City of Newcastle’s erosion plan for Stockton gets Ministerial green light

City of Newcastle’s long-term plan to manage erosion along Stockton’s coastline has been certified by the State Government.

This sees Newcastle become the first in NSW to have a coastal management program (CMP) confirmed under the Government’s new coastal management framework.

With the CMP included in the NSW Government Gazette published Friday, work will now begin on implementing the approved actions, including $4 million towards a sand nourishment program as well as the construction of essential infrastructure to prevent further erosion and risk to public and private assets.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the certification was the result of the immense effort of City of Newcastle staff and the community to work together on an outcome that met with the support of all relevant government agencies.

“The collaboration between City of Newcastle staff, the Stockton Community Liaison Group, agency stakeholders and the NSW Government has been essential during the preparation of the CMP,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Our shared passion and dedication to achieving a positive future for Stockton has enabled the timely development of this long-term solution for coastal erosion, which has mass sand nourishment at its core, and I thank all those involved for their commitment and genuine, cooperative approach.”

“We look forward to continuing to work with the NSW Government on addressing coastal hazards at Stockton Beach through this process and thank Minister Shelley Hancock for her continued support, and the Deputy Premier John Barilaro for his ongoing work in establishing the Stockton Beach Taskforce.”

The CMP was subject to rigorous consultation and extensive community engagement. Seventy-three per cent of community respondents indicated their support for the plan, which proposes a mix of immediate and longer-term measures to replenish the heavily eroded beach and protect Stockton’s coastal assets.

The CMP was also unanimously endorsed by the elected Council before being submitted to the State Government on 30 June this year.

Longer-term actions under the Stockton CMP include a mass offshore marine sand nourishment campaign of 2.4 million cubic metres and an ongoing 10-year maintenance program to provide the necessary protection for Stockton.

The Deputy Premier’s Stockton Beach Taskforce and the State Government will explore all opportunities to source sand for the mass offshore beach nourishment that is affordable and suitable, with the Taskforce having had its inaugural meeting on 16 June 2020.