SWINGER’S NEW MOVE
THE owner of a Gold Coast swingers party house says he has been forced to move due to Gold Coast City Council action against his invitation-only sex romps.
The host said he received a letter from the council last week warning he had to apply for a change-of-use permit or face fines of up to $3000.
The home owner plans to sell his five-bedroom house.
THE owner of a Gold Coast swingers party house says he has been forced to move due to Gold Coast City Council action against his invitation-only sex romps.
The host said he received a letter from the council last week warning he had to apply for a change-of-use permit or face fines of up to $3000.
He denied angry neighbours were responsible for the crackdown because he said they attended the parties at his Hope Island mansion, dubbed “Pleasure 8’’[ online.
The homeowner plans to sell his five-bedroom house and set up a swingers den on acreage elsewhere.
“My initial reaction was this is now touching on my own civil rights – you can’t have sex in your own house?” said the homeowner, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“It is not like it is a public free-for-all. I know who is coming. They say I am operating a club but it could be defined as anything. The Gold Coast council are party poopers, plain and simple.
“I feel a bit targeted. I own this home. What I am doing in my own four walls shouldn’t bother anyone.”
The Bulletin was given a tour of the home in April after complaints about a 77-person leather and lace sex party.
Guests had to donate $50 a couple and $70 for a single man to cover food, drinks, condoms and lubricants, and for cleaners the next day. Entry for single women was free.
Each bedroom, or “play area”, had lubricants, tissues and condoms. Some rooms had multiple beds, another with costumes. A Twister mat was in the large lounge room.
Asked at the time if it would intervene, the council said it
“did not regulate activities of this nature”.
But last week’s letter from the council accused the man of operating a club without development approval, in a lowdensity residential zone. It defined a club as “premises used by persons associated for social, literary, political, sporting, athletic or other similar purposes for social interaction or entertainment”.
THE GOLD COAST COUNCIL ARE PARTY POOPERS, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. “PLEASURE 8’’ HOST
A spokeswoman said the house was in a cul-de-sac and low-density residential zone.
The host claimed he was targeted because of the sexual nature of the parties, but they were “no different to knitting or card game’’ gatherings.
The man, 49, said he did not believe the community had problems with his themed “get-togethers” either, as some often participated.
“What about Bible studies or book clubs? Aren’t they a club?’’ he said.
“I am selling the house and moving away because I am sick of this crap.”