Sydney nude beaches | Obelisk & Cobblers | Council to build track
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Gerald
Jan 2, 2011, 10:13:29 PM1/2/11
to Free Beach Forum
Sydney Morning Herald
Council looks to nature lovers to give bothersome nudists the bum's
rush
Emily Crane
December 31, 2010
[Optional dress ... a bather at Cobblers Beach. A walking track is
planned through bushland there and at Obelisk Beach. Photo: Kate
Geraghty]
IT 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.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/council-looks-to-nature-lovers-to-give-bothersome-nudists-the-bums-rush-20101230-19b4u.html
Council looks to nature lovers to give bothersome nudists the bum's
rush
Emily Crane
December 31, 2010
[Optional dress ... a bather at Cobblers Beach. A walking track is
planned through bushland there and at Obelisk Beach. Photo: Kate
Geraghty]
IT 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.
Advertisement: Story continues below
"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.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/council-looks-to-nature-lovers-to-give-bothersome-nudists-the-bums-rush-20101230-19b4u.html
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