Brothel: ”hands tied”

Jane Emerick
Surf Coast councillors could have their hands tied over plans for a brothel at Torquay.
A spokesperson said councillors could not refuse a brothel application on “moral and social” grounds despite community outrage at the plan yesterday.
Council could only consider planning aspects when deciding whether to approve an application to operate a brothel in an appropriately zoned area, the spokesperson said.
Councillors and residents reacted angrily yesterday after reports that a brothel operator was considering setting up shop in a new Torquay industrial estate.
“Councillors can make comment on anything they like but the planning application can only be judged on grounds in the planning scheme,” the spokesperson said.
“Grounds of refusal can always be challenged at VCAT and they will always look at the application or appeal on planning grounds.
“Whether it is a brothel, a fast food restaurant or a twostorey building, rejections have to be made based on the planning application.”
Torquay councillor Keith Grossman said he opposed a brothel in town.
“If it goes to the new industrial area it won’t work. You can’t have a Bunnings with a brothel next to it – that’s ridiculous,” Cr Grossman said.
“We definitely don’t need that sort of business in Torquay but I think it might be a hard one to stop based on the planning scheme.
“I don’t know what we’ll do.”
Surf Coast Shire Community and Ratepayers Lyn Smith said the group rejected a brothel at Torquay.
“If you live in Jan Juc you’re out of the commercial area but there are no limits to what you can do in Torquay,” she said.
“Brothels are not what people wanted when they came here. It’s not for a place like Torquay, maybe in a more builtup area like Melbourne, but it’s totally wrong here and councillors should listen to the people.”