By Belinda Nolan
A ST ALBANS club has launched an application to install extra poker machines, in a bid to fund new sports facilities.
The St Albans Sporting Club has appealed to the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation for permission to install an extra five machines, which would bring their total number of machines to 35.
The club has lodged a planning permit application with Brimbank Council, claiming the extra money would be put towards building an indoor netball facility in Kings Park, along with refurbishments to its clubrooms.
The club is urging the council to enter into a partnership to build the new sports complex, which is expected to cost around $4 million and would also include indoor cricket and football facilities and a gymnasium.
Club general manager Des Barnard said the club hoped to give a home to the St Albans Netball Association and help support the sport locally.
“We don’t think we’re being greedy,” Mr Barnard said.
“We’re not trying to build the Taj Mahal.
“We’re only asking for an extra five machines and we plan to put that money directly back into the community.
“They won’t bring in a lot of money but they will help us finance that project and make the repayments.”
The additional poker machines would be taken from other venues within the municipality which lost entitlements during a state-wide auction last year.
Club Italia’s application to install an extra 22 machines was previously rejected by both the council and the VCGR.
The club lodged the application in December and is awaiting a hearing date.
