Blue Mountains City Council in hot water over ‘patriarchal’ thong, G-string ban

The Blue Mountains City Council is facing uproar from within its boundaries and around the country after banning women from wearing thongs and G-strings to local pools, and deleting a social media post justifying the rule.

A controversial ban on G-strings at several council-run pools has blown up online, where local residents and female commentators labelled it “disgusting” and “absolutely ridiculous” before a post justifying the move mysteriously vanished.

The Facebook post by Blue Mountains Leisure Centres, which manages the area’s five pools as an extension of the local council, was deleted less than 20 minutes after The Daily Telegraph contacted Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill, who refused to back down on the ban as the local MP prepares to confront him over the issue.

A now-deleted Facebook post from Blue Mountains City Council

The mayor declined to comment on the backlash but said the policy – which applies at Glenbrook Swim Centre, Lawson Swim Centre, Springwood Aquatic and Fitness Centre, Blackheath Pool and Katoomba Aquatic and Fitness Centre – was longstanding and shared by many councils.

Weighing in on the debate from outside the Blue Mountains, Australian curve model Jess King posted on Instagram to condemn the decision.

“Such a ban implies that the human body – specifically the bum, (which we all have!!) – is inherently inappropriate or sexualised, reinforcing shame rather than promoting acceptance,” she wrote.

Australian curve model Jess King condemned the ban for “reinforcing shame”. Picture: Instagram/jessraeking

Comments on the now-deleted post, meanwhile, included criticism of both the Blue Mountains City Council and the people who complained about female patrons’ clothing before a poster outlining the rules was placed at the entrances to the pools.

“As a Blue Mountains local I’m outraged, this is so disgusting,” Mackenzie Hollow wrote.

Social media star Abbie Chatfield has long been a fan of the G-string bikini. Picture: instagram/abbiechatfield

Blue Mountains Council considers bikinis that cover the backside to be recognised swimwear.

“Fashion changes and community standards are inconsistent. So long as practicality and safety are … considered it shouldn’t be any one (sic) else’s business what I’m comfortable swimming in,” Kylie van Riel added.

Joanna Woutersz said the rule reflected a “nanny state gone mad”, while Lailani Ikamui said the policy was “absolutely ridiculous”.

The majority of those commenting were critical of the council’s policy.

The Blue Mountains Women’s Health and Resource Centre’s “Ending Violence, Improving Equality” group said dress codes had “long been used to uphold patriarchy and enforce gender stereotypes”, sharing memes referencing the “biased” nature of the ban.

Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle said she was aware of the controversy which had “blown up” across social media, but said informal conversations with councillors indicated the wider backlash “doesn’t reflect” views within the local community.

She said the matter was the council’s responsibility, but at least one constituent had raised the issue with her in person to suggest the policy needed to be updated to more modern standards.

“I am meeting with the mayor this week to discuss a whole range of issues, including more important matters,” Ms Doyle said.

“There’s a real divide in people’s opinion on this … we’ve got council meetings coming up and I’m sure the community will be consulted.”

Originally published as Blue Mountains City Council in hot water over ‘patriarchal’ thong, G-string ban