I am very concerned about the proposed revocation of legal clothing-optional beach use at Tyagarah. When I was last in Byron, I stayed at the Belongil Beach House, and enjoyed a float tank for the first time. Of course, I enjoyed sunbathing nude on Belongil Beach, steps away from that accommodation. It was quiet, but by no means isolated.
I have not been to Tyagarah, which I understand is very isolated and a further walk north from Belongil.
In 2017 one of your writers, Aslan Shand, wrote an article about naturism, and stated that the NSW Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) own the dunes and waters behind the beach. If that article is correct, that means they do not own the beach itself. It is a well accepted legal concept governments cannot legislate for and regulate land they do not own.
I wish to see the survey map NPWS says was recently made that is mentioned in the media. And I wish to see the Byron Shire survey map that must have been created when Byron Council decided to designate Tyagarah clothing-optional. The Byron community needs to see both of these public record maps immediately. NPWS and Byron Shire Council should post each on their respective sites.
It can be a separate discussion, including the entire community, to terminate clothing-optional use of Tyagarah by the shire due to bad behaviour by some, but unless there was a formal, legal land transfer of the beach itself from Council to NPWS, NPWS has no authority to terminate clothing-optional use of the beach.
Personally, I enjoyed nude use of Belongil and think that location was perfect. Having more people around than Tyagarah, and creating a dedicated seven days per week volunteer naturist beach ‘ambassador’ group to have eyes and ears on beach behaviour is, in my experience, a successful recipe for a safe, well-liked naturist beach.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
