By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
The Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) has announced that its regional hubs for gaming and liquor inspectors will be situated in Ararat and Sale.
The VCGLR first announced their plans to create two regional hubs at the end of June, with the confirmation of the two sites in Ararat and Sale being made today. The chosen areas are roughly equidistant from Melbourne to the west and east to cover as much of Victoria’s regional and rural areas as possible.
Sale is 200km east of the capital city, just inland of the Gippsland Lakes region and south of the Alpine and Snowy River National Parks, and the Yarra Ranges. Ararat, to the west of Melbourne, is situated between the Western District and the Wimmera.
The Victorian Government allocated the VCGLR $11.3 million over the next four years in the 2017/18 State Budget to set up and maintain these two hubs. There will be eight inspector roles available from the two hubs, to more closely monitor the operations regional and rural licensed premises.
“More liquor and gambling inspectors based in regional locations means better monitoring of licensed venues across the state,” said the Hon Marlene Kairouz MP, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation.
“Ararat and Sale are large regional towns in the east and west of Victoria and will provide an excellent base for inspectors travelling to other regional and rural areas.”
The recruitment process for the eight inspectors is expected to commence this week, with an information session to be held in Sale this Thursday 14 September, and one in Ararat next Tuesday 19 September.