Racing off to VCAT

By Danielle Galvin
PAKENHAM Racing Club has vowed to fight a decision by the Cardinia Shire Council to restrict the Cardinia Club’s opening hours.
The racing club’s committee confirmed that they would take the Cardinia Shire Council to the Victorian Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) following the recent decision which they say will put the club at a “commercial disadvantage.”
Chief Executive Michael Hodge confirmed that the club had resolved to appeal the decision.
“With council restricting the Cardinia Club to 1am, the two hotels being able to trade to 5am and with the recent increase of gaming machines into the Pakenham Hotel, the club is at a major competitive disadvantage to the hotels,” he said.
“Consequently the Pakenham Racing Club needs to protect its business interests and will appeal the decision.”
Councillors rejected plans by the club to extend their hours until 3am at a council meeting on 20 August.
At the meeting, Cr George Blenkhorn put forward an alternative motion to allow the venue to remain open until 3am but his motion was lost after a call to a division.
Cr Blenkhorn said the situation would be different if all of the venues in Pakenham closed at 1am.
“I would much rather debate all pokies venues being open to 1am,” he said.
“In this situation, where one is open until 5am, I thought it was quite a reasonable request.
“The Pakenham Racing Club is an organisation where the revenue goes back into the community.”
Council’s Development Services Manager Brett Jackson said the council believed the decision was appropriate.
“Council considered two key issues in making its decision – the potential impact on the amenity of the area and the potential impact of extended hours of gaming at the venue,” he said.
“Council’s position was that the extension of hours until 3am could have a detrimental impact in what is a primarily residential area.
“There were also concerns that significantly extending operating hours increased the potential for problem gaming.”
Mr Jackson said the council decided that a smaller increase in hours to 1am was acceptable and could be satisfactorily controlled through conditions on the planning permit.