By Ian Neubauer
The City of Fremantle has introduced a smoking ban applying to al fresco dining areas across all of its suburbs, effective February 15.
Fremantle environmental health and building services coordinator, Matthew Piggott, said health officers would work in an educational capacity with proprietors to help them comply with the new legislation, and that changes would be phased in incrementally.
“To assist proprietors, employees and patrons adjust to the new regulations, a six-month transition period has been written into the amended local law,” Piggot said. “From February 15, business proprietors need to ensure at least half of their outdoor eating areas are set aside as non-smoking — the new laws will then apply for the whole area from August 15.”
Under the new laws, proprietors and employees are required to inform any person smoking in a prohibited area that they are committing an offence and ask them to leave the area until they have finished smoking. Any proprietor, employee or person breaching these requirements could be liable for a $2000 penalty.
“While there are provisions for enforcement of the new rules, it’s our intention for businesses to self-regulate,” Piggot said. “But it’s the responsibility of the business proprietor to inform and train all staff to ensure they are familiar with the requirements of this amended local law.”
More information on the new ban can be obtained from the City of Fremantle environmental health services on 9432 9856.