By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA nudists attempting to have Alexandria Bay officially recognised as Queensland’s first nude beach have been urged to “let sleeping dogs lie”, by Member for Noosa Glen Elmes MP.
Mr Elmes has instead warned stirring the political and social pot around the A-Bay nudity issue, could attract a “less desirable outcome”.
A-Bay has been considered Noosa’s unofficial nude beach for more than 50 years, but several recent complaints to police resulted in a police visit to A-Bay.
The visit resulted in two infringement notices being issued to people going nude in public, but police stopped short of calling the move a crack down on A-Bay’s nude beachgoers.
Small protests have since taken place at A-Bay, led by the region’s nudists, who are also debating whether to push for A-Bay to become an official nude beach.
In April 2008, the then 77-year-old Kenneth Wenzel challenged a $75 infringement notice he was issued while going nude at Third Bay in Coolum in July 2005.
In what many nudists consider a landmark ruling, Mr Wenzel won the case and had his fine overturned and was awarded $2000 in costs.
Magistrate Barry Barrett said at the time that Queensland was a state that, on one hand, allowed large numbers of people on Alexandria Bay for the Nude Olympics without challenge and, on the other hand, sought out older males hidden by vegetation on other secluded beaches for “alleged criminal conduct”.
Mr Elmes MP said of recent concerns that it was best to avoid stirring the pot or risk drawing further attention to A-Bay as an unofficial nude hotspot.
“If people are going to stage protests and push the matter, it could result in an outcome that’s less desirable,” he said.
Mr Elmes said police, the council and the State Government had for years turned a blind eye to A-Bay, but with continued pressure that could all change.
“Don’t stir this up – you may get an outcome that’s less desirable than the current situation,” he said.
“Don’t put police, council or the state in a position where they may have to address the unofficial nude beach status of A-Bay – it is best, in this case, to let sleeping dogs lie.”
Noosa Today sought a comment from Noosa Council in relation to the A-Bay debate.
Sunshine Coast Council had previously taken a role in the matter, but instead Noosa Council wants nothing to do with it and has passed the onus to the State Government.
A council spokesperson responded with a single sentence answer stating that Alexandria Bay is located in the National Park and is controlled by the State Government.
“Council has no comment on this issue,” the spokesperson said.
However, in 2008 there was a similar uproar from the Free Beach Association over nudity on A-Bay.
The Free Beach Association previously called on the then Sunshine Coast Council mayor Bob Abbot to support a push to have A-Bay declared Queensland’s first official nude beach.
Mr Abbot had told media sources in 2008 that he was not the champion of Free Beach and the issue was not high on his list of priorities at the time, but he said he would take the matter to a council meeting.
Mr Abbot had said he felt Mudjimba would be inappropriate and thought the group would have more success with Alexandria Bay, in becoming Queensland’s first (official) nude beach.
“(A-Bay) it’s isolated, there are no residents anywhere near it and there’s little chance of people wandering and stumbling upon it,” Mr Abbot told media sources in 2008.
The previous push found that in order for A-Bay to be considered an official nude beach, it would have to allow suitable access for police and lifeguards.
A-Bay was not considered a good option as the access was considered “difficult”.
The matter never came to fruition and A-Bay remains an unofficial nude beach.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie in relation to Alexandria Bay?
