Hearing panel make a recommendation on proposed Brothels Bylaw

The Brothels Bylaw Hearing Panel, by a majority decision, has agreed on a recommendation on the proposed Christchurch City Council Brothels (Location and Commercial Sexual Services Signage) Bylaw 2012 that will go to the full Council for its decision.

The Panel’s recommendation to the Council is to restrict the allowable areas permitted for brothels to within the four avenues indicated in the proposed bylaw as amended by:

a) applying residential buffers where the proposed brothels areas are adjacent to residential areas.
b) applying buffers where the proposed brothels areas are located on one side of the road and residential zones on the other side, except where the road is a state highway or a major arterial road.
c)  applying buffers around schools and early childhood learning centres.
d) adjusting the brothels area in the Central City to accommodate the Blueprint in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan.

If this recommendation is approved by the full Council it will require a further round of public consultation as this a major departure from the original proposal that was consulted on in June –
July 2012.

Brothels Bylaw Hearing Panel Chairperson Helen Broughton says this bylaw has been a highly debated issue by the five members of the Hearing Panel. The recommended location for brothels in the Central City was carried by three of the five Panel members.

“I expect the issue will be hotly debated by Councillors when it goes to the full Council in early December for its decision.” 

The Hearing Panel will also recommend that the Council approve a bylaw prohibiting and regulating signage as contained in the proposal but applied to the entire district until the location provisions are determined. 

Background:

In March 2012, the Council asked staff to develop a new brothels bylaw to address any potential issues as many of the known operator-run brothels were located in the Central City and their business premises were inaccessible or badly damaged following the 2011 earthquakes. This was in recognition that businesses may wish to temporarily or permanently relocate and that there are no bylaw controls around where a brothel could set up in the city.

The proposed Christchurch City Council Brothels (Location and Commercial Sexual Services Signage) Bylaw 2012 went out for public consultation in June and July 2012 and attracted 193 submissions.