Karen McLean, Mullumbimby.
DJ of Myocum suggests we have a proper debate about the proposed removal of clothing optional status of Tyagarah Beach.
A proper debate means from my understanding that each of us show a genuine willingness to listen with respect to all points of view before diminishing another’s stance with two generalisations i.e. ‘small number of concerned residents’; ‘land developer getting his way with resort development’. Do you really believe that the only people who want this idea to be considered are greedy businessmen?
If you instead ask the public – which does include WOMEN – how many local women do not go to this beach because of the amount of males sexually parading and harassing?
I have noticed recently quite often on my morning walks along our beach from Tyagarah to Byron and back, a police car traveling along the beach between Byron and Brunswick . They do not stop and harass everyone who is naked (yes they are showing respect towards discreet nude bathers). They instead make their presence be known which can be very encouraging for those of us (women or men) who have been previously harassed or concerned of the possibility.
This kind of friendly presence might well be putting off some potential harassers hiding in the dunes who suddenly realise they do not have the beach just to themselves any more. I smile and wave to the police with gratitude when they pass us. But let us note they cannot do that all day.
One of the core problems to this being a clothing optional status is the amount of websites which attracts those who want it to be a sexual meeting place. People come just for that from far away to be sexual at our beach and our local lake. Women with children have been horrified by the not at all discreet sexual behaviour. So would they go back there again?
There also seems to be too much confusion about where the boundaries of the legal clothing optional status are. If there was a defined area that allowed families etc to be able to go to the beach confident they would not be exposed to a sexual atmosphere AND we have a practical healthy clothing optional beach where everyone behaves maturely and sensitive to others, wouldn’t that be nice? But that is not exactly what is happening currently on our Tyagarah to Sunrise Beaches.
