By NATALIE GALLENTI
MELTON City Council will not back an application by a Hillside entertainment and dining venue for additional electronic gaming machines.
At last week’s council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to inform the Victorian Commission of Gaming and Liquor Regulation that it would not support the request by Spar Holdings Pty Ltd to add a further 20 machines at the Sugar Gum Hotel.
The hotel, which offers a café/bar, sports bar, functions area and bottleshop, already has 50 gaming machines on its floor.
In its submission to the VCGLR Spar Holdings estimated that the additional pokies would increase gaming expenditure within the municipality by $650,645. The submission also stated an increase of $40,000 in existing community contributions and the employment of an additional seven staff. The venue plans to facilitate a $4 million redevelopment of the hotel.
However the council has vowed to ardently contest the application and in its submission will take into account the social and economic impacts of additional machines.
A council report revealed there are presently 487 licensed poker machines in seven venues across the municipality, equalling 5.71 machines per 1000 adults. This is just below the state average of 6.00, however expenditure per adult is $662 per year, well above the state average of $602 per year.
Cr Sophie Ramsey said with the rapid growth being experienced across the City of Melton, the council was receiving more applications than ever before and she called on the council to look closely at the impacts any additional machines would have on local residents.
“The VCGLR is just another organisation taking the responsibility away from council,” Cr Ramsey said.
