Ash Bolt
The City of Greater Geelong has extended the community engagement period for its draft gambling harm minimisation policy.
After receiving requests from several clubs and venues for more time to respond, the City has extended the engagement period to January 17.
“We know that many of these clubs are managed by volunteers and we want to support them as much as possible to have the chance to respond to the draft policy,” mayor Stephanie Asher said.
With more than $89 million lost to the pokies alone in Greater Geelong during 2019/20, the draft policy focuses on preventing and reducing harm from all forms of gambling.
The draft policy includes investing in community programs and activities as alternatives to gambling, calling on clubs and organisations to get rid of pokies and gambling sponsorship, banning gambling sites on City public WiFi, prioritising community grants for gambling prevention projects and not holding City-run events at venues with pokies.
City community health and aged care portfolio chair Sarah Mansfield said the council was keen to receive feedback on the plan, which acknowledged that while gambling was legal, it had wide-ranging negative impacts.
“This draft policy will help us gather more data on just how much gambling is embedded in the community and the degree to which clubs and organisations rely on this source of income,” Cr Mansfield said.
“The aim of the draft policy is to tackle gambling-related harm head-on through a harm minimisation framework that concentrates on supporting and improving the wellbeing of our community while still ensuring that clubs and organisations have the financial security that they need to operate successfully.”
Read the draft policy and provide feedback at yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au
