Langes MMA studio founder speaks out after council zoning bout

More than 200 active members of a martial arts institution have been impacted in the studio’s shock closure following a long running planning dispute with the local council.

The business had been one of the most popular mixed martial arts studios in Sydney.

The first mixed martial arts studio to open in Sydney has permanently closed its doors after a long-running planning dispute between its founder and Northern Beaches Council.

More than 200 active members using the Langes Mixed Martial Arts studio in North Manly have been left high and dry after the studio’s owner Anthony Lange made the “difficult decision” to shut down the business in late December.

The studio was recognised as the first mixed martial arts studio to open in Sydney and has provided a range of programs to junior and senior members since its launch in 1999.

The closure follows a long-running planning stoush between Mr Lange and Northern Beaches Council over local zoning laws applying to the 380 Pittwater Rd site.

The dispute centred on the council planning controls – known as the ‘Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2011’ – which classifies the land as ‘Industrial 2’ and therefore prohibits businesses such as a martial arts studio.

Anthony Lange founded the studio back in 2009.

But Mr Lange said his business had been operating prior to the 2011 LEP and had continued trading since 2011 “without any problem” before the council took steps to enforce the zoning laws last year.

Northern Beaches Council confirmed it issued a ‘notice of intention to serve an order’ in February last year which gave the business an opportunity to provide reasons why the council should not proceed to issuing final orders for the business to find an alternative site. Mr Lange believed the business should have been able to continue trading

Several businesses including Langes MMA have operated at the site.

“I’ve been there for 23 years, but their argument was that we should never have been there and the council made it very difficult for us to continue,” he said.

“They didn't have a grandfather clause so if you’d been there for 20 years you could stay and there was no consideration for the service we’ve provided to the community.

“Instead we were classified as illegally occupying the site.

“We had about 230 active members who’ve been impacted and it’s a big loss to the community all because the council had a box to tick and couldn’t tick it.

Anthony Lange has spoken out following the closure.

“Over the years we’ve taught four-year-olds who’ve grown up and now teach martial arts.

“To me it’s nonsensical that you’re allowed to be an oyster farm or a toxic industry in North Manly but you can’t be a martial arts studio that provides a service to the community.”

In a statement, Northern Beaches Council chief executive Ray Brownlee said the development control order proposed in the notice of intention issued last year would have provided the business 12 months to find an alternate premises.

Mr Brownlee said “no written representations had been provided by the business” and the council had not issued the final development control order prior to the business closing its doors.

According to council records, the land was zoned ‘light industrial’ when Langes MMA opened in 1999 and the use of the premises as a recreation facility was permitted with development consent.

The studio has taught countless members since 1999.

According to the same records, the studio did not have development consent as a martial arts studio in 1999 and subsequently its use was prohibited under the Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2011.

Mr Lange said he had contemplated relocating the business, but said the costs of setting up a new venue would not have been viable.

“It would have cost about $50,000 to find another location nearby and set up all over again,” he said.

“I’m 60 (years-old) now so I’ve decided to bring forward my retirement by four years.

“We could have gone to Brookvale and been just another one of the 25 gyms in Brookvale which wouldn’t have helped anyone. What helps is having a mix of businesses in each suburb.”

The zoning laws have also affected a number of other businesses at the 380 Pittwater Rd site including Sydney’s Pole Dancing Academy which was also prohibited under the planning controls and closed last year.

The council said it was in the process of developing a new set of planning controls for the northern beaches with a draft set of rules expected to be completed early this year.

There will be opportunities for the community to comment on the draft LEP when it opens for public exhibition.

Prior to the closure, Langes MMA had offered programs including Brazilian jiu jitsu and Thai kickboxing. Mr Lange said more than 10 black belt coaches who have trained through the studio now have their own academies teaching Brazilian jiu jitsu.