Towers opponents ‘misleading’

By Melissa Meehan
THE developers of the $90 million Casey Towers project believe statements by opponents of the tower’s proposed gaming lounge to be included in the complex are misinformed and misleading.
Casey Towers project manager Rick Grounds said it had been claimed that the 60 electronic gaming machines at Casey Towers would increase local gambling losses by up to $7.5 million.
“This claim is contradicted by several factors,” he said.
“Research accepted by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation indicates that, as a general rule, at least 60 per cent of the money that would be spent on gaming in new venues such as Casey Towers is transferred from existing venues. We expect the gaming lounge at Casey Towers will appeal mainly to persons who would spend a modest amount on gaming as part of an overall ‘going out’ experience, including dining, live entertainment, going to a function, sports bar and/or staying over night,” Mr Grounds said.
The developers, the Grossi & Cardamone Group, believe that a majority of patrons at Casey Towers will be guests visiting from interstate, overseas and other parts of Victoria.
Mr Grounds said that Casey towers and the vast majority of its local catchment was well outside the gaming machine capped areas of Casey.
He also said that Cr Richardson’s claim that the development was “an excuse to abuse and rip off community members” in last weeks’ News was offensive and wrong.
“The Grossi & Cardamone Group supports the decision to cap areas such as Cranbourne.
“The local catchment population is growing rapidly, so we believe that Casey Towers will not increase the average gaming expenditure per adult in Casey,” Mr Grounds said.
The Casey Towers development will include a 700 seat function centre, three restaurants, three bars, a bistro, a cafe, a gymnasium, offices, shops, 146 hotel rooms and 26 services apartments.
“Unlike many other venues, Casey Towers will provide an appropriate environment for a gaming lounge, integrating it within a comprehensive range of entertainment options,” Mr Grounds said.
He said that Casey Towers had many benefits for local residents, including facilities and employment.
“Casey Towers will be very beneficial for local businesses, providing facilities for conferences and hospitality, attracting other developments in the surrounding precinct and opening up opportunities for local suppliers of goods and services.
“In addition, Casey Towers will ‘put Casey on the map’, to a greater extent even than the positive impact the Novotel/Century City development had on Glen Waverley,” Mr Grounds said.