AN appeal against St Kilda Football Club’s continued use of pokies at its Moorabbin premises may delay a $28.4 million redevelopment of the AFL team’s “spiritual home” until the second half of next year.
Objectors to the club’s ongoing use of 83 electronic gaming machines at the Linton St venue are concerned children will be regularly visiting the premises since the revamped oval and building will also host Kingston sporting clubs and junior football training sessions.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has agreed to hear an argument that the Saints must reapply for the club’s pokies licences since the building in which they are housed will be demolished and rebuilt.
Late-night noise concerns as the result of a venue carpark backing on to homes nearby will also be considered by VCAT.
The $28.4 million redevelopment, due to begin this year, is being funded by Kingston ratepayers via Kingston Council ($5 million), taxpayers via the Labor state government ($8 million), the AFL ($5 million) and the club itself ($5 million).
Council city assets and environment general manager Daniel Freer confirmed construction of the refurbished training base may be delayed depending on the VCAT hearing outcome.
“The matter has now been appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, as allowed under the planning process,” he said in a statement.
Council approved planning permission for the project at its 12 September public council meeting.
Anti-pokies activists, including Saints member Paul Bendat, have called on the AFL club to get out of the pokies game since “children and pokie machine gambling should not mix” and the club is receiving taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money as part of the $28.4 million redevelopment.
Pokies at Linton St raked in $2,222,365 in the 2015-16 financial year, up from $1,048,688 in 2014-15 and $1,174,966 in 2013-14.
St Kilda FC spokeswoman Leah Mirabella said the club is confident the redevelopment will proceed.
“The club has consulted with stakeholders throughout the entire process to ensure that all interests are considered and the redevelopment can provide great benefit to the wider community.
“St Kilda Football Club has received the initiating documents for the Moorabbin redevelopment VCAT process and is continuing to pursue all avenues to ensure a timely outcome that considers all stakeholders.
“We will now work with the necessary parties in the appeal process and have confidence in the council’s decision to award the permit.”
The VCAT hearing is likely to be heard in June next year.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 16 November 2016
