LABOR MLC Ljiljanna Ravlich has successfully campaigned to stop a massage parlour opening beside a rental she owns on Marine Terrace, Fremantle.
The plain-speaking pollie spoke against the business at the council meeting, later telling the Herald “there hadn’t been enough details about the business to allay people’s concerns about what could happen there.”
Ms Ravlich, wife of former WA Opposition leader Eric Ripper, says she’s owned the rental between Russell and Howard Streets for around 15 years.
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Lily Wu denied the business would be offering sexual services, saying it would only open during office hours.
The application is for four massage rooms, a reception and five employees.
• Site of the proposed “massage parlour” at 88 Marine Terrace. Photo by Stephen Pollock
Cr Dave Coggin said that under the local town planning scheme, the business should have sailed through.
“I wonder if it was called something like Organic Beauty and Body Spa, it would have hit the same roadblocks,” he pondered.
“There’s plenty of parking down there and it easily meets the definition of a shop.”
Cr Sam Wainwright was also worried about the stigma of massage parlours.
“I wonder if the phrase used in the application ‘massage parlour’ is throwing us off track,” he says.
“This is all getting very subjective and we seem to be debating about whether this is the best location for this type of shop, rather than if it meets our guidelines,” he said.
Several councillors said a massage business was out of place in the small strip of offices, houses and businesses, but the Herald found Chiropractic Wellness Centre — a similar auxiliary health service — just a few doors down.
Neighbour Stuart Heath told council he was concerned about customers coming and going and a loss of privacy.
The council was split 5/5, with mayor Brad Pettitt’s casting vote giving the parlour the chop suey.
“We welcome new businesses into Fremantle, but I don’t think this is the right location for this one,” he said.
“We would be happy to work with you to find another more suitable location.”
by STEPHEN POLLOCK
