The MHS has finally activated its planning application which means we have until 8/6/2012 to lodge planning objections with Mount Alexander Shire Council.
The planning process is separate to the gaming licence process which included the first round of written objections and is being appealed to VCAT.
Planning objections could include concerns about traffic, car parking, noise and disturbance, hours of operation, heritage issues, amenity and character impacts, and impacts on CBD businesses and traders.

FOR INFO AND TO OBJECT ONLINE CLICK HERE

Tonight the Mount Alexander Shire Council will vote on whether to continue with the VCAT appeal. Please come along and show your support. Tonight Tuesday May 8th at 7.30pm at the Senior Citizens Centre near the library. Apologies for the short notice. See you there!

We have just launched an online campaign urging the Victorian government to stop ignoring communities on pokies. Please sign and distribute widely.

http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/listen-to-castlemaine-change-the-pokies-system-3
We know that the Victorian government oversees a system that allows pokies developers to impose unwanted pokies on communities.There is an even closer link between the government and the pokies industry in the case of a proposed development with 65 poker machines in Castlemaine. The new pokies venue will be in a historic goods shed that the government rail agency VicTrack has leased to MHS, a Maryborough-based pokies developer.
Castlemaine residents have made it clear that they don’t want more pokies, we’ve been ignored, but we are fighting on. There will be no more pokies in our shire. Please sign the petition for Castlemaine, and for all communities who have had enough of the social and economic pain pokies bring.

The VCAT directions hearing held today (2 April) before Senior Member Ian Proctor was positive, although no outcome was forthcoming. Council asked for the appeal against the MHS’s gaming permit be delayed and heard together with the (inevitable) planning appeal. This would approach would seem to be an efficient and economical use of Council, VCAT and the MHS’s time and resources.

The MHS opposed this application and said that they want the gaming appeal heard separately. They argued that if they lose the gaming licence appeal, there will be no planning appeal and so the gaming appeal should be heard separately.

Senior Member Proctor has reserved his decision on delaying the gaming appeal, and we don’t know when the decision on this matter will be handed down.

A positive development in relation to EPIC’s joinder application is that it will be heard at a later date, which is the outcome we were hoping for. We’ll keep you posted on when this is likely to be, and on any further developments in the appeal.

To offer the greatest possible assistance to Mount Alexander Shire and make sure the community is properly represented at VCAT, EPIC intends to apply to be joined as a party to the VCAT appeal.
If we are joined, our legal team (Maurice Blackburn are acting on behalf of EPIC on a pro bono basis) will be able to provide the community with the best representation available. This would ensure the unprecedented level of community oppositionto more pokies is clearly demonstrated to VCAT and allow EPIC and the wider public to relieve the council of many costs associated with the case. As part of this process we need you to sign up as a member of EPIC, even if you are already on our email list.

At the Council meeting on 14 February, Mount Alexander Shire Council will be voting on whether to appeal to VCAT the VCGR decision to allow MHS to bring more pokies to our town. Come along and support Council as they make this important decision.

Why not email your Councillor in the meantime (find email addresses here http://www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=92) to let them know that you don’t want more pokies and would like them to appeal the decision. Keep in mind that Councillors will be heavily lobbied over this issue, so keep things positive, and email rather than call.

There has been no indication to date that Councillors will change their previous positions on this. You may have heard Mayor Janet Cropley quoted in the media saying the cost of going to VCAT could be prohibitive. It is EPIC’s understanding that she was misquoted, and that she has not announced a decision on this issue. Come along to the Council meeting to find out how your ward Councillor votes.

OPEN EPIC MEETING: 20 FEBRUARY, 7:30pm, THEATRE ROYAL

Regardless of whether or not Council decides to appeal to VCAT, our community struggle goes on. EPIC will be having an open meeting on 20 Feb at 7:30pm at the Theatre Royal. We invite those opposed to more pokies in Castlemaine to come and hear what’s going on, have your say and get involved.

The VCGR has approved the MHS’s application for a gaming license. While this was expected, it is disappointing that the wishes of the Castlemaine community weren’t honoured. Mount Alexander Shire Council now has 28 days to appeal the matter to VCAT. Please contact Council as a matter of urgency and let them know that you want them to appeal the decision on your behalf. There will be much work to do so stay tuned… and keep your chins up Castlemaniacs, this pokies development will not be built.

Following the hearing at the VCGR, the VCGR Commissioners
will be coming to Castlemaine in the next week to do a site visit.

Unfortunately, many of our ‘NO MORE POKIES’ signs have been stolen and the Commissioners won’t get to see the town as it was two weeks ago with all the signs up.

You can help:
If you have time why not make a sign and put it up?
If your still have a sign but think it could go in a more obvious place let us know and we will come and move it.
If you are in a prominent place and your sign has been stolen let us
know and we will put another one up, or you can pick one up from the Theatre Royal.

At the VCGR hearing last week, Mount Alexander Shire Council and local residents, including EPIC, presented overwhelming evidence that showed our community does not want and would be harmed by the proposed pokies development.

