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"Out of Touch With Brothel Issues" Jim Gainsford, The Leader, 22 Nov 2005
 Hurstville Council has tried to keep the spread of brothels from shopping and residential areas by amending its LEP to restrict them to light industrial zones. "We strongly believe the government should review the role of the Land and Environment Court to give clearer direction in protecting community values particularly in respect of the location of brothels," Cr Badalati said. (pictured) image taken from http://www.hurstville.nsw.gov.au/ |
Hurstville Mayor Vince Badalati has written to the NSW Premier Morris Iemma calling for a review of the operations of the Land and Environment Court.
This follows two recent court decisions allowing brothels in the Riverwood shopping area.
Cr Badalati accused the Court of being out of tune with community feelings. He can hope to get a sympathetic hearing from Mr Iemma who objected to one of the brothels in the Riverwood shopping centre that was close to his electorate office.
In a decision on January 28 this year, the Court granted a development consent for a brothel to operate on the first floor at 184B Belmore Road. Residents complained about being able to see sex workers on a balcony and being disturbed by the behaviour of clients using premises.
"Despite this evidence, the Court’s reaction was simply to require that a planting screen be erected so that the sex workers were no longer visible to the residents," he said.
The second ruling on October 26 related to the operation of a brothel at 327a Belmore Road.
Hurstville Council refused to grant a development consent but the brothel owner appealed to the Land and Environment Court which overruled the council’s refusal.
Hurstville Council has tried to keep the spread of brothels from shopping and residential areas by amending its Local Environment Plan to restrict them to light industrial zones.
The amended LEP is still to be signed off by the NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor. However, the council feels this will be only part of the way towards helping protect the amenity of residential and shopping areas.
"We strongly believe the government should review the role of the Land and Environment Court to give clearer direction in protecting community values particularly in respect of the location of brothels," Cr Badalati said.