Bruce Robertson is the Independent Chair of Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand. Photo File
Sports clubs and community groups are being urged to have their say at the upcoming Tararua District Council gambling venue policy review. Clubs and community groups currently receive over $1.54 million a year from the gaming machines located in the district's 10 gaming venues.
The gaming funding generated is used
to support sporting groups such as the Dannevirke Tigers Rugby League Club and Dannevirke Sports Club; community organisations such as Tararua Community Youth Services; local schools including Ruahine School; and local kindergartens and playcentres. Bruce Robertson, representing a gaming industry group, stated that although these organisations find the funding extremely valuable, there is little publicity around the benefit that comes from gaming grants.
Robertson urged community groups to make a submission to council detailing what they have been able to achieve with the funding obtained. Submissions can be made on the policy by clicking the "have your say" link on the home page of the Tararua District Council's website. Submissions close on May 10.
Robertson's own submission noted that the time has come to consider replacing the current restrictive cap of 100 gaming machines with a cap of 115 gaming machines.
He warned that erosion of the community funding infrastructure was leading to more and more grant applications being declined, due to a lack of available funds for distribution.
