Lord Mayor of Newcastle Nuatali Nelmes says she believes an underground breakwall could be the solution to the erosion problem on Stockton Beach and will also provide the foundation for the future extension of Bathers Way, which she hopes will continue onto Stockton.
Cr Nelmes will bring forward a mayoral minute at tonights meeting where she will seek the support of engineers to investigate the viability of constructing a rock wall to protect the beachfront. The rock wall if built, will consist of 500 meters of boulders, from the southern end of the beach to meet the existing wall at the northern end.
The beachfront was severely damaged earlier this month during an east coast low which resulted in the worst erosion at Stockton Beach in living memory.
Cr Nelmes said the construction of a rock wall with the right underpinnings will also allow future extension of the Bathers Way walk.
"By ensuring our assets are properly protected we will have the opportunity to extend the bathers walk that now goes from Mereweather through to Nobbys. I would like to see it cross over at the ferry and come all the way around the Stockton foreshore."
Council in the past have commissioned several reports on preventing erosion around the Stockton Beach area. A lot of the outcomes were over $30 million and were not implemented.
Cr Nelmes is looking for a more cost effective solution that can actually be implemented.
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| Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at Stockton Beach. Photo courtesy of The Newcastle Herald |
