A woman swimming nude at a newly banned ‘skinny dipping’ spot in Byron Bay has been left distraught after a male masturbated in front of her.
She was swimming at Tyagarah Lakes, which recently enforced a $500 fine as part of its ‘zero tolerance’ policy on nudity.
While the strict rules had divided locals, police said they were committed to lowering the number of sexual assault reports, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.
A woman swimming nude at newly banned ‘skinny dipping’ spot Tyagarah Lakes (pictured) in Byron Bay was left distraught after a male masturbated in front of her
Superintendent Wayne Starling recalled the moment a distressed woman approached him after allegedly having a male expose himself in front of her.
‘She was obviously very distressed and she said a male stranger had come up to her and masturbated in front of her,’ Mr Starling said.
‘When I saw the state of the woman it hit hard and I knew we had to do something.’
The new policy banning skinny dipping at the spot has continued to divide locals, with a 56-year-old woman outraged at being fined for ‘behaving offensively’.
A sign erected near the swimming spot reads, ‘Tyagarah Nature Reserve is not a designated clothes optional (nude) area’.
Tyagarah Lakes recently enforced a $500 fine as part of its ‘zero tolerance’ policy on nudity
‘Offensive behaviour carries a $500 fine.’
The woman, known only as Maxine, couldn’t understand what was ‘offensive’ about baring her naked body.
‘The fine is for offensive behaviour — I’m 56 for God’s sake — how can someone swimming naked be fined $500 for offensive behaviour?’ she said.
‘It’s so un-Byron Bay, it’s so intolerant, it’s excessively punitive.’
A week and a half later, a male couple were stung by the same infringement after they were caught having sex on the beach.
Byron Bay Mayor Simon Richardson slammed the fine for being excessive, saying it was up to officers to exercise discretion when deciding what offences warranted a fine.
The new policy banning skinny dipping at the spot has continued to divide locals, with a 56-year-old woman outraged at being fined for ‘behaving offensively’