AN expert panel advising the state government has backed investigating an artificial headland and sand nourishment as a possible long-term solution to Stockton's erosion crisis.
The assessment was provided to Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock, after she requested the NSW Coastal Council review City of Newcastle's handling of the matter.
NSW Coastal Council member Associate Professor Ron Cox, of the University of NSW's Water Research Laboratory, was tasked with investigating the erosion.
His recommendations echo previous research done to find a long-term solution to halt the decline of Stockton's coastline.
"Work undertaken at each stage must involve a whole-of-embayment approach including stabilisation of foredunes and consideration of the need for an artificial headland within the embayment," the Coastal Council's report reads.
The artificial headland and sand nourishment idea, of course, is not new. It has been put forward several times as a long-term solution to the erosion problem, including in 2016 when City of Newcastle submitted its Coastal Zone Management Plan.
According to 2009 research by council consultants DHI Water and Environment, an artificial headland, located near Fort Wallace, would place a barrier to sand moving north and retain new sand from a nourishment program for longer.
The headland would act as a large groyne extending 270 metres offshore to depths of more than nine metres to prevent sand moving around it.
"This proposal would result in accumulation of sand on the southern side of the headland and some erosion north of the headland, however a significant setback line is available here that allows erosion to occur without putting infrastructure at risk," the report states.
But the proposal came to a screeching halt after the state government's Office of Environment and Heritage refused to sign off on it because of the $30 million cost of the artificial headland and lack of a cost-benefit analysis in the council's plan.
Criticism was levelled at the council because it "did not identify a viable funding source" or "address the management of the impact of the works on the coastline".
At the time, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it left the council "in a tough position", because the cost of a genuine long-term solution was beyond local government.
"These are complex issues that need a collaborative approach from all levels of government together with the community," she said.
The Newcastle Herald reported last week that City of Newcastle ignored 2016 NSW Coastal Council's advice not to build a rock wall in front of Stockton Surf Life Saving Club, in response to erosion.
The wall has caused severe erosion scarping and worsened the environmental crisis, as the Coastal Council predicted.
University of Newcastle's Conjoint Associate Professor in Earth Sciences Ron Boyd said a headland would create a large erosion area to the north in Hunter Water or Defence Housing land.
"Without nourishment, over time sand would be lost at south Stockton and accumulate at north Stockton," he said.
"Eventually sand would bypass the headland resulting in erosion further south... Groynes and headlands often produce strong rip currents adjacent to the rocks, creating danger for swimmers and loss of sand offshore."
The Stockton community is pushing for a sand nourishment program, similar to that used on Gold Coast beaches, as the preferred long-term solution.
More of our reporting on Stockton Beach
- Research reveals erosion twice as bad as previously predicted
- Sand dredged from Hunter River could save Stockton beach
- Deputy Premier says Stockton beach above politics
- Minister commits to consultation for Stockton solution despite new deadline
- Watch the video: Relentless erosion closes Stockton beach
- Erosion wipes out Stockton's only childcare centre
- Community meeting told Stockton beach losing a metre a year
- Mission Australia's storm damaged Stockton early learning centre
- Childcare centre's future under cloud in erosion saga
- Childcare centre forced to close temporarily due to beach erosion threat
- Council back to drawing board over long-term solution for Stockton erosion
- Playground of Stockton's Mission Australia early learning centre set to be relocated as a result of erosion threat
- Fears childcare centre could crumble into the sea
- Stockton solution moves forward with meeting
- Garbage tip washing into the sea at Stockton
- State government handballs responsibility for Stockton beach
- 2017: Exposed mine shaft shows Stockton beach's erosion problem needs 'urgent' solution
- 2016: Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes suggests 'underground breakwall'
- 2016: Worst erosion in memory leaves Stockton beach exposed to next storm
- 2014: Dangerous erosion on Stockton Beach
- 2013: Stockton beach erosion | photos, video
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