THE NSW government response to the worsening coastal erosion emergency in Stockton was to deflect and deny, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp told parliament on Thursday.
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More than 35 Stockton residents travelled to Sydney to hear the debate in parliament sparked by a petition signed by 10,000 residents.
Mr Crakanthorp accused Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton of sitting on an $83 million pot of money meant to address coastal erosion across NSW.
Parliament heard that studies of Stockton beach had identified long-term sand loss of more than 10 million cubic metres and that the seabed had dropped seven metres since the construction of the breakwater.
More than 370,000 cubic metres of sand is lost each year to erosion.
This huge volume of accelerating sand loss might bring Stockton close to a tipping point after which catastrophic damage is likely and subsequent natural replenishment is no longer likely, Mr Crakanthorp said.
The time is now, this cannot be delayed any longer, we need long-term solutions.
Parliament heard the environmental crisis had been caused by the construction of the breakwater and harbour dredging.
The audience erupted with loud clapping when Mr Crakanthorp invited Ms Upton who is expected to be in the Hunter for the Liberal State Council meeting on August 25 to meet with Stockton residents.
Acting speaker Thomas George intervened and asked the residents to remain quiet.
Whilst I realise there are probably strongly held views in this, I ask the gallery to refrain from clapping, he said. That is not the normal procedure for anyone in the gallery.
Residents have repeatedly invited Ms Upton to visit the peninsula to see the damage firsthand.
In response, Ms Upton blamed the worsening erosion crisis on Newcastle City Council.
Referring to the draft coastal management plan submitted by council in 2016 - that was rejected by the NSW Government - Ms Upton said the council had not responded accurately or timely. Council said the plan was rejected due to the cost of addressing the Stockton problem.
The revised coastal management plan, submitted by the council last month, was approved this week. The council can now apply for funds, identified to support the management actions, in that now certified, coastal zone management plan, Ms Upton said.
Possible actions include protection of the child-care centre, remediating the landfill site, sand nourishing and establishing a working group to investigate sourcing sand for a long-term replenishment program.
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