Breaking News
New nude laws out
JANE IGOE
09Jan08
NUDISTS at Middle Head are being warned if they undress outside the legal and designated areas at Obelisk and Cobblers Beach they will face the full force of the law.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has erected new signs around Middle Head designed to define the gazetted nude bathing areas at the two beaches.
Area manager Marg Bailey said the signs were part of a management plan for Middle Head to address concerns about indecent behaviour in the bush surrounding the beaches.
``They have been designed to spell out where people can bathe nude under the Local Government Act and to make it easier for the police to take action against individuals who are not complying with the regulations.''
She told the Daily that random police patrols were operating in the area.
Police say they will prosecute people who carry out offensive, obscene or indecent behaviour in the area.
Middle Head comes under the jurisdiction of Mosman Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
Late last year a partnership agreement was signed between the stakeholders to better manage the problems.
Community concern about behaviour at the beaches has been running high since a man was seen in June masturbating in full view of schoolchildren playing on Middle Head Oval and another man was seen taking photos of children on his mobile phone.
It is also believed that NPWS officers will be trained to police the new regulations.
Ms Bailey said other measures included landscaping, lighting and a community education program, and added that Middle Head has changed significantly in the past 12 months.
``New areas and facilities have been opened to the public which has improved general public access increasing interest in the area.''
