By Cameron Lucadou-Wells
SPRINGVALE RSL is considering an appeal after its application for 11 extra poker machines was rejected by Greater Dandenong Council on Monday.
Club general manager Peter Smith said councillors used ‘‘selective, emotive’’ arguments to reject the RSL’s case to increase its pokies cache from 44 to 55 machines.
‘‘Councillors have rejected the application on social grounds after three [members] of the [Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation] voted in favour of it on social grounds.
‘‘The council’s own planning department recommended that it should be approved.’’
Mr Smith said the club’s pokie profits provided community benefits such as Morning Melodies, support for sports clubs and schools.
In 2011-12, the RSL’s poker machines reaped $3.98 million. About two thirds of the proceeds were shared by gaming operator Tattersall’s and the state government.
According to the RSL’s community benefit statement published by the VCGLR, it donated $95,252 of gifts and voluntary service in the same financial year.
About $400,000 was spent on operating and financing costs for the venue.
In April, the RSL had been awarded a licence for the extra machines by the VCGLR.
In its decision, the VCGLR stated that the resultant risk of greater problem gambling … was ‘‘mitigated by the density of [electronic gaming machines] within the region’’.
‘‘Where the local population readily has access to a large number of EGMs, it is unlikely that an additional 11 more EGMs in this venue will materially increase the risk of problem gambling in the area.’’
It concluded there would not be a net economic and social detriment to the community.
This week, councillor Peter Brown — who had spoken for the application in a council meeting in February — led the charge against a permit ‘‘on the basis of significant social disbenefits’’.
He cited Greater Dandenong as the second-highest municipal area for pokies losses — $117 million in 2011-12.
‘‘It’s time to say enough is enough.
‘‘It’s a paradox to say the funds are fed back into the community … which lost the money.’’
