The Newcastle Coastline extends approximately 13km from Stockton in the north, to Merewether in the south.

A great diversity of environments can be found along the Newcastle coastline.  To the north of the Hunter River is Stockton beach, which forms part of the largest coastal sandy barrier in NSW.  The coastline to the south of the Hunter River is characterised by smaller pocket beaches which are separated by rocky cliffs and coastal bluffs.

Management of the Newcastle coastline is guided by the Newcastle Coastline Management Plan (Umwelt 2003).

Newcastle Coastline Management Plan

Prior to the release of the coastal erosion reforms (see below), coastal councils were encouraged to develop Coastline Management Plans in accordance with the NSW Government’s Coastline Management Manual (1990).

The Coastline Management Manual required the following steps to be completed during the preparation of a Coastal Management Plan:

1. Establishment of a coastline management committee – to assist in the development and implementation of the plan.
2. Preparation of a Coastal Processes/Hazard Study – to gain an understanding of the coastal processes and hazards affecting the coastline.
3. Preparation of a Coastline Management Study - to identify and assess potential coastal management options with regard to social, economic, aesthetic, recreational, ecological and coastal hazard issues.
4. Preparation of a Coastline Management Plan – to identify the preferred options for the use and management of the coastline.
5. Implementation of the Coastline Management Plan.

In accordance with the steps outlined above, Council developed the following documents that address the whole of the Newcastle coastline:

 Newcastle Coastline Hazard Definition Study (18.4 mb)
 Shifting Sands at Stockton Beach (Umwelt 2002) (15 mb)
 Newcastle Coastline Management Study Reference Document (Umwelt 2002) (4.6 mb)
 Newcastle Coastline Management Study (Umwelt 2002) (3.3 mb)
 Newcastle Coastline Management Plan (Umwelt 2003)  (3 mb)

The Newcastle Coastline Management Plan indicated that erosion at Stockton beach was progressively worsening and that further detailed investigations of coastal processes and potential erosion management options were required.  In response to the requirements of the Newcastle Coastline Management Plan, Council prepared the Stockton Beach Coastal Processes Study (DHI 2006) and the draft Stockton Beach Coastal Zone Management Study (DHI 2009) (see Stockton).

Coastal Erosion Reforms

In 2009, the NSW Government announced the release of the Coastal Erosion Reform Package.  Key elements of the reform package include:    

• release of the NSW Sea Level Rise Policy in November 2009.  The policy adopts sea level rise planning benchmarks of an increase above 1990 mean sea levels of 40cm by 2050 and 90cm by 2100
• release of the Guidelines for Preparing Coastal Zone Management Plans in December 2010, which replace the NSW Coastline Management Manual (1990)
• amendments to the Coastal Protection Act 1979 in January 2011.

See the Office of Environment and Heritage website for further details on the reforms www.environment.nsw.gov.au/coasts/coastalerosionmgmt.htm.

In August 2010, the Department of Planning released the NSW Coastal Planning Guideline:  Adapting to Sea Level Rise .  This document provides guidance on how sea level rise and its impacts (including coastal erosion and flooding) are to be considered in land use planning and development assessment in NSW.

Revision of the Newcastle Coastline Management Plan

As a result of the recent coastal erosion reforms, Council is revising the Newcastle Coastline Management Plan (and supporting studies) to ensure the new requirements of the Guidelines for Preparing Coastal Zone Management Plans are met.

The first step in revising the Newcastle Coastline Management Plan is to revise the Newcastle Coastline Hazard Definition Study, Stockton Beach Coastal Processes Study, draft Stockton Beach Coastal Zone Management Study and the Newcastle Coastline Management Study.  The revised documents will be called the Newcastle Coastal Zone Hazard and Management Studies.

The erosion hazard lines contained in the Stockton Beach Coastal Processes Study will be revised during the preparation of the Newcastle Coastal Zone Hazard Study to meet the requirements of the Guidelines for Preparing Coastal Zone Management Plans.  Erosion hazard lines will also be developed for the beaches from Nobbys to Merewether.

In April 2011, Council engaged BMT WBM to prepare the Newcastle Coastal Zone Hazard and Management Studies.  The objectives of the Newcastle Coastal Zone Hazard Study are to:

• describe the coastal processes affecting the Newcastle coastline to a level of detail sufficient to inform decision making
• identify and map coastal erosion, inundation and cliff instability hazard areas
• identify the potential impacts from coastal hazards on infrastructure and the environment
• assign risk categories to public and private properties for coastal hazards.

The objectives of the Newcastle Coastal Zone Management Study are to:

• identify coastal hazards (from the Newcastle Coastal Zone Hazard Study), as well as key social, economic, aesthetic, recreational and ecological issues
• identify potential management options to address coastal hazards, as well as the key social, economic, aesthetic, recreational and ecological issues.

The Newcastle Coastal Zone Hazard and Management Studies are anticipated to be completed in May 2012.  On completion of the studies, Council will prepare the Newcastle Coastal Zone Management Plan.  The Newcastle Coastal Zone Management Plan will be a revision of the Newcastle Coastline Management Plan.  The Newcastle Coastal Zone Management Plan will outline Council’s preferred actions for addressing coastal hazards, as well as, key social, economic, aesthetic, recreational and ecological issues.

For further information on coastal management in Newcastle, please contact Council’s Senior Strategist – Environment on 02 4974 2852.