Bare bums for New Brighton

Attention city council - there is a cheeky protest about to be waggled in your direction.

Bare Your Bum for Brighton, a Braveheart-like protest has been organised by a fed up New Brighton businessman. He says the city council has neglected the beach-side suburb for too long.

Pier Side Cafe owner Tony Brooks organised the tongue-in-cheek protest after he asked his staff for creative ideas to gain the attention of the city council.

"They came up with some real doozies - but we decided on this. No speeches, no chanting just one single coordinated gesture for 30 seconds,'' he said

And the protest is steadily gathering bottoms.

Launched on Facebook on Saturday, the protest has been the talk of New Brighton.

"There is a buzz amongst the community - it's become a real talking point,'' he said.

For those who are a bit bashful, never fear, you have been catered for.

"A photocopied bottom will be available for people to tuck on the outside of their trousers or skirts,'' said Mr Brooks.

But underlying the quirky protest is a serious message.

"We just want the council to stop, look and listen, enough is enough,'' he said.

"The essence of the protest is that council has failed to address the needs of the hardest hit suburbs after the earthquakes - New Brighton has literally been stepped over since the earthquakes,'' he said.

"The hardest hit people should be helped first but in reality they have been helped the least,'' he said. Mr Brooks said the area was effected by the recession and then the earthquakes.

"New Brighton has already missed the boat. The council rezoned Brighton for landlords and was on the verge of exploding and being renewed - then the global crisis hit and the landlords withdrew. Not only did landlords leave but then we got hit with the earthquakes and the council hasn't given us a foothold to stand on since,'' said Mr Brooks.

Quiksilver and DC outlet store manager Nick Mooney said he was participating because he was tired of broken glass on the beach entrances and graffiti not being cleaned up in spite of his calls to the city council.

"Bob Parker needs to wander around in bare feet on the beach entrance way and we can sit down and pick out the broken glass from his feet and have a natter,'' he said.

City councillor Glenn Livingstone, who represents the Burwood Pegasus ward said he was a tad too shy to join in the protest but agreed that New Brighton was down the list of priorities for city councillors.

"I'd say it's about two-thirds down the list,'' he said.

"There is prejudice from a couple of city councillors that the east is going downhill and why should we resource that,'' he said.

"Planning for the area has reached a certain point and it has become constipated - it just hasn't moved,'' he said.

Bare Your Bum for Brighton, 11am, December 2, basketball court at New Brighton beach, or check it out on Facebook.