Preparing an LIA
Check if you need a Local Impact Assessment (LIA) to increase gaming machines at your venue and follow clear steps to complete and submit the right application.
Local Impact Assessments
Hotels and registered clubs who wish to increase their gaming machine threshold (GMT) will likely need to complete a Local Impact Assessment (LIA).
The purpose of an LIA is to support a community consultation process. It helps the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) decide whether increasing the venues GMT will have a positive contribution or overall positive impact on the local community.
All venues in NSW are assigned an area know as a Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Under the LIA scheme, each SA2 is ranked according to the relative risk of introducing additional gaming machines into that area. This relative risk is determined by ILGA, considering the current number of gaming machines, revenue and socio-economic disadvantage in each SA2.
Each SA2 is then categorised as:
- Band 3: the bottom 20% - areas with the highest levels of relative risk
- Band 2: the middle 30%.
- Band 1: the remaining 50% - areas with the lowest levels of socio-economic risk.
The type of LIA a venue is required to complete, depends on the venues SA2 band and the number of gaming machines applied for.
| Low range (0- 20) | Mid-range (21-40) | High-range (40+) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | No LIA required | Class 1 LIA | Class 2 LIA |
| Band 2 | Class 1 LIA | Class 2 LIA | Class 2 LIA |
| Band 3 | Class 2 LIA | Class 2 LIA | Class 2 LIA |
Class 1 LIA: requires the applicant to demonstrate that the proposed increase in the GMT will provide a positive contribution to the local community.
A Class 2 LIA: requires the applicant to demonstrate that the proposed increase in the GMT will have an overall positive impact on the local community.
Restricted Increase Area
ILGA may determine that a Band 3 SA2 is a restricted increase area. ILGA may determine the maximum number of GME’s in those areas, known as an area cap.
If ILGA has imposed an area cap, an LIA cannot be approved if it would take the total GMTs in the area above the cap. GMT increase applications that do not involve an LIA may be approved, if it will not exceed the area cap.
Fairfield LGA
All SA2s in the Fairfield LGA, regardless of their band, have specific restrictions in legislation on granting GMT increases. Any application to increase GMT in this area cannot be approved if it will exceed the area cap.
An LIA is not required in certain circumstances, usually when machines are moving within a local area, or where a venue is in a Band 1 SA2 and seeking to increase their GMT by 20 or less in a 12-month period. For further information on whether an LIA must accompany your GMT increase application see GL4014 Class 1 LIA process guidelines.
ILGA has developed a guideline to support applicants in submitting LIA’s for approval. That guideline includes details on their approval process and considerations, the LIA’s format and information that must be included. It also includes details on who should be notified of your application and how you need to advertise it.
Please review GL4014 Class 1 LIA process guidelines for further information. This guideline is updated from time to time.
An applicant is able to obtain any required gaming-related information for each relevant SA2 and LGA. Access Liquor & Gaming NSW datasets.
Social profile information required for each relevant SA2 and LGA can be obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
All LIAs are required to complete consultation with local community organisations.
For Class 1 LIAs, the legislation requires that within seven (7) days of lodging your LIA, you must provide a copy to:
- the local council
- the local police
- local health district
- any organisation receiving funding from the Responsible Gambling Fund with presence in the local community
- any other organisations that provide services in the Local Government Area relating to:
- welfare
- emergency relief
- financial assistance
- Aboriginal health and legal assistance
- gambling and addiction counselling or treatment and are listed as providing these services by the local council.
Class 2 LIAs are required to consult with the above organisations for at least 90 days prior to submitting their LIA to ILGA. Any Class 2 LIA must include a report on this consultation and a list of all community service organisations notified of the LIA.
All LIA’s are required to be published on the LIA public register once they are submitted to ILGA. This is facilitated by L&GNSW. Your LIA will also appear on the L&GNSW Noticeboard to allow public comments.
The type of LIA will determine the time that it is advertised.
| Class of LIA | Time |
|---|---|
| 1 | 60 days |
| 2 | 90 days |
A notice of your LIA must be placed in a local newspaper and displayed outside your venue.
Use the following templates for your notifications and advertisement:
Your application will be assessed and determined:
- after the conclusion of the consultation period
- where submissions raising concerns have been made during the consultation period - after the applicant has provided comments on those concerns to ILGA.
If the LIA is approved, ILGA:
- will determine the threshold increase
- may approve a lesser increase than that sought
- may approve an increase subject to conditions.
The applicant may be required to meet any costs incurred by ILGA to determine the LIA. ILGA may refuse to determine the LIA until those costs have been met. Applicants will be advised of those costs prior to them being incurred.
Limited time to obtain GMEs following approval of an LIA
| Class of LIA | Time |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 years |
| 2 | 5 years |
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