HAWKESBURY Councillor Christine Paine plans to submit a notice of motion to Council this week to investigate the operation of both legal and illegal brothels in Windsor.
After receiving complaints in regard to the number of legal and illegal business operating in Windsor’s CBD, Cr Paine met with a Gazette journalist to walk the town’s mall and visit a number of businesses of concern.
Cr Paine said when it came to brothels in Windsor her main concern was the effect illegal trade could have on other businesses in the area.
“There are a number of hard-working people running astute businesses in Windsor, but Council needs to investigate the operation of some of the places that are filthy and smelly,” Cr Paine said.
“I’l be asking staff to look into the functionality and legalities behind the operation of some of these shops.”
Cr Paine said she understood what used to be the legal brothel in George Street had closed and had concerns about one operating nearby.
“I would like Council to find out whether the business is operating legally,” she said.
Complaints over the number of brothels in Windsor were first brought to the attention of the Gazette two weeks ago by a shop owner in Windsor Mall who thought there were a number of businesses offering sexual acts illegally by trading under the banner of a different service.
Cr Paine said she would also ask staff to look into that matter and ensure such businesses complied with the law.
The Gazette approached Hawkesbury Council in relation to the complaints last week, and its director of city planning, Matthew Owens said compliance staff had also received complaints that were the subject of ongoing investigations.
When asked to outline the number of legal brothels in the area however, Mr Owens said the Gazette would need to pay for an investigation.
“A ‘brothel’ is defined in the planning legislation as ‘sex services premises’. It does not include home occupation (sex services),” Mr Owens said.
He said the number of approved sex service businesses in the Hawkesbury was not known at this time and it would take significant time to investigate.
“There would be an enquiry fee as per Council’s fees and charges,” he said.