Pokies lock-out

By Kath Gannaway
THE owners of the Terminus Hotel and Sanctuary House Hotel in Healesville have accused Yarra Ranges Council of discrimination over proposed changes to gaming machine regulations.
Bob Proberts who owns the Terminus Hotel and Sam Halim, owner of Sanctuary House Resort in Badger Creek, told the Mail future plans for their venues include installing gaming machines (pokies).
The shire in July put out a draft amendment for public comment, which if passed would restrict gaming machines to outside residential zones and place restrictions on their proximity to a number of community and commercial facilities.
The pair believe the amendment could work against the Terminus and Sanctuary House gaining the planning permits necessary for them to bid for gaming machines when the government opens the bidding floodgates next year.
Healesville RSL is the only venue in Healesville that currently has gaming machines, and Mr Proberts and Mr Halim say the shire’s proposal would effectively protect the RSL while putting obstacles in place for other venue operators.
Mr Proberts said he planned to transform the Terminus Hotel into a resort, which would provide four-star accommodation, new dining and bar areas, a day spa, pool and gaming room targeted to tourist.
The viability of the project, he told the Mail, hinged on including 45 gaming machines in the mix.
Mr Halim will also need to get a planning permit before 2010 but says he is looking at obtaining the machines as a counter to the social and financial problems gaming machines have wrought on the Healesville community.
“Problem gambling has affected so many families here,” he said. “My proposal, based on market research would operate on a system where people would pay $10 for a chip to play for two hours and would play for prizes, not for money,” he explained.
Mr Halim said the Bracks Government had offered $15 million for businesses to come up with proposals to counteract problem gambling.
He said his plan would cost the government about $100,000 to subsidise the machines which would be installed in one or two venues providing an alternative for people who enjoy the social aspects of gambling without the temptation to spend more than they can afford.
“The government and the shire are saying gambling is a problem for some people and I am offering a solution. The question is, are they going to protect the community, or just pay lip-service to their concerns,” he said.
He said the proposed shire amendments were unfair to people wanting to enter the gaming machine market.
“These proposals discriminate against certain venues; the rules should be the same for everyone … within reason,” he said.
Mr Proberts said the shire had a well-documented view that they do not want more gaming machines in the shire, a view, he said, was in opposition to the State Government’s stand on the issue.
He said the amendment would lead more venue operators to appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and would cost ratepayers money.
“VCAT doesn’t have any conscience about gaming, they just want to know do you have planning approval,” he said.