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Euroa residents prepare to fight introduction of poker machines Euroa residents prepare to fight introduction of poker machines
(about 3 hours later)
Residents of Euroa are fighting a council decision to allow poker machines into the small Victorian town.Residents of Euroa are fighting a council decision to allow poker machines into the small Victorian town.
At a public meeting on Monday, 300 residents heard a series of objections to the proposal, including from the Salvation Army. Federal MP Andrew Wilkie and World Vision chief executive Tim Costello wrote to the council urging it to reconsider.At a public meeting on Monday, 300 residents heard a series of objections to the proposal, including from the Salvation Army. Federal MP Andrew Wilkie and World Vision chief executive Tim Costello wrote to the council urging it to reconsider.
In November, Strathbogie shire approved a $1.5m development of the Euroa hotel, which will include 30 gaming machines. Euroa, which has a population of just over 3000, has never had a venue with poker machines.In November, Strathbogie shire approved a $1.5m development of the Euroa hotel, which will include 30 gaming machines. Euroa, which has a population of just over 3000, has never had a venue with poker machines.
Before the approval, 38 people objected to the proposal. This number has grown because of fears that poker machines will create social and economic problems in the town.Before the approval, 38 people objected to the proposal. This number has grown because of fears that poker machines will create social and economic problems in the town.
Local GP Mal Alston, a member of the No Pokies for Euroa group, told Monday’s meeting he feared poker machines would greatly increase the instances of gambling addiction he dealt with. Local GP Mal Altson, a member of the No Pokies for Euroa group, told Monday’s meeting he feared poker machines would greatly increase the instances of gambling addiction he dealt with.
‘‘I’ve been a doctor in the community for 30 years and I’ve seen the impact of gambling,’’ he said.‘‘I’ve been a doctor in the community for 30 years and I’ve seen the impact of gambling,’’ he said.
‘‘We know the population we have here are the people who are most vulnerable to poker machines,” he said. “The people who are most vulnerable tend to be elderly, they tend to be pensioners ... and they tend to be people on unemployment benefits.’’‘‘We know the population we have here are the people who are most vulnerable to poker machines,” he said. “The people who are most vulnerable tend to be elderly, they tend to be pensioners ... and they tend to be people on unemployment benefits.’’
Alistair Thomson, another member of the anti-pokies group, told Guardian Australia Euroa was a relatively poor rural community with few young people, making it vulnerable to poker machine addiction.Alistair Thomson, another member of the anti-pokies group, told Guardian Australia Euroa was a relatively poor rural community with few young people, making it vulnerable to poker machine addiction.
“We know that the research shows that one in six regular pokie players become problem gamblers, losing an average of $21,000 a year,” said Thomson. “That’s half of the average annual household income in Euroa. The council will have to deal with an increase in counselling and income support that this will bring.“We know that the research shows that one in six regular pokie players become problem gamblers, losing an average of $21,000 a year,” said Thomson. “That’s half of the average annual household income in Euroa. The council will have to deal with an increase in counselling and income support that this will bring.
“Around $2.5m a year will be lost to these pokies and our concern is that the money needs to come from somewhere. There are no chain stores here, no Coles or Woolworths, so when you remove $2.5m from the local economy, that will be detrimental.“Around $2.5m a year will be lost to these pokies and our concern is that the money needs to come from somewhere. There are no chain stores here, no Coles or Woolworths, so when you remove $2.5m from the local economy, that will be detrimental.
“There will be severe social consequences if we bring pokies to our doorstep. You name all the social problems; gaming is in there as a catalyst.”“There will be severe social consequences if we bring pokies to our doorstep. You name all the social problems; gaming is in there as a catalyst.”
The matter has been taken to the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal, which resolves such disputes. A hearing is set for 4 April.The matter has been taken to the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal, which resolves such disputes. A hearing is set for 4 April.
The mayor of Strathbogie shire, Debra Swan, told Guardian Australia the issue was no longer the responsibility of the council, which had initially cited economic benefits from the development.The mayor of Strathbogie shire, Debra Swan, told Guardian Australia the issue was no longer the responsibility of the council, which had initially cited economic benefits from the development.
“It’s not in our bucket any more, it’s in [the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal’s] bucket,” she said. “We followed a very clear planning process prior to a decision by the council. It’s a shame that people are now saying we should have done something differently when they had the opportunity to do so previously and not many people did that.“It’s not in our bucket any more, it’s in [the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal’s] bucket,” she said. “We followed a very clear planning process prior to a decision by the council. It’s a shame that people are now saying we should have done something differently when they had the opportunity to do so previously and not many people did that.
“We have followed all the required processes. We can’t just reject something for the sake of it. It’s worth remembering that the application was for a whole development; the gaming machines were only one part of that.”“We have followed all the required processes. We can’t just reject something for the sake of it. It’s worth remembering that the application was for a whole development; the gaming machines were only one part of that.”
Statistics released last year showed that in Victoria 128 people killed themselves between 2000 and 2012 as a result of problem gambling.Statistics released last year showed that in Victoria 128 people killed themselves between 2000 and 2012 as a result of problem gambling.