Club Edgewater Development, Maribyrnong, Delayed
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal this week rescheduled a hearing to discuss the fate of the Club Edgewater development, a joint venture between the Western Bulldogs Football Club and the Tatts Group.
The proposed Maribyrnong project would involve 70 poker machines being relocated from at least four other western suburbs locations, including Footscray’s Whitten Oval.
Maribyrnong City Council rejected the Club Edgewater application last year, citing inadequate parking, the impact on local traffic, and the fact that gaming machines are not permitted in strip shopping centres.
Objectors hoped the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation would "slash rather than shift" the number of poker machines allowed in the municipality.
Instead, on Christmas Eve, the VCGR supported the Western Bulldogs’ proposal.
VCAT has rescheduled the hearing from March to June, giving objectors time to plan an appeal.
Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon had told The Age the Whitten Oval redevelopment, and the construction of Club Edgewater "will go a long way in ensuring the long-term survival of the club".
He said the football club had not had an acceptable social venue since the 1960s.
