Councillors voted against supporting an application for 30 more poker machines at Bendigo Stadium.

Cr Peter Cox successfully put forward a motion to make a “strong representation” to the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation against the proposal.

He said the council needed to “make a comprehensive submission to the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation that the overall net social and economic impact is detrimental”.

Council officers had recommended councillors vote against Bendigo Stadium’s application.

But Cr Alec Sandner put forward a favourable recommendation with the support of Cr Barry Lyons.

Cr Sandner’s motion described the proposal for more poker machines as having a neutral social and economic impact on Bendigo.

His motion failed six votes to two. Bendigo Stadium chairman Brendon Goddard said he was disappointed with the outcome.

Stadium officials want the 30 new pokies, which would take the complex’s total to 105, to help pay for a new multimillion dollar arena.

He said he would have to talk with board members before deciding what step officials would take next. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal earlier this year supported The Foundry Hotel’s plans for poker machines after the council failed to support the proposal.

Mr Goddard failed to rule out stadium officials taking the matter to VCAT.