A COMMUNITY group is claiming victory in a battle against more poker machines in Whittlesea.
The Royal Mail Hotel has withdrawn its application for 30 electronic gaming machines after a public outcry.
The newly formed group Pokies Out of Whittlesea (POW) held community meetings and won the support of anti-gambling crusader Tim Costello, who said grassroots opposition was vital to stop the spread of poker machines.
Whittlsea council told the group that the hotel owners had withdrawn the application to the Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation, which had listed it for a hearing in October.
POW spokeswoman Joan Kincade said “although it is great news, we have to remain vigilant”. “We have to be mindful that the hotel made a similar application a few years ago and withdrew it, then renewed the application recently,” she said.
Hotel management would not comment.
