A BROTHEL will open in Echuca after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal gave the go-ahead for a planning permit.The tribunal’s decision overturns the Shire of Campaspe’s unanimous vote earlier this year to refuse the application for the Bilkey Court proposal.‘‘The Shire of Campaspe is extremely disappointed with the outcome of this hearing,’’ Mayor John Elborough said.‘‘There remain no other avenues (for the council) to pursue with this application.’A VCAT tribunal hearing was held in Echuca last month, after the applicant appealed the council’s refusal.A number of parties presented their concerns during the hearing.The Shire of Campaspe refused the application on the grounds a brothel was not an appropriate land use for the town municipality.The council relied on a State Government report recommending that brothels should be prohibited in areas where there is a population of less than 20,000.Echuca’s population is just over 12,000.VCAT last week announced its approval of the permit, subject to a number of conditions.Cr Elborough said the council knew it was facing a tough VCAT hearing after its request to the Planning Minister to amend the Shire of Campaspe Planning Scheme to prohibit brothels was refused earlier this year.‘‘The shire was half expecting it, but it was still a disappointing result.‘‘They haven’t listened to us - it’s not wanted in this town.’’ he said.The proposal resulted in a total of 171 submissions from 118 households opposing the brothel.The council issued a planning permit to the applicant last week.The permit allows for the use and development of the land for a brothel, which will include six rooms and 17 car-parking spaces, with operating hours from 11 am through to 7 am the following day.