We think that making McKillop Street a smoke-free area, joining nearby Equitable Place and Collins Way smoke-free areas, will improve the health and liveability of this area.

The residents and business owners of McKillop Street have experienced a great deal of disruption with construction noise, people smoking in the area, security concerns and restricted access. As Council works with other companies to address these issues, making the area smoke-free has been identified as one way to take a step towards making this street cleaner, healthier and more liveable for all.

A smoke-free area is a public space where smoking is not permitted. This may include open air spaces and dining within the smoke-free area. It is illegal to smoke in a smoke-free area under Clause 3A.3 of the Activities Local Law 2019. There are also a number of areas where it is illegal to smoke under Victorian Government legislation. Visit the Health page for more information.

Smoke-free areas support the community in three main ways:

• Protect community from passive smoking
• Reduce uptake of smoking behaviour in children and young people by modelling non-smoking behaviour
• Provide a supportive environment for people who smoke who are trying to quit or have recently quit.

Smoking is commonly recognised as the leading preventable cause of cancer and also responsible for many heart and lung diseases. According to the Cancer Council, a smoke-free environment is the only way to fully protect non-smokers from the dangers of second-hand smoke, as even small amounts of exposure to tobacco smoke can be harmful to people's health.

We are proud to be creating healthy environments where people can live, learn, work and play.

There are currently eleven smoke-free areas prescribed by the City of Melbourne including The Causeway, Howey Place, Block Place, Equitable Place, Goldsbrough Lane, QV Melbourne, The Tan and Princes Park running tracks, Collins Way, Fulham Place, Market Street Park and Bourke Street (between Elizabeth Street and Russell Place, including the mall).
Under Victorian Government legislation there are additional locations where smoking is not permitted, such as outdoor dining areas, playgrounds, childcare centres, and outside certain building entrances. For more information visit the Health pages.

Our Smoke-Free Melbourne policy helps guide how we choose and prioritise new smoke-free areas.

We also consider other factors including: location, number of businesses, pedestrian traffic, adjoining buildings and properties, as well as existing smoking controls.

We will engage with the key stakeholders, residents, building owners, businesses, and people who use the area, as well as the broader community to understand the potential impacts and benefits of making these areas smoke-free.

We consider all feedback, both for and against, when making decisions about creating smoke-free areas. The feedback report is then provided to Council for consideration. Councillors review the feedback reports and submissions received. Each issue is put to a vote, with a majority needed in order for an area to become smoke-free.

We’re officially the first Australian city to introduce a framework to help protect our community from the harmful effects of smoking.

Smoking is the single biggest contributor to preventable disease and death in Australia and there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Support for more smoke-free areas across the city has grown significantly with our most recent proposal at Market Street Park showing 95 per cent of individuals and 100 per cent of businesses were in support of the area becoming smoke-free.

This policy will guide the creation of more smoke-free areas, reduce smoking in our city, help people to quit and create a healthy and safe environment for everyone.

You can view the policy by visiting the Health pages on our website.

Prescribed smoke-free areas are enforceable under Clause 3A.3 of the Activities Local Law 2009 (Local Law). All areas prescribed smoke-free will be clearly signed indicating that it is not permitted to smoke in these areas. Fines may apply if a person fails to comply with these restrictions.

No, at this stage we are only consulting on a proposal to make McKillop Street smoke-free. In line with our Smoke-Free Melbourne policy, City of Melbourne is committed to continuing to protect people from the known harms of passive smoking by expanding our smoke-free areas as well as educating our community about the harms of smoking and supporting people to quit. We will consider evidence and input from the health sector, community and businesses before further areas are identified.

City of Melbourne is talking with residents and businesses in the area about how some of the current disruptions and issues cause by construction and other works in the area can be minimised. While these issues won’t be solved overnight, City of Melbourne is committed to continuing to support our residents and businesses during this difficult time.

As smoking in the area has been identified as an issue by community, this is something we can address while we are working through some of the other significant concerns in McKillop Street.

To find out more or to speak to someone about the construction works happening in McKillop Street please contact Site Services on 9658 9658 or via email: siteservices@melbourne.vic.gov.au.