THE spotlight has turned to pokies as part of the planned $29 million redevelopment project which will see the St Kilda Football Club return to Moorabbin.
Anti-pokies campaigner Paul Bendat says the Saints should bin the gaming machines at the Linton St venue since taxpayers and ratepayers are pitching in $13 million to the redevelopment of Moorabbin Reserve.
Kingston Council is contributing $5 million and the state government will kick in $8 million.
“Children and pokie machine gambling should not mix,” Mr Bendat said.
“This is a community facility with kids’ playgrounds and netball courts designed to attract junior footy and we’re putting a poker machine venue … smack dab in the middle of everything.”
“It’s inappropriate – they may say it’s quarantined but the project wouldn’t go ahead without $13 million of taxpayers’ money.”
Mr Bendat, a “long-suffering” St Kilda FC member, said the team he supports should follow the lead of other AFL clubs who have rid themselves of electronic gaming machines.
He noted the Western Bulldogs had moved pokies out of its Footscray training base after accepting taxpayers’ money to redevelop Whitten Oval.
Geelong Football Club recently decided to ditch its pokies completely and North Melbourne FC got rid of its pokies at Etihad Stadium when the state government contributed $8 million towards a $15 million refurbishment of the football club’s Arden St facilities in 2007.
At the same time the Kangaroos were axing their pokies, St Kilda was embroiled in a stoush with Kingston Council over pokies machines. Council refused a club request move 83 machines to a new venue at South Rd.
The Saints quit Moorabbin and agreed a multi-million dollar deal with Frankston Council to move its training and administration base to Seaford.
Mr Bendat noted the Linton St venue needs a major facelift but said this should not come at the expense of potentially exposing more people to pokies at the community football facilities.
“It’s just a rusted, old wasted space. That old stand, which they’re going to demolish and rebuild … is a disgrace. It’s a disgrace to the St Kilda membership and it’s a disgrace to the city [but] if you take taxpayers’ money, get rid of the machines.”
Kingston mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said council is not funding the gaming area of Moorabbin Reserve redevelopment.
“None of our money is going into the St Kilda Social Club so it’s nothing to do with the poker machines area.”
The mayor said council’s contribution means it can have input into the design of the new complex and try to minimise the risk of passers-by being exposed to pokies, located in a licenced area, when visiting Moorabbin Reserve.
Cr Gledhill hoped St Kilda could eventually wean itself off a reliance on pokies revenue.
“According to conversations I’ve had with St Kilda, that’s the aim they have and I think most AFL clubs are looking to do that … but you can’t just do it overnight.”
St Kilda Football Club spokesman Luke Holmesby said “no taxpayers’ dollars are being spent on pokies machines in the Moorabbin redevelopment”.
“Ratepayers’ dollars are being invested in much needed community facilities. Refurbishment of the Saints Social Club is solely and completely the responsibility of the St Kilda Football Club.”
Mr Holmesby said the Saints “spent more than 40 per cent of its gaming revenue on Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation defined community benefits” against a legislated 8.33 per cent requirement.
This amounted to about $813,350 in 2013-14 with 83 gaming machines at Linton St raking in $2,177,115 for the Saints during the same period.
A breakdown of the $813,350 in “community benefits” listed on the VCGLR’s website shows most of the money was used for St Kilda FC operating costs, staff wages and the sponsorship of Sandringham Football Club.
“They claim most of their outgoings as ‘a community benefit’ but … external donations in cash to the community is about $27,000 – not much. It’s about the loss on one machine for one year,” Mr Bendat said.
The anti-pokies campaigner has ploughed a personal fortune into publicly lobbying political parties to toughen up gaming regulations.
The Labor state government says no taxpayers’ money will be spent on the entertainment venue part of the $29 million Moorabbin Reserve redevelopment.
Government spokesman Patrick Lane said “$150,000 announced in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget is for planning works to ensure this community project delivers outstanding results for the Saints and the Kingston community.
“Part of that planning process is ensuring there is a clear separation between the gaming venue, the community space and the Saints facility.”
Cr Gledhill said council will consult Mr Bendat on the new football complex’s design “to mitigate what he sees as threats”.
“People like Paul Bendat don’t come along every day. We take what Paul says very seriously. He is passionate.”
Mr Bendat fears losses per machine at Moorabbin Reserve will rise if the gaming area remains as a part of the redevelopment.
“What they’re going to do is improve the access exponentially so that more people lose money on their poker machines in the City of Kingston,” he said.
“I think the mayor’s heart is in the right place but he also wants to see this eyesore used for the benefit of the community.”
“They [council and state government] should be harder with the St Kilda Football Club.
“It’s just lazy, lazy work by the St Kilda Football Club because they’ve got all this taxpayers’ money. Make them work for it.”
First published in Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 20 May 2015
1 Comment
While in the press there is much emotion of the Saints returning to their “Heartland” i have yet to see a letter from a local trader extolling the benefits of the return. Given the state of the grounds it would appear that not many trades people have been employed of late.
Never mind the ratepayers will repair it for them. What i would like to see is a schedule of who gets access to the facilities and when. Perhaps the ratepayers can save on gym membership and use the one at the club.