Breaking News
Nude beaches to stay
JANE IGOE
21Nov07
ATTEMPTS to close Obelisk and Cobblers beaches in Mosman as nudist venues and return them to the community have failed.
Instead visitors to the area will be greeted with new signs reconfirming the area as nudist precinct and advising of greater police patrols.
Police say they will actively prosecute offensive, obscene or indecent behaviour in the area.
The signs are due to be put in place in the next few weeks - before the summer swimming season gets into full swing.
The area comes under the jurisdication of Mosman Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
A partnership agreement for the area has now been signed between all the stakeholders - including North Shore MP Jillian Skinner.
It's mandate is to look at better ways to manage the area as a nudist beach and ``deliver services within a harm minimisation framework''.
There has been community concern about the area since sightings in June of a man masturbating in full view of school children playing on Middle Head Oval and another man taking photos of children on his mobile phone.
It prompted Mosman Mayor Denise Wilton to say ``enough is enough''.
The area is advertised around the world on gay websites.
This week Cr Wilton said she did not want to see the same system that was previously in place for public safety just ``propped up''.
A spokeswoman for NPWS said the agency was working towards making the area safer and eliminating inappropriate behaviour.
She said what is being termed ``beat training'' will commence in a few weeks together with a new landscaping plan.
``If people see anything offensive or inappropriate we want them to call police immediately,'' she told the Daily.
The Daily believes local sporting groups are very concerned about the safety of children in the area.
Speaking in July, Mosman Swans Football Club president Dan Milton-Hine said the report implied that Middle Head was a ``beat'' and authorities were simply managing around it.
He said this was unacceptable.
