OCTOBER 2, 2018 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Wild night in the marsh Every year, BADGAR Wildlife Rescue helps nurse hundreds of Australian wildlife critters back to good health. But the Greendale-based shelter needs your help, says volunteer Melissa Coon. “This is our busy time of the year, because in spring we get lots of baby birds,” Ms Coon says. “But then again during winter, we can have a full shelter. Help is very much needed.” The annual Marsh Monster Mash, a fundraiser for BADGAR Wildlife Rescue will return this year. It will be run from 1pm in Saturday, October 27, at Village Green, 197 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh. The community is being invited to dress up in costumes for the event, which will raise funds for the wildlife shelter. There will be food stalls, face-painting, jumping castles and plenty of spooky fun. For more information, visit Marsh Monster Mash on Facebook. Ashlie keeps a close eye on Zambuca, the wallaby joey. (Shawn Smits)
Sumeyya Ilanbey
Pokies crackdown urged By Sumeyya Ilanbey The head of the Alliance for Gambling Reform has urged Melton council to knock back a pokies lease for Essendon Football Club. Negotiations with the Bombers to extend their lease at the Melton Country Club – on council-owned land – stalled earlier this year when councillors declined to make a decision and asked for a report on the possibility of selling the property. Essendon wanted to secure a four-year extension on the lease, which expires in
February 2022, with the option of extending it for five years over five periods (in total 29 years). Alliance director Tim Costello called on Melton councillors to vote the lease down. “If Essendon won’t back off, then the Melton councillors should intervene and vote the pokies lease down when it comes to council,” he said. “As an Essendon supporter, I am deeply disappointed the [football club] board … is seeking to stay long term in the pokies industry rather than divesting like
Collingwood and Melbourne have done.” Melton council currently collects $287,000 annually from the lease of the Melton Country Club. If the lease with the Bombers is extended, it’s expected to bring in almost $300,000 in rental yield annually. Melton recorded losses of more than $61 million in gaming in the past financial year, $5.6 million was lost at Melton Country Club’s 90 gaming machines in that time – double the losses from the previous year. Melton council is calling for public submissions on its notice of intention to
extend the lease with Essendon by 5pm, October 24. Melton council legal and governance manager Christine Denyer said anyone who wanted to make a submission should contact the council. “A decision will be taken after, and in consideration of, any and all submissions made,” Ms Denyer said. Earlier this year, Collingwood Football Club left the pokies industry when it sold its Caroline Springs and Ringwood venues. Essendon has been contacted for comment.