December 2008

Courtesty of ABC.net.au

Nudists have accused the Townsville City Council, in north Queensland, of being prudish after it rejected an application for a nudist beach.

Townsville resident Eric Brown, 81, has been a nudist for 40 years, and recently wrote a request to the local council to allow a nudist beach in the city.

Townsville Mayor Les Tyrell says the council will not grant the request.

"It's certainly not something that we've considered or looking to put high on the agenda into the near future," he said.

Councillor Tyrell says he has a moral problem with the idea, but there is no suitable location for the beach.

"I don't think there's an overriding view within our community to consider such an option and unless that were the case we wouldn't entertain anything along those lines," he said.

Local nudist, bed-and-breakfast owner Maria Gladki, says having Queensland's first legal nude beach would be a tourist drawcard and the council should not dismiss the idea so quickly.

"I think it would sort of define the community as being open minded and accepting," she said.

"Overseas tourists would seek something like that.

"They like to be able to go some place and be relaxed."

A similar request was made to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council last month and was rejected.

he could get a magnetic island ferry

it has 3 unofficial beaches for nudists

Balding Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Rocky Bay

western end of Horseshoe Bay nudists go

Rocky Bay is the most popular near Picnic Bay

Does that surprise me. I lived in Townsville for 2 years. Its a very Prudish Town. Many attitudes there are still very Neanderthal and 1950s. Strange though, one of the most beautiful vegetation and beaches. Has the potential to be a great Holiday destination.  Townsville is like Penrith with Palm Trees.

this sounds typical of the qld government. there has been many attempts to get legal nude beaches in qld bit all have been rejected for the same reasons as this attempt.

qld has some of the best beachs in the country and tropical qld has a good climate year round. hopefully one day the government might get out of the dark ages and legalise nudity on selected beaches so nudists from all over the world can experience qld the way nature intended.

seeya micheal

In the middle of summer its too damn hot to wear any clothing in Townsville, it just sticks to you. When I lived there, I would have loved to finish work and go swimming naked. Most of the time I was naked around the house (Indoors). Its sad that the attitudes there arent so open in such a humid Hot town. But then "Thats Queensland"