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By Kate
Hall
SURF Coast
nudists are celebrating. Point Impossible, the place they like to hang
out at between Breamlea and Torquay, has been named as one of the top
five nudist beaches in Australia by Tourism Australia and renowned
travellers guide the Lonely Planet.
Known as "Posso's"
to its friends, the beach shares its top billing with some very famous
beaches. The other four beaches are Alexandria Bay at Noosa; Cable Beach
at Broome; Samurai Beach at Port Stephens and Maslins Beach in Adelaide.
The latter was Australia's first legal nudist beach.
The
recognition came from the "bluelist", a new marketing initiative by
Tourism Australia and the Lonely Planet. The btuelist website lists
Australian travellers favourite places. The most descriptive entries
will soon be published in a 72 page mini-booklet. The bluelist entry for
Posso's reads: "This is a great dune-backed beach that provides a
wonderful setting to practise your nude surfing or just take in the
beauty of the area. The fragile dune environment has been home to
Aboriginal groups for thousands of years and much evidence of their
occupation remains."
There are
only four legal nude beaches in Victoria and two of them are here on the
Surf Coast. People who wish to swim, sunbake, socialise or just relax in
the nude have the choice of Southside, which has been clothing optional
since 1986, or Point Impossible, proclaimed a nudist beach in 1983.
Point
Impossible nearly lost its legal status last year, after a series of
unsavoury activities were reported to be taking place regularly in the
dunes near the beach. In July 2006, Cllr Ron Humphrey succeeded in
tabling a motion to request a ban on nude bathing at Possos. In April
this year however, council announced that nude bathing would remain at
the beach for twelve more months, after which time the decision could be
reviewed. Following extensive consultation between Council, the GORCC,
police, the nudist federation, government agencies and the wider
community, new recommendations were implemented, including better
signage, restricted dune access and higher-level beach surveillance and
police presence.
President of
Free Beaches Australia, Anita Grigg, praised the Surf Coast Shire for
its commitment to finding an equitable solution and is positive that
Point Impossible's nudist status will remain. "We have received notice
that other councils with nude beaches will be following the good example
set by the Surf Coast Council and entering into public consultation. We
welcome this. t feel that local nudists will be working to make sure
that the legal status of the beach remains."
Meanwhile,
new signage at Posso's clearly outlines a range of commonsense
guidelines, known as "free beach etiquette". The guidelines ask nudists
to stay out of the dunes, obey regulations and respect the privacy of
others, rules that apply to everybody, clothed or otherwise. So, whether
you visit the beach in a bathing suit, or your birthday suit, make time
to visit Point Impossible. It's helping to keep our coast on the map. |
