A Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision on April 7 overturned the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation permit for 40 gaming machines at the proposed Laurimar Tavern.

Whittlesea Council spearheaded the VCAT challenge on the grounds that gaming machines would have a negative impact on the community.

But the future of the Laurimar Tavern remains unclear with developer George Adams Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Tatts Group, undecided on whether the tavern would be feasible without the pokies revenue.

Spokesman Michael Mangos said Tatts Group would need to consider the VCAT ruling before a decision on the tavern could be made.

“The tavern in its current proposed form will not proceed,” he said.

Reverend Glynis Dickens, who gave evidence for the council in the case, said the community supported a

family-friendly bistro or restaurant.

“If nothing happens on the site we’ll all be disappointed but it would be a greater disappointment if we had to put up with that awful proposed development with the gambling precinct,” she said.

“I’m very grateful to Whittlesea council for taking a stand against any further pokies venues. We lose enough money to gambling and they put together a carefully and well presented case and it obviously paid off,” she said.

Councillor Sam Alessi welcomed the VCAT decision.

“It’s a fantastic decision and it’s a win for the community. It really demonstrates when the community voices its opinion, it can be heard,” he said.

At the VCAT hearing, the judge concluded that the ‘‘negative social and economic disadvantages’’ strongly outweighed the positive social and economic benefits of the proposal.

History of a pokies fight

• March 2010: VCGR approves permit for 40 gaming machines at Laurimar Tavern without conditions.

• April 2010: Whittlesea Council vows to fight the VCGR decision via VCAT and an anti-gaming community group is formed.

• January 2011: Whittlesea Council commissions the University of Ballarat to conduct an independent survey into community views on the Laurimar Tavern.

• February 2011: The eight-day VCAT hearing begins.

• April 2011: VCAT overturns the VCGR permit.