Residents concerned with Swingers Club proposal

A development application has been submitted to the City of Sydney to turn a Brothel into a Swingers Club in Surry Hills.

The Brothel, located at 481 Elizabeth Street, is proposing to use the premises as a Swingers Club, to operate 24 hours per day, seven days a week, with the DA being submitted by Joe Vassallo.

But local residents are concerned a Swingers Club will attract increased anti-social behaviour and crime.

“I’m concerned that a Swingers Club will attract the wrong type of people,” a Surry Hills resident who did not want to be named told City News.

“I understand it’s a neighbourhood with brothels present, but I think a 24 hour a day Swingers Club is unnecessary.”

A Swingers Club is a place where couples agree to exchange sexual partners on site and not for payment.

The premises is bordered by Brothels on either side but the site is not within an area zoned ‘residential’ and is not in proximity to land uses deemed ‘sensitive’.  

The broader area is namely used for business and commercial use.

According the Plan of Management, the premises would be BYO, with no alcohol to be served at the site.  

The Statement of Environmental Effects states the premises would provide “a conducive environment for socialising and for meeting of other couples or individuals for sexual encounters in private or semi-private rooms.”

“The sexual partners are not paid for their sexual services, and as such would not be sex workers. However an entry fee to the premises would be charged.”

Residents however are concerned that BYO alcohol will cause anti-social behaviour and increase crime.

“Only a few weeks ago police attended Elizabeth Street after arguments broke out near the Brothel,” a Surry Hills resident told City News.

“There are plenty of sex-venues in the area, I don’t think we need to be attracting more and more people.”

But according to the Statement of Environmental Effects, alcohol would allow “patrons to better relax and to induce more of a ‘party mood’”.

The plan states alcohol consumption would be monitored and regulated by staff and alcohol would be kept at reception.

If people are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs upon arrival, they would be refused entrance.

The DA states its main aims in the PoM to be: preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases by practicising safe sex at all times, ensuring spas are maintained and operated to ensure hygiene, and to ensure all rooms, bed and other areas where sex occurs are kept clean.

The DA was on public exhibition until May 4.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said: “we’ve received no letters of support and only one objection to this DA”.

by Sophie Cousins