By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM Council has spent $75,000 in just two years trying unsuccessfully to stop more pokie machines being approved in the municipality.
At last week’s council meeting a new Responsible Gambling Strategy was adopted, aimed at minimising the negative impacts gambling has on the community.
As a result of the strategy being adopted, the council will conduct local demographic and health impact research to gather data relating to gambling in Wyndham and explore options to work with neighbouring municipalities on a coordinated approach to issues relating to local government and gambling.
Wyndham Mayor Kim McAliney said a review on the electronic gaming machine (EGM) policy was ordered in August last year, after it proved unsuccessful in restricting the number of EGMs in Wyndham.
“This revised strategy will create transparent and consistent responses to all applications at the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT),” Cr McAliney said.
“In 2010/11, over $85 million was spent on EGMs in Wyndham, which equates to $730 per adult, higher than the Victorian average of $613 per adult. These statistics make this strategy a vital tool in addressing the effect that EGMs have on our community.”
An application to install 20 new EGMs at the Hoppers Crossing Sports Club was also refused at the council meeting and the case will likely be taken to the Victorian Committee for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR).
Wyndham Council CEO Kerry Thompson said in the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 financial years the council spent about $75,000 in taking cases to the VCGLR.
“In this time there have been four applications for a total of 108 electronic gaming machines
approved and one currently on the way for an additional 20 machines,” Ms Thompson said.
“This averages out to approximately $15,000 per application and this figure includes the
anticipated costs for the current application.”
