March 21st, 2024Community survey to shape Romsey Hotel gaming machine submission
Romsey residents – and those living within five kilometres of the Romsey Hotel – are being invited to complete a survey relating to an application for gaming machines, to help inform the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s submission to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).
In response to an application to the VGCCC for 50 gaming machines at 90 Main Street in Romsey (Romsey Hotel), the council has commissioned an independent consultant to deliver a Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA).
To inform the SEIA, the council is undertaking a community survey via independent company Insync, using a publicly available database from the Victorian Electoral Commission to target letterbox drops to all Romsey residents and those within five kilometres of the venue.
The council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, said there may be people who have moved to the area more recently – or turned 18 and are newly eligible to vote – who are not captured in this database.
“We know this is an important matter for many Romsey residents and we want to ensure that we are giving as many eligible people (within five kilometres of the venue) as possible the opportunity to participate in our survey,” she said.
“It is important to Council that our SEIA is as well-informed as it can be, to ensure that our submission to the VGCCC best represents the sentiments of our community.”
Eligible residents who haven’t received a letter directly must “opt in” to complete the survey, showing proof of residency to ensure validity of the data collected. Residents can do this by contacting the council on 5422 0333, or by visiting a council office in person.
Individual survey results will be completely private and de-identified by Insync and a summary of results will be included in a future council report, expected to be listed for decision at the April 2024 council meeting.
Members of the public who live outside of the five-kilometre survey area but would like to share their opinion on the application, they can make a submission directly to the VGCCC.
