CITY of Greater Bendigo councillors have issued a review on their three-year -old poker machine policy and a report on whether the city’s current pokie venues fit within the policy.
Councillors were divided last night on the best way to respond to a petition signed by 525 people calling for no more pokies in Bendigo.
In what became a theme for the night Mayor Rod Fyffe was forced to use his casting vote to not support the petition which was produced by Bendigo’s faith-based groups.
Cr Fyffe said council needed to acknowledge the petition, but pokies were legal and council was complying with the law.
“The fact that the state government has said there can be more in here is something I find very difficult, I certainly think we have more than enough,” he said.
Kangaroo Flat ward councillor Barry Lyons and Flora Hill ward councillor Alec Sandner were also against the petition.
Cr Lyons said a poll of the community to decide each future application, which was requested by the petition, would divide the community.
But the petition was supported by North West Plains ward councillor Bruce Phillips, Eaglehawk ward councillor Peter Cox and Strathfieldsaye ward councillor Keith Reynard.
Epsom ward councillor Lisa Ruffell, Eppalock councillor Rod Campbell and Sandhurst ward councillor James Reade were absent from the meeting.
Cr Phillips said the state government had become addicted to gaming revenue and it was the state government which regulated the industry and prospered from it.
“I personally believe we already have enough and we should respond to the state government that any increase is unwarranted and unneeded,” he said.
Cr Cox said that councillors needed to review their current ‘accessible but not convenient’ policy and report on whether all current pokie venues fitted within the policy, which Cr Fyffe was forced to use his casting vote on again. But the decision annoyed Cr Lyons who said there was little point providing a report which couldn’t be implemented.
The division amongst councillors continued, with council taking a neutral position on the Kangaroo Flat Sports Club’s bid for 12 more pokies.
The club, at Dower Park, picked up 12 extra machines in the state government’s auction of gaming machine entitlements last year and has an application with the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation.
If approved the club will have 60 pokies.
Cr Lyons said the venue supported local people and most profits went back into the community.
Cr Cox said it was a contradiction to say council provided for the well being of the community while at the same time supporting the social problems of others.
“You don’t exploit one group to enhance another group,” he said.
And for the third time Cr Fyffe used his casting vote to approve the neutral position.
Email a friend