The City of Greater Geelong will spend $30,000 to oppose a South Geelong venue’s application to increase the number of poker machines it has.
Councillors voted at Tuesday’s council meeting to oppose the Valley Inn Hotel’s application to the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) to increase its poker machines by 10, to 39, due to concerns about the impact on community.
The council had previously indicated its opposition to poker machines and gambling in the municipality through its Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy, which it put out for public comment late last year.
The policy supports the council’s Electronic Gaming Policy, which argues against introducing poker machines in communities that experience social and economic disadvantage and in areas where the density of existing poker machines was higher than Greater Geelong’s average.
The City of Greater Geelong had the highest poker machine losses of any Victorian local government area over the last six months of 2021, with almost $42.5 million lost according to data from the Victorian Commission for Liquor and Gaming Regulation.
The venue’s application said the revenue generated from the extra machines would strengthen its financial position to support a proposed $2.1 redevelopment project, as well as provide community donations and create an extra 9.5 full-time equivalent jobs.
A letter outlining the city’s intention to respond to the application has been sent to the VGCCC.
The city will now prepare a social and economic impact assessment that will outline the levels of disadvantage, education and employment experienced in South Geelong.
The VGCCC will consider this report when it assesses the hotel’s application at a public hearing.
The council voted to allocate up to $30,000 for legal counsel to represent the city’s case at the hearing, dependent on the findings of the impact assessment.
Deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said the council would oppose the application in the interests of community health and wellbeing.
“With nearly 1400 pokie machines across Greater Geelong and Queenscliffe, there’s ample opportunity for the community to take part in gambling if they wish, without the need to increase EGM numbers,” he said.
“Council’s focused on providing a safe and healthy environment for our residents by preventing and reducing harm from gambling.”
Community health portfolio chair Sarah Mansfield said the sheer amount of money lost on the pokies in Greater Geelong was staggering, hitting more than $89 million during 2019-20.
“There are members of our community whose health, relationships and finances are seriously impacted by problem pokies use and the ripple effects are devastating,” Cr Mansfield said.
“While the number of EGMs in each municipality is capped by the Victorian government, council will make sure its opposition to this application is heard by the VGCCC.”
Council has objected to the four most recent poker machine applications by local businesses and clubs, with the city represented at each hearing.
The city has opened community consultation on its submission to the VGCCC, with the community invited to share its opinions at yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/valley-inn-EGM-Application.
