THE Mornington Peninsula’s only official nude beach has been saved, after councillors voted to keep its clothing optional status.
However, the decision by Mornington Peninsula Shire comes with a caveat and there will be tougher scrutiny of visitors to the area.
Sunnyside Beach North, at Mount Eliza, has been a clothing-optional beach since the 1980s, but the issue of clothing or no clothing came to a head during lockdowns, which reduced the number of nude bathers and increased its use by clothed locals who were within the five kilometre travel limit.
A survey conducted by the council earlier this year found the current clothing optional rules were overwhelmingly popular with the wider community, despite some discontent by nearby property owners about anti-social and illegal behaviour.
The compromise reached at council on 6 December was to support the current clothing optional status, with reviews in 12 and 24 months.
The state government will also be asked to pay for increased police patrols, surveillance cameras, and better signage.
First published in the Mornington News – 13 December 2022
