Originally published February 5, 1999
THE first Mildura Rural City council meeting for the year could go down as the most contentious, with lively debate preceding the approval of a plan to establish a brothel in Mildura.
As anticipated, the issue raised considerable objection in the city and saw the public gallery at the meeting filled with a vocal crowd of about 80 objectors and a handful of supporters.
The impassioned objections held no sway though, with council eventually — and narrowly — approving the application five votes to four.
Developers are now free to go ahead with the plan, which will see a six-room brothel established in 9th Street near Etiwanda Avenue.
Those to vote against the plan were Cr Peter Byrne and Cr Ann Cox, both of whom made it clear well before the meeting that they would not be endorsing the application; and Cr Anne Mansell and Cr Greg Brown.
While Cr Cox professed moral objections to the application, both she and Cr Byrne were even more concerned with State Government legislation than with the application itself.
Likewise, Cr Brown refused to vote for the application simply because legislation dictated he should, while Cr Mansell voted against the application solely on moral grounds.
The five councillors who voted in favor of the proposal — Mayor Eddie Warhurst, Deputy Mayor Howard Crothers, Cr Kath Avery, Cr Tom Crouch and Cr Peter Danson — each professed personal objection to the idea of a brothel but felt it impossible to vote against the application.
Under State laws, councils no longer have the right to turn down brothel applications on moral grounds.
Applications can only be knocked back if they contravene the guidelines of the Prostitution Control Act or the local planning scheme.
Cr Byrne said the situation with the legislation was a “sleazy scenario” and was not prepared to vote in favor of the application regardless of the laws.
Of those objecting, Cr Cox was apparently the most passionate, imploring fellow councillors to carefully consider the effect a brothel would have on surrounding businesses.
In supporting the recommendation that the permit be issued, Crs Warhurst and Avery both suggested it was unrealistic of anyone to pretend brothels did not exist.
