Parents who let their children run around naked and dig holes in the sand at one of Australia's most popular beaches could face fines of up to £300 under proposed laws. Cottesloe council in the Western Australia city of Perth wants to outlaw a total of 100 activities from its main beach, including digging "hazardous" holes, bringing children's' toys onto the sand and erecting large sun umbrellas. If the new legislation is passed, it will also be illegal for children over the age of five not to be "properly and adequately clad".
But confusion reigns over exactly what will and won't be allowed. Some parents have voiced concerns that they could be slapped with fines if their five-year-old daughters are caught without a bikini top. If the planned changes are passed by the council, any beachgoers caught flouting the legislation could be fined from £60 to £300 by police patrolling the beach. Under the plan, drinking alcohol, sitting on paths and disobeying lifeguards will also attract a penalty.
The council claims that the beach has become so popular that existing laws governing use of the area are outdated. Kevin Morgan, Cottesloe mayor, said that the new laws were needed because of the absence of common sense and "decent values" in many parts in society. "People are much more aggressive about ... what they're entitled to do in the absence of a law saying otherwise," he said.
However, the move has provoked an angry response from locals, who said it would only cause more fuss between sunbathers and lifeguards and was simply "silly". Colin Barnett, the West Australian premier, said that the proposed laws were "un-Australian". Mr Barnett said that spending a day at the beach with family and friends and putting up an umbrella for protection against the sun was a key part of Australian life. The Australian love affair with the beach has become increasingly strained over recent years, with several coastal councils bringing in strict laws that limit what is allowed to take place on the sand.
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