By Laura Michell
A Werribee nudist has accused the council of “stripping away her freedom” after it announced that a Werribee South beach’s clothing-optional status was under review.
The woman, who asked not to be named, accused the council of trying to tell people how to behave by reviewing the suitability of beachgoers bathing in the nude at Campbells Cove.
She said the council did not have the right to force people to cover up and should allow the beach to remain clothing-optional.
The council announced the review last month, believing the beach was not as secluded as it used to be.
Campbells Cove is one of only four official clothing-optional beaches in Victoria. The others are Point Impossible and Southside at Torquay and Sunnyside North at Mount Eliza.
The Werribee nudist is not alone in her bid to have the beach remain clothing-optional, with the council receiving 10 submissions to its review calling for people to be allowed to bathe in the buff.
Overall, the council received 31 submissions over a three-week period.
The nudist, who has been using the beach for more than 30 years, said Campbells Cove was mainly used by elderly people from across the western suburbs who did not want to travel to Victoria’s other clothing-optional beaches.
“There are still a lot of people using the beach,” she said.
“We want to be able to go there and take our clothes off. It is our right to do that. The other beaches are too far away.”
Council infrastructure director Nerina DiLorenzo said the submissions would become part of a report submitted to a meeting at which councillors will consider whether to revoke the beach’s clothing-optional status.
Any decision to change Campbells Cove’s status will need to be approved by Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
