FED up with inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke from puffing beachgoers, Cronulla resident Katie Towers is calling for a smoking ban on all Sutherland Shire beaches.
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Ms Towers has started a petition on Change.org urging Sutherland Shire Council to follow the lead of Woollahra Council, which banned smoking on its beaches in 2014.
Her action was prompted by a friend's recent cancer diagnosis.
"We like to go out and enjoy the beach with the kids," she said.
"If someone is smoking it makes it unpleasant."
Ms Towers singles out Oak Park as particularly bad.
"There's a set of people who go down there every day and smoke like chimneys," she said.
"The ocean pool at south Cronulla is also bad for smokers.
"I have approached smokers at the beach and asked them if they could move away. Some people apologise and move way but others aren't so happy."
She is also angry about cigarette butts littering the beach, particularly where children play.
"Smoking should be banned as they have done at eastern suburbs beaches," she said.
Her petition, addressed to Sutherland Shire mayor Carmelo Pesce says: "Have you ever been to the beach, you're lying there relaxing, reading a book, when all of a sudden you get hit in the face and mouth with disgusting cigarette smoke from someone sitting down wind from you at the beach?
"Have you ever gone to put down your towels and put your umbrella up only to find cigarette butts buried in the sand?
"People go to the beach to get fresh air and enjoy the ocean and the beach with kids, friends and family.
"Smokers litter our beaches with butts, which children could pick up and which could further pollute our oceans."
In the first three days, her petition received 22 supporters.
Some of the comments include:
"I am signing the petition because I am allergic to cigarette smoke. I never smoked in my life," — Pierre Bamboukian.
"I have had breast cancer. The last thing I want is disgusting cigarettes down my lungs! Even before cancer. The beach is for fresh air not toxic pollution," — Rael Miller.
Ms Towers is after at least 1000 signatures to send to the council.
"Five thousand signatures would be the ultimate goal and then I will go to the council and get the matter heard," she said.
Smoking is already banned in the shire's commercial dining areas at hotels, clubs, restaurants and cafes.
Cr Pesce said he was not against the idea of banning smoking on the shire's beaches, "but it is not my decision alone".
"Once we receive her petition I am happy to put the motion for a decision to be made by all councillors."
See the petition: http://chn.ge/21grBwB
Should smoking be banned on all Sutherland Shire beaches?
