Juc bid to VCAT Pokies appeal

Alex de Vos
A controversial plan to install 30 gaming machines at Jan Juc’s Beach Hotel is headed for Victoria’s planning tribunal.
The owners have lodged an appeal with Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after council earlier this year rejected their $4 million redevelop plans, which included the pokies.
Council received 52 objections to the redevelopment, mostly against the pokies component.
Resident Jeremy Ham, who is leading the push against the proposal, said he expected a tough battle at VCAT.
He urged council to stand by its hotel knock-back.
“Council has let us down on a lot of issues in the past but this might be a chance for councillors to redeem themselves in the eyes of the locals,” Mr Ham said.
“They intend to fight strongly and we urge council to maintain its determination against the proposal.”
More than 700 members have joined Mr Ham’s Facebook group, named ‘Don’t Poke Jan Juc’. Angry residents and visitors to the region have posted hundreds of comments demanding council ban pokies in Jan Juc.
A petition against the proposal has collected over 100 signatures.
“Community opinion is strongly against this,” Mr Ham said.
He slammed the hotel owners for labelling the venue as an “atmospheric family pub”.
“They’re saying it’s a family-friendly pub but pokies are not family-friendly,” Mr Ham said.
“This is about one thing only – bringing in $2 million a year in gambling. Any statement made about child-friendly is an absolute smoke screen for the pure fact it is run by three people who want to increase their turnover.”
Mr Ham likened the plight of Jan Juc residents to the Macedon Ranges town of Romsey, which recently won a Supreme Court and VCAT battle to ban 30 gaming machines from its local pub.
He feared the Beach Hotel’s owners would modify their plans in the lead up to the VCAT hearing.
“We’re concerned that people who live locally will end up having to live with this pub in whatever form and won’t be consulted on the changes.”
Beach Hotel part-owner Anthony Closter believed the upgrade would “greatly benefit” the community.
“It’s an absolute benefit to all,” he said.
“It will have a function space, 36 car parks and disabled access.”
Mr Closter said he could not comment on whether the hotel would revise its plans.
“We haven’t decided yet but VCAT strategy is VCAT strategy and it depends on our legal advice.”
The hotel has proposed returning $30,000 from annual pokies proceeds to community projects.