Peter Gleeson: Which Gold Coast beaches could be havens for nudists
The facts have been laid bare. It’s now up to our political decision-makers to make sure we have skin in the game, Peter Gleeson writes
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WHAT do Jim Backus, Mr Howell on Gilligan’s Island, US statesman Benjamin Franklin, Senator Ted Kennedy and actor Gloria Stewart have in common?
They were all nudists, or naturists, as they like to be called. They loved nothing better than getting their gear off and going for a walk on the beach.
Now, you may believe this column is written with tongue firmly in cheek, but you must think again.
With Covid-19 running rampant and bringing the tourism industry to its knees, the Gold Coast must think outside the box and diversify away from its traditional economic base of sun, sand and theme parks. It’s time to flesh out new frontiers.
We need a debate around catering to the well-heeled and influential group known as naturists. In other words, a nude beach.
Now before people start jumping up and down suggesting it would be known as Pervers Paradise, let’s not forget that nude tourism is big.
Back in the early 1990s, a fellow by the name of Christian Jocumsen ran for mayor on the sole platform of establishing nude beaches.
He received only 5.21 per cent of the vote, but that was still 8987 people who wanted nude bathing in the city.
With the population of the Gold Coast doubling since then, that figure could easily have swelled to as many as 15,000 people supporting a nude beach.
Jocumsen was an interesting character. He invariably turned up to photo shoots to promote his venerable cause with half a dozen young women, who would strip down to their birthday suits for the photo.
The photographer would have to insist that the young beauties put their bums to the camera, in the interests of ensuring that the images would run in the paper.
Jocumsen would then round them up, get them dressed, and they would pile into the back of his Kombie, no doubt headed for a northern NSW beach where they could practice what they preached.
He may not have been elected mayor, but Jocumsen was a popular lad. Nobody ever found out what his other mayoral policies were. Voters instead opted for the more conservative Gary Baildon or Ray Stevens instead.
Jocumsen was also popular with men’s magazines Zoo and Picture, which peddled soft porn under the guise of real news, according to those familiar with the products. I digress.
It’s time to embrace the natural wonders of this city, and allow some of our best beaches to become havens for nudists.
Look at the roll call of fantastic nude beaches that attract thousands around the world. Black’s Beach in California, Buhne in Germany, Wreck Beach, Canada, Anse de Grande, St Barts and Ibiza in Spain … all big tourist drawcards.
To begin the debate, let me suggest a couple of beaches that would perfectly fit the bill. The southern end of Burleigh beach would be perfect. A cordoned off area adjacent to Rick Shores would attract nudists from around the world. What a view to Surfers Paradise. If you can’t get a park at Burleigh now, imagine what it would be like then.
Kirra is a real jewel in the city’s beachside crown. It is a long, sweeping beach which lends itself to the southern section also being cordoned off for nudists.
My favourite for a nudist beach would be Narrowneck. Wedged between Surfers Paradise and Main Beach, it is already renowned for its white pointers. Sharks remain a problem, even for nudists.
It is a nondescript part of the city’s beach stretch, ensuring it does not affect those heavily populated beaches either side.
Of course, Stradbroke Island and even Bum’s Beach are natural habitats for the nudist and locals would no doubt embrace the extra tourism spend.
Mayor Tom Tate and his band of councillors have outright dismissed calls for a nude beach. That is disappointing.
We elect these people to make bold, innovative decisions that will help drive business in times of crisis like a pandemic.
Instead, we get flaccid decision-making. No ticker. Dare I say it, no balls. This city is crying out for a circuit breaker. It’s crying out for a bold, courageous plan to turn a couple of our iconic beaches into a haven for naturists.
The facts have been laid bare. It’s now up to our political decision-makers to make sure we have skin in the game.
Business backs push for nude beach to boost economy post-Covid – September 11
BUSINESS leaders want the Gold Coast City Council to consider creating a dedicated nudist beach as a drawcard for post-Covid tourism.
In what would put new meaning to the Glitter Strip, the Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce says clothes-free beaches would be a major tourist attraction for European tourists once borders reopen.
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A nudist beach would be worth $50m annually to the Gold Coast, according to a 2016 estimate by the Australian Sex Party.
Chamber boss Martin Hall said the city needed to consider bold and out-of-the-box ideas if it was to regain some of the $4bn the tourism industry lost because of the pandemic.
“If Covid has taught us anything, it’s that there is a need to innovate,” he said.
“I wouldn’t personally do it but, if anything, it would add a bit of spice to the economy and it should be explored through the lenses of economic recovery.
“(Nudists) are a pocket of society and we should make sure we cater to everyone’s interests.”
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The concept, which has been an issue on the Gold Coast for more than 30 years, was raised following complaints of scantily clad people using the city’s beaches for early morning “porn shoots”.
Palm Beach and Tallebudgera residents say they are tired of the scandalous behaviour.
But city leaders say the Gold Coast is no place for nudity.
Council Lifestyle and Community committee head Cr Hermann Vorster said he could not support the idea.
“I don’t believe Gold Coasters want special access for specific community groups to this public asset and they would be deeply upset with any proposal that may exclude families from enjoying the beach close to their homes,” he said.
“Personally, I believe the beach experience is about getting sand between your toes and not in other places.
“That’s not to say Tweed Heads or another nearby local government may not be open to chasing the naturist dollar.”
Surfers Paradise councillor Darren Taylor said he did not support the idea while Mayor Tom Tate reiterated his strong opposition to nudist beaches, referring to his 2016 comments in which he said public safety was more important than tourism dollars.
“I think we are already a booming tourist destination without a nude beach,” he told the Bulletin at the time.
“I don’t want us to be known as a nude destination.
“I don’t want people saying ‘hey, I want to get nude, let’s go to the Gold Coast’.”
The debate over nudist beaches began in the 1980s when the Queensland Young Nationals declared nude beaches must be introduced if the Gold Coast was to compete as an international tourist destination in the 1990s.
Then-Young Nationals president Russell Schroter said the agreement should be welcomed by tourist regions.
“Tourism is a very important industry and tourists, particularly those from overseas, seem to like this sort of thing,” Mr Schroter said.
Pro-nudity candidate Christian Jocumsen unsuccessfully contested the Gold Coast mayoralty several times in the 1990s and 2000s on a platform on introducing nudist beaches.
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