CENTRO Mall Manager Alan Olivo says there will never be a ban on noisy children in Goulburn’s food court, so long as he is in control of management.
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The comments come following the controversial move by Sydney’s Dee Why Grand, prohibiting screaming children from the centre.
The notice from Dee Why’s centre management read: “Stop. Parents please be considerate of other customers using the food court. Screaming children will not be tolerated in the centre.”
As a parent, Mr Olivo said that he understood the hardships of parenting and didn’t think the move by Dee Why Grand encouraged a family friendly environment. He said Centro Goulburn won’t be following suit with the ban, having never received complaints regarding out-of-control children.
“It’s a game cause… I would imagine food courts as a place for everyone to commune, children or no children, families are always welcome.
“As a parent I understand what’s going on, and say again that the mall is a place for everybody.”
Who’s enforcing smoking laws?
ANOTHER issue littering the streets is the enforcement of new cigarette restrictions put in place by the government earlier this year, particularly in Auburn St. The new regulations put in place on January 7, 2013 outline a smoking ban in the following areas:
• Within 10 metres of children’s play equipment in outdoor public spaces; • Swimming pool complexes; • Spectator areas at sports grounds or other recreational areas during organised sporting events; • Railway platforms, light rail stops, light rail stations, bus stops, taxi ranks and ferry wharves; • Within 4 metres of a pedestrian access point to a public building.
The NSW Government plans to further the smoking restrictions in 2015 when it will be prohibited to smoke in commercial outdoor dining areas.
The Auburn St frontier of Goulburn’s Centro Mall is one area unchanged by the new laws, with little to no surveillance or regular checks performed on the area.
Manager of the complex, Alan Olivo, said that although the smoking is taking place out the front of his building, it isn’t his responsibility to monitor, as it falls on public lands. He expressed his confusion as to who exactly was in charge of monitoring the laws in the busy area.
“From our perspective it’s quite difficult to enforce as we don’t own the area.
“If it’s a four metre buffer zone on Auburn Street, it is public lands… Who is responsible for that?
“I would assume it’s a council matter….It’s something I wouldn’t mind knowing more about,” he said.
A Southern NSW Local Health District spokesperson confirmed that authorised Environmental Health Officers, employed by the state sector, have the power to fine people caught smoking in designated smoke-free areas.
“NSW Health Inspectors are authorized to enforce the ban within four metres of a pedestrian entrance or exit from a public building, with penalties of up to $550 for any individual who fails to comply with the law,” he said.
“Individuals have the responsibility to not smoke in smoke-free areas. Members of the public are encouraged to take up complaints about noncompliance with the legislation directly with proprietors.”
NSW Health did not respond to requests for figures on the number of patrols and infringement notices given in the Goulburn Mulwaree area.