Regular sand top ups will be the best way to protect and buffer Stockton Beach from coastal hazards and shoreline recession, according to a City of Newcastle evaluation.
City of Newcastle presented an evaluation report to the Stockton Community Liaison Group at a community meeting on December 9, where schemes were considered for the long term coastal management of Stockton.
Initially following a mass sand nourishment effort by the City of Newcastle, regular sand top ups were found to be more cost-effective and efficient rather than building a structure like an artificial headland.
Chair of the Stockton Community Liaison Group Barbara Whitcher said there had been broad support for ongoing sand nourishment at Stockton Beach.
“This information confirms the need for sand to be continually replenished on Stockton Beach, which we’ve known for some time, but it also prioritises this scheme over other options like an artificial headland or artificial reef to provide the buffer our coastline needs,” Whitcher said.
“Some people in the community would have preferred an artificial reef or artificial headland. However, the economic benefit analysis confirms that sand nourishment is the most cost-effective scheme and is less intrusive on the environment.
“Now, we want to see the preferred sand nourishment management scheme implemented as soon as possible.”
Barbara Whitcher
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the evaluation process considered performance, environmental and social factors and included a cost-benefit analysis.
“Four feasible coastal management options including an artificial reef, an artificial headland, sand back passing, and maintenance sand nourishment were assessed, and mass sand nourishment supported by annual sand nourishment top ups is considered the best solution for Stockton,” Cr Nelmes said.
“The evaluation appraisal included both economic and non-economic factors to determine which scheme would best support our vision to provide an erosion buffer to Stockton, return recreational beach amenity and the sense of identity that the beach provides to the local community.
“The process included a cost-benefit analysis that demonstrated that the greatest economic value resulting from the proposed coastal management scheme is the value of improved beach amenity, which is a value that extends beyond Stockton residents to the people of Newcastle and NSW.”
The Stockton Community Liaison Group was also presented with the results of a Coastal Inundation Report identifying and mapping the present and future coastal inundation hazard at Stockton from tides, surges and dynamic, wave-driven water levels that lead to over wash and overtopping of coastal barriers.
City of Newcastle’s findings further highlighted the need to implement the mass sand nourishment strategy, outlined in the Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020.
City of Newcastle’s next step is to progress discussions about funding the coastal management scheme with State Government.
In addition, the newly formed Newcastle Coastal Management Working Group will consider coastal management of the entire 14 kilometres of coastline in the Newcastle local government area.
Information source: Media release, City of Newcastle