit. David Martin of Lismore Chamber of Commerce confirmed the lack of smoking areas in the city heart was a concern among business owners.
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