Local Planning Panel delay fate of proposed Leumeah brothel
The Campbelltown Local Planning Panel has delayed a decision on a proposed brothel in Leumeah, positioned only 150m away from an approved child care centre.
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A controversial proposal to transform a Leumeah industrial unit into a brothel has been delayed for 28 days by the Campbelltown Local Planning Panel.
The four members unanimously voted to defer the decision for four weeks to allow the Owners Corporation, representing the adjoining industrial units, a chance to consent proposed security and lighting improvements on the site’s common property.
The controversial proposal, lodged in 2016, had triggered community angst due to its location near a future childcare centre with Campbelltown Council receiving more than a dozen submissions and a 109 signature petition at the time.
The site would be the operator’s third brothel in the Macarthur region, with locations already in Campbelltown and Narellan.
Speaking on behalf of the proposed brothel operator, Lara Merhi told the Pane there was a high demand for sex services in the region which had triggered the need for a third location.
“Councils have a responsibility to support and service the business and social needs of their communities, which includes enabling a safe environment for a sex service industry,” 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 business, located on Grange Rd, would have about seven staff on site including security and reception.
A representative of the brothel told the Panel “possibly” 20 clients would frequent the facility a night.
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