Parramatta Council has rejected an application for a Thai massage business in Toongabbie.
A Thai remedial-massage business in Toongabbie will not go ahead after Parramatta Council rejected an application.
Councillors Andrew Wilson and Lorraine Wearne criticised the decision and alleged their colleagues had rejected the proposal because of speculation the business may be used as a brothel.
‘‘Because you’re frightened of somebody conducting an illegal act, that does not give you the right to knock back a legal operation,’’ Cr Wilson said.
‘‘Prior to the election we allowed the expansion of a brothel above a nightclub in one of the most ridiculous decisions I’ve ever seen.
‘‘And now we go up to [Toongabbie] and we’re not going to allow a therapeutic-massage business. It’s two sets of rules.’’
A motion to reject the business on grounds of social impact, traffic problems and authenticity was won.
Councillors Jean Pierre Abood, Shahadat Chowdhury, Bob Dwyer, Pierre Esber, Paul Garrard, John Hugh, Steven Issa, Scott Lloyd and Bakous Makari voted to reject the application.