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Club pokies plan to leave Bulldogs rolling in cash
By Charlene Gatt
18th November 2008 11:06:27 AM
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THE Western Bulldogs’ proposed Club Edgewater would take in about $6.3 million a year from its poker machines, the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation (VCGR) heard last week.
Maribyrnong City Council witness Colin Gill told the VCGR panel last Wednesday the venue would have a level of trade significantly higher than other clubs in the municipality, because of the calibre of Club Edgewater’s proposed facilities.
Mr Gill said the venue was expected to take in about $90,000 a year for each of its 70 poker machines.
He said the other clubs reaped about $60,000 a year per machine.
He also said venues with larger numbers of machines were likely to perform better.
If passed, Club Edgewater would be one of the biggest poker machine venues behind Yarraville Club (78 machines) and Yarraville Club Cricket Club (76).
The Highpoint Taverner has 70 machines.
But the Bulldogs have refrained from calling the venue a hotel, because they believe the site would not be able to attract the same amount of clientele as a hotel.
The VCGR panel toured the proposed Club Edgewater site, Whitten Oval and nearby poker machine outlets last Tuesday as part of the hearing.
A small band of Maribyrnong and Edgewater residents attended the hearing every day in a silent protest against the development.
The panel has extended the hearing by three days after a marathon week of cross-examining witnesses and submissions.
It will resume this Thursday and again on 27 and 28 November.
Residents Against Inappropriate Development in Maribyrnong (RAIDIM) member Margaret Rutherford will be questioned on Thursday.
Enzo De Fazio from RAIDIM said the council had a strong case against the Bulldogs.
He said one of the Bulldogs’ witnesses, Tattersalls expert Richard Whitehouse, didn’t bother to speak about any community benefits relating to the facility.
“It just sort of confirms all along that Tattersalls are running the show, and the Western Bulldogs have been put there, if you like, (as) the face of the community, that softens it a bit to get the development over the line.”
Bulldogs CEO Campbell Rose said he did not want to comment on the issue until after the hearing had finished.
By Charlene Gatt
18th November 2008 11:06:27 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE Western Bulldogs’ proposed Club Edgewater would take in about $6.3 million a year from its poker machines, the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation (VCGR) heard last week.
Maribyrnong City Council witness Colin Gill told the VCGR panel last Wednesday the venue would have a level of trade significantly higher than other clubs in the municipality, because of the calibre of Club Edgewater’s proposed facilities.
Mr Gill said the venue was expected to take in about $90,000 a year for each of its 70 poker machines.
He said the other clubs reaped about $60,000 a year per machine.
He also said venues with larger numbers of machines were likely to perform better.
If passed, Club Edgewater would be one of the biggest poker machine venues behind Yarraville Club (78 machines) and Yarraville Club Cricket Club (76).
The Highpoint Taverner has 70 machines.
But the Bulldogs have refrained from calling the venue a hotel, because they believe the site would not be able to attract the same amount of clientele as a hotel.
The VCGR panel toured the proposed Club Edgewater site, Whitten Oval and nearby poker machine outlets last Tuesday as part of the hearing.
A small band of Maribyrnong and Edgewater residents attended the hearing every day in a silent protest against the development.
The panel has extended the hearing by three days after a marathon week of cross-examining witnesses and submissions.
It will resume this Thursday and again on 27 and 28 November.
Residents Against Inappropriate Development in Maribyrnong (RAIDIM) member Margaret Rutherford will be questioned on Thursday.
Enzo De Fazio from RAIDIM said the council had a strong case against the Bulldogs.
He said one of the Bulldogs’ witnesses, Tattersalls expert Richard Whitehouse, didn’t bother to speak about any community benefits relating to the facility.
“It just sort of confirms all along that Tattersalls are running the show, and the Western Bulldogs have been put there, if you like, (as) the face of the community, that softens it a bit to get the development over the line.”
Bulldogs CEO Campbell Rose said he did not want to comment on the issue until after the hearing had finished.
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