Council looks to nature lovers to give bothersome nudists the bum's rush

[O-William]

More Cobblers and Obelisk shenanigans

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/council-looks-to-nature-lovers-to-give-bothersome-nudists-the-bums-rush-20101230-19b4u.html


T IS not nude beaches that are a problem, or the nudity. Or even nude people. It is the "somewhat inappropriate" behaviour that seems to occur around them.

So says the mayor of Mosman, Anne Connon, who has thrown the council's support behind a government plan to build a walking track through bushland at Obelisk and Cobblers beaches, which she hopes will deter "offensive behaviour" there.

The proposed route snakes through bushland behind the beaches which is allegedly a homosexual beat.
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"I would have thought that if anybody had dubious plans, they wouldn't want to be seen by people," Ms Connon said.

"So we think it will deter the nude bathers if there is more traffic through the area."

The state Environment Minister, Frank Sartor, issued a draft plan of management earlier this month detailing a proposal to include the walking track at Mosman as part of a wider scenic walk along the coastline within Sydney Harbour National Park.

Mosman Council has long fought to ban nude bathing. It is permitted at Obelisk and Cobblers beaches, but the council plans to lobby the North Shore Liberal MP Jillian Skinner to push for legislation to outlaw it.

But Detective Inspector David Goddard, of Harbourside Local Area Command, said police regularly patrolled the area, at Middle Head, and "nothing significant" had happened since April. A Free Beach Action group member, Juan Mellado, said the amount of so-called antisocial behaviour at the beaches was minimal and similar activity could occur anywhere in Sydney.

"It is impossible for me to understand why the council is making the link between optional clothing and people in the bushes. If there is something happening it's because of the isolation of the area and not because there [are] naturists around."

The Free Beach Action group would welcome a walking track at the beaches, he said, so long as appropriate signs were put up to warn visitors that nude bathers would be in the area.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service said the nude beaches would not discourage visitors from using the track if the plan went ahead.

"We think people will really love the entire walk," a spokesman said.

"The level of concern about Obelisk shows that people do want to visit the area, and that will grow as we solve or remove some of the issues."

The draft plan of management for Sydney Harbour National Park will be on public exhibition until April 30.