After a tenacious campaign by members of the community, the brothel planned for a Toronto West industrial estate is no more.

Instead, the property has been bought by an anonymous investor linked to the No Brothel community group and will be leased out to “a business more suitable to the area”.

The Star reported on June 10, 2009 that a residents’ group called No Brothel had formed in Toronto to oppose a development application for a brothel.

No Brothel members took the fight to Lake Macquarie City Council, opposing its proximity to a local reserve that was used by children.

No Brothel spokesman and local business-man Marco Torretta said the brothel’s location in a low socio-economic area could also lead to social problems such as illegal street pros-titution, drug and alcohol abuse.

Despite the concerns, the development application was passed by the council after an inspection of the site.

It appeared the brothel’s opening was imminent.

However, the No Brothel campaigners did not give up the fight.

When the building marked for the brothel was unexpectedly put on the market; they raised enough money to purchase the site.

Mr Toretta told The Star he was contacted by a local real estate agent when the property was put up for sale.

He made some phone calls and with the help of a major investor from the community, who wished to remain anonymous, the site was purchased.

“We lost the battle but I think we won the war, that is what counts,” Mr Toretta said.

“(The owner) wants to lease it to another business.

“A couple of people have asked about it but (a lease) hasn’t been finalised yet. But I can guarantee it’s not going to be a brothel.”

The Star spoke with the Toronto real estate agent who sold the property: he said the former owners of the site had been interested in selling it for some time.

The agent, who did not want to be named, said while property values were low, the former owner decided to lease the site to the brothel applicant but decided to sell when the market strengthened.

A spokeswoman for Lake Macquarie City Council said there had been no further enquiries regarding development applications for brothels in the region.