News

Red light on brothels in housing area

BROTHELS will have to keep their distance from residents after Cumberland Councillors put a red light on draft planning policy changes.

Under existing rules, sex services are able to operate in industrial or business zones, however the proposed changes would have allowed their move into mixed-use zones including residential areas.
Cumberland planning staff had recommended amending the planning controls for land use tables as part of their work on a new consolidated Local Environmental Plan (LEP).
The new LEP is needed to replace the different plans inherited from the former Auburn, Holroyd, and Parramatta City councils following the 2016 amalgamations.
Finding unanimous support from her colleagues for an amendment to exclude sex services premises from residential zones, Councillor Lisa Lake said she wanted more information and “a better understanding of the issues” before making a change to the status quo.
“I think it’s just too late in this LEP making process to introduce these complex considerations,” she said.
“And as far as consultation with our local community is concerned, I don’t think this is a matter which we should properly leave to post gateway consultation.
“I recognise that there may be a genuine risk that if we don’t expand the areas where these businesses may be able to operate with the council’s consent, that may lead to illegal and unregulated activity in these areas.
“However, I haven’t seen any analysis – local or otherwise – which supports or negates that view.”
Subject to a ‘gateway determination’ by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, formal public consultation on the new draft Cumberland LEP will begin in early 2020.