COUNCILLOR Peter Young has had a victory in his moral crusade against brothels after stopping a contentious proposal for a Helensvale sex parlour.

A week after breaking down while arguing against the brothel, Cr Young yesterday convinced his colleagues to ban it, even though the council's planning officers and the Prostitution Licensing Authority had no problems with it.

City planning chairman Cr Ted Shepherd has already flagged his doubt over the decision being upheld in court.

In a rare display of solidarity, usually warring female councillors sided together to refuse the divisive proposal.

``I really do have a moral and ethical and Christian view about this,'' said Cr Young.

``It really disappointed me when they (the applicants) talked about girls working in here - they're not even women any more.''

The Bulletin yesterday contacted consultant Planit Consulting, which has acted on behalf of the applicant, but the firm declined to comment.

But Nick Inskip, spokesman for the Queensland Adult Business Association, said there was a danger with people bringing `emotive or moral ideas' to the decision.

By refusing the legally run brothel, Mr Inskip said the council had encouraged the unregulated industry, something he said was `rife' on the Gold Coast.

``In the legal industry, everyone comes into it by choice,'' he said.

``By operating legally, they have to adhere to standards, checking, probity, they pay tax, pay insurance and there are no standovers.

``But by refusing these legal operations, the council is saying it's happy with the status quo.

``The illegal escort industry is rife on the Gold Coast, and most of it operated by interstate (operators).''

Cr Young had choked back tears as the matter was debated at a city planning committee meeting last week, later explaining he had known women who suffered in the industry.

He said he would do anything he could to stop the establishment of brothels.

Cr Ted Shepherd supported the application on planning grounds.

``I think the officers have given this a very (good) going over,'' said Cr Shepherd. ``They were not lackadaisical. They knew it would be controversial.''

The application was opposed by the Gold Coast Dunamis Christian Centre. Management of the Millaroo Drive religious centre claimed they were within a 200m buffer established by the State Government between brothels and sensitive areas.

However, surveyors for the applicant claimed the distance was 201m. The Prostitution Licensing Authority agreed with the measurement.

Pastor Ted Pangilinan said the centre wanted to use a next-door lot for Bible studies for children, which would bring operations even closer together.

Cr Young argued the brothel did not have enough car parks and was less than 200m from the Helensvale Town Centre, which was frequented by children.

He said it was within the 200m buffer for land earmarked for "mixed use" development in the future including residential housing.

Cr Greg Betts was "swayed by the possibility" of the nearby land housing families in the future.