Nudist tourism is a boom industry, generating around $US 550 million dollars annually in the US alone (according the the American Association of Nude Recreation). A recent news article now indicates that the nudist resort market has competition heating up, as venues and service providers compete for the lucrative nudist dollar.

The article was first seen on the Courier Mail, but you can click here to read the full article.

This article is timely given our current situation with the beaches. The display of short-sightedness by the councils (and the tardiness of Qld in even getting legal clothing optional beaches approved) sends a clear message to Australian nudists and clothing optional fans alike – take your tourist dollars elsewhere, because the councils don’t want it here.

Perhaps the councils should wake up and see the opportunity for what it is – people are willing to spend good money on quality facilities and services, and they are not scared to travel internationally to get it. There are already clothing optional resorts in Australia, so it is only a matter of time before we take the lead set by the US and Europe, and try and keep the tourist dollars in our own country!!

If the link to the article above did not work, click below to see the text (credit to news.com.au)

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A bunch of people on the community forums have put their hands up and said it would be great to have a relaxing day of sun and beach cricket, particularly given how busy we’ve all been with recent excitement regarding our beaches!!

A new “Events” page has been created in the menu over on the right – click on it and check out the details. It’s currently planned for Sat 4 November, weather permitting. So put that date in your diary and take part!!

Come along and have a great time, and show your support for the community that has been working hard to save the beaches that you love to use!!

According to an article published yesterday in the Geelong Independent (Click here to read), Minister for Planning Rob Hulls has stated that “it would be imprudent to proceed further without appropriate local consultation being undertaken”, in a letter to the Surf Coast Shire council.

It would appear the letters and emails have been working, as Minister Hulls also stated that there had been “submissions to his office from ‘a number’ of groups and individuals that opposed ‘any change to the status quo’”.

It’s good to see that emotive rhetoric doesn’t have the same effect in the higher political offices – it would be icing on the cake to see Cr Humphrey taken to task for initiating this entire mess!! His behaviour has adversely affected the other councillors, the Surf Coast Shire in general, and was contrary to the interests of the community groups (ie us) that he is supposed to be working for!! Is it possible for councillors to be removed from office prior to the end of their term?? Hmmmm….

Great work everyone – keep those letters coming, and make sure you direct them at the Surf Coast Shire and Mornington councils, so that they know clearly that we want to be involved in the process. In particular, get writing to Mornington – it looks like they were trying to ride this wave, so now we need to remind them that we are watching, and we do want answers!!

Today we received our first official communication from the State Government, in the form of a status letter from Ian Voigt, Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) Regional Director South West. Ian states that councils responsible for all 4 Victorian beaches have asked for either revocation or review, and that DSE “is currently preparing advice for the Minister for his consideration and a decision on the way forward.” You can read the full letter here (Click here to read)

It was nice to get official communication, after all these months of wondering if our cries were being heard. But it’s not nice to get confirmation that all the beaches are under attack!!

We’re surprised that councils and the State Government think revocation of clothing optional beaches is a step forward in our current society. Cape D’Agde in France brings in 300,000 visitors every year from all over the world, because they have invested in infrastructure and facilities for a booming nudist tourist industry. In Europe more beaches are clothing optional than not (and even some parks in some town centres). Nudists are willing to spend their hard earned dollars where quality facilities are located – does Surf Coast Shire want to lose those tourist dollars to people willing to travel to Sydney or Adelaide because Victoria is heading backwards towards where Queensland is currently??? Does Mornington realise that inappropriate activity in the carpark won’t go away if you ban the nudists from the beach 300 meters away!!

All it would take is the realisation that nudists on the beaches are in the best position to improve the situation. Ban the nudists, and there’ll be nothing stopping the inappropriate behaviour at poorly used beaches if there aren’t any crowds.

An extended article appeared in The Age today, “Life in the buff zone” (Click here to read) which covers most of the issues in a balanced way. There is a section at the start of the article where there are a couple of references specifically stating that nudists were the cause of the beach troubles (“…neighbour’s daughter was accosted by an aroused naturist”) – it’s hard to tell if it’s Humphrey spin, or journalist misunderstanding, since we all know that simply being naked a nudist does not make, and certainly no member of any nudist group/club/association would ever dream of doing something so irresponsible as approaching people while aroused – it’s completely counter to the whole nudist philosophy and lifestyle, so we’re disappointed that inappropriate behaviour and nudism have yet again been linked unfairly.

As usual, Ron seems to mix and match his arguments depending on which way the wind is blowing – in the past he wanted the beach status revoked because of innappropriate behaviour of the nudists, then it was because Torquay is in growth mode. In this article, he’s decided it should be revoked because “You’d want to have a serious look at the devastation they’re doing to the dunes at Point Impossible. They’re tunnelling and cutting furrows through it.”. Does someone want to point out to Ron that the tunnelling was actually kids at Whites Beach near his house (who even came forward and owned up to it!!) – oh, hang on, he already knew that!!

Good work from Rob and Anita for their contributions (Rob is one of our stalwarts throughout this whole extravaganza, without his tireless efforts we would have already lost the beaches!). Also thanks to Werner Jacob, president of the Nudist Association of Victoria, for his positive comments that represent our ideals and beliefs so well… and we did particularly like the comment about wearing a raincoat in the shower (because its the same as wearing a bathing suit to swim, you know!!). Credit also to the journalist, Annie Lawson, for making the best attempt yet to cover the issue beyond simply glossing over the surface.

Things are still happening in the background, but more media attention is definitely good. Please keep writing those letters of support, the war is not won yet!!