By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A CHARITY’S fund-raising arm wants to reintroduce its poker machines in Dandenong despite Greater Dandenong Council’s concerns about excessive problem gambling costs in the community.
Doxa Social Club, which funds Doxa Youth Foundation, is believed to be in talks with the council about setting up a new pokies venue in Dandenong.
Doxa runs two pokies venues in Melbourne CBD — Clocks at Flinders Street railway station and The Meeting Place in Elizabeth Street.
In 2011-12, Clocks’ poker machines reaped $8.26 million. The Meeting Place’s pokies took in $5.69 million.
It previously ran a third venue with 40 machines in Thomas Street, Dandenong, which was forced to close two years ago when VicUrban purchased the land for its ‘Revitalising Dandenong’ project.
Doxa Social Club’s 2010-11 annual report states the club donated $1.3 million of its combined $13.39 million pokies jackpot that year to the youth foundation.
Doxa general manager Max Williams said the social club still had entitlements in the area and was “hopeful to have a venue where we can place [them)]’. However, neither Mr Williams nor the council would state if any meetings had taken place.
That confirmation came from Greater Dandenong councillor Peter Brown, who said he would be concerned if the council was encouraging Doxa, particularly after its submission to a state inquiry into the social and economic costs of problem gambling last month.
In the submission, Greater Dandenong Council stated the impact of gambling — about $2.6 billion on pokies in Victoria in 2011-12 — fell most heavily upon the least affluent community.
“The harm inflicted upon a less affluent household… exceeds the benefits experienced by other households upon receipt of the same funds.”
Among the costs were less money for essentials like food and clothing, which snowballed into poorer social and family lives, malnutrition, depression, less education opportunities, less work productivity and homelessness.
“Given the very critical stance being put by the council, it would be highly contradictory to allow Doxa to put in poker machines,” Cr Brown said. “As far as I know there’s been no application but Doxa was putting its feelers out for an appropriate venue.”
Greater Dandenong city planning director Jody Bosman said “communications that [the] council have with potential applicants are of a confidential nature”. He said no applications had been lodged by the Doxa entities.
What do you think? Should the council allow more poker machines in Greater Dandenong? Post your comment below.
For all the latest breaking news, visit greaterdandenongweekly.com.au. Also, follow the Weekly at facebook.com/greaterdandenongweekly or on Twitter @DandenongWeekly.
