Woden Gaming Machine Handback

The Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden has taken up the offer under the ACT Government’s Surrender Incentive and will be handing back 10 gaming machines and their attached authorisations.

The $15,000 per authorisation incentive will be used to help with projects to activate outdoor dining areas at Woden, Tuggeranong and Jamison in time for Summer.

Artist Impression of planned outdoor activations at Woden (above) and Tuggeranong laneway (between the Club and Southern Cross Stadium).

Ian Mackay, Chief Executive Officer of the Canberra Southern Cross Club, commented, “We are pleased to be able to remove these machines. The incentive money will be used to continue to diversify our revenue streams away from gaming. If COVID taught us anything, it’s that being able to offer outdoor dining and entertainment spaces are crucial to a vibrant and healthy food and beverage business.”

Local architects and town planners have been enlisted to assist the club pivot and utilise any outdoor space they can find to create an outdoor dining destination. While final concepts are still being considered, the expectation is the provision of improved amenities for Canberra Southern Cross Club Members.”

Works have begun on refurbishing the gaming floor at Woden with a total of 30 machines coming off the floor. In addition to the 10 being surrendered, another 20 will be placed in long term storage. This works will enhance the gaming floor layout by offering more space between gaming machines and see improvements to the bar and lounge area and male and female bathroom facilities.

At least 50 percent of the gaming floor will remain open throughout the works program, with the full re-opening scheduled in mid-August 2022.