To: Mayor Cr Stretch Kontelj OAM and Councillors, City of Greater Geelong
(and for the information of Christine Couzens MP, Member for Geelong)

We, the undersigned residents and parents of Geelong, respectfully petition the City of Greater Geelong to take immediate
action to protect the safety and wellbeing of children.

In December 2023, the Victorian Government amended the Victoria Planning Provisions (Amendment VC217) to decriminalise sex work. This change allows sex services premises (including adult massage and brothels) to operate as-of-right (no planning permit required) in Commercial 1 Zones — including land within 200 metres of schools. This has created an unintended gap in child safety protections around educational facilities.

We therefore request that Council:

1. Formally supports the introduction of a new Child Safety Protection Overlay in the Victoria Planning Provisions.

2. Applies (or supports the application of) this overlay to all Commercial 1 Zone land within 200 metres of any school in the municipality (measured by the shortest route reasonably accessible on foot).

3. Supports aligning the planning controls for sex services premises with those that currently apply (or can be applied) to adult sex product shops (including adult bookshops and adult toy shops) in the Victoria Planning Provisions. This would ensure consistent consideration of location-based sensitivities and permit requirements for adult-oriented retail uses near schools and other child-sensitive areas.

4. Writes to the Minister for Planning requesting a state-wide amendment to insert the following overlay into Clause 45 of the Victoria Planning Provisions:

Child Safety Protection Overlay (CSPO)

Purpose
To protect the safety, wellbeing, and healthy development of children by enabling responsible authorities to manage the location of sex services premises on Commercial 1 Zone land near schools.

Application
The overlay may be applied to land in the Commercial 1 Zone located within 200 metres (measured by the shortest route reasonably accessible on foot) of a school.

Table of uses
Sex services premises – Section 2 (permit required) with decision guidelines that specifically consider:
• The potential impact on the safety and wellbeing of children attending the nearby school.
• The need to protect children from exposure to adult-oriented premises.
• Community expectations regarding child safety in sensitive areas around educational and early childhood facilities.

We believe every child in Geelong deserves to grow up in a safe environment, free from unnecessary exposure to the adult sex industry near their school. This targeted, proportionate measure puts child safety first while fully respecting the decriminalisation of consensual adult sex work.

We urge Mayor Cr Stretch Kontelj OAM and the Council to write to the local State Government member and the Minister for planning requesting the State Government support the Child Safety Protection Overlay and requesting the state-wide amendment. We also ask that Christine Couzens MP advocates for this change with the Victorian Government.