Strip club goes ahead with its plans to open

OWNERS of Wilkies Hotel have brushed aside controversy and forged ahead with their development of a strip club in Mackay's City Heart.

OWNERS of Wilkies Hotel have brushed aside controversy and forged ahead with their development of a strip club in Mackay's City Heart.

Showbar 140 has not received final confirmation of the adult entertainment permit but is anticipating an answer within days and has gone ahead and lavishly renovated the classic Mackay watering hole.

When word first broke in July about the application for the permit, formal objections were made by Mackay residents and nearby St Patrick's College, which called for others to join a campaign against the burgeoning nightspot.

The college thought the club would "lessen the amenity, quiet or good order of the locality in some way", in their formal objection.

The Mackay City Council lodged an objection to the plans for the club, fearing it would attract bad elements into the city.

"Kylie", the stage name of a Sydney resident and dancer at Showbar 140, said the claims were "absolute rubbish".

"I don't consider it sleazy in the slightest they're all professionals."

"They're all amazing dancers," she said.

Acting general manager of Showbar 140 Adam Elliot said any claims of the club bringing unwanted sorts into the city were unfounded.

"We set the scene for our club at the door," Mr Elliot said, "And that's how it needs to be.

"We've spent considerable money to make sure it's safe for everyone."

Mr Elliot said that on top of the mandatory dress code and cover charges, all patrons had to agree to a scan of their identification to aid with monitoring people in the club, and deterring bad behaviour.

He said there would be more than 20 cameras in the club. The identification scans also meant the managers knew the statistics of people visiting the club, indicating that nearly a third of their clientele was female on some nights.

The club has been operating without an adult entertainment permit, which allowed the girls to work topless.

But when the permit goes through, "the pants come off", Mr Elliot said.

He said the club had support, showing it was "resonating" with Mackay.

"It's like anything, it's a choice," he said.

"People will make up their mind eventually."

Originally published as Strip club goes ahead with its plans to open