The City is committed to reducing harm from smoking and vaping.

Smoking is a major cause of preventable death. It is a leading cause of avoidable chronic illness and hospitalisation. It causes conditions including cancer and cardiovascular disease. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke including second-hand smoke.

Vapes can contain more than 200 chemicals. Some of these – such as arsenic and benzene – are known to cause cancer. Using vapes also causes:

• seizures
• lung, facial and oral injuries
• dizziness,
• loss of concentration, and
• nicotine poisoning

It is a public space area where smoking and vaping in not permitted.

Currently legislated locations

• Funloong playspace – Hargreaves Mall
• Lake Weeroona playspace
• Eaglehawk playspace
• Ewing Park playspace and skate park
• Barrack Reserve playspace, Heathcote

Other locations

• Civic Gardens
• Library Gardens
• Dai Gum San
• Rosalind Park
• Canterbury Gardens
• Tom Flood Sports Centre

Places where the Victorian Tobacco Act 1987 bans smoking and vaping:

• Outdoor areas at hospitality and food venues during the times food is available
• Food fairs, organised outdoor events including community or street festivals
• Entrances to indoor children’s play centres, public hospitals and registered community health centres
• Entrances to public buildings including courts, police stations, public hospitals and certain Victorian Government buildings
• The grounds of, and entrances to, childcare centres, kindergartens, preschools and primary and secondary schools
• Outdoor recreational areas, including playground equipment, skate parks and sporting venues during under-age sporting events
• Outdoor areas of public swimming pools
• Patrolled beaches
• Enclosed workplaces
• Train stations, tram stop platforms and tram and bus shelters
• Under-age music or dance events

For more information about legislation and regulations, visit Department of Health.

In 2021, we asked children and young people across Greater Bendigo to take part in a co-design process. They audited their neighbourhoods in relation to the positive and negative influences on:

• healthy eating
• physical activity
• social connection

After that, we held a forum involving 30 students (grade 4-6).

The engagement showed that children wanted more action around non-smoking.

The City received VicHealth funding to undertake this project focused on exploring ways to address self-reported increases in rates of smoking and vaping amongst children and young people in our community.

The City is working in partnership with Bendigo Community Health Service, Bendigo Health, Heathcote Health, Sports Focus, and the Department of Education to deliver this project. Each partner plays a role in delivering community education, cessation programs, signage and regulation at legislated sites.

The Federal and State Governments are also introducing additional reforms to prevent further risks being posed by smoking and vaping.