The development application (PLN-22-176) for the Claremont Hotel is creating intense argument in our city, particularly the potential extension of operating hours for Electronic Gaming Machines.

It has been interesting to see pokie-focused politicians, such as Andrew Wilkie and Kristie Johnston, weigh into the discussion.

For many years EGMs (pokies) have been rightly regarded as repugnant by the Glenorchy City Council for the harm they do to many members of the community. So it is not surprising to read Kristie’s contribution in today’s Mercury (Talking Point 9/7/2022).

Many of us recall the days when Johnston chaired many a meeting of the Glenorchy Planning Authority (GPA), and often reminded those present that the Authority must make decisions based solely on the provisions of the planning scheme. Wilkie will also be well aware of the legal situation. Johnston and Wilkie both understand that the Authority does not make political decisions; it applies the law. No amount of flag-waving or political posturing will make a jot of difference.

Some may not like the manner in which the applicant piggybacked an extension to hours onto an un-related extension to the building.

It is a classic political technique – combine a controversial change with a relatively routine change hoping that the decision-makers will feel compelled to pass the package as a whole because the procedure of excluding the controversial seems too difficult. Classic but not illegal. In this case however, the GPA could easily approve the application without approving the extension in hours.

We have also in the past seen members of the Authority worrying about the cost to Council of potential appeals against their decisions. The hotel industry would probably welcome an appeal on opening hours regarding it as a test case – so the Authority will have to be very confident in their reasons if they reject.

So it is a bit rich to have Johnston, now out of local government, overtly applying pressure on the Council to reject the application – without providing a single supporting argument that involves the planning scheme.

Johnston knows perfectly well that it is unlikely that the application breaches the planning scheme.

Sadly, for all the antipathy in the community to pokies, there appears to be no visible ongoing political campaign to change the rules. Those involved seem to wait for an event to trigger action. Such as this application.

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References

Statement of Commitment on Gambling endorsed by Glenorchy City Council on 28 September 2020, Read here.

Development application PLN-22-176, Read copy downloaded from Council website (7 Aug 2023) here.