BAW Baw Shire councillors have decided to not make a submission to gambling regulation authorities in relation to the Drouin Family Hotel’s application for eight more pokies.
At last week’s council meeting, councillors approved an amended motion which will see no objections made to the application.
Drouin ward councillor Terry Williamson said the expansion was within regulations.
“They’re well within the current regulations to ask for another eight, it’s still within the cap,” Cr Williamson said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Fellow Drouin ward councillor Tricia Jones said it would be a waste of resources to attempt to stop the pokies.
“It would serve no purpose to contest this is VCAT – a fruitless, expensive, time-wasting exercise,” Cr Jones said.
“We can only hope that the machines are used for light entertainment.”
The recommendation to councillors had been to not make a submission to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation only if the hotel operators signed an agreement that they would make community contributions using gambling revenue.
Warragul ward councillor Mikaela Power voted against the motion, while other councillors said the decision was difficult.
“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” Warragul ward councillor Gerard Murphy said.
Mayor Murray Cook said his personal objection to gambling was outweighed by financial concerns.
“I’ll be voting for the motion with some reluctance,” Cr Cook said.
ADVERTISEMENT
“There’s no point sending community money after [this].”
Making a quip at Cr Murphy’s refusal to wear formal shirts at council meetings, Cr Cook added: “you can see gambling is no good, as Cr Murphy lost his shirt.”
Councillors praised the Family Hotel’s plans to invest some money from the pokies in community projects.
How many individuals are able to use Poker machines for light entertainment, when the only light is the wallets and bank accounts of those who get sucked in by the bloody machines… grrrrrrr
I loathe poker machines and the damage they cause so so many people…
Any form of gambling is just soul destruction personified…
And the ripple effect on families is devastating wholly and solely…
Trust someone who has seen all sides to what gambling can and does do to families.
And allowing more pokies into the town is a good decision? The fact is, the decision was anti business as every dollar that goes into a poker machine means one dollar less for the local traders, so in effect the only people who benefit are the Pub owners.
The strange thing is, I have not heard or seen any demand for more pokies from the public, so who is driving this demand?
And the fact that it is legal does not make it right no more than making prostitution legal making it right.
These sort of decisions are devoid of morals and values and very telling on the people who are supposed to represent us.
I am with you Roger Marks….!
Poker Machines are not needed in any shire/ electorate…
They just ruin lives of the vulnerable…! And their families…
I LOATHE LOATHE any form of Gambling…
good on you cr Murphy for not conforming to a silly dress code.
Pokies are allowed because people are free -thinking individuals and most are able to make good decisions for our self.
It is unfortunate if people who are not able to control themselves, are gonna destroy a game that many enjoy.
Are we gonna ban beer because there are many alcoholics?