A 75-metre dredging vessel has begun extracting 100,000 cubic metres of sand from Newcastle Harbour as part of a $6.2 million effort to remediate the coastline.
The dredger takes the sand from the outer harbour and then at the southern end of Stockton Beach shoots it into the surf zone, like a "rainbow” shower of sand. This is occurring up to 10 times per day.
Work is expected to be completed within two to three weeks, weather and tide patterns permitting.
This initial supply of sand onto the beach is funded by a $4.7 million Australian Government grant and a $1.5 million contribution from the City of Newcastle.
Learnings from this first stage of the sand nourishment project will feed into the blueprint for the longer-term remediation. The blueprint will inform how the NSW Government’s additional $21 million commitment will be delivered.
A 200-metre exclusion zone will be in place around the dredger while it is working, and sections of the beach might be closed intermittently when sand is being placed.
Information about exclusion zones will be available via temporary signage at the beach and on the City of Newcastle website.
Community members are invited to a drop-in session at Stockton Surf Lifesaving Club between 2pm-7pm on 24 October 2023 to learn more about the project.
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
"When I took over as the Stockton Beach Taskforce Chair three months ago it was immediately apparent that sand erosion at Stockton Beach had been thrown in the too-hard basket for too long.
"Despite passionate advocacy, the Stockton community has watched this beautiful beach washing away for years with no real action.
“With the clock ticking on Stockton Beach, it is high time someone delivered some meaningful solutions for this community and this government acted decisively and delivered.
“While this sand is being placed on the beach, we are finalising the blueprint that will set out the next steps for a long-term solution. I am looking forward to presenting that plan to the Stockton Beach Taskforce in December.”
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:
"Every time there is a significant weather event with rough and turbulent seas in the Hunter, the people of Stockton collectively hold their breath, wondering what they may lose next.
"The community has already lost so much of its precious coastline. It is important we don't let them lose any more.
"After years of erosion and significant sand loss along this much-loved coastline, I am thrilled that the NSW Government is delivering for the Stockton community.
“I’d also like to thank the Stockton Beach Taskforce and the Port of Newcastle for their continued support and efforts to achieve this goal.”
Federal Member for Newcastle and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sharon Claydon said:
“This first stage of work is an important step towards getting sand back on Stockton.
“The Australian Government has provided $4.7 million to get this early work underway and assist the NSW Government with planning to progress longer-term solutions.
“It is remarkable to see what can be achieved for our community when all three levels of Government work together.”
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said:
"The commencement of amenity sand nourishment represents a significant milestone for the Stockton community and City of Newcastle as we continue to work with the NSW Government to protect Stockton's coastline.
"From City of Newcastle's development of the state's first certified Coastal Management Program to the NSW Government's commitment to delivering $21 million for mass sand nourishment, our work to protect the coastline has been a collaborative effort between the local community and three levels of government."
