Residents rile over game plan

By Sarah Schwager
RESIDENTS around the proposed site of a club in Beaconsfield are furious about the possibility of a gaming venue making its way into their neighbourhood.
The proposed threestorey sports club would be situated on May Road behind the Beaconsfield Community Centre and Kindergarten, and would house 26 motel rooms, a function room, bistro, club lounge, TAB Sportsbet and 72 poker machines.
Beaconsfield resident Laurie Lowe said residents were concerned about the impact the venue would have on the area in terms of increased noise, crime, vandalism and gambling addiction.
“They always put gaming machines in areas where there are more working class people who are looking for extra dollars,” he said.
Mr Lowe said the State Government was meant to be reducing the number of gaming machines in the state, not increasing it.
“We bought these properties for the semirural feel,” Mr Lowe said.
“This area is already wellserviced by gaming venues and hotels.”
The residents, most of whom live in the Beaconsfield Grange Estate, were outraged when they were told they had only two weeks to respond to the proposal. It has now been extended for a further two weeks.
Sue Mellords, whose house backs on to the proposed development, said building a gaming venue on the same site as a kindergarten and community centre was ridiculous.
“This area is full of schools and young families,” she said.
“There are already enough hotels and other club facilities nearby. We don’t need any more.”
Mr Lowe said if Cardinia Shire wanted to be socially supportive of the community’s wants it should not allow the venue to proceed.
He said they were more than happy to have the aged care facility on the site, proposed by the same developer, or a dentist or similar service for the small community.
Cardinia Shire councillors were briefed on the proposal on Monday. Cardinia councillor Kate Lempriere, who is lobbying councillors to reject the proposal, said her phone had not stopped ringing with residents from Beaconsfield complaining about the development. “I am absolutely astounded that they would think of putting (a gaming venue) in that location… especially as a retirement village was talked about in or near the same location,” she said.
More than 60 people attended a residents’ meeting last Tuesday about the proposal. “We don’t need a club there. It’s a nice leafy suburb. We want to keep it nice,” Cr Lempriere said.
Cardinia Shire governance and communications manager Doug Evans said neighbours had already been notified and the council was currently advertising the proposal for a development on that site and the general public was allowed to comment.
“Council will need to consider the application and take into account the residents’ comments, whether they be positive or negative,” Mr Evans said.
Residents now have until 15 March to put an objection in writing to the council after they extended the date from 2 March.
There will also be an upcoming meeting by local residents about the proposed development.