Zoe Moffatt
Hume councillors have rallied together to criticise their own council for allowing a sporting club to establish a new children’s play area, in a deal which resulted in no real removal of onsite electronic gaming machines (EGMs).
In an announcement in February, Hume council said the Sunbury United Sporting Club would reduce its gaming machine licence capacity from 50 to 40 machines, for the addition of a new children’s play area and additional events space.
At a meeting on April 15, Cr Joseph Haweil criticised this decision by council, which he said was made under delegation by the chief executive in February, 2024.
“I must [express] my disappointment in a decision … to provide the Sunbury United Sporting Club owners consent to establish a new children’s play area on council land,” he said
“In turn the tenant has promised to reduce its licence capacity to 40 poker machines. Despite council’s deep interest in gambling harm matters … we were not consulted and to date have not been advised of the decision.”
Cr Haweil said council put out a “bizarre” press release, which did not disclose that the club in fact only operates 40 machines anyway, so there were not net changes.
“We all know this industry is a harmful one and you think it would have occurred to someone that the last suitable place in the world for a children’s playground is a couple of metres away from 40 roaring poker machines,” he said.
Cr Sam Misho said he was also very disappointed to find council has granted such licences without councillors knowing.
“I was not aware that this had happened, so I’m very disappointed,” he said.
“I think we [should not] invest in anything that encourages children to have exposure to something that would lead them to gambling.”
In the February press release by council, it said the “unprecedented change” was a “win for the Hume community”.
In this same release, mayor Naim Kurt said council is “happy to support [the clubs] plans to reduce their gaming machine licence capacity as it aligns with council’s objectives in minimising gambling harm.”
A Hume council spokesperson said council did not grant licenses to the venue or make investments in its redevelopment.
