A short video shot by North West Cancer Centre chief radiation therapist Dave Willis features doctors encouraging residents to support the plan.

Melbourne-based doctor Bronwyn King has successfully lobbied about 30 superannuation companies to divest more than $1.3 billion from tobacco companies.

Dr King, who founded Tobacco Free Portfolios, says in the clip that Tamworth has a wonderful opportunity to take a significant step in “denormalising” smoking.

“I see the devastating impact of tobacco every single day on patients and their families,” she said.

“I would strongly encourage the people of Tamworth to implement and embrace tobacco-free public places.”

Fellow physician Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, who chairs the World Medical Association, says smoke-free CBDs would deliver not just health benefits, but economic benefits, too.

“To the people of the iconic city of Tamworth ... you would benefit from a tobacco-free environment,” he said.

“Smoke-free public places increases through-put of consumers into those places and does not diminish from your commerce.”

Council is holding a month-long community consultation period to gauge support for plans to ban smoking in the Tamworth, Barraba, Nundle, Kootingal and Manilla CBDs.

The proposal, which would also see smoking banned in council-run parks and sporting facilities, comes after a survey of 480 locals indicated more than 77 per cent were in favour of the bans.

Mr Ellis, who volunteers for Tobacco Free Portfolios, said statistics showed more than 10 per cent of smoking-related deaths related to the inhalation of second-hand smoke.

“There is a misconception in the public that smoking causes cancers in old men and it is much broader than that,” he said. “What’s really affected me personally is seeing younger women with young families with lung cancer or bladder cancer from smoking.”

Residents have until June 12 to complete an online survey on the council website, or fill out forms available from the region’s libraries and TRC branches.