$25,000 anti-pokie study

Though the shire passed a resolution last year stating its opposition to the introduction of electronic gaming machines, council's community and corporate support director Steve Dawkins said the study, which includes a community survey, was essential to developing a comprehensive anti-pokies policy.

He said the study could also assist council of its decision to refuse a planning application for the machines was appealed.

"It's a fair amount of money but if council is serious about this we need to get started now," he said.

Although 36 electronic gaming machine licenses have been recently allocated to Moyne, the shire is yet to receive a planning application for the machines.

Mr Dawkins said it was important to for council to be seen as being proactive, rather than reactive, banning the introduction of gaming machines to the shire.

He said the Moyne Shire study would include a comprehensive community survey, at a cost of about $10,000, and social and economic impact assessments of the machines on the shire.

Councillors Bernie Harris and Jim Doukas voted against the recommendation saying the cost of the study was excessive.

"It's $25,000 worth of cart before the horse," Cr Doukas said.

"Let's save our money and wait for the application to come in."

But councillors Ken Gale, Jill Parker, James Purcell and Colin Ryan and Mick Wolfe agreed having the research to support the anti-pokies policy would be money well spent.

"We need this background information and we need to have some hard evidence to base our policy on," Cr Gale said.

"We all understand the devastation pokies can cause in our community."

Cr Gales also suggested the shire begin cashing in on the potential tourism benefits of having no pokies in Port Fairy and other Moyne shire towns through advertising.

Community concern has been building in the shire since the 36 licenses were allocated to Warrnambool Football Netball Club and the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery.

More than 200 protesters took to Port Fairy's Village Green on Sunday to voice their concern and a petition with more than 1000 signatures opposing gaming machines in Moyne Shire was handed to council.