Stadium officials have applied for a City of Greater Bendigo planning permit to install more poker machines and will decide the application tomorrow at its 6pm meeting.

Council officers have recommended councillors refuse the planning permit.

The new poker machines, which would take the stadium’s total to 105, would help pay for a multimillion dollar stand-alone arena.

Stadium officials say a new arena would help the city attract premier sporting events to the city.

The 88 objectors say more poker machines at Bendigo Stadium would have a detrimental social and economic impact on the community.

An officers report to the councillors states that the application fails to prevent further social disadvantage.

“The applicant submits that the impact of new EGMs is positive and seeks to downplay the revenue expected to be generated by the additional EMGs; however the applicant models the projected revenue on an unsupported analysis,” the report states.

“This analysis concludes that the 30 new machines will generate revenue of a rate comparable to the current 10 worst-performing machines in the venue.

“No reason is given as to why the 10 worst machines were selected for the modelling as opposed to the 10 best, the median 10 or an overall average for example.

“As a result, officers have no confidence that the proposal will not increase the social disadvantage of the area and in the absence of this the status quo should be maintained.”

The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation this month approved the application for additional poker machines, which the council refused to support.