Pokie machine changes on the agenda for Rotorua council

Changes are planned around the rules governing pokie machines in the district.

Proposed changes to the district's gambling policy could see a ban placed on any new pokie machines being set up in the city's suburbs and a cap put on the number of machines allowed.

The Rotorua Lakes Council Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee meets tomorrow to decide on changes to the council's Class IV Gambling and Board Venue Policy that controls TABs and pokie machines in the district.

According to an agenda report, as at March 2017 there was one TAB Board venue and 26 Class IV gambling venues licensed to contain 389 gambling machines in Rotorua.

After a recent consultation process, in which the council received 182 submissions from the public, council staff have recommended a new "cap" of 382 gambling machines, not to grant consent for the establishment of any new pokie venues outside the CBD, not grant consent for any relocations of venues or gambling machines from any suburban location outside the CBD to another suburban location.

However they recommend the council allow relocations of gambling machines and venues from suburban locations into the CBD and within the CBD.

According to the council's strategy and partnerships group manager, Jean-Paul Gaston, staff took into account submissions from local organisations that relied on grants from trusts that owned the pokie machines and others opposed to gambling in general.

"Broadly, there was one group of submitters who supported the preferred option of adopting a 'sinking lid' and no relocations.

"However, there was another group of submitters who were concerned that the preferred option would lead to a more immediate reduction in community funding and put at risk the viability of a number of community organisations and facilities.

"Nonetheless, some of these submitters acknowledged concerns about venues being in suburban locations and supported an option to encourage relocation of suburban venues to the CBD," he said in his report.

Councillors will also discuss progressing the district's Spatial Plan discussion document to the draft phase where council staff hope to have a draft document ready for a formal submission process by the end of August.

The spatial plan considers the district's land requirements for the next 20, 30 or 50 years and "is also important considering the progress of the district during the last three years with sustained growth beginning to occur".

In a confidential session, the council will discuss the ongoing issue of an increase to admission charges at the Polynesian Spa.

Rotorua Lakes Council Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee
• 9.30am in the council chamber
• Spatial Plan discussion document
• Changes planned for pokie machine numbers and venues
• Confidential discussion regarding changes to pricing at Polynesian Spa