By Molly Magennis
A Maribyrnong councillor holds concerns for the future of community events over a council plan to stop holding official functions at gaming venues.
Counc’s draft Reducing Harm from Gambling Policy 2021-2025 was discussed at a council meeting on November 16 and is set to be released for public consultation.
Cr Michael Clark said he had concerns about a section of the policy that states “council will not hold official meetings, events or community activities at gaming venues in the City of Maribyrnong”.
While Cr Clark was in support of the policy as a whole, he said council should be able to host events and meetings at community-owned gaming venues such as the Footscray and Yarraville Bowls Club as it has done in the past.
“To say that we don’t run any services or run any meetings or activities out of this facility is at odds with what’s been occurring in the past,” he said.
“For years I ran neighbour watch, Friends of McIvor Reserve. We had community information days on household security. We had Merrie Melodies sing-alongs for the elderly.”
“If carte blanche we say that official meetings, events and council activities will not be held at Footscray Yarraville Bowls Club, Active Maribyrnong events, they can’t happen. Events for the young, the elderly, new mothers if you like, opportunities for community engagement, socialising. These quite simply will be gone.”
Cr Clark also pointed out that the Footscray and Yarraville bowls club is owned by the City of Maribyrnong.
He told council that community clubs, unlike private clubs, give back to the community.
“Profits from these clubs are not privatised, profits from these clubs are in fact socialised,” he said.
“In adopting this motion, and including this particular item in the body of the policy, I’m wondering whose needs are we meeting? Are we meeting the community’s needs or perhaps our own?”
Council will seek community feedback on the draft policy, through a Your City Your Voice survey, with feedback to be incorporated into the final version of the policy.
