Adelaide City Council in midst of changing where sex shops and strip clubs are allowed on Hindley St

If strip clubs and sex shops are confined to Adelaide’s notorious party strip, West End traders warn it could turn the area into a red light district.

There are fears Hindley St would be perceived as a red light district, if strip clubs and sex shops are confined to the notorious party strip under new planning laws.

Adelaide City Council wants to change laws to determine suitable and unsuitable locations for adult entertainment venues and sex toy businesses across the CBD.

The council received nearly 40 public submissions on its draft adult entertainment premises code amendment, but staff said its aim had been misunderstood during consultation.

South Australia’s Sex Industry Network (SIN) believed the changes were discriminatory, while a West End traders’ group said it would “sanction a red-light district”.

The council had consulted on any future developments requiring a 50m buffer zone from residential uses or land used for a place of worship, childcare centre and schools.

The consultation document also included a Hindley St subzone being the most appropriate location for future adult premises as it was a late-night entertainment hub.

Fears Hindley St would become a red light district. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Adelaide West End Association wrote: “This (subzone) distinction from the rest of the city is in effect a sanctioning of a red-light district in Adelaide’s West End”.

“It is crucial to understand that the West End is not merely a night-time adult economy and it never in truth has been ... it is a vibrant and diverse community that deserves equitable consideration to the rest of the city,” the submission read.

SIN, in its submission, said: “The creation of a red-light district perpetuates stigma and discrimination, as workers within red light districts are often pathologized, pitied, and seen as victims”.

The council’s city shaping director, Ilia Houridis, told Tuesday night’s City Planning, Development and Business Affairs committee meeting they did not seek to create a “zone in any part of the city” and development applications could be made citywide.

Mr Houridis said the amendment was due to there being “very limited, to no policy” that supports planners to assess these types of applications.

Cr David Elliott told the meeting he was uncomfortable about where the amendment was headed considering how seldom business applications were received.

Councillor David Elliott. Picture: Supplied

“I don’t like the idea we’re making code amendments on a particular moral code or an uncomfortability with adult activities or sex in general, I don’t think that should be something that comes into planning,” Cr Elliott said.

Since 2021, there have been three applications for adult entertainment venues – two on Hindley St and one on Currie St – and one for products and services.

Councillors decided buffer zones be replaced with additional policies to address a development’s proximity to sensitive sites, such as childcares.

The feedback and any changes to the amendment will be considered by the council in November before being submitted to the Planning Minister for approval.

Originally published as Adelaide City Council in midst of changing where sex shops and strip clubs are allowed on Hindley St