THE long and costly saga over the Western Bulldogs' gaming venue at Edgewater is all but finished after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal approved a final condition of the planning permit.
The Bulldogs were required, as part of the permit conditions, to relocate pokies from their other venues before they could go ahead with Club Edgewater.
The relocation plan was not to Maribyrnong Council's satisfaction and the two parties met in VCAT last week where the matter was settled.
All that remains is approval for a liquor licence and a construction management plan.
A liquor licence decision is pending.
Despite opposition from the council and residents, the Western Bulldogs in late 2009 won their battle to build the venue, which will have a 250-seat bistro, sports bar, 70 electronic gaming machines, a cafe, function rooms, 59-room hotel and 295 car spaces.
The hearings cost the council and ratepayers $825,000.
Maribyrnong Council sustainable development manager Nigel Higgins said the plan meant the removal of 11 machines from the municipality before the club opened and removal of gaming machines from the municipality if the number of machines exceeds 500 at any time between August next year and August 2017.
"Any reduction in the number of machines in our city is a positive step," Mr Higgins said.
"This plan reduces the number of [machines] and so is working toward a reduction of gaming expenditure over time."
Residents Against Inappropriate Development in Maribyrnong spokesman Enzo De Fazio said the group realised the venue would go ahead, but it would make sure it got the best possible outcome for the suburb.
"Our ultimate aim is to ensure the facility has no liquor licence at all. But we are realists and understand there are external pressures beyond our control – even at a State Government level.
"Therefore, any little wins [and] dispensations are better than none at all. Nobody has knocked on my door and said, 'Fantastic, we're getting the Bulldogs social club here'. It's been the opposite - ever since 2008," Mr DeFazio said. "This community will be on their back ensuring they meet their requirements under the construction management plan and their general operations."
Maribyrnong punters lost $56.6million on the pokies in 2010-11, up marginally on the previous year's figure of $56.2million. The losses amount to $986 for each person in Maribyrnong, well above the average state loss of $611 per person.
The council last week launched a new draft gambling policy, which includes proposed changes to the planning scheme that will allow the council a greater say in where gaming venues can be built in an attempt to reduce the high concentration of pokies in disadvantaged suburbs, such as Braybrook.
The Western Bulldogs did not respond to a request for comment.
Email a friend