The Maryborough Highland Society wants to build a new Sports and Community Club in Castlemaine, but the plan has not been well-received by local residents. Since the group wants to install poker machines in the new venue, its plan has met with a great deal of criticism and resistance.
As such, the Maryborogh Highland Society has spent the past few months at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), fighting for its right to install 65 new pokies. “No community should have pokies pushed onto it and when they resist, we have a duty to listen,” says Elizabeth O’Shea, a lawyer who is acting on behalf of EPIC (Enough Pokies in Castlemaine) pro-bono.
EPIC is operated by Mount Alexander Shire, and has been fighting the introduction of new pokies by various developers for the past two years. The debate over the new Castlemaine pokies has gone on for months, with the most recent development allowing the highland society to continue with its plans to install new pokies. The VCAT’s decision was appealed by the shire, and the two groups will return to the tribunal this week.
EPIC’s decision to appeal was contested by councillor Tony Bell, who wanted to work out a deal with the Maryborough Highland Society instead. A vote was held, and EPIC decided to proceed with the appeal. Despite the free legal assistance from O’Shea, the shire has racked up some steep legal fees in the fight against these new pokies. So far, it has spent $200 000 in legal costs related to the appeal.
Maryborough Highland Society believes that it will be successful yet again, and will be able to move forward with its plan to install pokies at the Sports and Community Club. If EPIC loses the appeal, it is likely that the group will not continue to fight the developer.
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