Stockton Beach Advisory Panel Confirms Framework to Tackle Coastal Erosion

23 July 2025

newy.com.au – The Stockton Beach Special Advisory Panel has confirmed that all actions under the Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP) have now been allocated, allowing the long term erosion repair plan to proceed to its next critical phase.

At its 22 July 2025 meeting, the panel welcomed the news that $21.5 million committed in the 2025–26 NSW Budget is now available, enabling the City of Newcastle and state agencies to move forward with environmental approvals, licensing, and tendering for large scale sand replenishment. “We’ve now got the money in the bank,” said Member for Newcastle and panel chair Tim Crakanthorp. “That means we can get the studies done, secure the licences, and open tenders for the dredging contract.”

The panel also confirmed agreement between the NSW Government and Newcastle Council on all outstanding items in the CMP. The plan will now go to Council for adoption before being submitted to Minister Penny Sharpe for certification. The CMP sets out a coordinated approach to protecting Stockton’s coastline, combining mass sand nourishment with urgent works to safeguard public assets.

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said the agreement ends years of back-and-forth between levels of government. “We’ve now got a state-managed framework to deal with this into the future,” he said. “It’s not the final answer, but it’s a critical breakthrough.”

Preliminary offshore investigations have already been completed to identify viable sand sources, with offshore sites currently favoured over the Hunter River. A $6.3 million joint investment from the federal government and Council has supported these studies along with shoreline risk assessments.

Officials confirmed that while the goal remains to have sand returned to the beach by the second half of 2026, that timeline is dependent on multiple factors. “We’ve never done this in New South Wales before,” said Mr Crakanthorp. “We’re working hard to complete environmental impact assessments, obtain licences, and find a suitable dredge – all of which take time.”

The meeting also highlighted progress on coastal monitoring, with plans for a new live website to display wave and swell data, camera feeds and seabed mapping. These tools will support both the initial sand placement and future top-up strategies.

With the CMP actions now fully allocated and funding formally available, the project shifts from planning to delivery. Both state and local representatives say they are committed to keeping the community informed as Stockton Beach moves closer to long term protection.