Carlton Football Club is currently in a fight to have the curfew extended of Club Laverton. Since it would allow punters to continue playing pokies early into the morning, the local city council is hesitant about extending the club’s hours. The city council is concerned that extending the gaming hours of Carlton Football Club would cause a rise in problem gambling among local residents.
While there are no particular studies that prove this is the case, councillors see a correlation between the number of hours a club is open and the amount of money that players spend on pokies. The issues dates back to last year, when Club Laverton originally applied to have its curfew extended until 3am.
Hobsons Bay City Council rejected the application, to prevent the potential increase of gambling addiction and any alcohol-related issues. Now Carlton has launched a tribunal battle, aiming to secure an extension of the club’s gaming hours. Stuart McGurn, a town planner, argued in favour of the extension at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
He stated that Club Laverton is a ‘low key’ venue, which does not have a large impact on surrounding residents. Carlton’s lawyer also made a case for the extension, stating that the venue mainly caters to older patrons and hosts modest events like bingo nights and darts tournaments. Still, Hobsons Bay Mayor Colleen Gates maintains that the extension of the club’s hours would have a negative impact on the city.
She argues: “Extending the operating hours of Club Laverton is not consistent with our planning objectives and policies, which aim to build on individual and community strengths, focus on early intervention and prevention of alcohol and gambling-related issues and plan for a sustainable community with minimal disadvantage”. This debate is likely to heat up. We will keep you posted as the story develops.
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