New rules are kids play

By DANIELLE GALVIN

TOUGH new gaming guidelines will set out strict rules about children’s play areas and their proximity to poker machines.
Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation Edward O’Donohue said the genesis of the guidelines started with the controversial Pink Hill development in Beaconsfield.
He said the development raised a significant amount of community concern at the time when the application for 60 poker machines came before Cardinia Shire Council.
A Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) decision overturned the shire’s refusal of the application.
The council has a strong stance on poker machines and were “extremely disappointed” with VCAT’s decision.
The wider community at the time was concerned about the clear line of sight from the pokies to the children’s area.
Mr O’Donohue said the guidelines made it much clearer for developers in what was a state-wide issue.
“This will ensure that it will never happen again,” he said.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) will be required to consider the guidelines when applications include a children’s play area.
“Clubs and hotels offer a range of services other than gaming machines – including dining, recreation and entertainment – so it’s not unreasonable for children to accompany parents or another adult to these venues,” Mr O’Donohue said.
“However we must ensure that when minors are at these venues, they are properly supervised and protected.”
The Pakenham-based Eastern Victoria Region MP said the guidelines would help to address some of the issues arising from the development in Beaconsfield, including the proximity of the gaming machines to the play area.
He said the community would be pleased to hear about the changes but they were not “retrospective”.