Bendigo council is in the midst of updating sections of its decade-old law, part of which would give it the power to ban smoking on council-owned land. 

Sporting venues, malls, parks, and other community facilities could all potentially become vapor free in a move designed to reduce exposure to cigarette smoke. 

Related: Make Easter in Bendigo smoke-free: leaders

If approved, the change would supplement the statewide ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas which came into effect in August. 

Pubic smoking was thrust into the spotlight after the 2017 Easter festival, with some community leaders “appalled” at the number of smokers along the parade route. 

Councillor Yvonne Wrigglesworth, who called on organisers of the 2018 Easter festival to rid the event of tobacco, said there was no reason why certain areas at events can’t be smoke free.

“Common places of assembly, like churches, the RSL memorial, library, civic gardens, there’s no reason something like the (Hargreaves) mall shouldn't be designated as smoke free,” she said. 

Cr Wrigglesworth said while police will have the power to enforce the local law, smoke-free areas would need to be upheld by the community.

City of Greater Bendigo manager safe and healthy environments Caroline Grylls said the law change would focus on smoke-free areas, not events, given the difficulty of policing a blanket smoking ban.

“There are no events earmarked for this to be applied to,” she said.

“The councillors were very keen to look at how they could contribute to reducing exposure to cigarette smoke, it also is a priority in the city's public health and wellbeing plan.”

However, some aspects of the amended tobacco act in Victoria will apply to the Easter festival this year, for example, the habit has been outlawed within 10 metres of food service areas at major events. 

Despite the changes in the community local law, which is currently in draft form and open for public feedback, Ms Grylls did not envisaged any drastic changes to smoking areas or smoking at events in the “foreseeable future”. 

Related: Smoking areas to narrow in Bendigo

Nevertheless, changing the law would give the council more enforcement powers than it previously had.

The ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas has not been particularly contentious in Bendigo, according to Ms Grylls, who said council was “really pleased with our proprietors response to that”.

In July Bendigo Health conceded it was powerless to prevent tobacco users flouting no smoking laws on its grounds.

The health organisation said it has security staff monitoring any breaches in smoking laws, under the Tobacco Act they are not expected to enforce the ban and not empowered to do so, however local council inspectors are. 

Smoking laws prohibit smoking within four metres of an entrance to any public hospital or registered community health centre in Victoria.