Residents have formed the group EPIC, Enough Pokies In Castlemaine, because of a proposal to install 65 more pokies in an unused goods shed near the Castlemaine Railway Station.

The shed is on state government land.

EPIC spokeswoman Prue Cole said the possibility of the Maryborough Highland Society planning to put more pokies in the town had brought the group togther, with more than 900 people signing a petition against the proposal.

But Maryborough Highland Society general manager Don Hester said although they were working on a planning application with Mount Alexander Shire Council, it was in the very early stages and an application had not been lodged.

He said he was not surprised by the community’s reaction, but there had been a number of “untruths” being circulated in the community.

He would not expand on what he meant.

The Cumberland Hotel in Castlemaine has 30 pokies and $3.3 million was poured into them in the last financial year.

Ms Cole said the community knows they already have enough pokies.

“For us the harm is the social effect,” she said. “Castlemaine has a huge mixture of different people and we know there are people that are vulnerable and there will only be more.

“We don’t want any more.”

Senator Nick Xenophon, Reverend Tim Costello and activist Stephen Mayne will speak at a public anti-poker machine forum at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal on Monday, November 29, starting at 6.30pm.