Council goes to VCAT to fight 'pokies plague'

A Melbourne council is taking its fight against poker machines to the planning tribunal VCAT.

The Monash City Council, in Melbourne's south-east, has voted to appeal against a decision by the Liquor and Gaming Commission to allow an extra seven machines at a Clayton hotel.

Monash mayor Stefanie Perri says there are already more than 1,000 poker machines in the municipality.

"In Clayton we have a pokies plague," she said.

"There are more pokies in the City of Monash than any other council in metropolitan Melbourne and they are unfairly concentrated in areas like Clayton."

She says the council estimates the new machines will take in $1.7 million over the course of a year.

"That's $1.7 million being ripped out of our residents' pockets, being diverted away from the local economy, being diverted away from essential services, from families and children," she said.

Source: ABC News, 30 May 2012