Campaigners celebrate win

The anti-pokies for Officer campaign, which included this billboard on Andrew McNabb's, second from right, property has paid off. 172667_02

By Bonny Burrows

Anti-pokies campaigners are set to replace their naming and shaming threat with a big “thank-you” after Cardinia councillors rejected an application for a pokies venue in Officer.
The application for 1-2 Station Street, Officer, which included 80 gaming machines in the 53-room three-storey hotel, sparked fierce community opposition from residents who strongly opposed the proposed pokies.
What added to the controversy was a “loophole” within council regulations that meant community consultation was not necessary due to the proposed site being within the town’s Urban Growth Zone.
When local residents were tipped off about the proposal by a council whistle-blower, concerned residents launched a heated six-month campaign which linked poker machines to increased family violence and armed robberies, and saw graphic flyers depicting violence handed out at local school gates.
The use of the confronting pamphlets in August drew criticism from the State Education Minister and Parents Victoria, with Education Minister James Merlino slamming the flyers as unsuitable for the school gates.
But Bad Bets Australia spokesman Rohan Wenn at the time said it was important that parents were aware of the development proposed for a site within two kilometres of 12 schools and the impact it would have on the local community.
“Let’s get this straight – James Merlino opposes the distribution of anti-pokies pamphlets near schools but he doesn’t have a problem with putting 80 poker machines within 200 metres of Officer Primary School,” Mr Wenn said in August.
“What does the government worry about more, the pamphlet about the addictive and potentially deadly machine, or the actual machine?”
Protesters weren’t deterred about the negative publicity and followed the controversial flyers with two “in your face” billboards; one which depicting an armed robbery and urged residents to call the council in protest of the application, and another, which was erected last week, which was planning to “call out” the councillors who voted in favour of the application at the 18 September council meeting.
Resident Andrew McNabb, who put up the latter sign on his property, said with the regulations restricting the community from having a voice, he had no choice but to “go hard” on the councillors.
It wasn’t personal, he said.
“Councillors are our only hope. They represent our community and they need to vote this inappropriate application down,” Mr McNabb said last week.
The hard-hitting campaign proved successful at this week’s council meeting, with all councillors voting to shut the proposal down.
They all stressed that while they weren’t opposed to the development, which would be a “substantial build with significant benefits”, they couldn’t approve a project which included gaming machines, particularly when the council was campaigning to stamp out domestic violence.
Councillor Leticia Wilmot, who moved the successful motion to reject the application, said residents had made it clear that they don’t support the development and gaming machines in their community.
“There is clear evidence problem gambling has a clear contribution to domestic violence,” Cr Wilmot said.
“I believe there won’t be any positive outcomes with allowing this application to progress.”
Port Ward councillor Ray Brown said when it came to gaming machines, “for every winner there’s probably 1000 losses”.
“It should be up to the people of Officer to decide if they want them and they don’t want them,” Cr Brown said.
However, he stressed that despite council turning the application down, there was every possibility the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal would green-light the development.
“Every time VCAT has overturned our decision and it will probably happen again,” Cr Brown said.
Following the council’s decision, Mr McNabb and fellow campaigners were jubilant.
“It’s a great victory for the community. I’m so pleased the council has listened to what we wanted,” Mr McNabb said.
Rob Dowsett, who lives next door to the proposed site and contemplated moving if it was approved, said he and wife Marilyn were happy they could for now stay put.
“It’s the first step, obviously, with the option of VCAT, but we are extremely happy with the decision tonight,” he said.
Bad Bets Australia spokesman Rohan Wenn, who was behind the controversial flyers and billboards, said residents still had a fight on their hands.
“Clearly councillors are representing the people, and that is an overwhelmingly positive sign. But there is no doubt the applicant won’t take this lying down,” Mr Wenn said.
“The good news is VCAT takes into consideration public feedback now, so I think we’re in with a chance.”
Mr Wenn said the billboard on Mr McNabb’s property depicting councillors’ faces, which was to big ticked or crossed depending on their votes, would soon be replaced with a “thank you”.