Taskforce Promises New Sand For Troubled Stockton Shoreline

BY PETER HYSLOP 

The Stockton Beach Taskforce yesterday committed to moving 100,000 cubic metres of sand on the troubled shoreline, tentatively relieving locals who, for years, have been campaigning for more action.

A grant of $6.2 million will fund the temporary fix, but the new sand is expected to last less than a year, with annual erosion eclipsing the estimated replenishment. 

146,000 cubic metres is estimated to be lost annually.

Meantime, a blueprint on how to spend the $21 million allocated to the long-term refurbishment of the beach by the state government, is currently being drawn-up. 

Taskforce Chair and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty, says the state government is committed to action for locals.

"We're very committed to make sure we can get to work straight away on rectifying Stockton Beach...the first meeting yesterday was a positive one," she said.

"We've had a tender out for dredging which closed earlier this month. We're expecting to award a contract in September. Once we've got approvals to place it on the beach we'll be getting started on that work very very soon.

"I know there's a lot of frustration in the community about how long this has taken, but we've already started the work to get this moving.

"It's unacceptable that this has been in the "too hard" basket for so long," she said.

New Department to Take Over Stockton Beach Project

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The Department for Regional NSW will take over the Stockton Beach re-nourishment project. 

The Department will keep NSW Public Works on as the project manager, so it may carry out initial dredging and sand placement, as well as investigations into long-term erosion solutions. 

Minster for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty will become the Chair of the Stockton Beach Taskforce as part of the shake-up, and says a lack of clarity about who was in charge of the project was holding it back. 

The Taskforce will meet next month for the first time since June last year. 

Newcastle MP and Minister for the Hunter Tim Crakanthorp, says he looks forward to seeing the works finally go ahead. 

"First of all, we've got the $6.2 million Commonwealth and City of Newcastle project to get 300,000 cubic meters of sand onto the beach; that's a bit of a stop-gap solution."

"Then, we've got the $21 million that I've committed through the Minns Labor government to come on and do the larger offshore dredging and get a whole lot of sand onto that beach," he said. 

Mr Crakanthorp said it's about time there was an update on the progress of the project. 

"The Taskforce hasn't met for some time; I'd been pushing and pushing the former government to meet which they refused to do." 

"Now we're in government, I've directed that we have a meeting so we're getting it organised for June, and we'll start progressing that federal government grant in the initial sense and once that's expended, we'll get on to the larger $21 million in funding to get large volumes of sand onto that beach." 

$1M To Tackle Stockton Beach Erosion

BY IAN CROUCH

The state government has today pledged $1 million to address the erosion of Stockton Beach.

It follows the first meeting of Deputy Premier John Barilaro's Stockton Beach Taskforce earlier this month.

The Taskforce has backed three key actions, having already identified the best potential sand source - offshore dredging, to supply sand to replenish the beach.

The $1 million will go towards necessary exploration work to identify the most suitable supply of sand in the area and pay for the gathering of baseline environmental data for a future development application.

The third key action plan involves working towards minor amendments to the Offshore Minerals Act to be taken to Cabinet for approval which will allow offshore dredging to proceed.

Mr Barilaro said the NSW Government is determined to find a solution by working with both sides of Government as well as the community.

"I am grateful for the spirit of co-operation demonstrated from our first meeting, which has brought together Government agencies, local community leaders and representatives, and the port of Newcastle," he said.

$1M committed to Stockton Beach erosion plan