City of Newcastle has welcomed today’s announcement by Labor leader Chris Minns that NSW Labor will commit $21 million needed from the State Government for mass sand nourishment at Stockton if it wins the upcoming March election.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this announcement was a positive and significant step towards achieving mass sand nourishment at Stockton Beach.
“This announcement demonstrates the commitment of a NSW Labor Government to resolving ongoing erosion issues caused by the Stockton breakwater, which is owned by the NSW Government,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Mass sand nourishment is the outcome preferred by the community and endorsed through the 2020 Coastal Management Program. This is the most significant commitment yet towards that outcome.”
In October 2022, the NSW Government was successful in obtaining a $6.2 million grant through the Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program, which includes $4.7 million from the Federal Government and $1.5 million from the City of Newcastle.
City of Newcastle’s Executive Director Planning and Environment Michelle Bisson said mass sand nourishment remained the long-term solution to protecting the State Government owned Stockton Beach.
“The long-term plan is to secure the 2.4 million cubic metres of sand needed for initial mass nourishment, as outlined in the Stockton Coastal Management Program endorsed by the NSW Government in 2020,” Ms Bisson said.
Council committed $27.5 million to respond to the immediate risks to Stockton’s coastline in the 2020 Coastal Management Program with $9.5 million already invested. A further $21 million is needed from the State Government to fund the long-term solution of mass sand nourishment.
Last year City of Newcastle progressed the design work for sand placement and anticipate having the associated environmental approvals finalised over the next few months. The new placement plans are informed by the most recent sand movement study and will ensure that sand sourced for Stockton is placed in the most effective location.