At a meeting on Tuesday night, a majority of Shoalhaven councillors voted for a motion designed to prevent smokers from lighting up in Junction Street, Berry Street and Kinghorne Street, put forward by Cr Nina Cheyne.

“When mums are waiting at taxi ranks at bus stops with their kids, we want to make sure no one smokes in front of them,” she said.

Four councillors opposed the motion, including Cr Andrew Guile.

“There are very few places you can smoke in the Shoalhaven,” Cr Guile said.

“It’s already banned in restaurants, at sporting grounds, on some beaches.

“We shouldn’t ban people from smoking in the CBD, there are a lot of workers there, where are they going to go?

"Given coming across secondhand smoke is rare, people in the CBD are more at risk of inhaling carcinogenics from cars, we're not going to ban cars, are we?

“We shouldn’t be about punishing people for addictions and habits that are beyond them.”

Cr Cheyne said the motion isn’t about demonising the disadvantaged, it’s about public safety.

“I’m a nurse, I look after people with end-stage emphysema,” she said.

“I think it's important we're all vigilant in preventing that.”

Council does not have the power to ensure people obey the signs.

For: Amanda Findley, Annette Alldrick, Cheyne, John Wells, Joanna Gash, Kaye Gartner, Bob Proudfoot

Against: Guile, Mitchell Pakes, Greg Watson, Mark Kitchener