Grange Rd: Bid for Leumeah brothel refused by Campbelltown Planning Panel

A controversial bid to transform a Leumeah industrial unit into a brothel has crumbled at the final hurdle.

A brothel application for Grange Rd, Leumeah, has failed. Picture: Google

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A controversial bid to transform a Leumeah industrial unit into a brothel has fallen at the final hurdle.

The bold plans, lodged in May 2016, triggered widespread community angst due to the Grange Rd location being near a future childcare centre, with more than a dozen objections and a petition with 109 signatures sent to Campbelltown Council.

A representative of the brothel operator said the business would benefit the local economy.

In July last year, Lara Merhi, on behalf of the applicant, told the Local Planning Panel a brothel would “add to the growth and diversity of the local economy”.

“The applicant operates two brothel businesses in Campbelltown and Narellan, both with a good reputation that do not support drugs, crime or bikie gang activities. This can be supported by local police,” she said.

“To not allow sex service sites will create yet more problems within uncontrolled or illegal brothels, to the detriment of sex workers and the local community.”

The panel deferred its decision in July for 28 days to allow the wishful brothel operator to get consent from the Owners Corporation, representing the adjoining industrial units, for security and safety improvements to the complex.

The applicant ultimately failed to get consent for the improvement works with the Local Planning Panel last month officially refusing the application, stating it was invalid.