• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Big Al wows ’em, Strikers uproar
  • Felicia eyes off further black type
  • Edithvale-Aspendale get on the board, Stonecats impress
  • Alteration of subway plans for Frankston
  • Peta Murphy wins second term in Dunkley
  • Shire’s carbon neutral backflip
  • Fee rise puts golfers in rough
  • Reserve price puts shire off
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Latest News»Uncovering public opinion
Latest News

Uncovering public opinion

By Keith PlattFebruary 14, 2022Updated:February 15, 2022No Comments3 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council wants public opinion about nude bathing continuing at Sunnyside Beach, Mount Eliza, but a state government MP says his private polling has already provided the answer: going without clothes is all right.

Nepean MP Chris Brayne said voting on his Facebook poll gave unanimous support to “optional clothing” rules to continue at the secluded bayside beach between Mount Eliza and Mornington.

Late last year, the council flagged that it would seek public opinion before approaching the government over the issue (“Call for fresh look at nude beach” The News 22/11/21).

Since the beach was gazetted as a nude bathing beach in 1986, there have been reports of lewd behaviour and drug taking on and around the beach, in the car park and on the foreshore.

Cr Steve Holland told the Tuesday 8 February council meeting that the survey issue had been largely “misunderstood”, as council was not indicating it wanted to change the nude bathing status of Sunnyside North Beach, but to open the debate up to the community.

He said that another beach “on the other side of the bay” had its clothing optional status removed at one point as it was now considered to be a built-up area, and that Mount Eliza’s population and demographic was also changing.

Mr Brayne said that 413 of the 415 responses to his online poll gave nude bathing the thumbs up and the other two responses were a sad emoji and a heart symbol.

“In a time with businesses struggling with staffing issues and the ongoing effects of the pandemic, is another public consultation really that necessary on this issue?” Mr Brayne, whose electorate does not cover the Sunnyside area, said on Wednesday, the day after councillors decided to approach the public.

“The overwhelming response [to his Facebook poll] was supportive of the retention of the beach as clothing optional.”

Cr Debra Mar said she thought the move was about the “victimisation” of people who chose to “do this” [wear no clothes], and there should be other strategies considered to address negative behaviour in the area, which could not be linked to the clothing optional status.

“They’re [nude bathers] having to defend themselves…,” she said.

Cr Mar said the removal of the clothing optional status would not solve the problem of undesirable behaviour near the beach, and that it would be better to get police involved in managing the issues.

Cr Holland successfully moved that residents living near Sunnyside be surveyed via email and a survey on the shire’s website be open to all.

Results from the surveys in May would be used by council when deciding if the optional clothing status at the beach should change.

Cr Holland said it was important the survey results distinguished between non-residents and Mornington Peninsula Shire residents, as well as residents living close to the beaches, and each should be weighted differently.

For the motion were the mayor Cr Anthony Marsh and Crs Holland, David Gill, Lisa Dixon, Mar, and Kerri McCafferty. Against: Crs Antonella Celi, Paul Mercurio and Susan Bissinger.

With Liz Bell

First published in the Mornington News – 15 February 2022

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Liberals keep Flinders but lose government

May 23, 2022

One-way gates the way out for kangaroos

May 23, 2022

Affordable housing flyer ‘misleading’

May 23, 2022

Shire accused of political bias

May 23, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
May 23, 2022 - Mon
Mornington, Australia
10°C
clear sky
clear sky
1 m/s, ESE
68%
771.07 mmHg
mon05/23 tue05/24 wed05/25 thu05/26 fri05/27
sky is clear
12/10°C
sky is clear
14/10°C
overcast clouds
15/13°C
moderate rain
15/14°C
light rain
15/13°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

April 27, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

March 2, 2022
Council Watch

Shire’s carbon neutral backflip

May 23, 2022

Shire offers $500,000 to performing arts

May 2, 2022
Elections 2022

Peta Murphy wins second term in Dunkley

May 23, 2022

Shire accused of being off track with pledges

May 17, 2022

Security takes precedence

May 17, 2022
Interview

Volunteers track koalas for science

May 2, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

Alteration of subway plans for Frankston

May 23, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.