Greetings all and welcome to a return to updates on this site following what seemed to be a really long winter!! We realise that the recent rains were much needed, but wouldn’t it be great if the rain could be booked in for overnight, so we could have sunny days?

In the last couple of weeks there has been some sun, and a few of our members have already hit the beaches to see how things are looking. Even on a sunny day, the wind factor still presents a problem, particularly early in the season when the breeze ain’t exactly warm. If you don’t notice the cold much, a sunny day in the low 20′s should be OK and you’ll have the beaches mostly to yourself.

On other news, the various forums have started to get active again – if you aren’t already a member, get onto them now before it gets warm and introduce yourself to the nice folks!! The links you could start with are:

Melbourne_Nudists-Naturists on Yahoo is the main group
Solobares is another popular group

Don’t forget to drop a line on the groups and say hi – everyone is friendly and happy to have a chat. Also get yourself along to the DTE and Solarwest swim nights, check the links page for their websites and more information.

Finally, we need everyone out on the beaches this summer. A number of people put in a huge effort across last summer in preventing the loss of Victoria’s nude beaches through an action initiated by one Surf Coast councilor (read the archived posts for the history and entertainment!!). We’ve established some great outcomes and managed to keep the beaches nude for now, but the councils will be watching closely this summer for any reason to try shut them down again.

Look after the beaches, look out for each other, and report inappropriate behaviour immediately. The beaches are there for you, are worth protecting, and are definitely worth using!!

We all look forward to seeing you out on the sand!!

One of the outcomes of the community workshop was agreement that better signage was required at Point Impossible (indeed, all Clothing Optional beaches require better signage, but that’s a topic for another day!!).

One of our supporters recently sent in this image showing the new sign – we’re all pretty happy, it’s a good looking sign that contains a lot of useful info. Good to see the designated area is clearly defined, and that a summary form of beach etiquette made it on there as well. Fantastic to see reference to the middens, weeds and dunes, and the photos included on the sign are great quality (signage technology is definitely on the up!!)

Thanks to all those involved in the creation and QA’ing of the sign, including our friends at GORCC it’s a good result

Click on the image to view the hi-res version to read the words.

One of the forums noted this article from USA Today, dated January 1998!! That’s a bit over 9 years ago now, but it is still a very interesting read, and contains much information that is still relevant today.

It was interesting to note the observation that America has significantly liberalised in the last 50 years with a continuing trend towards acceptance of nudity as a general concept (such as in film, media, and even general conversation). Perhaps Australia is doing the same – we certainly think of ourselves as being more advanced on liberal topics like this than America, but everyone would probably agree we are still a way behind many part of Europe in our acceptance of a clothes-free body culture.

USA Today article

This article was posted in the Geelong Advertiser today – credit to Lauren for writing a purely factual (albeit short) article on the outcome of the long process. It seems like the articles we’re seeing lately are a reflection of the general perception of the whole issue – ho hum, process is done, let’s all move on!! We couldn’t agree more!!

Here’s the link if you want to see the real article (Nudity prevails at Torquay Beach), but we’ve posted the text below due to the Addy removing online articles really quickly after they are published. We believe it’s ok to post text like this as long as due credit is given to the source (Thanks Geelong Advertiser!!). If that understanding is incorrect, please let us know (who has any idea about Copyright laws these days? It’s all so confusing…)

Nudity prevails at Torquay beach

Lauren Pike

30Apr07

NUDISTS can keep their clothes off at Torquay’s Point Impossible beach for at least another year.

The Surf Coast Shire has signed off on a 12-month trial of new measures it hopes will keep both the nude sunbathers and those who oppose them happy.

Surf Coast Mayor Rose Hodge said the council made the final decision after public consultation on the shire’s earlier support for nude sunbathing.

Cr Hodge said the shire had consulted widely with the community, police, nudist federation and government agencies before reaching its decision.

She said a January workshop to address the issue produced recommendations including:

IMPROVED signs at beach entrance roads, the car park and bridge access points alerting the public to the beach’s “optional dress” area and restricting access to the sand dunes;

SURVEILLANCE of the beach and sand dunes;

STAKEHOLDER groups to encourage their members to report antisocial or obscene incidents or behaviour, and;

GREAT Ocean Road Coast Committee to develop a weed and rabbit control program and litter control campaign to protect and preserve the coastal environment.

“Council will now test the success of new measures over the next 12 months, reviewing its decision next April,” Cr Hodge said.

We delayed posting this information while we waited for comments/outcry’s from the various councils, but since none has been forthcoming, we assume this information is now safe to release. This letter was received by one our our representatives on 22 March, from DSE South West Region in Ballarat – this is an official response given by DSE on behalf of the Minister for Planning, and therefore is about as official a response as we’ll ever see!!

Thank you for your letter dated 5th March 2007 to the Minister for Planning in respect of the Point Impossible clothing optional beach. I have been asked to reply to you on the Minister’s behalf.

The department (DSE) appreciates your interest and participation in the January 2007 workshop held by Surf Coast Shire. The contribution of stakeholders in such processes is very important, and brings many benefits including informed and balanced decision making.

I am pleased to note your endorsement of the outcomes of the workshop. I understand that the Shire in conjunction with the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) have commenced to implement the workshop’s recommendations for improved management. I am advised that works include widening of access paths, revegetation of disturbed dunes, installation of pedestrian barrier fencing to protect dune vegetation and installation of upgraded signs including interpretative signs encouraging dune conservation, are proposed or underway. I am also pleased to hear that your Association has been working with and supporting GORCC with its land management responsibilities at Point Impossible.

I am advised that the other councils who have raised similar concerns in respect to the locations and management of clothing optional beaches in their municipalities are being encouraged to run similar workshops to review their concerns and identify the management options. Any changes to the status of any of the currently designated clothing optional beaches will be based on a thorough understanding of the issues and options and through consultation with stakeholders.

At this stage, I understand that no change to the status of any of these beaches is proposed.

Thank you for your interest in this matter.

HURRAH!!!! Well done to everyone involved, but in particular to Rob, who relentlessly wrote letters, made phone calls, and generally hassled anyone who would listen – perhaps the State Government simply gave in to stop the flood of letters and calls?!?

It’s also important to note that last sentence before the sign-off – no change to the status of any beach is proposed!!! Now that the heat is slightly reduced, we can use the coming winter months to work on our strategy for next summer, when we hope to show we can keep our part of the bargain and get real interest from beach users in looking after their facilities.

We’re proud of our efforts, and we’re pleased that so many people were able to support us along the way. Thanks to everyone who got involved and did their bit to help save our beaches.

We’re also pleased to note that Cr Humphrey, the one person who started this whole roller-coaster ride, has now moved on to something new – opposition to parking meters being installed in beach carparks… and so it goes….