Casey councillors oppose plans to add extra 10 poker machines to Zagames Berwick

CASEY councillors have unanimously rejected plans for 10 extra pokies at a Berwick pub following overwhelming public opposition

Casey councillor Tim Jackson said it was important to listen to the community when it came to the issue of poker machines

COUNCILLORS have unanimously rejected plans for 10 extra pokies at a Berwick pub following overwhelming public opposition.

Casey Council officers originally recommended the 10 extra machines, which would bring the number of machines at Zagames Berwick to the maximum allowable 105, be approved by the council.

Cr Tim Jackson, who covers Edrington Ward, said 85 per cent of people who responded to the call for submissions opposed more pokies.

He said the council had just approved a draft health and wellbeing plan and greenlighting poker machines was at odds with that.

“People lose $45,000 a day on pokies at Zagames,” he said.

“At some point the council has to say we need to stop these losses to the community.”

Berwick anti-pokies campaigner Tom Cummings, who helped organise a petition that collected 274 signatures against the extra machines, said it was a great step.

“I think this is a testament to what can happen when the public speaks up and gets involved,” he said.

“Without the community actively deciding to get involved that wouldn’t have counted for anything.

“Zagames Berwick is already the biggest pokies venue in Casey and the tenth biggest pokies pub in the state — they don’t need any more.”

Zagames Berwick can still get the extra machines if the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation approves their application.

Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation Kelly Charlton said Zagames was the only Casey venue applying for more pokies and its hearing was not yet scheduled.

“The objectives of the Commission-based decision-making structure is to deliver balanced and consistent regulatory decision-making for liquor and gambling matters,” she said.

“The Commission must consider any submissions made.”