By Xavier Smerdon
AN APPLICATION to install more electronic gaming machines at one of Wyndham’s most popular social venues has been narrowly rejected by the Council.
The Italian Sports Club of Werribee (ISCW) in Heaths Rd, Werribee lodged a request to expand their bistro space, install 13 more pokie machines and reduce the number of parking spaces by one in October last year.
At last week’s council meeting Councillor Cynthia Manson proposed an alternative motion and pleaded with her fellow councillors to reject the ISCWs request on the grounds that it did not align with the Council’s quality community plan.
“Basically I am grasping at straws,” Cr Manson said.
“I am trying to find ways to prevent an increase of EGMs in this community.”
Cr Manson said the extra 13 machines at the ISCW, which already operates 57 gaming machines, would put Wyndham above the Melbourne metropolitan average.
“As councillors we’ve discussed it, and I felt that the majority of us feel tied about how we can have stronger grounds to refuse further EGMs in this community, and we just seem to be pushed and pushed and pushed,” she said.
“I’m tired of having these EGM applications come before us and our hands are just tied.”
Cr Manson said she was not against EGMs but she felt the Wyndham community could not handle an increase.
“I think a casino is a great thing in the city, but what do we really want for our community, what are we planning in our communities? We’re not,” she said.
“We’re failing as councillors to do our job appropriately.”
In the end Cr Manson’s alternative motion was passed by a vote of four to three.
