BETWEEN them they have spent decades on Stocktons ever-shrinking stretch of sand.
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And now a group of well-known Stockton locals will share community views and local knowledge in a bid to find a long-term solution to halt the suburbs worsening erosion crisis.
Newcastle City Council announced on Sunday the formation of the Stockton Community Liaison Group, which will be made up of eight residents from the peninsula, in a bid to tackle the problem, which in the last six months has unearthed an old rubbish dump, complete with asbestos, just north of Corroba Oval, what appeared to be remnants of the famous Stockton Colliery and has seen the Stockton child care centre site go within metres of crumbling into the ocean.
Newcastle City Council Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the group would provide valuable input to the Stockton Coastal Zone Management plan and work with the state government toward finding a suitable plan of action to halt the long-standing threat to Stocktons shoreline.
I want to thank these individuals for accepting our invitation to this group and their willingness to help inform the parties involved in developing long-term strategies to address this coastal erosion and other related issues, Cr Nelmes said.
The erosion problems we are facing in Stockton are complex and not easily solved. But all parties are working together to work out how to best manage them.
Barbara Whitcher, a Stockton resident for more than 60 years and a Stockton Community Action Group member will chair the group, which also includes Stockton Surf Life Saving Club President Callan Nickerson, Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Andrew Smith, Northside Boardriders Club President Simon Jones and other prominent members of the surf life saving club, boardriders club and community action group.
Council is also inviting all Stockton residents and business owners to a community information session to update the community on remediation work at Stockton beach, future plans and possible long-term strategies.
The session, held at Stockton RSL on March 7, will be attended by representatives from the Office of the Environment and Heritage, Hunter Water Corporation and Stockton Early Learning Centre operator Mission Australia.
