Council to consider planning report on Huntly Hotel expansion

A planning permit application to extend the Huntly Hotel, including accommodating the installation of 40 electronic gaming machines, will be considered at the February Council meeting. 

The Council’s role is to consider the planning application on planning grounds only. 

However, the applicant must apply for and receive both a planning permit from Council and a licence from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) to operate the gaming machines. 

As outlined in the report, the extension would deliver:

• A sports bar
• Gaming lounge
• Expanded bistro and outdoor terrace
• Larger children’s playroom
• Function room
• Construction of a new 86-space car park (as the planned extension would cover the existing car park)

The report also refers to the ties between the Gambling and Regulation Act 2003 and the planning assessment that, in line with the Act, must consider if gaming machines are in appropriate locations, ensure the social and economic impacts of gaming machines are considered, and ensure gaming machines are prohibited in specified shopping complexes and strip shopping centres. 

The planning application is recommended for approval.

Separate to considering the planning application, the City is also seeking specialist advice regarding the application and the social and economic impacts as outlined in the Reducing Harm from Gambling policy. These findings will then be considered for submission to the VGCCC for the electronic gaming machine licence application.