Council report recommends clothes back on at nudist beach

A POPULAR nudist beach north of Byron Bay could be closed after a Byron Shire Council report recommended the clothing-optional status be removed.

Tyagarah Beach, which runs 800m starting 200m south of Grays Lane and north past Elements of Byron Resort, has been “clothes-optional” since 1994.

The report recommends the status be revoked after a spate of sexual assaults and lewd behaviour.

But Byron Naturists representative Debra Conomy said such behaviour was now being closely monitored through an increased police presence and community involvement.

Clear signage installed. was also

She said the report acknowledged that “enhanced stakeholder safety initiatives implemented to date have reduced the frequency of lewd sexual behaviour and criminal offences.”

Ms Conomy said a “small but vocal” group of Grays Lane residents wanted the beach closed. “We think it’s unfair that 30-odd people should wreck a good thing enjoyed by thousands,” she said.

“We made a comprehensive submission to council staff but our evidence was ignored in their report.”

Last month nudists staged a protest demanding the beach stay open as clothes-optional.

During a six-day period in January, police fined 15 people for nudity and sexual offences outside of the clothes-optional stretch, issuing $500 fines and criminal infringement notices.