The draft Extended Stockton CMP identifies coastal management risks like erosion and sea level rise, and the actions required to address these risks in a strategic and integrated way, as well as how and when these actions are to be implemented, their costs, and the proposed cost-sharing arrangements and other viable funding mechanisms for their implementation.

The intention of the Extended Stockton CMP is to ensure Stockton’s coastal area is protected, enhanced and resilient, and that beach amenity, recreational uses and the sense of identity that our coastline provides our community is maintained. The 2020 Stockon CMP established the need for mass sand nourishment, but did not include a pathway for delivery. The draft Extended CMP contains a list of management actions to establish a holistic and integrated program for the funding and maintenance of mass sand nourishment, to buffer the impacts of erosion and preserve the coastline adjacent to the suburb of Stockton for future generations. This includes an ongoing program of sand top-ups, which was identified as the community's preferred complementary management scheme in December 2021.

Sand top-ups were identified as the best choice to support mass nourishment for Stockton as they replicate the natural sand supply, are more cost effective than built structures, are adaptable to conditions and maintain the identity of the area.

The Extended Stockton CMP will simultaneously plan for and deliver on the urgent protection of critical public assets in Stockton, identified as at risk in the interim period ahead of mass sand nourishment.

It also broadens the geographical area covered by the 2020 Stockton CMP, to include complementary actions for the northern end of Stockton Beach from Meredith Street to the Newcastle - Port Stephens Local Government Area boundary.

The complementary actions featured in the draft Extended Stockton CMP are intended to maximise the benefits of mass sand nourishment across the larger geographic area, such as respecting the cultural heritage of the area and ensuring ongoing recreational use remains viable.

The Stockton Beach Repair Blueprint outlines that the NSW Government will provide project governance and management, proactive communication and engagement, and a targeted monitoring program for the duration of its $21 million funding commitment for the five key phases of the Stockton Beach Repair Project.

Funding and the NSW Government public authority responsibility for the implementation of seven sand nourishment actions within the draft Extended Stockton CMP has not been confirmed. Based on the coastal erosion impacts experienced at Stockton Beach as a result of the NSW Government-owned breakwater and deepwater navigation channel of the Port of Newcastle, we're seeking a commitment from the NSW Government to deliver on their $21 million election commitment from 2023 and to take the lead on a number of sand nourishment related actions that will ensure a holistic and integrated management approach and the seamless delivery and maintenance of mass sand nourishment. These actions include:

• Investigating the establishment of a funding and governance framework to support the delivery of sand top-ups
• Coastal monitoring and the development of a decision-making support tool to inform ongoing sand placement
• Integration of opportunistic sand sources, including the reinstatement of the previously NSW Government-owned approvals to enable sand placement from Port of Newcastle maintenance dredging

The NSW Government is also responsible for the delivery of the Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program (CERMP) funded by the Australian Government and City of Newcastle. This program involves the provision of amenity sand nourishment (completed in November 2023), and the progression of feasibility investigations, design work and environmental assessments and approvals for identified sand sources from the North Arm of the Hunter River and offshore marine areas for mass nourishment. This will support both mass nourishment and sand top-up quantities to meet the larger, longer-term requirements to offset the underlying sand losses caused by the Newcastle Harbour infrastructure and forecasted sea level rise.