The Commission: ‘like a sheepdog for gambling’s vested interests’
22 February, 2012
Life goes on at the VCGR
For me there are two other things that are disturbing about this issue. First, a non-profit community based organisation in a neighbouring municipality has pulled out all stops to impose these unwelcome machines on our community. I say unwelcome because an unprecedented number of residents object and our duly elected council is opposed.
I see in the Midland Express* this week that there are now some serious allegations relating to broken undertakings made to Macedon Ranges Shire in relation to the Kyneton pokies facility. Organisations like MHS are meant to be in the business of community building. Clearly that focus is confined exclusively to Maryborough and communities like Kyneton and Castlemaine don’t matter. To paraphrase the words of a feisty woman to Jim Hacker on the wonderful series ‘Yes Minister’ in relation to a planning issue, MHS’s name “will be manure”.
Second, and very importantly for those of us who believe our local council should be the main arbiter of what is good for the health and well-being of our community, the State Government, by allowing the Gambling Commission to overrule our Council have shown themselves to be no better at implementing good planning policy in this state than its predecessors.
The Commission, instead of being a gatekeeper on behalf of local communities has actively herded these 65 machines through the gate, like a sheepdog for gambling’s vested interests. It is this corruption of the role of the tier of government that is closest to the people that I find so objectionable.
What hope has the community of Mount Alexander Shire got to safeguard its economic, environmental and social well-being if our State Government is prepared to let developers and profiteers ride rough-shod over the duly made decisions of our local council? As a person with a high level of interest in local government this is reason enough to not let the decision go unchallenged.
Yours etc
Hans Paas
Castlemaine
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Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility, Economics, Environment, Ethical Investment, Featured slide, Letters, Local Government, Local news, Politics
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I whole heartedly agree Hans. The interlopers in this scenario are not the newer residents of the shire, but the State Government, the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, and the Maryborough Highland Society! And now by default VCAT!