PAKENHAM OFFICER
pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 3 May, 2018
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Pokies rejected By Rowan Forster
Councillor Michael Schilling said the decision was beneficial for the Officer community. “The tender last year was rejected by council based on limited social gain for the community,” he said.
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“We have all the data which shows the harm electronic gaming machines can do in a community. “This outcome shows that the community can have a positive influence on outcomes -
they’ve put up a strong fight and their voices were heard.” The decision has thwarted plans for the Station Hotel to have pokie machines, but it does not prohibit the venue from being developed.
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Marilyn Dowsett with her Grandson Harper, 9, Rob Dowsett and Andrew McNabb, who all fought against the Officer pokies. 173070
12386173-RC19-18
A bid to introduce 80 new pokie machines in Officer has been shot down by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. After almost a fortnight of deliberation, the application by Station Hotel proprietor Timothy Rice was rejected on Tuesday night. Determined anti-gambling campaigners in Officer have celebrated the decision. Resident Jerry Field described the outcome as “common sense prevailing”. “Clearly they had the same concerns as council and the residents,” he said. “There’s a link to family violence, a link to poverty and a link to drug and alcohol abuse that comes with excessive gambling - and on this occasion, the wellbeing of the community has been put first. “It’s a big win for all of the residents who fought against this new venue.” Under the proposal, a new venue was to be created in the Officer area with additional licenses issued for the machines. The controversial scheme came before Cardinia Shire late last year, but it was unanimously quashed by councillors. Mr Rice is also contesting council’s decision in a separate VCAT hearing on 15 May. Head of the Alliance for Gambling Reform Tim Costello said the proposal was especially problematic because of its close proximity to schools. “Creating a new venue with 80 pokies within two kilometres of 12 schools and child care centres was rightly rejected by the Cardinia shire councillors and the VCGLR, so that should be the end of the matter,” he said. “We don’t need any more venues opening up in growth areas so The Station Hotel should accept the umpire’s decision and shelve its pokies push rather than pursuing a VCAT appeal.” It comes just days after Star News reported that punters in the Cardinia Shire have splurged more than $22 million on poker machines in the past nine months. Between July 2017 and March 2018, the region’s five gaming venues raked in a combined average of $2.2 million per month, according to VCGLR figures.
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