Quit stalling on bans, says body

Alex de Vos
Quit Victoria has urged Surf Coast authorities to speed up their work on introducing the state’s first beach smoking bans.
Quit Victoria’s Fiona Sharkie accused Surf Coast Shire and Great Ocean Road Coast Committee of stalling on implementation of trial smoking bans at Torquay.
“They should be doing all the ground work now,” Ms Sharkie said.
“We were really encouraged to hear about a potential trial and we would support and encourage the players to move in this direction. There is very high level of public support and it’s been done before.”
Ms Sharkie said Quit Victoria wanted the bans in place before next summer.
The Independent revealed in February a Surfrider Foundation call for Surf Coast Shire to kick smokers off the beach.
The foundation has since lodged a submission with the coast committee asking for the bans trial.
Committee executive director David Clarke said he would meet councillors in the next few weeks to discuss introducing the ban.