THE state government has ruled out reducing the cap on poker machines in regional Victoria, despite ongoing calls from the City of Greater Bendigo.
A further 211 poker machines could be installed within Bendigo’s current cap, with an even higher number allocated if the city’s population continues to grow.
The council says it will continue to lobby the state government to reduce Bendigo’s poker machine cap.
Sandhurst ward councillor James Reade raised a motion last year to appeal to the state government to reduce Bendigo’s cap to its current level.
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But Cr Reade said the council was yet to receive a response.
“(The) state government is ignoring the fact the community are against more poker machines,” he said.
“We recognise poker machines are legal, we just don’t want any additional machines.
“That’s the message that’s coming pretty loud and clear from the community.”
Cr Reade said the council would commit “time, resources, and energy into reducing pokie numbers”.
“But we have to ask, what’s the point of wasting our time if community considerations aren’t taken into account by state government?”
The municipality of Bendigo currently has 547 poker machines.
A government spokeswoman said the current cap would allow up to 756 machines in Bendigo, based on the current population.
“Any proposal to establish a new gaming venue or to install additional machines in an existing venue requires the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation to be satisfied that the net economic and social impact of the additional machines will not be detrimental to the well being of the community.”
City of Greater Bendigo planning and development director Prue Mansfield said the government’s policy ignored community concerns.
“There’s no evidence that the state government has listened to the council or the community,” she said.
The City of Greater Bendigo opposed Bendigo Stadium’s recent bid for 30 new poker machines.
The matter is set to go before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in July.
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