Protesters meet on brothel plan

Sydney
25 August 2002

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Protesters meet on brothel plan

Schools, a nursing home and a retirement village on the old Lewisham Hospital site will all be affected if Marrickville Council approves a proposed brothel

By Chris Lindsay

If Marrickville Council approves plans for a proposed brothel near schools, a nursing home and a women’s refuge in Lewisham, “the premises could then be released and the brothel expanded,” a protest meeting was told last wee.

The proposed brothel – at 756-758 Parramatta Rd – is only metres away from three Catholic schools, a church, a retirement village, the home, the refuge and other facilities in the Catholic complex on the old Lewisham Hospital site bounded by West and Thomas Sts.

The meeting in the parish hall at St Thomas’ Church in Thomas St, Lewisham, was told that homes in the area would also be affected, as would neighbourhood amenities such as Petersham Park – a community attraction “used by citizens, local schools and children”.

Owen Rogers, executive officer of the St Vincent de Paul Society, whose headquarters is also near the proposed brothel site, told the meeting of the key issues.

The first was zoning issue; the proposed brothel was too close to the homes, schools and church.

“The homes in Nestor Lane behind the brothel site would be badly affected by it,” he added.

“Nestor Lane is only five metres wide so they would be right on top of it.

“And it would be only 50 metres away from a home for the aged and the Society’s headquarters.” The second point of protest would be the effect on neighbourhood amenities.

“It is also only 50 metres from Petersham Park, which is a community attraction and used by citizens, local schools and children,” he said.

The third issue was parking.

“The application to the council indicates there would be five prostitutes and one receptionist there at any time, with capacity for five clients and others in a waiting room,” Mr Rogers said.

“There could be up to 15 cars involved, all needing parking.

“Parramatta Rd is a clearway (6-10am and 3-7pm) and there is no parking in Nestor Lane, so people coming and going at all times of night would disturb local residents.” He said the meeting was told that if the council approved the application “the premises could then be released and the brothel expanded”. After hearing the major areas of objection, the meeting of 130 people broke up into groups to discuss their particular concerns. A representative from each group then addressed the meeting outlining the concerns of the group.

George Portela, one of the residents who would be most affected, pointed out he would be able to see right into the back of the brothel from his house.

Four Marrickville Council members – Crs Paul Fitzgerald, Gary Wilson, Morris Hanna and Sam Byrnes – attended the meeting. Two others – Crs Sylvia Hall and Dimitrios Thanos – sent apologies. Owen Rogers said later that the feeling at the meeting was “very positive”.

“We feel confident there will be a successful outcome.” He said the attending councillors were most helpful and told individuals at the meeting that they should write to the council with their objections.

The parish priest of St Thomas’s Church, Lewisham, Fr Michael Butler, said he was very happy with the meeting.

“We printed off more than 100 sheets of suggestions about what people could do and we ran out of them,” he said. “A good community spirit was created at the meeting.”