A pole dancing studio owner claims she has lost $200,000 after unjustified objections to her relocating her business from Kew to Hawthorn East were lodged with her local council.
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Anastacia Snelleksz said objections lodged with Boroondara Council had questioned the legitimacy of her business had insulted her, her staff and her clientele.
She said those who lodged objections had incorrectly suggested her business would attract undesirable people and affect the safety of the area, that alcohol would be consumed on the premises, and that the prices of surrounding houses would lower in value.
Ms Snelleksz said the majority of her clients are professional women in their 30s who use pole dancing as a way of keeping fit.
"It was really unjustified and really quite hurtful. I tried to explain what we do and that their opinion of what we do is so far from true, but they weren't willing to have a bar of it," she said.
The council received 13 objections and 134 submissions for the Camberwell Road site and it insists the issues considered were the impacts on the neighbourhood of noise and car parking.
Council's director city planning, John Luppino, said the business' relocation had "strong policy support".
But, while understanding the council process, Ms Snelleksz said not being able to operate in the new location for three months because of the objections meant she had lost $200,000 in revenue.
"How is it fair that support means nothing and objections mean everything?" she said.
"If you have an existing business and have done time in the community, it shouldn't be so difficult to move locations."
Ms Snelleksz said the council would also deprive her of money by placing time restrictions on when her classes could run.
The permit restricts her from holding classes before 5.30pm on weekdays, meaning that a planned "mums and bubs" daytime classes would be unable to go ahead. She plans to appeal that decision.
Ms Snelleksz claimed this would mean a large clientele of mums who wanted to work out in an environment that accommodated their children would be lost.
"The council is basically telling me when I can make money and when I can't," she said.
Ms Snelleksz said the permits for her other Pole Princess studios, which lie within other local council areas, do not have any restrictions.
Mr Luppino said if no appeals to the council's decision were lodged with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal within three weeks, a permit would be granted.
