Pakenham Football Social Club president Tim Ahern and secretary Jack Hurrey look over plans for the clubs expansion of the Lions’ Den.
By Elizabeth Lillis
PAKENHAM Football Social Club wants to expand its facilities at P.B. Ronald Reserve in Pakenham.
Club secretary and manager Jack Hurrey said the club had outgrown its current building and was cramped for space.
The club hopes to develop a larger bistro area, a lounge and sports bar and an outdoor alfresco area as part of an expansion at the Henry Street venue known as the Lions’ Den.
Part of the estimated $1million plan includes increasing the number of electronic gaming machines by 10 machines from 38 to 48.
Mr Hurrey said the additional machines were needed to fund the expansion.
“We have been advised on how many machines we would need,” he said.
The club lodged an application with the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation (VCGR) for the machine increase last month.
Mr Hurrey said the club hoped to take over the changerooms area of the building, part of which is used for storage by a local theatre group.
“Primarily were are a gaming venue and we want to provide more than this,” he said.
“We’d love to provide a bigger bistro. We can currently only seat 48 and would like to seat around 100.”
Mr Hurrey said the club wanted to be in a position to take advantage of the population growth occurring around Pakenham.
He said the expansion was the only option for the club if it was to remain viable.
Other options, including relocation, had been investigated.
The club has a lease for the majority of the building, which is owned by the Cardinia Shire Council, until 2016.
A review of the lease arrangements will be required for the plans to go ahead, according to the council.
Cardinia Shire spokesman Doug Evans said the council had received a copy of the application for the additional poker machines.
Under the state Gambling Regulation Act, local governments have 60 days to lodge a response to applications for additional poker machines with the VCGR.
Mr Evans said the council was yet to determine whether it would lodge a response, and public comment would be sought when a planning permit application was lodged for the extension.
In October, local councils were given planning powers to approve venue suitability for gaming as part of town planning process.
The council and the club have held discussions on the extension plans and the poker machine increase.
Mr Hurrey said the club had strongly supported the local community over the years.
“We have done a fair job giving back to the community,” he said.
The Pakenham Football Social Club returned to the community just over $30,000 in sponsorship and gifts of funds to charity, sport, educational and cultural causes from gaming revenue in the 2005-06 financial year.
Club president Tim Ahern said the club over the years had given about $500,000 to local sporting groups and charities.
“We support a lot of the smaller efforts. We helped put the roof on the Little Athletics club, arranged lights for the junior footballers, and support the 4Cs (foodbank),” he said.
Mr Hurrey said many of the community groups who worked with the club had been informed of the plans by letter in recent weeks.
