Victorian Local Governance Association chief executive Maree McPherson said the former state government’s decision to give councils 37 days instead of 60 days to consider gaming applications must be reversed.

‘‘It is simply not long enough for the community’s views to be gathered by a council staff member and, with other technical information, presented back to the elected council,’’ Ms McPherson said.

She said community consultation was in danger of being ignored because it was being rushed through.

Ms McPherson wants to meet Gaming Minister Michael O’Brien this month to discuss the issue and remind him of the Coalition’s election pledge to promote genuine community consultation on gaming.

Mr O’Brien said he did not oppose ‘‘streamlining’’ pokies applications and would keep the changes unless problems could be shown.

‘‘The Coalition said last year when the amendment was debated in Parliament that we would keep a close watch on whether or not Labor’s measures unduly affected councils or communities,’’ Mr O’Brien said. ‘‘Our position remains the same in government.’’

InterChurch Gambling Taskforce chair Mark Zirnsak backed the calls to extend the deadlines and said community consultation had to be taken more seriously in light of gaming’s social affects.

‘‘We currently have a problem where councils and local communities are not given sufficient consideration on whether they want gaming venues or not,’’ Mr Zirnsak said. ‘‘There should be much greater power to local governments on these decisions.’’

Banyule Council city development director Scott Walker agreed the reduced timeframe would not allow for adequate community consultation. Nillumbik mayor Helen Coleman was less concerned, saying she did not expect many gaming applications in the shire.