City of Newcastle has welcomed the news that a contract has been awarded to obtain and place 100,000 cubic metres of sand along the Stockton coastline from next month.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes celebrated the milestone with Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty, Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley, and Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon MP this morning.
“A huge amount of work has been undertaken to get to this point, and this is a very important day for the Stockton community and for City of Newcastle,” said Cr Nelmes.
“Our team has been working alongside the community for a number of years, developing the state’s first certified Coastal Management Program, securing the $21 million commitment from the NSW Government for mass sand nourishment, and now working collaboratively with Department of Regional NSW and NSW Public Works to see this much needed first round of amenity sand nourishment finally on its way to Stockton.”
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon also welcomed the announcement.
“I am very pleased to see the Federal Government’s $4.7 million for Stockton Beach is now being put to work,” said Ms Claydon.
“The Stockton community has been waiting a long time for action on this matter. I am delighted to see that sand will finally be deposited on Stockton Beach.”
City of Newcastle’s Executive Director Planning and Environment, Michelle Bisson, acknowledged the significance of this first step.
“This 100,000 cubic metres will improve the beach experience for locals and visitors and importantly, provide some protection while investigations are underway into sources for the 2.4 million cubic metres of sand needed for mass sand nourishment,” Ms Bisson said.
“It is pleasing to see all three levels of government working together to achieve this fantastic outcome for Stockton.”
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 City of Newcastle.
In addition to the delivery of amenity sand nourishment, the grant funds the studies into possible sources of much larger volumes of sand from the North Arm of the Hunter River and offshore sources, as well as the environmental approvals required for mass sand nourishment – a complex process which has never before been undertaken in NSW.
Further efforts to shield Stockton’s coastline until mass sand nourishment continue with the construction of a buried protection structure at the southern end of the existing Mitchell Street seawall underway, and the draft Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program in the final stages of development ahead of public exhibition next year.
The next iteration of the program steps out an expanded list of management actions that support the long-term strategy of mass sand nourishment outlined in the 2020 Stockton CMP, and broadens the geographical area covered to include the northern end of Stockton Beach from Meredith Street to the Port Stephens Local Government Area boundary.