Deputy Premier Paul Toole to head taskforce designed to get sand back on Stockton beach

Mr Toole, who is also the minister responsible for resources, confirmed to the Newcastle Herald on Monday he will maintain and chair the Deputy Premier's Stockton Beach Taskforce that was established by his predecessor John Barilaro in March last year.

The news came as a sigh of relief for the community, as the Deputy Premier's support was seen as "crucial" to see the project move forward.

Mr Toole said the aim of the taskforce was to bring together key stakeholders with the "common focus of getting sand back on Stockton beach".

"The Deputy Premier's Taskforce has already played an important role, with my department's Geological Survey team having already identified three potential sources of offshore sand in Stockton Bight for beach nourishment," Mr Toole said.

"I have been encouraged by the number of approaches I've received from stakeholders, eager to see the taskforce continue to meet, following my election as National's leader and Deputy Premier."

Stockton Community Group welcomed the news on Monday, after residents have campaigned for decades to find a solution for the worsening erosion caused by the Newcastle Harbour breakwaters.

Spokesman Ian Taggart said Mr Toole's support was vital to ensure a long-term solution was acted on in a timely manner.

"This is a good thing for the Stockton community that we have his support," he said.

"What the community needs is for someone to own the timeline and tell us when the first sand can appear on the beach."

The first meeting of the taskforce under Mr Toole will be held next year.

It will review the work already done and aim to chart a pathway forward.

"There is still much work to be done, and the taskforce will continue to examine all potential options for sand sourcing to nourish Stockton beach," Mr Toole said.

City of Newcastle released a report last year which said it would cost $21 million for an initial offshore replenishment program then $12 million every decade to keep sand on the beach.

Under current legislation, offshore sand is classified as a mineral and its exploration and recovery from NSW coastal waters requires an exploration licence and mining licence respectively, under the Offshore Minerals Act 1999.

An exploration licence to identify suitable sand was granted in February, funded from $1 million announced by the NSW government for Stockton beach in March last year.

The Geological Survey of NSW, in the Department of Regional NSW, applied for an offshore exploration licence in December after identifying a 60-square kilometre survey area as the largest nearby offshore sand resource.

Its scientists found three suitable sources, the "inner-shelf plain sand sheet, old barrier sands and Hunter River sands".

The inner-shelf sand is abundant in Stockton Bight, occurs as broad ridges on the sea floor and is very similar to what is on the beach now.

The barrier sands are old beach and dune sand found in deeper water north of Pinnacles Reef, which is about 4km north-east of the harbour entrance.

These sands are up to 10 metres thick on the sea floor and are often covered by the younger, inner-shelf sand.

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