2018-12-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                11 DECEMBER 2018


For example, in Victoria, planning legislation was changed to define electronic gaming machines
as a land use and therefore enable local planning schemes to regulate the land use and thus also
the socio economic impacts of gaming. In Victoria, electronic gaming machines have been
considered a land use for nearly 10 years. Planning schemes in that State can have local policies
and codes that quite rightly deal with the social and land use impacts of gaming machines within
the local context of each community. Most local governments in Victoria now require a full social
impact assessment on any new gaming facilities.

By joining the Gambling Alliance Reform Group, our Council will be able to access information from
a network of local governments who have successfully achieved legislative reform to enable
Councils to consider electronic gaming machine issues as part of their planning scheme
considerations.

It is also suggested that if we join this organisation, we encourage other like-minded Queensland
local governments to do so to gain a critical mass of Councils in Queensland who are willing to
push for legislative reform by the Queensland State government. Such an action will also support
the policy position and lobbying efforts of LGAQ.

Previous Council Consideration
Council originally considered this issue in relation to an application by Tewantin RSL for additional
poker machines as part of their original town planning conditions of approval. At that time, the
Council resolved to seek advice about its powers to regulate poker machine numbers via its
planning scheme provisions.
Ordinary Meeting, 19 July 2018, Item 5, Page 12
That Council note the report by the Development Planner to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 10 July 2018 and the Further Report to the General Committee dated
16 July 2018 regarding Application No. MCU16/0079.02 for a minor change to Development Permit
for Material Change of Use of Premises for extensions to RSL Club situated at 5 Memorial Avenue,
Tewantin, described as Lot 10 on SP 273411 and defer consideration to a future Council meeting
in order that the Council can obtain further advice in relation to its powers to regulate poker machine
numbers via its planning provisions and/or other regulatory instruments, and/or variations in terms
of fees and charges.

As Council received advice that it did not have the power to regulate poker machines under its
planning scheme, the Council resolved to take the issue to the LGAQ State conference and seek
legislative change from the State government to achieve that outcome.

Ordinary Meeting, 20 September 2018, Item 4, Page 13
That Council note the report by the Director Environment & Sustainable Development to the
Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 11 September 2018 and endorse the
submission of the following motion to the Local Government Queensland annual conference for
consideration and debate:
“That the Local Government Association of Queensland advocates to the Department of State
Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning to amend planning legislation to define
electronic gaming machines as a land use and permit planning schemes to address both the land
use as well as the social impacts of electronic gaming machines on communities.”

Finance
There is no cost in joining the Gambling Alliance Reform Group. Members can choose to make a
donation if they wish but there are no joining fees or annual subscriptions.



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