Mornington Peninsula Shire to canvas locals, beach goers about clothing option status of Mt Eliza beach
One of only three Victorian beaches that allows nude bathing has landed in the hot seat. Here’s why.
South East
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Naturists could be forced to cover up at a popular Mornington Peninsula beach if angry locals score a win over their sans pants antics.
Mornington Peninsula Shire voted on Tuesday night to ask locals and Sunnyside North Beach users about their experiences at the ‘clothing optional’ Mt Eliza beach with a view to banning people from letting it all hang out.
There are reports the beach and the nearby carpark have become hot spots for drug use and sexual activities, both night and day, with “hazardous rubbish such as syringes being left on the beach and within the carpark.’’
One man told the Herald Sun the beach was a “cesspit of depravity”.
“Has been for years,” Stephen Lane posted.
“Keep an eye on your kids if you ever go down there. Disgraceful.”
Angry naturists said the move was the first step towards creating “a private beach for the privileged few”.
“The beach is a public resource,” Keep Sunnyside Beach Clothing Optional action group said. “It is not a private beach for those adjoining landholders to have for their exclusive use.”
The group also argued that the beach was an important drawcard for a region that relied heavily on tourism.
A report tabled at Tuesday’s meeting revealed the council’s concerns about ongoing illegal and anti-social behaviour in the area including drug use and sexual activities in the carpark and along the foreshore.
While the issues weren’t solely associated with the clothing optional section of the beach, it was a difficult area for police to patrol due to its distance from the car park.
Cr Steve Holland called for the consultation to allow feedback from all Mornington Peninsula residents and beach goers from outside the region.
He wanted the results to be weighted to reflect the respondent’s postcode.
Cr Holland said another nude beach in Werribee South had lost its clothing optional status in 2015, partly because the area had become “more built up”.
He said a similar situation was occurring in Mt Eliza and now was a good time to review the beach.
Cr Paul Mercurio was not in favour of the plan.
“This is all about getting rid of clothing optional from the beach and I don’t support that,” he said.
The council will consult about the beach in March.
Mornington Peninsula Shire does not have the authority to change the status of the beach.
It must ask Planning Minister Richard Wynne to revoke the clothing optional control.
There are three clothing optional beaches in Victoria including Sunnyside North, Point Impossible Beach, Torquay and Southside Beach near Point Addis.