Help Us Save Tyagarah Clothing Optional Beach

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have told Byron Council to close the Tyagarah clothing-optional beach by April 8, 2024!

It is outrageous that NPWS could take away the beach on such short notice and without any public consultation or a plan for an alternative location.

The legal nude beach has been in place for over 25 years and they want it gone in just a couple of weeks!

The NPWS plan has only just become public knowledge, but it’s the culmination of a behind-the-scenes process that has been going since at least August 2023. During those many months there was NO engagement with beach users. And now there is inadequate time for us to seek an intervention from our local MP or the responsible Minister. This lack of transparency is shocking.

The power of Byron Council is limited but the ONE thing they can do is to vote to DEFER the matter. This would stop the rush and allow time to negotiate a fairer plan.

If you love the beach, then you must ACT NOW!

What can you do?

1. Sign our petition at https://www.change.org/p/save-tyagarah-beach-byron-bay-from-closure?source_location=search
2. Write a short, personal, respectful email to Byron councillors asking them to DEFER a decision on this matter when they meet on FEBRUARY 22, 2024. You should speak from the heart and say what the beach means to you and how closing it will impact your life. The email only has to be a couple of sentences long.
   
   Here’s some guidance:
   
   - mention IF you a resident of Byron Shire (so they know you vote in Council elections)
   - say if you are a regular beach user – I go to the beach often/a lot/all the time/frequently/every couple of weeks in summer etc
   - say if you go with your wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend/partner/family/friends – we need to break the stereotype that only single, straight guys use the beach
   - say why you love the beach – a safe, legal space for my nudist lifestyle/skinny-dipping/fun/freedom/joy/meeting up with others in nudist community/healthy/oneness with nature/a place to be myself
   - emphasise you use the beach responsibly
   - say the emotion you’ll feel if the beach is closed – sad/upset/distressed/depressed/distraught/devastated/shattered/gutted/leave a hole in my life/feel the loss for future generations/feel my rights been violated/loss of a freedom that doesn’t hurt others
   - say the NPWS process to close the beach has lacked transparency/openness/consultation with stakeholders and is unfair/unjust/undemocratic
   - remember this is being forced on Council by NPWS. Don’t abuse or criticize Council or councillors. Ask for Council to DEFER the matter to stop the rush/hurry/haste and allow time for a fairer/more just plan to be formulated/devised/developed
   - send your email by WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2024 so councillors know your opinion before they meet

The councillors’ email addresses are:

cate.coorey@byron.nsw.gov.au

alan.hunter@byron.nsw.gov.au

sarah.ndiaye@byron.nsw.gov.au

duncan.dey@byron.nsw.gov.au

peter.westheimer@byron.nsw.gov.au

sama.balson@byron.nsw.gov.au

mark.swivel@byron.nsw.gov.au

asren.pugh@byron.nsw.gov.au

michael.lyon@byron.nsw.gov.au

Call the office of the NSW Environment Minister before WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2024 and politely complain about NPWS closing the beach.

This would only take ONE MINUTE. The number is: 02 7225 6020

You could say something like:

I’d like to make a complaint/lodge an objection with the Minister about the plans to close Tyagarah clothing-optional/nude beach, near Byron Bay.

I use this beach with my wife/husband/partner/girlfriend/boyfriend/family/friends and I want a safe/legal place for nude bathing in my area/region [or when I visit Byron].

Please tell the Minister to stop National Parks from taking this away from me/us.

LET’S SAVE OUR BEACH!