For the past few months, Bendigo Stadium has been embroiled in a heated debate with members of the Victorian community. The venues owners want to install poker machines to boost its overall revenue and expand the stadium. Local community members opposed the plan, however, none too pleased about the prospect of installing new machines.
In order to thwart the stadium owners’ plans, community members demanded that they apply for an additional planning permit. Despite obtaining the license for the new machines previously, the local community wanted the venue owners to take additional steps in order to throw a wrench in their plans. The hoped that the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) would stand in the way, but things did not go according to plan.
The second of two hearings was held last week. More than one hearing was required, as the VCAT had never dealt with a case of this nature previously. After a long and drawn out process, the VCAT dealt with the situation by granting Bendigo Stadium the rights to host its new poker machines. Officials stated that the community will experience a mixed social impact but that the financial impact will be positive.
The VCAT also determined that the stadium is a suitable location for new poker machines in the community. The site does not pose any risk to underage members of the community nor does it interfere with any other community initiatives. Currently, Bendigo Stadium is being worked on by architects.
This work will be funded by the poker machines; however, the games will not be installed until 2013, when construction is complete. The owners of the stadium are pleased with the result. As expected, the local community is not. Prue Mansfield of the Bendigo council has stated that the decision is disappointing, echoing the sentiments of many community members.
“The council already has a policy about no more machines,” Ms. Mansfield says. “They don’t believe there should be any more”.
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