The replenishment of Stockton Beach will begin on Monday.
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Trucks will be used to transfer 5500 tonnes of sand from two local quarries to the south end of the beach.
The process will involve about 50 truck movements a day.
The $350,000 project - funded equally by City of Newcastle and the state government - will restore the beach's amenity and also allow the council to monitor sand movements along the Stockton coast.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the council had worked quickly to finalise approvals so the project could be completed prior to the Christmas holidays.
"It is our priority to have this work completed before the busy Christmas period so locals and holiday makers can enjoy the beach and to limit the disruption caused by hundreds of truck movements and heavy machinery," she said.
"Trucking sand to the beach is only a short term response providing recreational amenity at Stockton Beach, and we're continuing to work with the NSW Government to prepare the long term plan for management of the beach," the Lord Mayor said.
Stockton Surf Life Saving Club President Callan Nickerson said the start of the project was good news for his members.
"The Christmas holidays are a big part of our season with volunteer patrols and club members all using the beach so, while it may be short-term, we are looking forward to seeing the results and getting sand back on this stretch of the beach," Mr Nickerson said.
"While we welcome the start of the project, we are committed to fighting for a long term solution for Stockton's erosion problem."
The southern sections of Stockton Beach will become a work zone while the project is underway.
"There will be heavy machinery working on the beach and a stockpile of sand at the end of King Street in addition to the trucks travelling through the area," Councillor Nelmes said.
"We are asking the public to exercise caution while these works are carried out and to comply with directional and safety signage and instructions."
Investigations are continuing into potential long-term solutions to improve the condition of the beach, including the use of offshore sand dredging.
Offshore dredging, which would require a change in legislation, has been successfully used to provide sand to replenish beaches on the Gold Coast.
Stockton residents had engaged the NSW Environmental Defenders Office to investigate if the state government had a duty of care to repair the beach following devastating erosion caused by the Newcastle harbour breakwaters.