MTS Heritage prepared a maritime archaeological statement of heritage impact (MASoHI) for a proposed sand nourishment project at Stockton Beach, NSW. The aim of the nourishment project was to provide asset protection and improve beach amenity due to a net loss of 57,000 m3 of sand each year. The project involved placing 100,000m3 of dredged sand taken during maintenance dredging of the Port of Newcastle.

The MASoHI was required to assess the potential impact of placing the 100,000m3 of sand on known and potential historical and maritime archaeological articles in the area. There are over 150 shipwrecks that were reported lost that have the potential to be located off the coast of Newcastle, including 18 shipwrecks listed as ‘lost’ at Stockton Beach. There are also two known shipwrecks located within the Project area, the wreck believed to be the Berbice and the other, Durisdeer. In addition to these, there is a former mining airshaft located on the beach at Stockton.

A multi-disciplinary approach was needed, including working in conjunction with the coastal engineers, to assess both the potential of direct impacts from the placement on known shipwrecks and the effect the movement of the sand was likely to have on known and potential heritage items and sites, including the two known shipwrecks. The assessment found that the sand nourishment would not result in an increase in the natural littoral transport of sand northward along Stockton Bight, including no increase in sediment transportation or volume that would naturally be transported.

In consultation with the project team, it was possible to establish buffer zones around both the Berbice and Durisdeer shipwrecks to protect them from the direct sand nourishing works. Sand movement will also be monitored at both known shipwreck sites. The information collected from the monitoring data will inform future sand nourishment projects and their short and long term effects on nearshore and intertidal maritime archaeological sites.