On the one hand, Newcastle Harbour's breakwaters and dredging have been pinpointed as the source of the Stockton erosion problem.

On the other hand, residents at The Entrance are campaigning for breakwaters and more dredging in their channel.

Residents took it upon themselves to use an excavator and shovels at North Entrance on Sunday with the aim of digging a channel between Tuggerah Lake and the ocean. The residents dug the channel to help water flow from lake to ocean, with the aim of preventing flooding of houses.

The man who used the excavator is, predictably, now in trouble with authorities.

Meanwhile, Stockton is in further strife with worsening erosion meaning cabins on Stockton caravan park's shore must now be relocated.

When humans start interfering with natural systems, their actions can have unintended consequences. Changing one part of a beach or lake, for example, can cause problems in other parts.

Those who have closely followed the dredging at Swansea Channel and the so-called "scouring effect" understand this well. Channel dredging has caused erosion at the Belmont Airport seawall and Pelican boat ramp. The collapse of Pelican Marina in 2016 - destroying Milano's restaurant and function centre - was another consequence.

Of course, places like Newcastle require breakwaters and dredging to support the port, cruises, economy and boating community. And Swansea Channel must be kept open to provide boating access to Lake Macquarie.

The business community at The Entrance is again arguing its case for breakwaters at the mouth of the holiday town's channel. A petition has begun on change.org asking, "Where is our breakwalls?".

Central Coast Council, it should be said, has previously run a dredging program at The Entrance. And some people would like the dredging to be done more often.

It's worth pointing out that studies have found that the construction of breakwalls at The Entrance would provide no added benefit to the lake in terms of flushing or improving water quality.

Meanwhile, the Stockton saga is experiencing another low with its erosion problem causing sadness and anger among many Hunter residents.

There's a widespread and strong feeling that the NSW government is putting the problem in the too-hard basket.

In the latest development, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has written to Emergency Services Minister David Elliott calling on him to declare a natural disaster at Stockton.

If breakwall advocates at The Entrance were informed about troubles at Stockton and Swansea over the years, perhaps they would think twice about their campaign.

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