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Tomorrow, the City of Playford will be deciding whether to support or oppose a gaming licence for more pokie machines to be introduced in the Munno Para community.
I will be presenting at tomorrow night’s Council Meeting to speak on behalf of the concerned families at the nearby Mark Oliphant College, and several community groups, organisations and residents who are worried about the impact gambling already has on our low-income area of Playford.
Currently, there are more than 300 pokie machines within an 8km radius of the proposed Parkway Tavern and its application for up to 40 additional machines, which is next to the Playford shopping precinct along Curtis Road and opposite the Playford Alive Town Park.
Pokies have profited off the City of Playford residents to the tune of $53,421,725.62 last financial year - $20 million more than the likes of higher income areas such as Unley and Prospect-Walkerville.
We may face an uphill battle considering Australia alone owns more than 20% of the world’s gaming machines already, but at least we can make a stand and stop organisations capitalising on families that are struggling with addiction and financial pressures.
If you live within the City of Playford and would like to make an impact, contact your local Councillors before tomorrow’s meeting with your concerns and even stories of how families have been affected - Click to send email to local Councillors