End nigh for early morning pokies
SUBURBAN venues seeking extended hours for poker machines in the future are in for a sobering surprise.
Councillors at a planning committee meeting yesterday reluctantly approved an application from the Robina Tavern which will see gambling extended to 4am.
But that’s the end of it. The application was ticked off because it snuck in under the 2003 planning scheme and not the newer City Plan which has much stronger restrictions.
Many councillors, despite being opposed to the move, voted in favour of the application because it was recommended for approval by officers. Councillor Peter Young abstained from voting.
Planning committee chairman Councillor Cameron Caldwell before the debate started in the Evandale chamber admitted he had problems supporting applications for suburban gambling in the early hours of the morning.
The tavern sought to extend gaming room hours from 2am to 4am and the service of liquor to patrons using the room from midnight to 2am.
Officers in their report said the change in operational hours would not conflict with surrounding residential uses.
Council’s social planning section concluded that the increase in gambling would not lead to more anti-social behaviour in the suburb.
Councillors from their own experience with hotels in their divisions believed the later hours would not see a large number of gamblers but those sneaking in during the early hours were likely to have serious gambling problems.
Outside the meeting, Cr Caldwell told the Bulletin: “The application was dealt with on a merit-based assessment on the planning scheme and not necessarily on councillors’ personal views about the social implications of gambling in the early hours.
“The 2016 City Plan is much stronger in relation to expectations that we have about hours of operating in neighbourhood centres. We would have seen a different outcome made under the City Plan.” The tougher new plan would “call into question” any move to seek gambling operations in suburban areas after midnight.