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Newcastle Herald

National

Donna Page and Matthew Kelly

Sandstorm erupts as Premier Gladys Berejiklian comes under heavy fire over Stockton beach erosion crisis

FED UP: Stockton residents display their anger at what they believe is state government inaction on the erosion crisis that has forced the closure of the beach and suburb's childcare centre. Picture: Simone De Peak

STOCKTON'S erosion crisis sparked a heated clash in NSW Parliament on Tuesday between the government and Opposition over claims not enough is being done to address the "unfolding catastrophe".

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay demanded Premier Gladys Berejiklian outline what steps were being taken to "coordinate a whole of government response " to the crisis.

She said if the crippling erosion was happening at Manly or Bondi, it would be the Premier's "top priority".

What ensued was a rowdy and bitter seven-minute debate that had to be stopped numerous times by the speaker calling for order and repeatedly threatening to eject MPs as the government was accused of mishandling the worsening crisis.

As Ms Berejiklian pointed to $147,500 given to City of Newcastle last year to help fund a coastal management program, Ms McKay interjected, "Oh, this is embarrassing."

To deafening heckles and jeers, Ms Berejiklian continued that the government understood "how stressful a time this has been".

Ms McKay responded: "$140,000 for a community washing away, I don't think you are answering the question... Mr Speaker this is a catastrophe for a community and she is doing nothing."

After several failed attempts at being allowed to speak, Ms Berejiklian continued drawing on the Newcastle light rail project and "billions in infrastructure" projects in the Hunter.

"I say to the residents of the Hunter region we appreciate, especially for the community affected directly by the erosion at Stockton, we completely appreciate what that coastline means, not just to the people who live near it and use it, but to the whole region," she said.

"It is symbolic. That's why as a government, not only have we provided dollars in conjunction with council, but we're also supporting council... The government is onto it, we've been onto it for a while."

All political eyes are on Stockton with the local government and environment ministers and Ms McKay committing to visit the suburb in coming days.

Local Government minister Shelley Hancock, who is responsible for coastal management, said her office and department were working closely with the City of Newcastle as part of a response to the crisis.

"I will also be visiting Stockton Beach to meet with the council and local residents in the coming days," she said.

While not directly responsible for erosion, Environment Minister Matt Kean also gave an undertaking to Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp on Tuesday that he would visit Stockton.

It appears Ms McKay will be the first to visit Stockton, expected to view the erosion on Wednesday morning with Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.

"If Bondi or Manly were crumbling into the sea, it would be a top priority for this government. Instead the Premier is content to stand by and do nothing," she said in a statement.

"This is a catastrophe for the people of Newcastle, but the Premier and her ministers evade responsibility and refuse to take meaningful action."

Ms Hancock said the government had provided City of Newcastle with more than $1.2 million to address issues along the Hunter's coastline since 2011. She did not clarify how much has been spent at Stockton.

Since 2015, City of Newcastle has spent $5 million on erosion works at Stockton beach.

"Numerous studies and reports have been prepared by council with assistance from the NSW Government to identify short and medium term solutions," Ms Hancock said.

"The NSW Government has a fund of over $83 million in funding assistance which is currently available to council to assist them action solutions.

"I have instructed the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to contact the council to assist with the development of their applications and I have requested the deadline for applications to be extended by two weeks."

The government endorsed the Newcastle Coastal Zone Management Plan in late 2018, providing City of Newcastle with approval to undertake short to medium term actions - like sand bagging - but critically no long-term actions to counter coastal erosion.

Under the current system, any long-term solutions are years away as they must be part of an approved Coastal Management Program that has not been completed.

A City of Newcastle spokesman said "State Government legislation dictates the program will come into effect from 31 December, 2021".

A spokesman for Ms Hancock confirmed on Tuesday that long-term solutions for the erosion crisis had yet to be identified.

"The NSW Government has provided Newcastle Council with $147,500 to develop a coastal management program to help identify longer term actions for Stockton," he said.

"The Government is also working with council to help it implement the existing certified coastal zone plan to manage erosion impacts at Stockton.

"There is no cap on funding."

Fed up with short-term "band aid solutions" and unable to wait until the end of 2021, residents are demanding the government fast-track a long-term solution to save the beach.

Stockton Community Action Group is calling for a sand replenishment program to restore the beach and said state government intervention was needed to make it happen.

"Seawalls increase the wave energy in front of them leading to increased sand removal and beach loss," the group said in a statement.

"Accelerated erosion occurs where the seawall ends. Seawalls also require costly maintenance, and create safety hazards as they break up and no longer regarded as best practice in coastal engineering.

"The majority of the Stockton community want the beach restored with ongoing sand nourishment, not a seawall and a permanent loss of the beach."

City of Newcastle's spokesman said it was working with NSW government agencies to develop the Coastal Management Program that would include research, assessments and business cases for a long-term solution.

"City of Newcastle has submitted two applications for funding assistance from the NSW Government for works in line with the Coastal Zone Management Plan including emergency sandbagging and demolishing the former childcare centre," he said.

"Another grant application will be submitted for works in the next few days to protect the existing Mitchell Street seawall from future failure. Each of these grants has sought funding for 50 per cent of the expected cost from the State Government with the remainder to be funded by the City of Newcastle."

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes expressed her concern for the Stockton community in a lord mayoral minute on Tuesday night informing residents she had written to Premier Berejiklian and Prime Minister Scott Morrison inviting them to visit Stockton.

She told residents that the City of Newcastle "stands with them".

"We want Stockton Beach to be a useable beach enjoyed by the public, and we will undertake all actions that are permissible by the NSW Government to achieve this goal," it read.

"Any long-term solution to address coastal erosion at Stockton requires both approval and funding from the NSW Government, and that this was discussed at a recent meeting at Parliament House with the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock."

Emergency sandbagging continued on Tuesday to protect roads and homes. The beach remains closed.

The Newcastle Herald revealed in June last year that erosion had exposed an old council dump site that was spewing asbestos and rubbish into the sea.

A community meeting for people concerned about the beach will be held at Stockton Surf Life Saving Club on Thursday from 5pm.

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