Dawn Felstead
Mount Alexander Shire Council will meet in committee tonight, (February 7) to discuss its next move in relation to Maryborough Highland Society’s (MHS) bid to develop a community club with 65 poker machines in the former railway goods shed in Kennedy Street, Castlemaine.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation (VCGR) handed down its decision to approve the MHS application late last Friday.
Speaking Monday morning, Mount Alexander Shire mayor, Cr Janet Cropley, said council had not made a decision as to what it would do in the face of the VCGR’s determination.
She said a briefing would take place at tonight’s committee meeting and depending on the outcome, a resolution might go to next Tuesday’s council meeting. This resolution would remain confidential until the council meeting takes place.
Cr Cropley said council had spent a lot of money on this matter.
“I don’t know what an appeal (to VCAT) would cost,” she said.
The mayor said legal opinion was needed about what grounds for appeal might be available.
“We have not been briefed on what council’s next move could be, after that council will consider the situation,” Cr Cropley said. “All councillors would want to hear in advance from our legal advisors.
“Cost will be one of the elements taken into consideration,” she said.
The decision was a bitter disappointment for members of anti-pokies group, Enough Pokies in Castlemaine (EPIC).
EPIC chairperson, David Stretch is calling on council to appeal to VCAT.
Mr Stretch said the case was a litmus test for whether the commission would listen to communities.
He said that Castlemaine had spoken louder than any other community before it, and still the commission wanted to let more pokies in.
Mr Stretch said that a survey showed that over 70 percent of the community opposed the proposal.
“If Castlemaine can’t win, no-one can,” he said.
Mr Stretch said that EPIC, which made representative submissions to the VCGR, was a grassroots organisation reflecting the views of an overwhelming majority of the community.
MHS general manager, Malcolm Blandthorn said that the MHS saw the VCGR decision as a small step toward their ultimate goal.
“It will be a very long process,” he said. “We believe we need to use the time as an opportunity to explain to the people of Castlemaine that what we propose is not just a pokie venue, it will be a community venue.”
Mr Blandthorn said that MHS realised there would be some strong community opposition to the proposal, but “it involves more than the pokies”.
“Maryborough Highland Society is a not-for-profit organisation,” he said. “We were happy that the VCGR could see we are a not-for-profit group and will support the community.
“Nobody on the board will be making any personal gain by this venture.”
The VCGR report concluded that the net economic and social impacts of the proposal on the wellbeing of the Castlemaine community would be neutral.
‘Accordingly, the Commission is satisfied that it should exercise its discretion to approve the Society’s application.’
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