The agenda for the September 20 meeting outlined that the Bendigo Stadium Limited application, which also sought to re-purpose The Wellington as a club, would not deliver a net social benefit to Bendigo.  

The recommendation follows a decision last month from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquour Regulation that denied BSL their wish to open the gaming venue.

At the time, stadium chairman Brendon Goddard said his organisation was disappointed by the VCGLR decision, one they would consider challenging at Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. 

Council are also being asked to approve a planning application for a gas storage facility on the Calder Highway in Marong. The site would house gas trucked from a ‘mother site’ already approved for Golden Square. 

The facility is needed to deliver natural gas to Marong, one of 11 regional towns the state government has contracted company Brookfield Regional Networks to provide gas. 

There are four objections to the plan, including some from residents of the nearby Big 4 Caravan park; parts of the gas facility will come as close as 9.5 metres to the park.  

A petition from 98 residents in the area around Sacred Heart Cathedral and Girton Grammar will also be lodged with council, with signatories arguing the availability of car parks was a “matter of urgency”.

They called on the council to institute permit parking for residents, as used in other local government areas.

“Council should also consider timed parking to further address the issue,” the petition read. 

Another petition, this one from residents of Kamarooka, will also receive a response. Thirty-seven of the community’s members wrote to council asking for an update about works promised for the Kamarooka hall.

Maintenance works at the hall revealed termite damage to the building’s roof and residents are concerned the hall could be closed because of its condition.

“[We] would like to be formally informed of council’s intentions if this is the case,” the petition read. 

Planners have recommended the council tell Kamarooka residents termite damage would be mended. 

Bendigo proponents of marriage equality are also expected to attend next Wednesday’s meeting to ask council for a public pledge of support for the yes campaign.