City of Newcastle submits Stockton CMP for certification

City of Newcastle (CN) has delivered on a shortened deadline of 30 June and become just the second council in NSW to deliver a coastal management program for certification to the State Government.

The Final Draft Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020 (Stockton CMP) was unanimously endorsed by the elected Council on Tuesday evening and will now be considered by the Minister for Local Government for review and certification assessment under the Coastal Management Act 2016.

The submission of the Stockton CMP to the State Government follows a successful public exhibition period. CN received a total of 175 submissions of which three quarters were supportive of the plan, an outstanding outcome for a public exhibition. All government agencies were also supportive of the CMP.

The plan determined a mass offshore marine sand nourishment campaign of 2.4 million cubic metres, followed by ongoing 10-year maintenance would provide the necessary protection for Stockton’s coastline. The Deputy Premier’s Taskforce and the State Government will explore all opportunities to source sand for mass offshore beach nourishment that is affordable and suitable.

The plan also outlined an initial sand nourishment program costing $4 million from land-based or other permissible sources, as well as essential work to address the imminent risk to community assets and private property including minimal extensions of the existing buried seawalls.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said delivering the Stockton CMP by deadline was monumental effort made possible through an engaged local community and dedicated City staff.

“The Stockton CMP is a professional, forward-thinking document developed in partnership with the community to determine what we need to do now and in the long-term to ensure we can protect Stockton Beach for future generations,” the Lord Mayor said.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in the development of the program, including the Stockton Community Liaison Group, agency stakeholders and the City of Newcastle’s Stockton CMP team, who have worked tirelessly to develop this program.

“The Stockton CMP was delivered through the midst of a pandemic, with the team identified in the early stages as essential workers during COVID-19 restrictions.

“The community and City of Newcastle staff continued to work closely together despite limitations posed by COVID-19 restrictions to deliver this well considered plan that received to full support of Council.”

The Stockton CMP will now be submitted to the Minister for Local Government for certification under the Coastal Management Act 2016. Once certified, the Stockton CMP takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette.

To find out more about the Stockton CMP, visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/stockton