Residents will also receive notification of the new policy with their rates instalment notices and posters will be placed in schools, pre-schools, libraries and community buildings across the LGA to increase public awareness of the policy.

Cessnock has joined a growing number of local councils which have introduced no smoking policies near children's playgrounds with more than 40 councils across NSW having already introduced no smoking outdoor areas in their localities.

"We are introducing signage in a staged approach with 20 parks scheduled for signage this financial year. Our regional parks will be the first to have the signs installed," said Council's Recreation Services Manager, Nicole Benson.

The smoking ban is effective at all of council's 41 playgrounds and it is expected the policy will be self-enforced by the community as there is very strong support for the introduction of no smoking near playgrounds.

The establishment of smoke free areas in playgrounds will not only help protect the community, particularly children, from second hand smoke but it will also reduce the risk of bush fires and may also support smokers who are trying to quit.

There are also environmental and economic factors associated with smoking such as butt littering (cigarette butts are not biodegradable and take up to five years to break down) and clean up costs should be reduced following the implementation of smoke free areas in playgrounds.

"We found when we introduced the policy of no smoking at our aquatics facilities in 2007 that after a short period of time, the vast majority of users who smoked were quite happy to adhere to the policy because they understood that it was not a revenue raising exercise but rather was introduced in the interests of community health," Ms. Benson said.

"We believe that this new policy will also be accepted by the community."