Macedon Ranges Shire Council CEO Bernie O’Sullivan has responded to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s decision to refuse an application for 50 electronic gaming machines at the Romsey Hotel.

“Council is pleased that the application has been refused, affirming council’s opposition to the application in consideration of community sentiment and the negative wellbeing impacts,” he said.

“However, council remains supportive of business investment within our towns such as Romsey and would continue to encourage proposals that demonstrate positive benefits without the need for electronic gaming machines.”

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has formally endorsed a submission to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission opposing an application for 50 electronic gaming machines in the Romsey Hotel.

In considering the submission at its recent April scheduled meeting the council noted that the proposal would have a net detriment of 0.66 on the wellbeing of the community under the ‘no net detriment test’ (a result below 1 (<1) indicates a negative impact, a result above 1 (>1) indicates no detriment has been concluded).

A community survey commissioned by the council – conducted by an independent company – received 1493 responses, with 60.36 per cent of respondents believing 50 electronic gaming machines in the Romsey township would have a negative impact on the broader community and 59.93 per cent of respondents not supporting the application.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission will consider the application – including the council’s submission – at a hearing commencing May 21 this year.

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.