A BALLARAT man who wants to open a legal brothel within the city’s borders says it’s “sorely needed.”
The man, who asked to be known as a “concerned citizen”, said recent police raids on a number of illegal brothels in Ballarat demonstrated a significant demand for sexual services within the city.
He said he made inquiries to the City of Ballarat about re-opening a legal brothel in Delacombe, but was told the building’s licence had expired.
Ballarat police have raided four illegal brothels in the past six months, with properties targeted in Alfredton, Wendouree, Sebastopol and near the Ballarat Airport.
The city’s only legal brothel, Delacombe’s ‘Breathless Encounter’ in Stonepark Road, was closed in 2006.
At the time, the Australian Family Association warned illegal brothels could flourish in Ballarat. This week, the prospective brothel owner told The Courier that’s exactly what had happened.
“Since the closure of the Stonepark Road establishment, there has been an ever-growing number of ‘mushroom parlours’ that have come and gone,” he said. The man said police had done a good job of shutting down the city’s “underbelly”, but Ballarat should have a legal brothel like Geelong and Shepparton.
He said older generations of men would welcome the service. “There is a need in this town for an establishment that can handle the older gentlemen at a reasonable cost.”
A council spokesperson said every application for a planning permit was considered.
“Because use of the site as a brothel had ceased in 2006, existing land use rights have been lost and therefore a planning permit is required to use the land for that purpose,” the spokesperson said.
“Each application is assessed on its merits and the requirements of the planning scheme and other relevant legislation.”
jordan.oliver@thecourier.com.au
