Sydney 's Kings Cross stripped of sex

SYDNEY - One night soon the only red fluorescent glow illuminating Sydney's notorious Kings Cross strip could belong to the Coca-Cola sign at the top of Darlinghurst Rd.

The future of Australia's most famous stretch of strip clubs, brothels and adult shops is threatened after the Sydney City Council voted to prohibit new sex industry businesses from setting up in the heart of the red light district.

This sleazy drugs-rife pocket of the inner-city has been in the crosshairs of the council since it gained control of the suburb from the South Sydney local authority on May 8.

The policy takes effect immediately but is not retrospective so existing businesses will not be forced out.

An initiative to "discourage the continuation of the area as a red light district" was passed after councillors considered a report which claimed other businesses were disadvantaged by a monopolising sex industry.

"The proliferation of brothels, strip clubs, restricted premises and the like detract from the ability of [Kings Cross] communities to assert any meaningful ownership over it's main street," the report said.

About 20 brothels and strip clubs operate in Kings Cross.

Last month, the operators of Melbourne brothel The Daily Planet sought permission to convert a Kings Cross hotel into a 30-room establishment complete with restaurant, bar and a staff of 200 sex workers.

The Planet had hoped to open by the end of August after a $A2.5 million ($2.8 million) refit but a brothel spokesman was yesterday not sure of the planning application's status.

The policy also introduces an anti-clustering law, meaning no two sex businesses can operate within 75m of each other - the most explicit message yet that the council is determined to transform the area's shady image.

Since local government boundary changes placed the suburb under the city's jurisdiction, the council has embarked on a $A13 million upgrade of Darlinghurst Rd and announced plans for a community library in the middle of the nightclub strip.

The railway station will be given a facelift, footpaths widened, there will be more trees and better lighting.

Stephen Carnell, general manager of business lobby group Kings Cross Partnership, welcomed the move and said "retailing in the main strip needs a boost and the deck reshuffled".

But Maria McMahon, of the Sex Workers Outreach Project, said the new policy discriminated against the sex industry, and Frank Amante, owner of Porky's Nite Spot, said the strategy risked ruining the commercial viability of the area.

"If the strip clubs left from here, everything would go broke," he said.

The Cross - originally an Aboriginal reserve - developed it's raucous reputation during World War II and the Vietnam War when it became a playground for United States and Australian soldiers and sailors on leave.

Ironically, news of the clampdown coincided with the visit of 6500 US marines and sailors, who spent an estimated $A6 million over four days.

Strip clubs and brothels did a roaring trade, although New South Wales Tourism Minister Sandra Nori said "we're finding they'd rather go to a nice restaurant and enjoy a finer style of dining too".

- NZPA