Regional dredging program could feed Stockton Beach

Regional resource: Labor has proposed basing a dredge at Swansea that could be used for ongoing maintenance along the Hunter coast.

A proposal to use sand dredged from Hunter and Central Coast estuaries to replenish Stockton Beach on an ongoing basis has received the backing of Labor MPs.

Under the plan a dredge would be based at Swansea but used for ongoing maintenance dredging at locations including Ettalong, The Entrance, Swansea, Karuah and Tea Gardens.

Some of the dredged sand would trucked to Stockton Beach.

Labor put forward a similar proposal in the lead-up to the March state election.

In addition to providing a permanent dredging solution for Swansea Channel, the dredge would also be used to regional maintenance of coastal waterways.

Crown Lands and Roads and Maritime Services were identified as the funding source for the program.

An estimated 500,000 tonnes of sand is needed to replenish Stockton beach in the short-term.

Only 30,000 tonnes of sand dredged from Newcastle Harbour is presently dumped off the coast each year.

Swansea MP Yasmin Catley said she doubted Swansea Channel alone could provide enough sand to replenish Stockton Beach but, combined with sand dredged from along the coastline, it may be possible to develop of sustainable renourishment program.

"We need to be using sand more wisely," she said.

"The government only does reactive dredging on an ad-hoc basis, it doesn't do anything proactive."

"We need to have a coordinated maintenance program of moving sand to where it is needed."

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said the idea had merit.

"It certainly should be part of the mix of options that are considered for the long-term nourishment of Stockton," he said.

The Newcastle Herald previously reported that the construction of the proposed Newcastle Gas Terminal could also provide enough sand to replenish Stockton Beach.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes declared the $589 million project critical state significant infrastructure.

In a parliamentary question lodged last week Opposition local government spokesman Peter Primrose asked if sand that would be dredged from the Hunter River as part of the project would be considered as part of the state significant development process.

Mr Primrose also asked if the dredged sand would be suitable for use on Stockton Beach.

The Maritime Union of Australia said the project represented a "rare opportunity" to save Stockton beach.

The government is due to respond on November 1.

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