Our beach is in crisis but does state care?

SLIPPING AWAY: Waves hammer the stricken Stockton coastline this week. Simon Jones says it's shameful that a solution to the crisis has not been found. Picture: Lucas Gresham

The erosion of stockton is anything but natural.

Beaches in their natural state don't erode and recede by metres every time they're exposed to a moderate swell.

As far back as 2002 studies suggested that as a direct result of the construction of the breakwalls and the deepening of the harbour channel, Stockton beach has been stripped of its sand supply.

By causing the waves to break and dissipate their energy before they reach the shore this sand supply offers a beach's first line of defence.

As demonstrated by this week's event, Stockton has been rendered defenseless in the face of these storms.

These studies also make note that unlike most beaches, which do experience cycles of erosion and rebuilding, the erosion of Stockton beach is progressive.

This means that left unchecked the problem is only going to get worse.

The loss of these sandbars also means the loss of surfing amenity. Some of the best memories I have of my childhood are of surfing after school with my mates. We could grab our boards and head out without even looking at the beach.

There was bound to be a surfable wave somewhere within walking distance. Kids these days don't check the beach after school either. Only they don't check for a different reason - there is almost assuredly no waves breaking.

It's shameful that despite countless studies pinpointing the causes and extent of the issues of Stockton beach, we're still seemingly no closer to a solution.

As it stands now, the community is suffering. We're not just suffering financially, but also in a less quantifiable way, socially and culturally.

As president of the Northside Boardriders I am in a strong position to comment on these aspects of Stockton life.

Stockton's culture is shifting, opportunities and lifestyles are being pushed aside by political agendas. It highlights a shameful lack of compassion from the authorities.

I dreamt that one day I could show to my children what it means to be a member of this great Stockton community, but if there is no serious action I worry that community will no longer be what it once was.

So, you'd think that with the cause of the erosive decline of Stockton beach figured out it'd be a pretty straightforward task to go to the owners of the offending infrastructure and get them to find and fund a solution?

Well, apparently it's not that simple when the owner of that infrastructure is the NSW government.

Why should we, the Stockton community and the people of Newcastle bear the cost, while the government reaps the profits?

What is the social responsibility of our government?

Maybe it's not to make us happy, but it certainly isn't to stand idly by while their infrastructure erodes the opportunities of the future generations.

At least, on a positive note, it has been amazing to see that while we are battered, the community is not defeated.

It brings me immense satisfaction to see the people of Stockton and the surrounding suburbs rallying together and showing such support in the face of adversity.

The authorities may not care about us, but we certainly care about each other.

Simon Jones is the president of the Northside Boardriders

CLOSING IN: The sea smashes into the thin strip of land between the shore and Mitchell Street. Picture: Lucas Gresham

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