Government Addiction to Gambling Revenue

When residents no longer have control of their communities......

As a resident in Castlemaine I am appalled and shocked by what appears to be an unbelievable decision.

The local council has said NO, overruled by the State authorities. The local residents have said NO looking at the results of Council's community survey (79% of those surveyed say either there are enough pokies in the Shire already or too many) the MHS CEO has not even bothered to read the council policy, he simply has no consideration for the local community.

574 people lodged formal written submissions to the VCGR, all were opposed, none in support. The VCGR has ignored that. Honestly how much opposition does the town need to provide??

VicTrack closed down a long running community use for the site as the only indoor cricket centre in the area to squeeze many times more rent. Shame on you.

The MHS stepped in and wants to strip mine some $6,000,000 per year from the local economy with this venue. Shame on the board.

The State Government is clearly hooked on pokie revenue like some cheap smack addict and does not care that they know hard data shows increased pokies = increased poverty, crime and social hardship. Shame Mr Ted Baillieu and all involved, Blood is on your hands if this goes ahead.

The commitment page on the Premiers website opens with the text "The Coalition Government is committed to providing vulnerable Victorians with the support and care they need. Our plans are about ensuring that we have effective, efficient and responsive community services to provide the comprehensive solutions that people and families require."

What a joke. To borrow from the Bard, Out out damn spot.



Gaming Commission refuses to block new Castlemaine pokies
Richard Willingham.


CASTLEMAINE residents have lost their battle to block 65 new poker machines in their central Victorian town after the gambling regulator approved an application to build a sports club in an old railway shed.

The Maryborough Highland Society bought 65 machines at the 2010 state pokies licence auction and applied to develop old railway buildings in Castlemaine - owned by the state government - into a sports and community club.

The proposal met community opposition with the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation receiving 574 submissions, all against it. The Mount Alexander Shire Council also resolved to oppose it.

Yesterday the commission approved the application on the grounds that the social and economic benefits outweighed the negative social impact.

Castlemaine is a popular ''tree-change'' destination but the commission said it did not believe the character of the town would change ''appreciably'' because of the development.

The commission accepts there will be an increase of gaming expenditure in the shire. The town already has one pokies venue, the Cumberland Hotel, where $3.4 million was spent on 30 machines last financial year.

The president of the group Enough Pokies in Castlemaine, David Stretch, said the decision was ''devastating''.

''This case was a litmus test for whether the commission will listen to communities. Castlemaine has spoken louder than any other community before it, and still the commission wants to let more pokies in.''

Mr Stretch vowed to keep fighting, taking inspiration from the Romsey community that took five years to keep pokies out of their town. He called on the local council to appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

But mayor Janet Cropley said it was beyond the financial means of the council to mount a challenge with VCAT. Any appeal must be lodged within 28 days.

Ms Cropley was disappointed but said the state government was dependent on gaming revenue and the application was for state land, over which a 2006 council decision to have no more pokies in the Castlemaine CBD had no binding power.

The society's general manager, Malcolm Blandthorn, said he was pleased with the ruling, but was anticipating a VCAT challenge.

''This is one stepping stone towards building a venue for the Castlemaine community,'' Mr Blandthorn said. ''As a not-for-profit we are trying to capture the gaming revenue and reinvestment in the community.'' The society operates 80 machines in Maryborough and Kyneton.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/gaming-commission-refuses-to-block-new-castlemaine-pokies-20120203-1qxv3.html#ixzz1lQLwuH5Y