By Kara Irving
THE DENSITY of pokie machines across Maribyrnong could be significantly reduced, if a new council draft policy is adopted.
Last week Maribyrnong City Council announced a renewal to its previous gambling policy, which will grant greater regulatory powers to councils.
Prior to 2003, local government areas only had the capacity to advocate on the number of electronic gaming machines in the area.
The new policy also aims to reduce the impact gambling has on disadvantaged communities.
Victorian Interchurch Gambling Taskforce chairperson Dr Mark Zirnsak said he was glad councils were taking initiative to reduce pokie machine numbers in their areas.
“These policies are important and need to be imposed within councils to make the state government aware of their pokie machine caps,” Dr Zirnsak said.
“At the Interchurch Gambling Taskforce, our role is to minimize the harm and maximize any community benefits from gambling”.
But Monash University Department of Health Social Sciences Dr Chris Livingstone said the odds are stacked against council most of the time.
“Unfortunately, some of the recommended council policies don’t hold up against state legislation in court. Take the Edgewater development in Maribyrnong, for instance. That caused a lot of pain for the council when it was approved by VCAT”.
“Until we have serious reforms proposed by the Federal Government, the community problem with gambling will not go away.”
Gamblers in the City of Maribyrnong lost more than $56 million through gaming machines in 2010/11, with Braybrook suffering the heaviest losses with $16.6 million. Currently, there are 439 gaming machines operating across the municipality, with losses equating to $1000 per adult.
Across Maribyrnong, the number and concentration of electronic gaming machines in disadvantaged areas is significantly higher than other areas.
Community members wishing to provide feedback on the draft gambling policy should contact council’s social planning and research officer on malcolm.roberts-palmer@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au.
