Park visitors told to butt out
NSW Government to ban cigarette smoking in state’s national parks from JanuaryCampers, bush walkers and nature lovers will no longer be able to light up a cigarette while enjoying any of NSW’s 860 national parks.
The blanket ban will take effect in January and apply to all national park zones including picnic areas, campgrounds, beaches, lookouts, walking tracks and on national parks roads.
NSW Environment minster Rob Stokes said cigarette butts form up to half of the measured litter across the nation. They also contain hazardous chemicals such as arsenic and lead, that can contaminate waterways and land.
“Seven billion cigarette butts are littered in Australia every year, putting lives and property at risk, ruining beaches, spoiling the beauty of our parks and endangering wildlife,” the minister said.
“Butts can also be ingested by our wildlife and spoil the beauty of our natural places.”
Those caught littering lighted cigarettes face a fine of $660, or $1320 if the butt is discarded on a Total Fire Ban day.
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