By Charlene Macaulay
Wyndham council has knocked back a Werribee Football Club plan to boost poker machine numbers at The Tigers Clubhouse.
Five out of the eight available councillors last week voted against plans to approve 10 new poker machines at the Old Geelong Road venue, which would have increased the number of machines from 75 to 85.
The new machines formed part of an overall $1.69 million redevelopment proposed for the venue that also included construction of a new storage area and outdoor courtyard and extension of the liquor licence area.
In submitting the application, the football club argued that revenue generated by the additional machines would help to ensure its continued viability.
It received approval for the new machines from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Regulation in May, but also needed planning approval from the council.
Councillors Josh Gilligan, Intaj Khan, Aaron An, Peter Maynard and John Gibbons voted against the plans, and Henry Barlow, Mia Shaw and Tony Hooper voted in favour.
Cr Gilligan said the proposed plans were “not in the best interests of Wyndham”.
“The latest gambling results … show that Wyndham is, on average, about 10 per cent higher than our record pokies losses of last year,” he said. “If that rate continues for the next couple of years, we’ll well and truly be the highest LGA in the state of Victoria with pokies losses, which is precisely why I was opposed to the initial application.”
Fellow councillor Intaj Khan added: “I think a club like this can explore different avenues to make revenue, but revenue from these machines would not be appropriate for the wider community’s interest.”
Werribee Football Club chief executive Mark Penaluna said the club would discuss the matter – including whether or not to appeal the decision – at its next board meeting.
