15 Aug 2017

By: Darius Oliver

The Bellarine Peninsula’s Portarlington Golf Club has applied to the Geelong Council for permission to add another 10 poker machines to its existing 55-machine facility. The move is an attempt by the club to raise capital to fund expansion and facility improvement works, and offset loses from golf operations.

In explaining the need for the additional poker machines, club CEO Ronald Stockdale admitted he had concerns over the golfing operations at Portarlington and said they were costing the club approximately $200,000 per year.

From the Geelong Advertiser; 

PORTARLINGTON Golf Club’s pokies-led expansion bid is at threat, with the Geelong council likely to fight the installation of new gaming machines.

The golf club has applied for approval to add an extra 10 machines to its existing 55-pokie facility, which has been in operation since 1994.

The extra gaming revenue would be used to carry out the second part of a $7.8m seven-stage master plan, which the club aims to complete over the next eight years.

But their application is set to be contested by the City of Greater Geelong, with council officers determining that an increase in pokies would have a negative impact.

The issue will be considered by the council’s administrators next week, ahead of a Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation hearing on September 26.

Portarlington Golf Club CEO Ronald Stockdale said the extra machines would bankroll a $1.5m upgrade, which would see an extra 100 seats in a new bistro.

It would also create a new 24-seat soft lounge area, a redeveloped bar front, relocation of the administrative offices and new furniture and equipment through the complex.

Mr Stockdale said the recreation and entertainment arm of the business offset the loss-making arm of the golf club.

“We find that the golfing membership is in trouble. We are lucky to have other facilities which have enabled the club to keep on its feet,” he said in the club’s application.

“We are currently losing approximately $200,000 per year from golfing operations.”

A report by council’s community life director, Linda Quinn, outlines a range of concerns, including:

— The layout of the building, which allows families in the bistro to see and hear the pokies in operation;

— An increase would result in an above-average concentration of pokies in the area; and,

— There are local pockets of high disadvantage and the additional machines risked a rise in problem gambling.

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