Despite opposition from the council and residents, the Western Bulldogs in late-2009 won their battle to build Club Edgewater, which will include a 250-seat bistro, sports bar, 70 electronic gaming machines, a cafe, function rooms, 59-room hotel and 295 car spaces.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearings cost the council and ratepayers $825,000.

The approval was conditional on the council approving plans to move pokies from other Bulldogs venues in the area.

That plan has not been approved and the council and the Bulldogs are headed back to VCAT next month.

Residents Against Inappropriate Development in Maribyrnong (RAIDiM) have distributed more than 1800 flyers to residents which state: ‘‘The Bulldogs cannot comply with the VCAT conditions, so we still have a good chance of stopping this development.’’

RAIDiM spokesman Enzo DeFazio said it was heartening to see the council continue its stance against more gaming machines in Maribyrnong. ‘‘We want the council to remain committed as it has been since 2008 [in stopping this development]’’.

Residents of Maribyrnong spent more than $4.5million on electronic gaming machines in March, a $100,000 increase compared to spending in March last year.

A Bulldogs spokesman said in a statement: ‘‘The Edgewater developer has received a planning permit issued by VCAT, which includes a wide range of conditions which will be met. Maribyrnong Council and the developer have a scheduled VCAT hearing on a point of an administrative clarification in relation to this pre-existing and already approved planning permit.

‘‘Significant community consultation was part of the process in securing the planning permit.’’

Council sustainable development general manager Nigel Higgins said the council’s position on the proposal remained unchanged.

The council will also object to the application for liquor licensing on August 19.

‘‘Council advised the applicant in February 2011 that the electronic gaming machine relocation plan submitted did not satisfy condition 5 in the planning permit,’’ Mr Higgins said.