WHITTLESEA Council is fighting a pub’s attempts to bring more pokies into the area.

The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation approved a permit for 40 gaming machines at the Bridge Inn Hotel, in Mernda, in July 2009, but 20 of them had to be sourced from within Whittlesea.

Whittlesea Council was notified late last that year that the applicant, Benmara Pty Ltd, had attempted to amend the licence conditions on the permit.

Whittlesea Council’s Sustainability Planning co-manager Felicity Leahy said the applicant argued the condition was commercially unfeasible and wanted 40 machines without conditions.

No Benmara representatives were available to answer NW’s questions.

Ms Leahy said the council was waiting on the commission to make a decision on whether it could amend a previous decision or whether a new case would begin.

“We have sought legal advice on this matter and it is our opinion that the commission cannot amend its own decisions,” she said.

Commission spokeswoman Tracey Forrester could not say how the matter would proceed, but said details of new hearings would be listed on the commission’s website.

Whittlesea Council prepared a social and economic impact statement in response to the notification looking at potential impacts the extra 20 machines could have on the community.

‘‘The report concludes that on balance, the negative social and economic impacts on the community outweigh the benefits associated with the proposal,’’ Ms Leahy said.