Stockton residents could be forgiven for having a sense of deja vu today as they face continuing erosion on Stockton Beach from big tides and huge seas.
It was on this day, May 26 1974 when the carrier, MV Sygna ran aground on Stockton Beach during a major storm.
The Sygna was on its maiden voyage and was waiting 4 kilometres offshore from Newcastle to load 50,000 tonnes of coal destined for Europe when the massive storm hit packing cyclonic winds gusting at 165km/h.
The Weather Bureau had issued a severe storm warning and a directive for ships to head out to sea, however the Sygna failed to heed the warning and ran around about 80 metres from shore at Stockton Beach. 31 crew were winched to safety by an Iroquois helicopter from Williamtown RAAF Base.
Despite efforts to refloat the stricken vessel, it broke up and the stern became firmly embedded in the sand, where it remained slowly decaying before the last of the rusty hull disappeared beneath the waves during storms in June 2016.
The Sygna is the last of 59 ships lost on the Newcastle coast - it was thought the MV Pasha Bulker may have become the 60th in 2007 when it ran aground on Nobbys Beach during an East Coast low, but it was successfully freed and towed overseas for repairs.
46 years on, a complex low pressure system is again causing huge seas to pound Stockton Beach, leading to further erosion of the sand and more distress for beachside residents who fear their homes could be inundated.
Newcastle Council has put forward a Coastal Management Plan which recommends a continuing program of offshore dredging to replace the lost sand as well as the building of new sea walls, however a decision is not expected until next month at least.
 | ||
| The MV Sygna after running aground on Stockton Beach in May 1974 Picture: portstephensexaminer.com.au |
 |
| The last piece of the Sygna wreck disappeared beneath the waves in June 2016 Picture: theherald.com.au |
