James Penlidis continues his naked protest over Bentleigh development
IT MIGHT be the middle of winter, but that hasn’t stopped James Penlidis keeping up his naked protest against development in Bentleigh.
Inner South
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MELBOURNE’S infamous naked neighbour is baring his bottom again in a daring protest against Glen Eira council’s development policies.
Bentleigh photographer James Penlidis has been doing cheeky bin runs and posting his exploits on Facebook because of “excessive” development in his street.
RELATED: Naked stunt exposes privacy issues
Leader readers first met Mr Penlidis in February when the self-described “big, hairy Greek guy” won a crusade to get some privacy from his neighbours by barbecuing, cleaning the gutters and painting his house — wearing nothing but a smile.
While the unusual strategy was successful, Mr Penlidis has a new reason to get nude, with at least four houses to be demolished and developed into townhouses within 30m of his family home.
He said the narrow street had been inundated with trucks and vans.
“That means 50 cement trucks and countless tradesmen blocking my driveway,” he told Leader.
“Thank you City of Glen Eira,” he posted on Facebook.
“I take my bins out like this.”
“I want the new neighbours and builders to know there is crazy in the village.”
Mr Penlidis said he did not want to “scare any little old ladies” but wanted to take a stand after being regularly blocked in his driveway by construction crews.
He vowed to continue the nude bin runs despite the chilly weather and the possibility of being fined or arrested.
“The police will have to drag me off in handcuffs naked,” he said.
Glen Eira planning and place director Ron Torres said, given Melbourne’s high level of building activity, he feared the suburbs would be “awash with naked people taking their bins out” if others followed suit.
“I hold particular concern for Melbourne’s growth areas,” he said.
Mr Torres said the council had received one complaint about parking in Wright St.
“This was for obstructing a driveway, and a fine was subsequently issued,” he said.
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