In just 24 hours, 139 people signed a letter highlighting the lack of public consultation, which was presented to Tuesday’s council meeting by former Wangaratta citizen of the year Anne Shaw.

“I’m not anti-RSL, but I am anti-gambling and gaming,” she said. “We believe that increased numbers of poker machines and the subsequent impact is an issue that will affect the lives of many in our community.”

Councillors voted 3-2 last month against supporting the RSL’s plan to increase its number of pokie machines from 32 to 50, but the final decision  – to be made by the Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation – was still pending.

The RSL plans for the old Sydney Hotel, including building works and extra pokies, have been available for public inspection for three weeks, but the group said they were “bewildering” and not well publicised.

The letter expressing community concerns will form a submission to be considered before a final decision is made at a council meeting.

“I request that councillors and council staff commit to meaningful community engagement with a wide range of stakeholders prior to making a decision on this application from the Wangaratta RSL,” Ms Shaw said.

“The fact that we can get 139 people interested in 24 hours shows there is significant community interest.”

Council chief executive Brendan McGrath said the VCGLR’s timeframe – a hearing with the RSL was held in late May – did not allow for community engagement.

He said the council would develop a gaming policy to be sure about any future requests for more pokies.

“When we get future applications for things like additional poker machines we actually have an organisation policy that is built on community consultation so we understand what the community’s views are,” Mr McGrath said.

“We would get wide community input into the development of the policy, there is some money in next year’s budget to do that work.”