Airlie Beach adult store opens illegally in Whitsundays

An adult store has illegally opened for business on a key Queensland tourist strip despite objections it will lure “unsavoury” characters, a Whitsunday council meeting has been told.

An adult store in Airlie Beach has operated illegally for “several months”. Picture: Delightful Desires

The purveyor of an adult shop “had been operating illegally for several months” before coming to the attention of authorities.

Delightful Desires was opened inside the Whitsunday Arts and Cultural Centre along Waterson Way in Airlie Beach without first gaining council approval.

This is despite objections from a hostel owner who said the store – which sells adult toys, lingerie, hens party goods, and shoes – would tarnish the family friendly environment and lure “undesirable” behaviour.

Whitsunday Regional Council director of planning Neil McGaffin said the council was unaware the store had even opened.

“When council was made aware the business was operating, our officers identified the option to allow the business owner a period to seek approval was a more reasonable option rather than instantly shutting down the store for operating without approval,” Mr McGaffin said.

A new adult store has been operating illegally within the Whitsunday Arts and Cultural Centre along Waterson Way in Airlie Beach. Picture: Google

In the interim, a letter was submitted to the council on behalf of Everest Holdings which owns the nearby Whitsunday Wanderers hostel.

“The Airlie Beach central area is a family environment and approval of the proposed adult store will detract from this amenity and potentially result in unsavoury activity within a predominantly residential environment,” the submission states.

“This is of course not to say that all patrons of such a use are of unsavoury character however (it) is not uncommon for sex shops to be associated with higher instances of undesirable behaviour or unsavoury activity particularly if trading hours are extending into the evening period.”

Delightful Desires was operating illegally along Waterson Way in Airlie Beach for "several months". Picture: Facebook

The development had triggered an impact assessment as an adult store is not listed in the Mixed Zone use but the proposal “does not conflict” with the council’s planning scheme.

The shop was given the official seal of approval during the ordinary meeting of council on Wednesday under conditions it only operate between noon to 5pm and 6pm to 8pm from Monday to Thursday, and from noon to 5pm and 6pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

The location of the new adult store along Waterson Way in Airlie Beach. Picture: Contributed

Signage is also restricted with the business permitted to have one A-frame advertising device and “minimal signage” on the front door with no “sexually explicit images and words” allowed.

“Can I just say, (the shop’s) in a great position where it’s not going to offend anyone on main street or whatever, so I have no problem supporting it,” Councillor Jan Clifford said in supporting the motion.