You may have seen our name in the media or heard about us on radio talk shows and podcasts over the last few weeks. We are thrilled that so many of these outlets and the comments sections of the articles have pointed out the benefits our innovative, socially conscious venue will provide the broader community and appropriateness of our chosen location.

Yes, a small number of people opposed to our chosen lifestyle are attempting to block our plan to open our safe, welcoming and inclusive lifestyle bar for like-minded couples, polycules and every other relationship type to be their true, uninhibited selves. This is despite the fact we have gone to great lengths to appease locals who objected to our original planning application by preparing multiple professional reports validating that the City Rd building is ideal for our nominated use, as supported by the City of Port Phillip’s planning department including the mayor.

The ways we have addressed concerns raised locals include:
- Preparing a detailed sound engineering report showing ambient noise levels in front of the closest residential homes are higher that what will be experienced from our activities. This is due to there being a double-storey building and the busy three-lane arterial road York St between our properties. There is also a service station on the corner of York St and City Rd that is busy 24/7 and South Melbourne train station is located nearby
- Proposing to installing double-glazed windows, automatic closing sound-proof doors and sound monitoring devices inside the premises and conducting regular tests to ensure sound we generate remains within levels prescribed by the Environmental Protection Authority
- Engaging a professional traffic management and parking assessment firm to conduct a thorough investigation showing there will be ample on street parking away from residential homes during our events when the vast majority of other local businesses are closed
- Confirming the signage on our venue and advertising will be discreet and tasteful
- Volunteering to include the aspects of our business that ensure we will have minimal, if any, amenity impact on the surrounding area added to our permit conditions

Unfortunately, everything we have done has not appeased the four main complainants who are driving the VCAT appeal. They have created fliers that grossly exaggerate the proximity of local schools and churches (the closest being over 350 meters away when planning guidelines require a buffer of only 150 meters) and ignores the fact a number of strip clubs, massage parlours, pubs, clubs and brothels are currently legally operating in the area. They seem quite happy to label us a dirty swingers club despite the design and content on our website (www.pinebar.com.au) communicating the contrary.

The building and street layout of the area places the closest houses outside of our guests’ natural path of egress. Measuring the distance between the border of our proposed location and the nearest residential building ignores the fact the shortest walking distance between us is over 150 metres after traveling safely around the 24-hour service station on the corner of York St and City Rd.

Some of the confusion the public may be experiencing might be because there are very few parallels to our niche, destination business. Our focus is on being a boutique, inclusive, respectful and discreet venue for mature consenting adults who would respect the local area and its current usage. Our education, consent and community-focused business is designed to promote the importance of respect, equality, and inclusion within our community while stimulating the senses and entertaining consenting mature-aged adults through arousing decor, theme nights, and vaudeville shows.

This will entice guests to visit the region, creating new employment opportunities, generating benefits for the staff we hire and other businesses in the local area. We will add connectivity, diversity, innovation, excitement, belonging and financial prosperity to the local area. We expect our guests will utilise local overnight accommodation, restaurants, cafes day time activity centres such as the South Melbourne Market and public transport, taxi services/ride share services for transportation.

A number of the City of Port Phillip representatives who voted in favour of granting our planning permit even pointed out venues similar to ours that have previously existed in the area, three of which were adjacent to businesses and homes for many, many years without receiving a single complaint. They understand our goal is to provide a venue for our discerning community to express their true selves in their own unique, sexually liberated way.

We chose our proposed location after more than a year developing our business plan, consulting the lifestyle community for what they would like included in a new venue and looking for a building within the zoning state legislation deemed appropriate for our use and more than the required distance from socially sensitive areas. We adhered to all council guidelines in undertaking due diligence when searching for a location that met all local and state planning requirements.

The wedge of land we propose to be located within is currently zoned Industrial 1 Zone (INZ1). Section 2 of this land use’s guideline allows land use for leisure and recreation purposes and places of assembly with a permit, which our proposed usage clearly falls within. Considering the multiple hotels, bars and pubs serving liquor and playing live music within walking distance, and the number of strip clubs, massage parlours and brothels operating legally in the area, our business activities are consistent with and complimentary to the mixed use nature of the immediate and surrounding area, setting a precedent for our business activities.

The South Melbourne Structure Plan being “implemented over a 20-year period from 2024 to 2044” also states that “The area of IN1Z land in the north-west of the study area should be rezoned to C2Z [Commercial 2 Zoning] and form part of the Enterprise Precinct.” If the area is re-zoned to C2Z, we would still be able to apply for the same planning permit from Council and residential development would still be prohibited.

This is why the City of Port Phillip voted in favour of granting our permit. This is why VCAT will make their decision in our favour. Thankfully, VCAT can order the other party to cover costs incurred for frivolous appeals.

We will be fighting for our statutory right to open our venue in the chosen location, creating Melbourne’s premier purpose-built adult playground for the growing number of mature, consenting adults who would like to experience something more than a vanilla lifestyle.

Feel free to contact us via [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Media outlets welcome.