CASEY Council will not support more poker machines in Tooradin.
The Tooradin and District Sports Club had sought council support for its application to the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation for 12 extra pokies.
However, in an in-camera item at Tuesday night’s planning committee meeting, councillors voted five to four not to support the club’s application.
Mayor Colin Butler was furious at councillors’ resolve not to support the additional pokies at the sports club.
“This relates to the whole community of Tooradin,” Cr Butler said.
“All the income goes straight back into the community. I asked council to support it. In the end it was a political decision and I was defeated. It was payback time. Council approved more pokies at Castello’s but those same councillors didn’t want to support one for Tooradin.”
Cr Butler said at this stage the application would still go before the gaming commission.
“Hopefully the commission is a bit more independent and will give them a fair hearing.”
We need to remember that the sports club benefits the Shire of Cardinia as well, not just Casey.”
However, councillor Steve Beardon said he was pleased with council’s decision to vote no to additional pokies at Tooradin.
“This is a victory for our community and hopefully a trend that will see pokies pulled out of venues down south and across Casey,” he said. “It is a great result.”
