It comes as 11 $300 fines have been issued since cigarettes were butted out in April last year, 18 in total across the Murrumbidgee Local Health District. 

Wagga Cancer Council community programs co-coordinator Mathew McKenzie said the success of the hospital ban was indicative of a culture shift.

“In hospitals, people are already ill going into the grounds, so it is just common sense,” he said. 

“Banning smoking in certain areas de-normalises the habit.

“Smoking bans in pubs and clubs, it had a massive effect in the changing of the mindset of people.”

Mr McKenzie said he would like to see bans in other public areas, but it was ultimately a decision for Wagga Council.

“It’s been shown with the bans in Martin Place and Pitt Street that it’s been greatly welcomed by the people in Sydney CBD,” he said. 

Wagga mayor Greg Conkey, an anti-smoking campaigner for more than 30 years, unsuccessfully put forward a council smoking ban for Wagga’s CBD last year.

Cr Conkey said he still supported the idea of limiting secondhand smoke, however, a second tilt at banning it on Baylis Street wasn’t a priority.

“I think there are too many priorities at the moment for council to get a handle on,” he said.

“Sometime down the track I might canvass the other councillors and see whether there is an appetite to have a look at some areas.”

But any potential ban would also need to be supported by Wagga residents, Cr Conkey said. 

“The community was divided fifty-fifty,” he said.

“I understand there was a lot of angst among the business community who thought they may lose custom as a result of it.”

Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) Tobacco Compliance Officer Ian Hardinge said before the hospital ban began, a period of education and warnings were given to smokers on hospital grounds across the Riverina.

Mr Hardinge said the enforcement was about limiting hospital staff and sick patients’ exposure to second hand smoke. 

“All of these legislation changes are about limiting exposure to second hand smoke.”

“If anybody was to ask why is this area smoke-free or why can’t I smoke here - that’s the reason,” he said.

“It’s people’s expectation that they can come and do their normal business and not be subjected to secondhand smoke because there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.”