MEDIA RELEASE

Cllr Virginia Laugesen                           3 August 2009  

Sea Eagles fans to ‘pass-out’ for a cigarette break from 2010

Warringah Council has voted unanimously to ban smoking at the home ground of the Sea Eagles, Brookvale Oval.

The venue, which is on public land owned and administered by Warringah Council, is the only NRL ground in NSW that still permits smoking. The ban, brought in at the 28 July council meeting, will bring the oval in line with others, from next season.

“It’s only fair to spend the last few games of the season educating spectators about the coming ban,” said Cllr Virginia Laugesen, who instigated the notice of motion.

“Posters will go up at the grounds and announcements will be made, letting people know about it. I understand the Sea Eagles Club is happy for the change, which is great news.”

The issue was brought to Cllr Laugesen by local resident and Sea Eagles fan, 13 year-old Nakea Payne, of Frenchs Forest. Nakea regularly attends games at Brookvale Oval, watching with her family from ‘the hill’, where alcohol is banned but smoking is permitted.

“When Nakea first raised this with me, I thought someone must have just snuck a cigarette near her family a couple of times. I didn’t think you could smoke at sporting venues anywhere any more. When I investigated, I was surprised to hear ours is the only oval to allow smoking in all areas except the grandstands,” said Cllr Laugesen.

“Nakea has asthma and the ill-effects of the passive smoke she breathes during a game stay with her long after she goes home, particularly if she has a cold,” said Cllr Laugesen.

Margaret Hogge, president of the Non-Smokers’ Movement of Australia Inc. (NSMA) and a local resident, spoke at the council meeting, in support of the ban.

“Smoking and sport don’t mix. Even more important, smoking and children don’t mix,” she said.

“Drifting smoke, especially where people are seated together for long periods, can be as toxic outdoors as indoors. Smoking bans are important not only for the direct health benefit but also to de-normalise smoking in children’s eyes. There is nothing normal about smoking. Tobacco kills more Australians than any other product does.”

In background information supplied to fellow councillors, Cllr Laugesen explained that smoking controls elsewhere depend on the size of the NRL facility.

“Large venues have the space to assign designated areas within their grounds for smokers, but suburban fields usually don’t have enough room inside the gates, so they use a pass-out system. This is the likely scenario for Brookvale when the ban becomes effective. There won’t be any cost to the club or to council, because security staff is already in place at the entry and exits,” she said.

Cllr Laugesen says that for the ban to be viable from a health perspective, designated smoking areas need to be away from pedestrian cross-traffic, ventilation systems and windows. To prevent a cluster of smokers gathering for an extended time, the areas need to be out of view of the game. These tips are among advice she supplied to council staff from a guide compiled by Tobacco-free Sports for Olympic Games venues.

“Where children are watching football games for a couple of hours, it’s just not good policy for families to have to move away from smokers, or for parents to have to ask strangers to stop smoking near them. With smoking officially ‘illegal’ at Brookvale Oval, a bit of kids’ pester power should help enforce the rules. I’ve already had a few comments from locals that they’ll be more likely to attend a game at Brookvale when it’s smoke-free, and that can only be good for the team,” said Cllr Laugesen.

Ms Hogge adds that ongoing reminders are important to keep the regulation in people’s minds.

“Announcements should be made at regular times throughout the games, indicating that smoking is not allowed in the grounds. Spectators will then have some backing if someone starts to light up near them and their families. Smokers may have the right to use a legally available product but not where it affects others,” said Ms Hogge.

Anne Jones, CEO of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia welcomed the new smoking ban, and agrees that Manly’s football fans should have no trouble adapting to the change, “thankfully we have come a long way since sport was sponsored by tobacco companies,” said Ms Jones. “Most people now know and accept that smoking causes diseases and that public places should be smoke-free.”

ENDS

Further information:

Councillor Virginia Laugesen

Tel: 9400 2663; 0437 499 959

Email: quirkmarketing@optusnet.com.au

Margaret Hogge

President, Non-Smokers Movement of Australia (NSMA)

Tel: 0419 257 605

Anne Jones

CEO, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia

Tel: 9334 1876; 0417 227 879

Nakea Payne

via Leischa Payne (mother)

Tel: 0421 254 280

Page last updated 3/8/09