Residents fight against gambling, drinking with petition

An anti-gambling movement north of Brisbane is building momentum after the construction of a new sports club began near a primary school and kindergarten.

Concept images of the proposed $40 million Burpengary Community Club, north of Brisbane.

SUPPORT is growing for an anti-gambling movement in Burpengary after the construction of a new sports club began this month.

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Groundworks are underway for the approved $40 million-plus Burpengary Community Club and Station Village shopping centre at 10 Henderson Rd, Burpengary.

Developer Rob Comiskey has a lease agreement with Hervey Bay RSL to operate the club aspect, which currently has an application for liquor and gaming licenses with the State Government.

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation is reviewing the request for 150 poker machine licenses and service of alcohol until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Residents Diane Conaghan, Rebekah Cicero, Michelle Parsons and Belinda Young are opposed to the new Burpengary Community Club development.

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So far it has received two submissions against the liquor license application and 15 against the gambling licenses, but a petition now has more than 185 signatures.

Spokesman Nate, who asked that his surname not be published, said support from the community had “snowballed”.

“People aren’t being inappropriate about not wanting development and progress, it’s more about being sensible,” he said.

“A new shopping centre is great, but 150 poker machine licenses and drinking to 2am isn’t.

“We don’t mind progress, we just don’t want a mega club across the road from a train station and with all the negative connotations attached to that.”

State Labor MP for Kurwongbah Shane King wrote to the OLGR on behalf of residents, expressing their concerns.

“A number of residents … have concerns about the following: The club’s vicinity to Childcare Centres, the clubs vicinity to a local Primary School (and) the effects of another gaming facility on the local community considering there are already several in reasonable proximity,” Mr King wrote.

Hervey Bay RSL has agreed to lease the new Burpengary Community Club, which is expected to be complete in 2020.

The OLGR Commissioner could take up to six months to make its decision on the licences and will consider social impacts such as its locality to schools.

There are currently 3466 existing poker machine licences within the Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Hervey Bay RSL currently has the maximum 300 poker machine licences in its Wide Bay venue.

CEO Jason Lynch would not disclose how much money it takes in from gambling, but said the RSL put $410,000 back into the community last financial year.

“We will be a significant employer in the local area looking at employing 100 people,” he said.

“We will be supporting the local community and local community groups and we fully understand our obligations regarding serving alcohol and gaming and will be doing this responsibly.

“This is not grandstanding, it is what we do as a community club. We are not a pub, a tavern and definitely not a casino.”

Burpengary Community Club and Station Village shopping centre development groundworks have begun.

The council approved Mr Comiskey’s development application for a shopping centre in 2015 and then in 2016 passed a material change of use for a sports club.

The club aspect of the development was passed without public notification or a council vote because it was proposed as an extension to an approved shopping centre and was therefore was code assessable.

Moreton Bay Regional Councillor Peter Flannery (Div 2), who recently announced he would run for mayor at the 2020 local government elections, has thrown his support behind the development.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayoral candidate and divisional councillor Peter Flannery supports the construction of a new club.

Cr Flannery said he was happy to discuss concerns with residents.

“I understand the concerns about people becoming addictive to gambling and I fully support gambling harm minimisation campaigns,” he said.

“I’ve personally called the resident concerned about poker machines to speak with her one-on-one about this matter.”

Cr Flannery received $3677 from the Moreton Futures Trust for his 2016 local election campaign.

The trust was used as a donation vehicle to fund Mayor Allan Sutherland’s 2012 and 2016 local election campaigns.

Developer Rob Comiskey donated $20,000 to the trust through one of his companies Rio Vista Securities in 2016.

Cr Flannery has had no involvement with decisions regarding the Burpengary Community Club since he received the Moreton Futures Trust donation.

The petition can be found here.

Phone the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au if you or someone you know has a gambling problem.

Residents Diane Conaghan, Rebekah Cicero, Michelle Parsons, Erwin Hecht, Karen Evans-Ashdown, Stella de Bruin, Amanda Pisani and Belinda Young are opposed to the new Burpengary Community Club development. Photo: Luke Simmonds.