KEY POINTS:
The number of gambling venues and machines in South Auckland is expected to drop with a sinking lid policy likely to be introduced in the region.
Manukau City Council's policy and activities committee will make a recommendation to the full council in two weeks that a review of
the Manukau City gambling venue policy be adopted.
The revised policy would introduce a continuous sinking lid policy on any new gambling venues in the city.
If it is approved, no licences for new gambling venues will be issued by the council, even if the number of venues falls.
Otara Gambling Action Group co-ordinator Pesio Siitia was pleased the committee was making a positive stand for South Auckland's communities, who lost $20 million to poker machines in the three months toSeptember.
"It's a good start, we have policies and restrictions being put in place and awareness that these machines are harmful is increasing although I don't think we will ever be rid of these machines."
The number of poker machines has fallen from 1172 to 996 in the past four years in South Auckland but Ms Siitia feels they are still too accessible.
"That's the biggest contributing factor to problem gambling in Manukau - having these machines in our local shops and next to our dairies and places where people do their everyday business," she said.
"So I'm really, really happy to hear that council will probably adopt this sinking lid policy, it can only be a good thing for Manukau."
Manukau councillor and Safe City Portfolio Leader, Dick Quax, was also pleased with the recommendation, which was approved after long discussions in a 10 to 5 vote.
"A section of our communities is at risk from gambling activities in the city, and the revised gambling venue policy is a step in the right direction for creating a safe environment for future generations," said Mr Quax.
Problem Gambling foundation chief executive John Stansfield was another to applaud the council's approach.
"This is a new council with a fresh mandate and they have to be commended for their responsibility on this issue despite having fairly limited powers in relation to pokie machines."
Mr Stansfield dismissed the idea the sinking lid policy could have a negative effect on the charitable grants and donations from pokie machines, despite a 2003 social impact report showing this was $90 million less than what went into them annually.
"Before pokie machines charitable funding came from tobacco, who knows what's next," he said.
"But, increasingly, people are becoming aware and disconcerted about where their charitable funding is coming from and there has been a growing backlash against this type of money."
Anti-pokie feeling within South Auckland has been high, with more than 7500 submissions made in response to the revised draft policy when it was made available for public comment this year.
Most of these submissions requested that a sinking lid policy be adopted.
GOING DOWN
* 90 Number of South Auckland gaming venues tumbling in 2003
* 71 The number in September this year
