Sinking lid for pokies part of council’s plan
A sinking lid on pokie machine numbers has been included in a Tasman District Council draft gambling venues policy, due to go out for public consultation next month.
Development of the draft Gambling Venues Policy 2019 comes after the committee last October instructed staff to reflect a sinking lid rather than a capped policy on machine numbers.
If adopted, the sinking lid policy will prohibit gaming societies increasing the number of machines in Tasman district, and prevent venue operators from relocating unless they wish to surrender their gaming machine licence.
The council’s environment and planning committee last week approved for consultation a statement of proposal and summary of information for the draft policy. It is scheduled to go out for public comment on August 9, with submissions due to close on September 13.
The council set a cap of 220 machines after it reviewed the policy in 2010. It considered and consulted on a draft sinking lid policy, but decided to adopt the cap.
The number of New Zealand Racing Board venues remains unrestricted under the draft policy.
Motueka Community Board member and former councillor Barry Dowler – speaking in a personal capacity – argued against the proposed sinking lid policy.
‘‘I, personally, would hate to see this included in the bylaw draft,’’ Dowler said during the public forum section of the committee meeting.
‘‘As a member of several voluntary organisations that rely on the funding grants from the organisations that run these gambling machines, any loss of them . . . just puts unnecessary pressure on everyone.’’
Dowler said he agreed with the cap policy, but to shift a business location and not be able to move the machines was ‘‘totally bad’’.
He also wondered how many projects the council was involved with had to ‘‘rely heavily’’ on gaming charity grants.
Problem gamblers were monitored, Dowler said, ‘‘so I ask you not to introduce the sinking lid policy’’.
‘‘What happens if these machines are not available? People will just go to the internet and gamble there.’’
According to a staff report on the matter, there is likely to be a ‘‘medium’’ level of interest in the issue.
‘‘The impact of harm from gambling affects a few hundred persons within the district,’’ the report says.
‘‘Potential loss or reduction of grants from gaming societies affects a cross-section of the district’s residents.’’
Councillor Mark Greening said he would welcome the feedback from the public.