Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty and Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp today announced the first 100,000 cubic metres of sand will be sourced from shipping channels within Newcastle Harbour as part of a $6.2 million project to fix coastal erosion at Stockton Beach.
Ms Moriarty said NSW Public Works – which is managing the project – had identified a site in the navigation channel beyond the break wall entrance which could be accessed within the existing Port of Newcastle dredging approvals.
NSW Public Works has advised tenders for dredging and sand placement closed this month and submissions are currently being reviewed. A contract is expected to be awarded in September, with works to commence after the necessary approvals for sand placement are secured.
As part of the contract, a dredging vessel, will remove the equivalent of about 40 Olympic swimming pools of sand, before redistributing it on Stockton Beach.
This update will be among items discussed when the Stockton Beach Taskforce meets today for the first time since my appointment as Chair and the Department of Regional NSW took charge.
The Taskforce will also look to develop an action plan with community consultation to drive the project forward.
“This work will create a blueprint for the Department of Planning and Environment to rollout the NSW Government’s $21 million election commitment for mass sand nourishment,” Minister Moriarty said.
Minister for the Hunter and Newcastle MP, Tim Crakanthorp welcomed Minister Moriarty and the action being taken by the NSW Government.
“I’d like to thank Minister Moriarty for taking the reins and listening to the concerns of the Stockton community,” said Minister Crakanthorp.
“Labor committed to getting the Taskforce meeting again and today, after stalling under the former government, that commences.
“There’s been a lot of work happening over the last couple of months and we are getting closer to having sand back on Stockton Beach.”
NSW Public Works continues to work with the City of Newcastle and Port of Newcastle to coordinate the necessary approvals while investigations into longer term solutions continue.
The Stockton Beach Taskforce, chaired by Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty, includes representatives from the City of Newcastle, the Minister for the Hunter Tim Crakanthorp, the NSW Coastal Council, the Worimi Local Aboriginal Lands Council, and the Stockton Community Liaison Group.
The project is funded by a $4.7 million Commonwealth grant and a $1.5 million contribution from the City of Newcastle.