Council will also decide whether to ask the state government to reduce Ballarat’s current regional cap of 663 electronic gaming machines to the Victorian average of 6.4 machines per 1000 adults, or 454 EGMs.

The two recommendations follow a motion by Councillor Ben Taylor in January asking council to reduce EGM numbers back to the state average as “the current gaming machine cap of 663 machines for Ballarat is unacceptable”.

At the January 27 council meeting, Cr Taylor described pokies as a “leech” on the community.

“The harm on our community is huge and it’s growing every year,” he said.

A council officers report to tonight’s meeting said asking for an EGM reduction would “send a strong message that the City of Ballarat is concerned with the prevalence and accessibility of EGMs in Ballarat and the associated harms to the community”.

The report said council and community were also concerned about the lack of local government controls on gaming machines, and the lack of tangible financial benefits to the community.

“However, it must be recognised that gaming machines are lawful and a legitimate means of recreation,” the report said.

“A local gaming policy can recognise and manage contradictions in existing state planning provisions and assist to manage potential conflict.”

The policy would be put out for informal public consultation for four weeks.

If approved and adopted, it will replace council’s previous gaming machine community policy passed in November last year.