The Maryborough Highland Society spent much of their allocated time at the hearing trying to discredit EPIC, our community and our Council, in an attempt to discredit the very real community opposition. Society President John Inglis said under oath he hadn’t bothered to read the Council’s assessment of the social and economic impact of the pokies development. It became clear that the MHS know so little about Castlemaine that they didn’t even realise that the Salvation Army is located right next to the proposed venue.

Their self-serving pro-pokies and anti-community arguments would be expected from any developer, but they are disappointing coming from a not-for-profit organisation that could exist to build, rather than destroy, real community values.

We will know in three weeks, or less, whether the VCGR will give appropriate weight to the community’s wishes and refuse Maryborough Highland Society a permit to operate 65 pokies in the centre of our town. If the permit is granted, we stand ready to launch the next phase of the campaign to have this development stopped.

Regardless of the outcome of the hearing, it was inspiring to see diverse parts of our community come together and speak with one voice. Many thanks to all those who represented us so proudly.

If you would like to see the submission that EPIC has given to the VCGR, please click here. Note that paragraph 3.5.14 has been withdrawn and should be disregarded.

The hearing to decide the outcome of the MHS application for a gaming license to operate 65 pokies in Castlemaine will run for two full days – 11 and 12 January – at the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, level 5, 35 Spring Street, Melbourne. The hearing will run from 10am to 4pm with a one hour lunch break.

The hearing is open to the public.

It is our understanding that MHS will make their case on the first day, and Council and EPIC will present on the second day.

EPIC is running a bus to the hearing and back to Castlemaine on both days. For more information and to book a seat on the bus please click here.

Note that each ticket buys a seat on the bus to the hearing on the day that you choose. If you want to come on the bus on both days of the hearing please buy two tickets – one for each day. The ticket does not guarantee a seat in the hearing room which may be standing room only depending on numbers attending.

At their next meeting this Tuesday 13 December at 7:30 pm at Castlemaine Senior Citizens Centre, Mount Alexander shire Council will be presenting their ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF MARYBOROUGH HIGHLAND SOCIETY GAMING PROPOSAL. This will form the basis of Council’s submission to the VCGR. Lets give Council a clear message that to represent our community they must lead the way in stopping this pokies development. Come along and be counted.

The results of Council’s community survey about the proposed pokies venue are now public and they are overwhelming. A significant majority (79%) say either there are enough pokies in the Shire already or too many. A clear majority of respondents (75%) were opposed to the overall development if it contains EGMs (pokies). A majority of respondents (71%) say they wouldn‟t frequent the venue if it was approved. The community has spoken. We’ll soon find out if anyone is listening.

Hundreds of locals turned out in the rain to support the campaign against more pokies in Castlemaine. At the rally inspiring speakers outlined in clear terms why more pokies would be so devastating for our town. To cheers and applause from the crowd, they pledged to maintain the struggle to defend our town from these predatory machines until this proposal is long dead.

After the speeches the crowd formed a symbolic human chain several people deep around the goods shed (the proposed development site). Arms linked, they cried “No more pokies”. Any observer could be left with no doubt that the Castlemaine community will not let this development occur.

Lets hope the developers realise they are wasting their time and money pursuing this venue. Then we can get on with making a positive contribution to our community instead of defending it from attacks from outside.

12 noon Saturday 26 November outside our Goods Shed, Kennedy Street.

We’ve objected (if you haven’t, you still have time – see below), now join us for an hour or so to hear some of our community leaders on why they object to more pokies and what the next steps in the campaign are.

We’ll have some fun as well. Lets see how many people it will take to form a human chain around our shed. The Highlanders might have the lease, but the building is still an asset of the Victorian people. This is our opportunity to send a strong message to the Highlanders and our Councillors that Castlemaine will not stand for this development. We encourage you to be creative in showing why you object to 65 more pokies in Castlemaine; placards, costumes, puppets, pets all welcome!

In their objections, people have come up with some excellent ideas on how our shed could be used to benefit the community instead of damaging it. Bring along your idea to write on our ‘What we really want’ list, which we’ll publish on the EPIC website.

THERE ARE ONLY A FEW ‘NO MORE POKIES’ PLACARDS LEFT
Send us an email (info@enoughpokies.org) if you have a visible spot – we’ll come and put one up.

OBJECTIONS: THIS COULD BE A RECORD!
The quantity and quality of objections has been amazing, and speaks of how community minded the people of our shire are. As far as we can calculate, more than 300 objections have been lodged. Probably many more. This is sure to be a record number, but we need to keep going. If you haven’t yet objected, or know someone who hasn’t, you now have until Monday 14 November to object. Click here for how to object.

WHAT’S NEXT?
The VCGR will hold a hearing into the development in January or February 2012. Arguments are likely to be heard from Mount Alexander Shire Council (if they make a submission to the VCGR), the Highlanders and the Castlemaine community. People who have made objections will be informed and may be able to attend and/or testify at the hearing. EPIC have asked the VCGR to be given an opportunity to present at the hearing.

The VCGR will then make a ruling as to whether or not the development can go ahead. At this stage either Mount Alexander Shire Council or the Highlanders can appeal the decision to VCAT. EPIC will keep you informed along the way.