By NOEL MURPHY
SURF Coast’s council has gone against its own policy, legal advice and paid consultants to oppose a Torquay Hotel bid for 15 more poker machines, according to deputy mayor Rod Knockles.
Council will relay its opposition to Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, which rules on pokie applications.
Mayor Libby Coker said council intended to send “a clear message to the community” that it opposed the machines.
The hotel has an existing complement of 15 pokies.
But a shire officer analysis and consultant advice said the extra poker machines would be “consistent with council policy on gaming”’ and that contesting the hotel’s application would be “a difficult proposition”.
Cr Knockles was critical of the council’s move away from its professional advice.
“I find the position that’s been adopted illogical,” he told the Independent.
“The only conclusion you can draw is that people are seeking a prohibition of poker machines and I don’t support that.
“I told (councillors) in the council chamber that we ought to be guided by our policy, by the consultant’s report and legal advice and that we ought to take a decision in a known framework.”
Cr Knockles said $25,000 a year from the additional pokies would have gone to the community for problem-gambling programs.
“I recognise the challenges with problem gambling and the original motion (to support the pokies) addressed that.
“We sought to work directly with the Torquay Hotel to address any problems, including on operating hours, access to the gambling room and, significantly, the $25,000 – the entire amount of which was to go to addressing problem gambling.”’
Cr Coker said this week’s council vote was “not dissimilar” to the original officer recommendation “but more robust in our position regarding gaming machines”.
“A number of councillors wanted to make a stronger statement to the community regarding their position and their view about the extension of poker machines at the Torquay Hotel,” Cr Coker said.
“The motion by Heather Wellington enabled us to do so while still giving us the option to apply the conditions if the commission determined the hotel could have those additional machines.
“It gave us the opportunity to still flag the council view and highlight the conditions that apply.”
The Independent was unable to obtain comment from Torquay Hotel management before going to press.
