Life’s a beach at Point Impossible

Alex de Vos
Torquay police have praised the behaviour of beachgoers at a controversial nude beach.
Senior Constable Kerry Brown said daily checks of Point Impossible during March had revealed “no illegal activity”.
But Surf Coast Shire councillor Ron Humphrey, who has led calls for State Government to revoke the beach’s clothing-optional status, was sceptical of the police report.
The beach came under fire in 2006 after residents complained about men using the dunes to meet for sex.
Snr Const Brown said police had not witnessed any illegal activity during summer at Point Impossible.
“It’s been very quite down there,” she said.
“We visit the area daily at random times, so they don’t know when we’re coming.”
Cr Humphrey said the beach’s clothing-optional status should still go despite the police report.
“I still believe it should be shut down,” he said.
“From what people say it’s not a true nude beach – it’s a beat for homosexuals and it should be shut down.
“It’s not about nudism – there are no women down there – it’s just a stunt.”
A comment recently posted on a website listing Point Impossible as a meeting place for sex suggested police had “caught” men at the beach.
The posting said “undercover” police officers had been patrolling the area during March.
The posting warned men seeking sex to be wary of police at Point Impossible.
“Hey, we have been there the last two weeks and almost every day there has been an undercover police officer,” the posting said.
“Be careful is all I can say – not been caught but know of them and who they are.”
In 2006 foreshore manager Great Ocean Road Coast Committee started work on “dune rehabilitation” at Point Impossible, including fences and keep-out signs, in response to residents’ complaints and the calls for the beach to lose its clothing-optional status.