Controversial move to shut nude beach near Byron Bay
A nude beach, previously criticised as a ‘sex pest hotspot’, is likely to be shut down in a move that has angered Byron Bay naturists.
A nude beach in Byron Bay, which has been clothing optional for 25 years, is likely to have that freedom stripped within weeks.
Byron Shire Council will next week vote on a recommendation to revoke its 1998 decision to make Tyagarah Beach “clothes optional”.
It follows a letter from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to the council in December that said a large section of the clothes optional area was found to be in Tyagarah Nature Reserve, which it is the managing authority of, instead of on what was understood to be council-managed land.
“Maintaining a clothes optional area in a nature reserve is not consistent with the values the reserve is managed under,” the letter said.
“For example, people are accessing not only the beach but also the dune and hind-dune which is creating environmental issues. The continuation of a clothes optional area in Tyagarah Nature Reserve is not supported by NPWS.”
The agenda of next Thursday’s council meeting states that without support of NPWS as land manager, the council has no jurisdiction to declare the beach as clothes optional.
Current council signage informing beach goers that nude bathing is permitted would need to be removed by Monday, April 8.
Bradley Benham, from the Byron Naturists and Friends group, started a petition on Sunday objecting to the change, which has more than 1100 signatures.
“Nude recreation is a legitimate way of life, and the local community, interstate and international visitors have the right to some public space where this freedom can be expressed,” he wrote in the petition addressed to NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe.
He said the decision to close the clothing optional beach on short notice and without public consultation or an alternate location was “unfair”.
“We call on NPWS to immediately reverse their decision and to speak with stakeholders to ensure there is a legal clothing-optional beach in Byron Shire for us and future generations,” Mr Benham said.
He said thousands of people “enjoyed this beach responsibly”.
NPWS told news.com.au a final decision on the clothes optional area at the beach had not been made.
“Byron Shire Council’s Tyagarah Beach – Clothes Optional Area, including the part which is within in Tyagarah Nature Reserve, remains open,” a spokesman said.
“The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to identify alternative locations for the activity to take place.”
Tyagarah Beach has previously attracted complaints and reports of lewd behaviour, public sex and masturbation. It has been described as a “sex pest hotspot” spot by objectors.
A petition with the signatures of 86 Byron Shire residents requesting the clothing optional status of the beach be removed “due to the ongoing prevalence of sexual misconduct” was tabled in 2018.
However, council decided to keep the beach open to nude bathing.
Instead, it approved $10,000 worth of security cameras for the car park as a preventive measure.