Red light gets green light

By Nicole Williams
SPRINGVALE could become Greater Dandenong’s sleazy suburb, with a planning application for a new brothel passing through council unopposed.
The application to convert a single-storey warehouse in Yiannis Court into a brothel was moved and seconded by councillors Peter Brown and Loi Troung without objections from any other councillors.
There is already a brothel on Yiannis Court and an adult bookstore less than 200 metres away on the corner of Centre Road and Westall Road.
Despite objectors’ concerns that the brothel would turn the Springvale area into a ‘red light district’ Cr Brown used the example of a thriving brothel industry in Elsternwick to reassure residents the area could be successful.
“I am aware of the contention but I ask residents to keep an open mind,” he said.
“In Elsternwick, there are similar uses which are rather prominent and successful.
“If successful, an area like this can cope for many years… I don’t see the concern of the objectors.”
Other objections also showed concern for students at schools less than 600 metres away and employees with religious beliefs who worked nearby.