Stockton Rubbish Rises to the Surface

BY TYLER FARDELL

The huge swell and strong winds which battered Newcastle's coastline over the past weeks has uncovered a dirty secret in Stockton.

Over the weekend, much of the Stockton sand dunes close to the water were eroded away, revealing a disgusting sight for many locals who visit the area.

Currently, signs are in place to deter away any visitors as representatives from Newcastle City Council, Hunter Water and the Environment Protection Authority met today at the site to discuss the clean-up.

Many community members are worried the situation could get worse if the rubbish isn't cleaned up before another big swell hits and erodes more of the sandbank away, which has already collapsed in some places.

Keiran Smith from Hunter Water says they're looking to fix the situation as quick as they can.

"Today we're meeting with Council and the EPA to get this mess sorted out", he said. "We need to hire a licensed contractor to fix the site.

The site of the rubbish is on the land of Hunter Water so they'll be taking the lead of the cleanup.

"Our immediate focus is to make the site safe so that includes signage and security", Mr Smith said.

Rubbish along Stockton Beach
Photo source; NBN News

Frosty Trading the Track for the Surf Ahead of the Newcastle 500

BY JESSICA ROUSE

2015 Supercars Champion Mark Winterbottom hit the sand in Stockton this morning, racing suit and all, with local surf life-saving kids.

With just three days until the Newcastle 500, drivers are getting keen to take a spin on the track for the first time in their Supercars.

Mark Winterbottom on Stockton Beach this morning.

Mark Winterbottom said it's really quite exhilarating coming to a new track and particularly to Newcastle.

"I think the race is going to be fantastic, you know we've got one of the best backdrops, one of the best tracks, the elevation, it's got everything that a circuit needs. It's a championship decider, it'll be the first ever to win on the track, and your motivation is through the roof," said Mark.

The race has come under some scrutiny from local residents in the East End who just last night held an impromptu rally against the race. They chanted songs and chalked slogans and peace symbols on the tarmac on Scott Street.

Mark said from his perspective, the support far outweighs the nay-sayers.

"Some are concerned about environmental issues and then they go and vandalise their own city. I don't really understand that, that's sort of going against everything they stand for. It is what it is. We'll race anywhere but this city I think really seeing the turn out they've had, the ticket sales, it's the start of something big."

From tomorrow teams and equipment start rolling into the CBD to set up.

The 2.6 kilometre track will be the decider for the championship with 30 points separating Jamie Whincup and Scott McLaughlin. Scott does have some ground to make up and will have to finish several places in front of his rival to take out the 2017 Supercars title.

Mark said even though he's not in contention for the championship, he can't wait to get out on the track.

'We'll race anywhere but we come to towns that get behind it and Newcastle is so important for us, it's such a big region, such a big following and to see kids that haven't see our race firsthand will get that taste on the weekend for the first time and that's what its about, they're excited. They treat you like a rockstar but you're just a normal person!"

$4.3 Million to Rebuild Stockton Boat Harbour

BY SARAH JAMES

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, today announced work will commence early this year to design and rebuild Stockton Boat Harbour, providing the Newcastle recreational and commercial boating community with safer berthing.

The NSW Government has allocated $4.3 million to improve the safety, use and accessibility of the 50-year old harbour.
 
Rebuilding the harbour will be a two stage process led by the RMS and is estimated to take a maximum of 18 months.

The first stage which is due to start in March 2017 will involve establishing a new 25 berth swing mooring and dinghy rack facility north of the existing harbour at North Stockton.

Once complete, vessels will moved to the new swing mooring facility so the second stage of rebuilding the existing Stockton Harbour infrastructure can begin.

Investigations conducted into the safety of the existing harbour last year revealed the need for harbour to undergo construction.

Extensive consultation with the local community, commercial fishers and local boat owners also influenced the decision.

Hendrik Clasie from the RMS described the rebuild as "a long time coming" and "something we're pleased to get off the ground and finally deliver".

Man exposes himself to a woman at Stockton Beach

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 40-year-old woman walking her dog along Stockton Beach overnight was approached by an unknown man who indecently exposed himself to her.

At around 7:15pm, the woman noticed the man walking behind her who then took off his clothes and exposed himself, before committing an act of indecency while walking towards her.

The woman was uninjured and found a witness nearby who contacted police.

The identity of the man is still unknown - he is described as being in his early 30s, of Caucasian appearance, tanned, with a slim build and short brown hair.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Erosion solution for Stockton Beach

BY JARROD MELMETH

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.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at Stockton Beach. Photo courtesy of The Newcastle Herald

Stockton bracing for next storm front

BY JESSICA ROUSE

With a predicted east coast low expected to hit on the weekend, the Hunter is expected to be in the clear, however residents and business owners are bracing for the worst.

The storm that hammered the Hunter two weekends ago, left Stockton Beach losing 10 metres of dune, sending waves up to the doors of the Surf Lifesaving Club. 

"The damage was confined to the beach and the beachfront, the shoreline; the main concern was future high seas would take further shoreline and encroach onto the buildings of the surf club," club president Trevor Upton said.

Structures at Stockton Surf Lifesaving Club are under threat including the beachside carpark and a sheltered barbeque, with the beach littered with debris. 

Newcastle City Council are being called upon to clean up the beach, make emergency repairs and make it safe for both the club and the community. 

Upton says another major concern is that the beach currently isn't able to be accessed by the surf club or it's lifesavers. 

"We haven't got any access to the beach in the vicinity of the surf club and right along the beach. The only response would be Nobby's or Newcastle or somewhere around there".

East Coast Low Aftermath

The National Parks and Wildlife Service says it could take months for Stockton Beach to recover from the damage suffered by the massive surf over the past few days.

The beach has been severely impacted by erosion with large drop-offs, while parts of the surf club car park have broken away.

Meanwhile, parts of the iconic Signa wreck which founded on Stockton Beach in 1974 has been washed away, with just a small part of the hull left.

And Hunter SES crews will spend the next couple of days in Sydney and on the South Coast helping with the massive clean-up effort from the weekend's wild weather.

Around 30 volunteers will work on clearing trees, repairing rooves and other jobs.

The Signa Wreck

This Is All That's Left. Photos courtesy Newcastle Herald

Redhead beach concerns

Redhead locals are voicing concerns about the behaviour of four-wheel drivers and motor bike riders on the Nine Mile beach dunes

Residents say there has been an increase in littler and torched vehicles left along the coastline

Lake Macquarie mayor, Jodie Harrison, says recreational vehicle users should stay off the dunes.

“It is a public beach and we do ask people to consider others when they use. It if people do see other using incorrectly, we do ask they to either approach the people, as long as it’s safe, or else to report the behaviour,” Mrs Harrison said.

The increase use of the beach by motor vehicles is thought to be due to restrictions at Stockton beach, which came in just over 12 months ago.