Mega gaming venue canned after club announces closure in Tokoroa
‘‘The other two clubs that are subject to the merger, the Putaruru District Services & Memorial Club and the Olde Establishment are also expected to wind up as a result of the merger not proceeding.’’ Merger plans had been underway since 2015 when South
A new mega gambling venue planned for Tokoroa has been abandoned after a club involved in the merger announced it was shutting down.
More than 45 people in the South Waikato town are set to lose their jobs after Pockets 8 Ball Club announced on Thursday it would close and go into voluntary liquidation.
The wind-up will result in the closure of Pockets 8 Ball Club, Pockets Pool Lounge, Pockets Central Wine and Coffee, the club said in a statement.
The club had planned to merge with The Olde Establishment, and the Putaruru District Services Memorial Club to establish a new super venue with 30 pokie machines in the heart of Tokoroa’s CBD. The move garnered opposition from locals including Feed Families Not Pokies Incorporated Society’s Colin Bridle who has been petitioning to stop the venue from opening.
Club general manager Wendy Cook said in a statement the club has withdrawn from the merger and will close on December 10. not going to survive on one income because these days who does? We have got a mortgage to pay. It saddens me that because of the pokies there has been a snowball effect to the rest of the business. It was a massive uppercut to the face.’’
Employee Lyn Petley, who has been working in the cafe for nine months, said she will be forced back onto a benefit.
‘‘It is only a quarter to half of what I was earning here so I don’t know what I am going to do but I have got no option,’’ she said.
Fellow employee Lisa Pilisi, who works part time for Pockets as well as the Putaruru District Services Memorial Club, said the future of the Putaruru club was unclear.
‘‘They are just going to keep going for as long as they can but obviously they won’t be that much longer without financial support,’’ she said.
She said staff have been offered counselling. Cook said the decision was not a result of the DIA declining the application as no decision had been made.
‘‘The application is still with the Department and is still being processed. The club merger application was entirely lawful, having received all the necessary approvals from council and the Minister of Internal Affairs.’’