The Romsey Hotel has applied for 50 gaming machines and Macedon Ranges Shire Council is seeking community comment on the matter.
Romsey residents, and those living within five kilometres of the Romsey Hotel, are being asked to complete a survey relating to the application.
Responses will help inform Council’s submission to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC). In response to an application to the VGCCC for the gaming machines, Council has commissioned an independent consultant to deliver a Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA).
To inform this SEIA, Council is undertaking a community survey via independent company Insync, using a publicly available database from the Victorian Electoral Commission to target letterbox drops to all Romsey residents and those within five kilometres of the venue.
Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, said there may be people who have moved to the area more recently – or turned 18 and are newly eligible to vote – who are not captured in this database.
“We know this is an important matter for many Romsey residents and we want to ensure that we are giving eligible people within five kilometres of the venue the opportunity to participate in the survey,” she said.
“It is important to Council that our SEIA is as well-informed as it can be, to ensure that our submission to the VGCCC best represents the sentiments of our community.”
Eligible residents who haven’t received a letter directly must “opt in” to complete the survey, showing proof of residency to ensure validity of the data collected.
Residents can do this by contacting Council on 5422 0333, or by visiting a Council office in person.
Survey results will be included in a future Council report, expected to be listed for decision at the April 2024 Council Meeting.
