Work commences on sand container seawall at Stockton

Related to the Stockton Land Restoration project Published 4 January 2019

Hunter Water has commenced construction of a large sand container seawall to protect its site at Stockton from coastal erosion.

The work is being undertaken by a specialist contractor and will involve excavating and installing17 Mega Geotextile Sand Containers along the face of the site.

Hunter Water’s Chief Investment Officer Darren Cleary said the seawall would help protect the land in the medium term.

"Using more than 10,000 tonnes of sand, the structure will span approximately 100 metres in length once complete."
Darren Cleary, Chief Investment Officer

The seawall is designed to be a medium term solution for the site. It’s expected to last between five and seven years, while a long term strategy for coastal erosion is developed by the NSW Government and Newcastle City Council.

Hunter Water is getting on with the job of constructing this seawall because it’s the right thing to do for the Stockton community and for the environment.

We anticipate construction will take around 12 weeks to complete, weather permitting. During this time, beach access will be restricted. I’d like to thank Stockton residents for their patience while we undertake this work.

A large storm event in January 2018 caused significant erosion of Hunter Water’s land and exposed part of a former landfill, which was operated by Newcastle City Council between June 1964 and December 1971.

Since then, we have taken a number of steps to clean up and secure the site, including excavating and removing some of the landfill, because the priority has been ensuring the community’s health and safety.

Currently Hunter Water has fully funded approximately $3 million to clean up and dispose of the waste, and is now funding an additional $2.24 million to construct the seawall. We continue to liaise with Council to share the costs.


More News

See what else has been happening on the Stockton Land Restoration project

Some of the concrete tank traps, removed from the shoreline in October 2020, have been relocated toward the front of Hunter Water’s land along Fullerton Street, Stockton.

Read more about Tank traps re-located to protect land and improve security

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Published 9 October 20

Over the past two weeks we have removed most of the concrete World War II tank traps from our section of the shoreline at Stockton beach.

Read more about World War II tank trap removal

Project update

Fencing work to begin

Published 19 June 20

Work will soon begin to construct a chain-mesh fence around the southern portion of land. This land was previously a council landfill site and is being restored and planted with native species. It's necessary to protect the area, especially while the new native plants are establishing.

Read more about Fencing work to begin

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