Sunnyside Beach could force nude beachgoers to cover up

One of Victoria’s last remaining nudist beaches could be shuttered after a number of “illegal and inappropriate” acts have left locals furious.

One of Victoria’s last surviving nudist beaches is at risk of being shuttered after a number of “creepy” acts left locals furious.

Sunnyside North Beach, in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula region, has been popular with naturists ever since it was given a “clothing optional” designation back in 1986.

But ongoing “illegal and inappropriate” issues at the small, rocky bay has now caused the local council to get involved.

Mornington Peninsula Shire took the issue to its council meeting on Tuesday night, with councillors voting on whether the nudist section of the beach could remain.

A report, tabled at the council meeting and seen by the ABC, said the beach had recently become “an area attracting people engaging in illegal, inappropriate activities”.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests drug use and sexual activities take place regularly at the carpark and beach during all times of the day and night, resulting in hazardous rubbish, such as syringes, being left on the beach and within the carpark, and surrounding bluffs,” the report said.

The beach has been ‘clothing optional’ since 1986.

Concerned locals have taken their issues with the nudist beach to council. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Local councillor Steve Holland said it was “a good time to review” the status of the beach however councillor Paul Mercurio opposed the discussion.

The council decided it will hold a consultation on the beach’s nude status in March.

However, should the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council wish to remove the legal protection for Sunnyside’s nudist visitors, they will have to ask the state’s Planning Minister Richard Wynne to change it, as the council itself does not have that power.

The Keep Sunnyside Beach Clothing Optional action group has blasted the council consultation.

“The beach is a public resource,” the group said.

“It is not a private beach for those adjoining landholders to have for their exclusive use.”

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Posted by Keep Sunnyside Beach Clothing Optional on Friday, January 14, 2022

Police patrolling at Sunnyside Beach back in 2008.

‘Can’t say it’s pervert free’

The beach has long been plagued by controversies and has been hit with bad reviews on Google for many years.

“Won’t recommend to go as a solo woman. Beautiful beach but lots of creepy men, some trying to pretend to not get near to you but you can obviously feel it. I felt uncomfortable and I had put clothes on,” one woman wrote 11 months ago.

“When I fell asleep, I saw a man watching me behind the rocks doing something indecent to himself. Sad that I cannot feel free, safe and relaxed here without disturbance. It’s a nude beach but it seems to be a hook-up beach with mostly sleazy men.”

Another reviewer said there was “just too many creepy old men coincidentally driving around (sometimes parking for five minutes) making the outing unpleasant”.

A third appeared indifferent to the situation.

“Can’t say it’s pervert free. But hey, it’s one of the very few nude beaches in Victoria,” they wrote.

There are only three clothing optional beaches in Victoria: Sunnyside North on the Mornington Peninsula, Point Impossible Beach in Torquay and Southside Beach near Point Addis.