Lord Mayor says State Government Puts Up "Road Blocks" to Stockton Erosion Solution

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes met with Local MP’s and Stockton residents on Friday, calling for an “all government approach” to the ever worsening erosion crisis on Stockton’s coast line.

“It’s to the point where all we are doing is managing Natural Disasters and trying to prevent any future disasters,” Ms Nelmes said.

“We are working under our approved Coastal Zone management plan. Council can manage disaster risk and short-medium term actions but at this point in time we don’t have any solutions for the long term state of Stockton Beach.”

Labor Shadow Minister
for Local Government Greg Warren, and Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp met with the Mayor to address the the

Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock’s response to issue.

They said despite
the Minister for Local Government declaring the beach as an open coast location
(erosion hotspot), meaning the State Government is able to fast-track
applications for funding,

there are still two outstanding grant applications
from Newcastle City Council that the Minister is yet to approve.

The applications include one for

$498,000
requested for coastal protection works at the southern end of Griffith Avenue
and Stone Street and an

additional $240,000 for beach nourishment along the southern part of Stockton
Beach.

“We know what we need. We need to get huge volumes of sand that are deposited off shore in areas that are controlled by the NSW Government, we need to dredge that sand and it get it back on the beach,” Ms Nelmes said.

“Their legislation prohibits that action at the moment, we have asked on numerous occasions not just to the local gover

nment Minister, we’ve also made representation to the Deputy Premier.”

“Those bureaucrats have come back here, to hear our community liaison groups, and have put forward many road blocks in allowing that to occur.”