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LOBBY group Enough Pokies in Castlemaine (EPIC) will set a new legal precedent after winning its bid to go to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to contest Castlemaine poker machine developments.

The group was yesterday granted permission to join the Mount Alexander Shire Council at VCAT in its appeal to overturn gaming licences for 65 new poker machines.

The machines have been proposed by the Maryborough Highland Society to be installed at Castlemaine’s Railway Goods Shed.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Elizabeth O’Shea, who is acting pro-bono for EPIC, said the decision is a win for the local community.

Ms O’Shea said EPIC was the first genuine community organisation to be able to take part in those kind of proceedings and the first non-council body to be asked to lead evidence in an appeal from the Commission at VCAT.

“It demonstrates that VCAT understands the views from EPIC are important in the interests of justice regarding the final decision on this matter,” she said.

Mount Alexander Shire mayor Janet Cropley said the Maryborough Highland’s Society plan for 65 new gaming machines was opposed by the majority of the community.

A council poll earlier in the year found 72 per cent of local people did not want the venue to go ahead. Community opposition will now be the centrepiece of EPIC’s case before VCAT.

Ms O’Shea said the decision meant the local community would now have a legitimate representation at the VCAT proceedings.

“We’ve formally been given the green light to participate in the VCAT hearings and we’re extremely pleased with the decision by Senior Member Proctor.”

The hearing has been listed to take place on Monday, August 20, in Melbourne, and is estimated to run for five days.