6 days ago
From Dubai to Stockton, an international dredge sought for massive sand replenishment project
A dredge used to build islands in Dubai could be brought in for the massive job of putting more than a million cubic metres of sand on Stockton Beach - the first ever project of its kind to be undertaken in NSW.
Stockton Beach Special Advisory Panel chairman Tim Crakanthorp said he was hopeful a tender for the project would be called in early 2026 following the state government's commitment of $21.5 million in last month's budget.
Tuesday's panel meeting was updated on the status of several environmental studies that need to be completed as well as licences that need to be obtained before the project can be put to tender.
The studies have been funded by a joint $6.2 million City of Newcastle - federal government funding package.
"That money has paid for a great deal of research on whether to get the sand from offshore or on the north arm of the Hunter River," Mr Crakanthrop said.
"The north arm does have a number of metres of very dark mud and silt associated with it, which will probably mean the beautiful sand underneath won't be easily accessed. We are looking offshore at this point to get the offshore sources of sand."
It was initially hoped that sand could be pumped onto Stockton Beach in late 2026. However, Mr Crakanthrop said on Tuesday that the large number of variables made it difficult to put an exact timeframe on the project.
"We're working as hard as we can in terms of the environmental impact study, in terms of the licenses. All things going well, we hope to get those done this year or early next year," he said.
"We then put out a tender for the large dredge. They go around the world. If they are available and we get a good tender, we go from there. Unfortunately, we can't give a definitive time frame."
Tuesday's meeting also saw the state government agree to actions in the City of Newcastle's Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program, which will help address coastal erosion in the longer term.
The government will create a framework to deliver ongoing sand top-ups as part of a strategy designed to buffer the coastline from erosion.
The government will also develop and implement an innovative coastal monitoring system to inform long-term sand and beach management.
The extended CMP builds on $21.5 million allocated in this year's state to deliver mass sand nourishment identified in the original 2020 Stockton coastal management plan.
With all actions in the CMP now assigned, the program will be put to City of Newcastle councillors for adoption before it is submitted to Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Environment, Penny Sharpe, for certification.
Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said the extended Stockton coastal management plan would establish a pathway for the delivery, funding and maintenance of mass sand nourishment, while planning and delivering urgent protection works for critical public assets in the short term.
"I thank Mr Crakanthorp for his many years advocating for the needs of Stockton, and I look forward to ongoing collaboration that works towards resolving this community's coastal erosion issues," he said.
Mr Crakanthorp welcomed the agreement to allocate the outstanding actions to guide the long-term management of the iconic coastline.
"Getting sand back on the beach has always been my focus, and I am committed to keeping the community updated on this project and ensuring my $21.5 million election commitment is used efficiently and effectively to deliver the best outcomes for the beach and for the Stockton community," he said.
A dredge used to build islands in Dubai could be brought in for the massive job of putting more than a million cubic metres of sand on Stockton Beach - the first ever project of its kind to be undertaken in NSW.
Stockton Beach Special Advisory Panel chairman Tim Crakanthorp said he was hopeful a tender for the project would be called in early 2026 following the state government's commitment of $21.5 million in last month's budget.
Tuesday's panel meeting was updated on the status of several environmental studies that need to be completed as well as licences that need to be obtained before the project can be put to tender.
The studies have been funded by a joint $6.2 million City of Newcastle - federal government funding package.
"That money has paid for a great deal of research on whether to get the sand from offshore or on the north arm of the Hunter River," Mr Crakanthrop said.
"The north arm does have a number of metres of very dark mud and silt associated with it, which will probably mean the beautiful sand underneath won't be easily accessed. We are looking offshore at this point to get the offshore sources of sand."
It was initially hoped that sand could be pumped onto Stockton Beach in late 2026. However, Mr Crakanthrop said on Tuesday that the large number of variables made it difficult to put an exact timeframe on the project.
"We're working as hard as we can in terms of the environmental impact study, in terms of the licenses. All things going well, we hope to get those done this year or early next year," he said.
"We then put out a tender for the large dredge. They go around the world. If they are available and we get a good tender, we go from there. Unfortunately, we can't give a definitive time frame."
Tuesday's meeting also saw the state government agree to actions in the City of Newcastle's Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program, which will help address coastal erosion in the longer term.
The government will create a framework to deliver ongoing sand top-ups as part of a strategy designed to buffer the coastline from erosion.
The government will also develop and implement an innovative coastal monitoring system to inform long-term sand and beach management.
The extended CMP builds on $21.5 million allocated in this year's state to deliver mass sand nourishment identified in the original 2020 Stockton coastal management plan.
With all actions in the CMP now assigned, the program will be put to City of Newcastle councillors for adoption before it is submitted to Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Environment, Penny Sharpe, for certification.
Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said the extended Stockton coastal management plan would establish a pathway for the delivery, funding and maintenance of mass sand nourishment, while planning and delivering urgent protection works for critical public assets in the short term.
"I thank Mr Crakanthorp for his many years advocating for the needs of Stockton, and I look forward to ongoing collaboration that works towards resolving this community's coastal erosion issues," he said.
Mr Crakanthorp welcomed the agreement to allocate the outstanding actions to guide the long-term management of the iconic coastline.
"Getting sand back on the beach has always been my focus, and I am committed to keeping the community updated on this project and ensuring my $21.5 million election commitment is used efficiently and effectively to deliver the best outcomes for the beach and for the Stockton community," he said.
