Five-and-a-half-thousand tonnes of sand will begin arriving at Stockton Beach on Monday as City of Newcastle commences the anticipated beach nourishment project.
The project is in response to severe erosion at the southern end of Stockton Beach and is also a pilot sand and wave-monitoring project to inform future management of the beach.
City of Newcastle has been planning for the $350,000 project for more than a month after having applied to the NSW Government for funding in early October.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City had worked quickly to finalise approvals and start trucking sand to Stockton Beach to complete Stage 1 of this project prior to the Christmas holidays.
“It is our priority to have this work completed before the busy Christmas period so locals and holiday makers can enjoy the beach and to limit the disruption caused by hundreds of truck movements and heavy machinery,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Trucking sand to the beach is only a short-term response providing recreational amenity at Stockton Beach, and we’re continuing to work with the NSW Government to prepare the long-term plan for management of the beach.”
Stockton Surf Life Saving Club President Callan Nickerson said the start of the project was good news for his members.
“The Christmas holidays are a big part of our season with volunteer patrols and club members all using the beach so, while it may be short-term, we are looking forward to seeing the results and getting sand back on this stretch of the beach,” Mr Nickerson said.
“While we welcome the start of the project, we are committed to fighting for a long-term solution for Stockton’s erosion problem.”
A second stage involving placement of sand north of the Lexie’s Café accessway, adjacent to the Surf Club, is expected to be undertaken in early 2020 subject to further funding and approvals by the NSW Government in conjunction with maintenance works on the SLSC seawall that have protected Lexie’s café and car park from the impact of coastal erosion.
The Lord Mayor said during the project the southern sections of Stockton Beach will become a work zone and restrictions need to be put in place to ensure public safety and the safety of staff and contractors.
“There will be heavy machinery working on the beach and a stockpile of sand at the end of King Street in addition to the trucks travelling through the area,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We are asking the public to exercise caution while these works are carried out and to comply with directional and safety signage and instructions.”
Up to 50 trucks a day will deliver sand to the eastern part of King Street using Fullerton Street and King Street from Nelson Bay Road. There will be no public access to the southern section of Stockton Beach between the Lexie’s café Accessway and King Street for the duration of the project. King Street will be closed east of the Stockton Swimming Pool carpark.
Interested members of the public may view progress from viewing platform at the SLSC.
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