‘We’re running out of time’: United front needed to tackle dire Stockton erosion
Latest weather conditions, high tides and big swells continue to batter the Stockton coastline, causing further damage, beach closure, and putting beach side locations under threat. Now one local has started a Go Fund Me page to raise money towards possible legal action.
Newcastle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Newcastle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Desperation is setting in for some Stockton beach residents, as more and more of their beautiful beachfront is washed out to sea, with erosion taking hold.
Latest weather conditions, high tides and big swells continue to batter the Stockton coastline, causing further damage and putting beachside locations in threat of being swallowed by the ocean.
A heartfelt video made on Wednesday by Stockton’s Dowling Real Estate owner and long term resident Lucas Gresham said Stockton is running out of time.
With the recent closure of the local child care centre, constant vegetation loss and metres being stripped from the beach every year, Mr Gresham said erosion is slowly killing the beachside mecca and it’s devastating to see.
“It is horrific,” he said.
“My father who was born in Douglas St was quoted, it’s the worst he’s ever seen by far.”
A true local in the sense that his family have grown up here, he is angry his beloved town is being eaten away and wants to ensure it’s here for generations to come.
“I’m not a cranky person but I’ve had it,” Mr Gresham added.
“It’s taken me 20 years to buy a house on this beachfront. I’ve got my kids here, I’ve got a one and a three-year-old, and I’ve got another child on the way, and probably up until the last six months we would go down on the beach of a morning as a lifestyle.
“It’s a lifestyle here, it’s not crowded, you can go down and enjoy yourself and the kids can grow up in a nice safe area and now my kids are in the backyard because of the erosion.
“You can’t go across the road, it’s closed off and dangerous.”
That was definitely the case on Wednesday when Newcastle Council closed most access points to Stockton beach, advising beachgoers to keep a safe distance from steep embankments due to recent weather events.
Living day-by-day in hope that something will change, Mr Gresham said enough was enough, dismayed by the inaction from the State Government and the temporary solutions which are not proving effective.
“Every day we are reaching new heights with progressive ideas in artificial reefs, sand bypass and groin and sand pumping, but for as long as I can remember, we have had the same meetings with council and each time the same outcome, with fingers pointed in every direction but no one taking responsibility,” he said.
He’s calling for a united front in moving forward, suggesting community class action against the Environment Defence Office (EDO).
“I want something done and I think it’s about time,” he said.
“I think we need to do a community class action against the state and I’m hoping the EDO can help us and if not someone else, a lawyer or barrister sees this story and will help.
“Everyone feels a little bit helpless and no-one knows the direction. I will knock on every single door I have to until someone can.
“I’ve heard it long enough and it has had an effect on so many people here.”
He’s set up a Go Fund me page and donated $500 dollars to get the ball rolling with the money raised going towards possible legal action.
“We all love the beach, we all love the lifestyle, the coastal feel. This is the dream to live in a suburb, with a nice quiet location, a good backyard, a family area that you can walk up to the beach,” he explained.
“Stockton is full of families every weekend, it is chockers so something needs to be done to save it.
“Even if we were to act now, we’d still be in dire straits but whatever is done can’t be any worse than it is now.”
Meanwhile, Conjoint associate professor at the University of Newcastle and local resident Ron Boyd is questioning where all the sand has gone after he was informed by City of Newcastle, the recent erosion events removed about nine thousand cubic metres of sand from the area north of the seawall.
“Where has all the sand gone? Clearly not southward where the beach in front of both seawalls is now badly eroded,” Mr Boyd said.
“The answer can be found to the north at Fort Wallace. It’s hard to recognise individual sand grains, but the remnants of the fence erected in front of the daycare centre have given us an obvious clue.
“Poles and netting from this fence can now be found 15 hundred metres north on the beach in front of Fort Wallace and the Stockton Hospital.
“Near the poles are the branches of the Norfolk Island pine tree that used to grow next to the daycare. This illustrates how longshore transport moves Stockton sand to the north.
“It also gives us a strong argument to request that sand be returned as part of any future beach sand replenishment project.”