BRIMBANK Council did not take part in a State Government review of gaming licences because feuding councillors failed to form an opinion on the issue before the deadline.
The State Government’s Office of Gaming and Racing called for input from stakeholders including; councils, communities, gaming operators and other related bodies in January.
The submissions will help form part of the decision-making before the licensing and allocation of operators in pubs and clubs in Victoria when the licences expires in 2012.
More than 30 local councils, including Maribyrnong, Wyndham, Hume and Moonee Valley, submitted detailed responses and called for a cap of machines in their areas.
But Brimbank has not been given a voice, because councillors could not reach an agreed stance before the deadline for submissions.
Brimbank hosts the fourth highest amount of gaming machines in metropolitan Melbourne, with 953 machines in 15 venues.
In the 2004-05 financial year Brimbank ranked second behind Monash with more than $110 million spent in gaming venues – more than $96 million has already been spent this year.
A council source told Star that councillors still had taken a stance on the issue, and that some ALP-aligned councillors were concerned about talking against pokie machines in fear off putting the State Government off-side.
In a response to questions from Star about the lack of council involvement in the survey, a spokesperson said the council did not provide its own submission.
“Brimbank’s gaming policy is currently under review.
“However, council does participate in the Victorian Local Governance Aassociation working group on gaming, which has put forward an extensive submission as part of the review of post-2012 electronic gaming machine, club Keno and wagering licences arrangements.”
Neighbouring Maribyrnong – which includes the suburbs of Braybrook, Maidstone, Footscray and Yarraville – has the highest number of gaming machines and highest gambling losses per head of population in Victoria.
In a detailed nine-page submission to the review, Maribyrnong has called for a range of measures including the reduction in the number of machines.
Caroline Springs has an additional 60 machines after the recent opening of a new venue on the Western Highway.
