Tweed-Byron police say that they have seen a reduction in antisocial behavior since Byron Shire Council erected signage at Tyagarah clothing-optional beach a month ago.
To celebrate, the Byron Naturists group will hold a sports and social day on the beach this coming Sunday, December 3, weather permitting.
Chief Inspector Luke Arthurs told Echonetdaily that police had ramped up patrols of the beach following the installation of the signage on November 3, and it appeared to be having dividends.
He reminded readers, however, that while nudity is permissible between the signs on the beach (south of Grays Lane), it is no longer being tolerated at the tea tree lake, where several people have been handed on-the-spot fines in the past month solely for being naked.
Word is out
He said the situation in the Grays Lane car park ‘has become a lot better,’ and that ‘it’s signposted very well.’
‘We are still getting people hanging around [naked] at the tea tree lake and at different parts of the beach that are not part of the clothes-optional area but the word has started getting out.
‘If people are behaving inappropriately we have been giving them infringement notices for offensive behaviour,’ Chief Ins Arthurs said.
He estimated that ‘somewhere between half a dozen and a dozen such infringements had been handed out since the changes took place.
‘We are definitely seeing an improvement in attitude and behaviour down there, which is great,’ Ch Ins Arthurs said, adding that, ‘it’s not something that’s going to happen overnight – it’s a work in progress.
‘If we can get through the summer we’ll be in a lot stronger position, he said.
He added that police are patrolling the area daily, at ‘random times of the day and night’.
‘We’re glad to see the community are behind us down there. And we will continue to work closely with the council and NPWS to ensure public safety.
‘I’m going with the council to look at the southern end of the beach next week because we think we need more signposts down there,’ he said.
Sports & social day
The Byron Naturists group has announced a family-friendly sport and social day on the beach from 10am Sunday, December 3, weather permitting, with a wet-weather date of the following Sunday (December 10).
A spokesperson for the group said ‘we would like to see as many people as possible down there to show that the “nude ain’t rude” spirit is still alive and well in Byron Bay.’
Nudists are not behaving better, they have always been well behaved. It is the non nudists mostly from the Gold Coast who come to this area and loiter and occasionally take their off clothes to misbehave off that have either disappeared or are finding it harder. A nudist is a person who can carry on normal life whilst being naked, and to be honest nudity in that context should be allowed everywhere.
Well said!
It’s great to see that a collaborative effort is starting to make Tyagarah beach a community friendly place again. Police presence has been welcomed even if no one wants to be fined for being nude. Sometimes a strong stance needs to be delivered for the message to be heard. Let’s hope we see more families being drawn back to such a beautiful part of the shire.
Some nudists are still unaware of the sign in car park regarding the new designated area, and have been sunning or bathing nude outside the signed area, however as soon as it is pointed out to them that there is a new signed part of the beach, they are happy to move to within the signed zone. It will take time before all visitors become aware.