Bendigo councillors urged to approve Foundry Hotel pokies plan

Photo:  Bendigo council staff have recommended the Foundry Hotel's plan to install 20 more gaming machines should be approved

Bendigo council staff have recommended a local hotel's plan to install 20 more gaming machines should be approved.

The plans coming before Bendigo councillors tonight are several years in the making.

The Foundry Hotel in Golden Square wants to turn several neighbouring properties into serviced apartments.

It also wants to install a further 20 pokies, which would take the number of machines in the pub to 45.

Victoria's gambling regulator, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, approved the extra pokies last year and councillors will now vote on a planning permit for the project.

Council staff said they believed the benefits of the project would outweigh the negatives.

However, there are four objections to the plans from people worried increased levels of problem gambling and the loss of car parking in the area.

Source:  ABC News - 25th March 2015