Monash cafe ban goes up in smoke

Posted to Monash Weekly (28/2/2011) on 3/3/2011 at 11:42 AM

Commenting on “Monash cafe ban goes up in smoke”

http://www.monashweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/monash-cafe-ban-goes-up-in-smoke/2088784.aspx

It is load of nonsense for Cr Stephen Dimopoulos to say a Monash-specific ban would be hard on traders and thinks that the cost is too great to implement it.

This very negative and short-sighted view is not dissimilar to Cr Paul Klisaris who voted against the legislation he had designed feeling that he would be supporting something that only filled the glass half-way.

There will always be people who enjoy lighting up a cigarette inside or outside eating places, but there are a lot more who don’t. By promoting City of Monash as a complete smoke-free zone for café, we can attract non-smokers coming to help improve the food business in the City.

Unfortunately I disagree with Cr Geoff Lake trying to wash his hands clean by saying that “al fresco dining was something for the state government to tackle.” City of Monash can introduce by-laws to overcome this problem. What’s wrong being the first City to implement such policy?

Footpath for pedestrians only

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly on 19/8/2010
Title: Footpath for pedestrians only

Footpath is for the foot, not for the bum. On a sunny day, the problem caused by blocked footpath may not be as severe, because pedestrians have the option to meander out of the footpath and walk on the street. However, on a rainy day, a blocked footpath becomes hazardous and presents a safety issue.

The Workplace Safety Act 2004 stipulates that all stakeholders - shopkeepers, employees, Council, diners have a duty of care to the safety of the public. To avoid potential accidents, it is only wise to keep footpath to be used as it has been designed for. It only takes one casualty, for example, a pedestrian walking out of the footpath being knocked down by a car in the process of parking at the marked bay, to cost the shopkeepers / ratepayers heaps for insurance compensation.

According to Food Standard 3.2.3, Div 2, Para 3(d), "The design and construction of food premises must to the extent that is practicable – exclude dirt, dust, fumes, smoke and other contaminants." All cafes and restaurants that offer Alfresco dining experience essentially fail the test of the Food Standards Code. Diners breathe in exhaust fumes from motor vehicles, dirt and dust blown in from the street.