Friday 3 November 2017

Coastal Management Plan a No-Go.

BY DANIELLE RIES

A solution for Stockton beach erosion concerns have stalled after it's been revealed the State Government's Office of Environment and Heritage has knocked back Newcastle City's Council Council Management Plan.

The plan needs to be certified in order for the council access state government funding for the projects contained within the document suggested which can help the erosion issues.

A meeting held last night saw around 120 community members gathered to discuss possible ways the erosion issues can be minimized.

Some of the solutions discussed include constructed sea walls, artificial headlands and artificial reefs to groynes, dredging, as well as sand scraping and sand bypassing.

Along with members of the community, members of the Council and State Government were in attendance to also give their points of view on the subject matter.

Save Stockton Beach Member Simon Jones says it's disappointing the plan wasn't approved.

"It's definitely a setback, hopefully only a minor one".

He continues by stating its pivotal to stay in touch with the state government going ahead in the future.

"It's very important to work with the state government to rectify this issue. There the ones that hold all the power to not only fund it but to also approve any works that need to go ahead".

The way the community all came together to support this issue was wonderful Simon expresses.

"The point of the meeting last night was to get the community together with the council and the state government just to air our concerns and try and get on the same page".

"The main event of the night was just the community coming together and everybody basically have the same sort of issues which is 'why hasn't anything been done', and it's really good to see that people are passionate about this issue".

Simon Jones observing the current erosion of Stockton Beach
Credit- Queensland Country Life.