A dredge used to build islands in Dubai could be brought in for the massive job of putting more than a million cubic metres of sand on Stockton Beach - the first ever project of its kind to be undertaken in NSW.
Stockton Beach Special Advisory Panel chairman Tim Crakanthorp said he was hopeful a tender for the project would be called in early 2026 following the state government's commitment of $21.5 million in last month's budget.
Tuesday's panel meeting was updated on the status of several environmental studies that need to be completed as well as licences that need to be obtained before the project can be put to tender.
The studies have been funded by a joint $6.2 million City of Newcastle - federal government funding package.
"That money has paid for a great deal of research on whether to get the sand from offshore or on the north arm of the Hunter River," Mr Crakanthrop said.
"The north arm does have a number of metres of very dark mud and silt associated with it, which will probably mean the beautiful sand underneath won't be easily accessed. We are looking offshore at this point to get the offshore sources of sand."
It was initially hoped that sand could be pumped onto Stockton Beach in late 2026. However, Mr Crakanthrop said on Tuesday that the large number of variables made it difficult to put an exact timeframe on the project.
"We're working as hard as we can in terms of the environmental impact study, in terms of the licenses. All things going well, we hope to get those done this year or early next year," he said.
"We then put out a tender for the large dredge. They go around the world. If they are available and we get a good tender, we go from there. Unfortunately, we can't give a definitive time frame."
Tuesday's meeting also saw the state government agree to actions in the City of Newcastle's Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program, which will help address coastal erosion in the longer term.
The government will create a framework to deliver ongoing sand top-ups as part of a strategy designed to buffer the coastline from erosion.
The government will also develop and implement an innovative coastal monitoring system to inform long-term sand and beach management.
The extended CMP builds on $21.5 million allocated in this year's state to deliver mass sand nourishment identified in the original 2020 Stockton coastal management plan.
With all actions in the CMP now assigned, the program will be put to City of Newcastle councillors for adoption before it is submitted to Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Environment, Penny Sharpe, for certification.
Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said the extended Stockton coastal management plan would establish a pathway for the delivery, funding and maintenance of mass sand nourishment, while planning and delivering urgent protection works for critical public assets in the short term.
"I thank Mr Crakanthorp for his many years advocating for the needs of Stockton, and I look forward to ongoing collaboration that works towards resolving this community's coastal erosion issues," he said.
Mr Crakanthorp welcomed the agreement to allocate the outstanding actions to guide the long-term management of the iconic coastline.
"Getting sand back on the beach has always been my focus, and I am committed to keeping the community updated on this project and ensuring my $21.5 million election commitment is used efficiently and effectively to deliver the best outcomes for the beach and for the Stockton community," he said.
A dredge used to build islands in Dubai could be brought in for the massive job of putting more than a million cubic metres of sand on Stockton Beach - the first ever project of its kind to be undertaken in NSW.
Stockton Beach Special Advisory Panel chairman Tim Crakanthorp said he was hopeful a tender for the project would be called in early 2026 following the state government's commitment of $21.5 million in last month's budget.
Tuesday's panel meeting was updated on the status of several environmental studies that need to be completed as well as licences that need to be obtained before the project can be put to tender.
The studies have been funded by a joint $6.2 million City of Newcastle - federal government funding package.
"That money has paid for a great deal of research on whether to get the sand from offshore or on the north arm of the Hunter River," Mr Crakanthrop said.
"The north arm does have a number of metres of very dark mud and silt associated with it, which will probably mean the beautiful sand underneath won't be easily accessed. We are looking offshore at this point to get the offshore sources of sand."
It was initially hoped that sand could be pumped onto Stockton Beach in late 2026. However, Mr Crakanthrop said on Tuesday that the large number of variables made it difficult to put an exact timeframe on the project.
"We're working as hard as we can in terms of the environmental impact study, in terms of the licenses. All things going well, we hope to get those done this year or early next year," he said.
"We then put out a tender for the large dredge. They go around the world. If they are available and we get a good tender, we go from there. Unfortunately, we can't give a definitive time frame."
Tuesday's meeting also saw the state government agree to actions in the City of Newcastle's Extended Stockton Coastal Management Program, which will help address coastal erosion in the longer term.
The government will create a framework to deliver ongoing sand top-ups as part of a strategy designed to buffer the coastline from erosion.
The government will also develop and implement an innovative coastal monitoring system to inform long-term sand and beach management.
The extended CMP builds on $21.5 million allocated in this year's state to deliver mass sand nourishment identified in the original 2020 Stockton coastal management plan.
With all actions in the CMP now assigned, the program will be put to City of Newcastle councillors for adoption before it is submitted to Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Environment, Penny Sharpe, for certification.
Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge said the extended Stockton coastal management plan would establish a pathway for the delivery, funding and maintenance of mass sand nourishment, while planning and delivering urgent protection works for critical public assets in the short term.
"I thank Mr Crakanthorp for his many years advocating for the needs of Stockton, and I look forward to ongoing collaboration that works towards resolving this community's coastal erosion issues," he said.
Mr Crakanthorp welcomed the agreement to allocate the outstanding actions to guide the long-term management of the iconic coastline.
"Getting sand back on the beach has always been my focus, and I am committed to keeping the community updated on this project and ensuring my $21.5 million election commitment is used efficiently and effectively to deliver the best outcomes for the beach and for the Stockton community," he said.
