November 19th, 2023Electronic gaming machine application for Romsey Hotel

Members of the public are being invited to have input after the Romsey Football Netball Club revealed it’s trying to get 50 gaming machines installed in the small regional community.

But already some residents are gearing up to fight the Romsey Football Netball Club’s bid to redevelop and reopen the shuttered Romsey Hotel, with the 50 proposed pokies machines.

Meanwhile, the Macedon Ranges Shire Council has issued a statement acknowledging that it was “recently notified of Romsey Football Netball Club’s intention to apply to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC ) for 50 gaming machines at 90 Main Street in Romsey”.

While the application is not directly with the council, the council can make a submission to the VGCCC in response, however, within tight timeframes.

And the council had agreed to an urgent business item at its October meeting to provide authorisation for its officers to notify the VGCCC of its intention to prepare and submit a submission.

Members of the public can also provide their own submissions directly to the VGCCC and can also request to attend and speak at an upcoming hearing through the VGCCC.

The council is also welcoming members of the public who don’t have access to email or internet, to provide feedback to help inform the council’s submission.