Pressure on pokies

By Kath Gannaway
NEW limits set by State Government last week on the number of gaming machines and planning will not protect Yarra Ranges Shire from an increase in the number of poker machines, according to a councillor.
Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae welcomed some of the reforms announced in the government’s $132.3 million five year strategy “Taking action on Problem Gambling” but said it did not go far enough.
The strategy will remove 540 poker machines from some areas and extend regional caps from five to 19 regions but Yarra Ranges is not one of them.
The cap has been set at 10 machines per 1000 residents, two more than the number recommended in a report to the government by the Regional EGM Caps Review Panel.
New planning provisions were also announced requiring council approval and planning permits for gaming machines.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges has 427 machines, three for every 1000 residents, at venues in Lilydale, Healesville, Yarra Junction, Mt Evelyn, Monbulk and Chirnside Park.
A shire report on gambling showed that 2004-2005 $30,952,517 was lost on poker machines in the shire – total money spent on poker machines less prizes paid.
“The problem we have is that we are below the per capita cap so, according to the government’s principle on this, we can’t justify saying we want less, not more machines,” Cr McRae said.
“Anyone wanting to introduce pokie machines, or increase the numbers, will now have to have a planning permit, and that’s a good thing, but no guarantee.”
Cr McRae said applicants who are refused a permit by Yarra Ranges Council could appeal to VCAT who will rule on state policy.
“We can say we don’t want them in certain areas, but that is contrary to our policy which is not about where we can put them, it’s about saying we just don’t want them.”
Cr McRae said the government commitment to spend $79.8 to help problem gamblers, an increase of $36.8million over five years recognised the social damage pokies do in communities.
“They are recognising the addiction but are not doing anything to actually reduce the numbers of machines,” she said.
Evelyn MP Heather McTaggart has five of the shire’s eight pokie venues in her electorate and has advocated for the shire in support of local municipalities having a say in where machines are placed.
She welcomed her government’s new strategy but said there was always more that could be done.
“The regional caps offer a level of protection to particularly vulnerable communities.
“I am pleased the government has listened to the community and is addressing the problems.
“We have done a lot in the past four years to deter problem gambling, introducing no smoking in venues, clocks and lighting but it is a continuing job to create the right balance,” she said.