Hume council’s proposed gaming policy will go back to residents, after councillors last week decided to make changes to it.
As reported by the Weekly on June 4, gaming venues in Hume face stricter guidelines under the new policy. It has been
based on the views of residents, community health and well-being
agencies, and gaming venues from surveys carried out in 2010.
Major points in the new policy are:
• Gaming machines will not be approved if the council determines
there will be a detrimental impact on the local community; and
• The council won’t support new gaming venues on its land.
At a meeting last Monday, councillors agreed to these two points
but were divided on whether the council should be holding functions at
gaming venues and whether the council would contribute funding for the
development, extension or refurbishment of gaming venues.
Under the policy, the council wouldn’t be able to hold functions
at venues including the Sunbury Bowling Club and Craigieburn Sporting
Club because they have gaming machines.
Cr Jack Ogilvie said he didn’t agree with those conditions and wanted public feedback on whether they should be excluded.
Councillors Jack Medcraft, Ann Potter, Alan Bolton and Geoff
Porter supported Cr Ogilvie’s recommendation. Councillors Adem Atmaca,
Drew Jessop, Casey Nunn, Helen Patsikatheodorou and Chandra Bamunusinghe
voted against changing the policy, which has already been on public
display. Cr Porter used his casting vote as mayor to send the policy
back out for public comment with the exclusions.
Cr Ogilvie said it was discriminating against the clubs with gaming machines to say the council wouldn’t hold any events at them.
