Councillor Peter Schwarz put forward the motion that “council resolves to cease the provision of sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks at council functions and events”. 

A council spokeswoman said when council hosted a function or event, sugar sweetened drinks would not longer be sold or available.

"When council facilities are booked by community groups or others, they can provide and offer catering as they choose, as they do now," she said.

"The motion continues with; in all future contracts that no such drinks are to be sold at Council premises, such as swimming pool canteens.

"Currently, Council does not have any contracts that stipulate that soft drinks cannot be sold. In future and when Council enters into new contracts eg, for the management of the swimming pools, it will be stipulated that no such drinks are to be sold."

Cr Schwarz believes the move is a positive step to creating a healthy Eurobodalla. 

“Over 300 people every year are admitted to Moruya Hospital due to obesity-related issues,” he said. 

“More than 20 people in the Eurobodalla die – those statistics are staggering and before I found them out, issues like this didn’t concern me.

“This motion will put us at the forefront of healthy living in Australia.” 

The decision to cease the sale of carbonated drinks in the region comes after the council ran a community forum and workshop entitled The Obesity Time Bomb, earlier this month. 

The forum was hosted by council’s Live Life program, a federally funded Healthy Communities project. 

Cr Schwarz confirmed that the ban could have consequences for small sporting clubs. 

“Yes, this may impact on small sporting groups. They may have to stop selling that can of Coke, but it’s not the end of the Earth,” he said.

“If you really want a Coke while you’re at a council pool, I think you should walk across to Coles or Woolworths and buy one. The walk will probably do you good."

It is estimated 66 per cent of males and 53 per cent of females in the Eurobodalla are overweight or obese.

Southern Health Eurobodalla’s community health development officer Marcella Levey, who attended the The Obesity Time Bomb forum, said drinking soft drinks was associated with a number of health problems. 

“High consumption of soft drinks and other sugary drinks are associated with a number of health problems, including overweight and obesity, type two diabetes, osteoporosis and dental caries,” Ms Levey said. 

“Soft drinks are considered a “sometimes” food and best left for parties or occasionally on a Saturday night, for example.

“But for everyday activities such as when performing exercise or sport, water should be the first choice.”