Chamber backs stripper ban

Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce president Justin Smith has backed the closure of a Rockingham strip club.

Zelda’s strip club and Vibe Nightclub can no longer operate under the same license after the Liquor Commission imposed strict conditions last week on owner Tocoan’s license.

Bikies have also been banned from the premises, bouncers will be required to retake Responsible Service of Alcohol training and patrons will be refused entry an hour before closing time.

Mr Smith said the strip club closure, which is being appealed by Tocoan director Kevin Mann, would befit an area that was becoming increasingly family-friendly.

‘‘There’s the same patrons in the area, regardless of venues, it’s attitudes and drunkenness — it doesn’t matter if it is upstairs or downstairs,’’ he said.

The Kent Street premises has been shut since May 3 pending a Section 95 complaint by police, which was heard last week.

Meanwhile, Mr Mann has vowed to fight the closure in the Supreme Court.

‘‘The trouble was definitely up in the nightclub, no doubt about it. There was no grounds to take the strippers away,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s never been any trouble in Zelda’s ... the business has been there for 20 years.’’

The nightclub will have to abide by a number of stringent conditions before it is allowed to reopen, including the installation of facial recognition technology. It will be prohibited from selling beverages that ‘‘encourage the rapid consumption of liquor’’ including shooters and jelly shots.

The commission said further fines were unnecessary as losses suffered by the premises’ closure were ‘‘appropriate’’.