Council adopts Upper Hutt City Council's gambling venues policy

Following a council meeting held on Wednesday 7 April 2010, Upper Hutt City Council has adopted its Class 4 Gambling and New Zealand Racing Board (including TAB) Venues policy.

Most significantly, council agreed to a reduction the total number of electronic gambling machines allowed in Upper Hutt City, from 183 to 174.

Council also incorporated an additional clause to the policy, relating to the transfer of existing Class 4 Gambling Venue conditions. The clause states: “where an existing Class 4 Gambling Venue is ceasing to operate, the council, may at its own discretion, allow the transfer of existing venue conditions to another location that meets the criteria of the existing policy”. The policy lists conditions to be met for the transfer to be considered.

The policy now specifies where a new or relocating venue can be located, with reference to existing gambling venues. All gambling venue advertising signs must now comply with the council's Control of Advertising Signs Bylaw 2005. An applicant must now provide satisfactory evidence that the venue complies in all respects with the requirements imposed under the Building Act 2004 and the Resource Management Act 1991. They must also provide documentation outlining the policies and programmes in place for the distribution of funds.

Under the Gambling Act 2003, pubs and clubs are covered by Class 4 licensing provisions. An operator wanting to establish a new venue or to increase the number of machines at an existing venue must gain consent from the council.

The objective of the gambling venue policy is to: 1) ensure the council and the community have influence over the location of new Class 4 Gambling Venues within the city; 2) allow the community to have access to gambling venues for entertainment purposes and to benefit from the proceeds; 3) recognise the issue of problem gambling and take appropriate steps to reduce it, particularly through the facilitation of responsible gambling; 4) manage the growth of gaming machines within the district; and 5) encourage clarity regarding the past distribution of gambling funds.

The draft gambling venue policy went out for public consultation on 18 January 2009 and eight written submissions were received by the closing date of consultation. Members of the public were able to attend an open forum discussing the proposed policy in early February. Following this initial consultation, six submitters took the opportunity to speak to council at an extraordinary council meeting in March. Council then considered the amended draft policy before it became adopted at the full council meeting on 7 April.

ENDS