Council refuses planning application for poker machine venue

Council voted unanimously to reject the application and instead endorsed the following motion:

That Planning Permit T170024 be refused for building and works, change of use of land to a hotel, use of land for sale and consumption of liquor, installation and use of land for 80 electronic gaming machines, reduction of bicycle facilities at 1 Station Street, Officer on the following grounds: 

• The proposal is contrary to Clause 21.06-4 Gaming of the Cardinia Planning Scheme, specifically the application is located in an area that has access to key bus and train connections which makes the proposed location convenient to all socio-economic groups of Cardinia’s community.
• The proposal is contrary to Clause 22.03 Gaming of the Cardinia Planning Scheme due to the lack of consideration given to achieving positive social, economic and environmental outcomes in the location in one of Officer Town Centre’s key gateway sites.
• The proposal is unacceptable as it fails to contemplate Clause 22.03 as it would result in additional machines to the municipality as a whole and there is no proof that consideration has been given to relocate existing machines from elsewhere within Cardinia Shire.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Brett Owen said councillors were concerned about the negative impact gaming machines were having on the local community.

“Councillors have listened to the community who have expressed their concerns about the negative impact that electronic gaming machines are having across Cardinia Shire,” Cr Owen said.

“As a result, we could not support an application that would add 80 new machines into a community which is already suffering from social and economic challenges caused by pokies.”