NEW SEX SHOP IN TOWN - Anne Ellis - 17th October 2008

A NEW SEX SHOP has opened in Morwell.

The Sextastic Adult Variety Store Chain has opened a brand new store in Tarwin St Morwell. The site used to be the Barefax Adult Store however Sextastic purchased the site in June this year and after extensive renovations the store is now open. Managing Director Jodie Gowans says that Gippsland needs a bright funky store that gives customers a great shopping experience. “ We are very proud of the way the store has come up, it will not only be a well stocked store for regular adult shop customers, but also a non confronting environment for first time adult shoppers.” Sextastic have 4 other stores in Victoria and expansion plans that befit the Morwell premise they have opened. The operators have used a mix of bright funky colours and clever stock mixes which includes spray tanning and a great selection of lingerie. While visiting the store it was obvious that locals thought the same with the sound of laughter and rustling of shopping bags making the atmosphere seem like any other retail store. Sextastic Morwell is open at 37 Tarwin St Morwell and yes I will be back!

No sex shop - By Paul Pickering 2nd April 2008

Casey Council has emphatically refused an application to open an adult sex bookshop in Berwick Village.

CASEY Council last week refused an application to establish an adult sex bookshop in Berwick Village, revealing that several of the submissions received in support of the proposal did not appear to be legitimate.
Applicant Scott Gowans sought to convert a vacated factory on Enterprise Avenue into the third retail outlet for his Sextastic Adult Variety Stores chain.
The outlet was to sell sexually explicit literature, videos, lingerie and other sex aids. After the proposal was advertised late last year, the council received 23 objections, including a petition signed by 138 people.
A report endorsed by Casey’s planning committee last week indicated that the majority of objectors believed the store would be inappropriate given its proximity to family facilities such as the nearby children’s gymnastics centre.
According to the report, many objectors suggested that “the name of the adult sex bookshop, Sextastic Adult Variety Store, would most likely be confused - in the minds of parents - with Funtastic Gymnastics.”
Given the presence of minors, the objectors also raised concern about the proposed display of sexually explicit goods in the store window.
On those grounds, the report’s recommendation that the application be refused was endorsed by the council without discussion on Tuesday 25 March.
But the report also questioned the legitimacy of some of the submissions offered in support of Mr Gowans’ application.
Mr Gowans provided 96 submissions of support, including two petitions containing a total of 276 signatories.
But, as the report states, the council’s attempts to verify the submissions were inconclusive. “It should be noted that of the submissions in support of the application, council was contacted on four separate occasions - by either owners of the properties or family members – advising that they were unaware of the submission made on their behalf,” the report says.
Casey’s planning manager Duncan Turner last week stopped short of accusing Mr Gowans of fabricating the submissions, only confirming that the council had been advised that the submissions were “allegedly falsified”.
Mr Gowans, however, offered to explain the misunderstanding.
Mr Gowans said that customers of his other stores – in Pakenham and Mordialloc – had written submissions of support without telling their partners, particularly in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day. So, he said, when the council called to verify the submissions, the partners or family members had no knowledge of the submissions attributed to their address.
Mr Gowans said he was disappointed with the council’s decision to refuse the application, but he was yet to decide whether he would lodge an appeal with the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal.

Paul Dunlop - 6th July 2006

A BID to open a second sex shop in Pakenham has been knocked back by Cardinia Shire Council. Councillors at their town planning meeting on Monday refused to permit Jodie Gowans, owner of Sextastic in Hallam, to open another store in the Michael Street industrial estate. Councillors said the proposal was too close to future residential development. Cr Ed Chatwin also voted against the application on moral grounds. He said adult bookshops went “to the dark side of the human psyche”. “I find it objectionable and I object,” Cr Chatwin said. Councillors had earlier this year approved albeit reluctantly the town’s first adult shop in the Racecourse Road industrial estate. Ms Gowans had said her shop would be aimed predominantly at the female market, and planned to have female staff and also offer fancy dress hire and spray tanning. A town planners’ report said Ms Gowans’ proposal generally complied with planning regulations but that land about 180 metres to the north was identified for future housing. An adult bookshop is not allowed within 200 metres of a residential area. Councillors agreed with officers’ recommendation that the application be refused. “This is totally inappropriate for this area of Pakenham,” Cr Brett Owen said. “We need to look to the future and consider what is proposed very close to this business.” Fifteen objections were lodged when Ms Gowans’ application was advertised. Cr Doug Hamilton said he was opposed to a second sex shop in the town. “I’m not sure Pakenham is big enough for one, I don’t believe there is any justification for having two,” he said.

Paul Dunlop - 29th November 2006

ANOTHER sex shop is coming to Pakenham.
And Cardinia Shire Council has been dealt a slap by the state planning umpire.
In a decision hailed as a vindication by operators of the Sextastic chain of stores, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) overturned opposition to plans for a new women orientated adult shop in Michael Street.
The council in July had refused to grant a permit for the adult bookstore, the second in what some councilors said was an alarming trend.
But tribunal members Rachel Naylor and MaryAnne Taranto cast aside the council’s decision. Councilors had claimed the proposal was too close to future housing development and would jeopardise proper planning for the area. But VCAT said the Sextastic store’s location complied with a 200 metre buffer zone required between an adult bookshop and a residential area. A shop selling adult products, lingerie and novelties as well as offering spray tanning and other health and lifestyle services was not out of place in the predominantly industrial area, the tribunal found.
Sextastic managing director Jodie Gowans welcomed the decision, saying she was very happy. Ms Gowans said the new store was expected to open before Christmas.
“This is the second time Sextastic has been before VCAT and it has been successful both times,” Ms Gowans said. “We have always remained focused on the fact that our application met the criteria set out for opening a store in the Cardinia Shire.”
Fifteen objections had been lodged by business operators and nearby residents.
Objectors said people visiting other shops and services would be put off by a sex shop in the area. Ms Naylor and Ms Taranto were critical of the lack of detailed planning council had done for that part of town. The tribunal members said the area suffered from a policy vacuum. They said it was unclear exactly what was ahead for the fast developing area north of the Princes Highway from the Cardinia Life aquatic and recreation centre. The tribunal was concerned that the council appeared to be relying on a planning strategy that was six years old and quickly becoming out of date. “There is a distinct lack of strategic planning for the future growth of Pakenham, particularly the area north and west of the review site, and the council’s grounds of refusal are insufficient justification to refuse this proposal,” the tribunal report said. “We are not persuaded the approval of this proposal will prejudice the proper future planning of the area.” Ms Gowans said Sextastic aimed to change people’s perception of adult shops. “We focus on store layouts that make the shop a fun, friendly place for adults,” she said. “We want to fit into the Pakenham community and surrounding area not only by employing local people but supporting local issues.”A pre Christmas opening is expected.