Council rejects concerns over nudist beach

ROCKINGHAM Mayor Barry Sammels says the council has not received any complaints from residents or reports from rangers of indecent activity at Port Kennedy nudist beach.

He said council rangers patrolled Rockingham beaches daily, using a four-wheel-drive utility and a quad bike that could access all beach areas.

His comments come after South Metropolitan MLC Phil Edman last month called to have the beach – permitted for public nude bathing in 1988 – closed.

Mr Edman said he was concerned over “continuing inappropriate and lewd behaviour” at the beach, including men engaging in sexual behaviour in the sand dunes.

He reiterated his calls this week, saying constituents continued to voice their concerns about explicit and inappropriate sexual behaviour in the area.

Mr Edman said comments and feedback from people outside the Rockingham area had influenced the City of Rockingham’s decision to keep the nudist beach open.

“Nudists themselves are not the issue here,” he said.

“The nudist beach is attracting certain individuals engaging in sexual behaviour and spoiling it for the community.

“Despite good intentions by police and council rangers to monitor the situation, I believe it will do little to solve the problem in the long term and for that reason, the nudist beach needs to be closed.”

Cr Sammels said council had not received any recent information from police about wilful exposure and indecent acts in the Port Kennedy beach area.

“All Rockingham beaches have local laws relating to an individual’s behaviour at the beach, which doesn’t distinguish whether the beach is clothed or nudist,” he said.

What everyone else is thinking

gordon

16/04/2012

"An it harm none, do what ye will"
people smoke. those who don't smoke (ie me), hate it. but we don't ask the council to take away those people's rights to smoke.
i love being nude under the sun and stars.
to me. it is liberating and exhilarating and i love the sun on my skin. i have only once been to warnbro, but when i go to swanbourne, i stroll the beach (i'd rather walk than sit) and i stroll the dunes for variety.
i haven't personally seen "perverted" behavior. ever.
i do know that sex between consenting adults does happen... so what, so long as it offends no0ne else.
but i absolutely disagree with any activities exposing anyone else to something that they find offensive, and especially to anything that puts children in harms way.
we need to protect vigorously our right and privilege of participating in skyclad activities at our own option.
i will pledge to keep on challenging every single abuse of that same privilege. will you?

Jennywren

15/01/2012

Having just returned from the nudie beach at Swanbourne today with my family for the first time, I can tell you there is Definitely something amiss. Lots and lots of men, by themselves, of all ages, parading up and down the shoreline and having a good old stare at the other single men. Meanwhile, my husband, myself and my 5yo son (the only family) stood out like sore thumbs. As my child cavorted around yelling 'Yahoo!' and celebrating his own innocent nakedness I thought it crap that the only nudie beach in Perth had been taken over as a gay cruising area and that the whole area had become sexualised. Go to a club already

Wolfgang

14/01/2012

When I look to this wonderful photo I think I love to be there too. Nothing is better than the feeling of wind, the sun and water with the waves of the ocean on your nude skin I promiss you you never want to wear trouses, shirts or swim suits in your further life - it's like a wonderful, never ending paradise only for you and your girlfriend/wife. Mostly in summertime it's possible here in Europe, but I'm waiting every year for the upcoming springs for the next "nude session" with a great pleasure. So we can be all human beings as GOD we made us and we all can be happy with friendship and respect to eachother in this wonderful unique world. More is nothing to say.....only to live as you like it!
Lovely greetings from Germany!

sara

13/01/2011

To me, being nude is being the same person but in a sensually charged ambience that is very pleasurable. Indeed I prefer being with my family and other sociable mixed gender naturists in clubs and resorts for all of our recreation or relaxation. My personal best was three weeks vacation at Euronat resort in France, with everything except sandals put away for the entire duration. The strangeness of shirt and shorts to depart there was almost as strange as becoming a naturist many years before.

Anita Grigg

09/01/2011

Since Mr Edman states "Nudists are not the issue here" it is logical to assume that removing the legal nude status of the beach will NOT solve the issue but in fact would make the situation worse. It would seem that the problem is caused by the remoteness of the beach and NOT the fact it is a nude beach. Unfortunately, this type of unwanted sexual behaviour is common at many rewmote locations NOT just at nudist beaches. Having nudists present, using the beach regularly for legitimate purposes, probably deters some deviants from misusing the beach in an inappropriate way.

Robin

My late husband and I enjoyed many pleasant days on the "Free Beaches" at Swanbourne and Port Kennedy-Warnbro. We enjoyed going there because the beaches were family-friendly and the users (of all ages) were always very well behaved and friendly. Rubbish was always removed - even if it had blown in from elsewhere. Everyone obeyed the signs and never went nude in non-designated areas. Everyone knew that behaviour had to be impeccable - as the slightest hint of misbehaviour would provide ammunition for the wowsers and worried (but ill-informed). Any suggestion of bad behaviour was swiftly dealt with by firm but polite concerted action by those using the beach. I have never felt safer as a woman than when I was using these beaches. I would like to hope that other beaches could be as safe and well-maintained. If Mr Edman can prove bad behaviour by non-nudists, he should target the offenders e.g. by asking for surveillance cameras in the sand-dunes.

Bob

08/01/2011

I wonder if this controversy would exist if we were talking about "lewd behaviour" between two members of the opposite sex. I suspect a bit of a double standard here.

In any case, my view is that, irrespective of the gender of the participants, they are entitled to be left alone provided they keep their activity out of the public eye - such as doing it in the seclusion of the dunes, or under cover of darkness.

alcapone

'Lewd' behaviour does exist, seldom; and yet the 'inappropriate behaviour' on the shoreline, by hetero couples seems to be accepted. I ask "what are 'straight' men" doing in the dunes?

Dave Reid

07/01/2011

There has been an active campaign by a self serving few, against the beach since its inception. It seems strange in this day and age of camera phones that not one local resident has submitted a photo or video footage of the supposed lewd activities that they purport is occurring daily in the dunes.
When it was first established one of the big attractions was its remoteness. Back in the days when camping was allowed on the beach, a small community representive of all age group, clad and unclad, mingled together over the summer months. Complaints were few and any issues regarding improper behavior were dealt with by those whose interests lay in keeping the beach a free beach where families could enjoy themselves.
Thought! - Why not move it to the section of beach adjacent to the 'Scientific Park' South of Long Point and re-open the access track and car park there - After all when it was first established it was a remote beach far from the madding (or maddening) crowd.

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