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Stockton 9 FEBRUARY 2014 Trip Leader Brian Kirkman – 100 Series T/D Beach Participants Reccie Mark Willock & Andrew Boyd – 200 Series T/D An early morning wakeup was on order, so we World War II it was fortified David & Heidi Rowley – 79 Series T/D against a possible attack by Margaret & Paul Lloyd – 80 Series would make it in time for the Imperial Japanese forces. Petrol Reccie organised by Brian Kirkman. Hearing During that time it served Bob Fyfe – 200 Series T/D so many conflicting stories of where you could as a bombing and gunnery range as well as a dumping Craig Bellamy – 100 Series Petrol and could not drive at Stockton, Brian thought area for unused bombs Robert Rhodes – 100 Series T/D by aircraft returning from a reccie was a great idea to see for ourselves Peter DeBelin – HiLux T/D training sorties. The length the damage the storm caused and the newly of the beach, its generally marked out 4WD areas. hard surface and numerous items of interest along the beach make it popular with four-wheel drive (4WD) enthusiasts. Four- A large part of Stockton Beach lies within the Worimi wheel drive vehicles are permitted to drive on Stockton Beach conservation lands, which stretch from south-west of the wreck provided the vehicles are in possession of valid vehicle permits of the MV Sygna, north-east along Stockton Beach to just west available either end of the beach. The beach is also popular of the end of the beach at Anna Bay. The lands consist of the with fishermen and several different varieties of fish may be 1,826 ha (4,512-acre) Worimi National Park, 1,042 ha (2,575- caught. acre) Worimi State Conservation Area and 1,568 ha (3,875- We started the day with a healthy breakfast at McDonalds acre) Worimi Regional Park. Day to day management of the Williamtown which is adjacent to the service station where Worimi conservation lands is undertaken by the NSW National you can purchase your yearly or weekend vehicle permit. As Parks and Wildlife Service. the Lavis Lane entrance was closed due to remediation works Stockton Beach is located north of the Hunter River in New we were required to drive to the Anna Bay entrance. We all South Wales, Australia. It is 32km long and stretches from aired down our tyres to less than 16psi. Brian proceeded to Stockton, to Anna Bay. Stockton Beach is a very popular spot, explain some do’s and don’ts and gave us an informative talk I myself have been driving up there for in excess of 12 years on why parts of Stockton Beach were off limits. Brian attended and Stockton would have to be one of my favourite places to a meeting on the 8th of December 2013 to hear the National four wheel drive. Over many years Stockton Beach has been Parks explanation of the draft management plan. the site of numerous shipwrecks and aircraft crash sites. In

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We proceeded south along the beach, stopping occasionally to view the damage encountered by the severe storms in June 2013. We passed the Tin City, along the way to some dune driving in the newly marked off area for four wheel drives. Various larger dunes were driven numerous times, all in all most of us used plenty of right pedal to crest each dune. We proceeded to the MV Sygna ship wreck which was a 53,000 tonne Norwegian bulk carrier and now shipwreck on Stockton Beach in the Port Stephens LGA in , Australia. The ship ran aground during a major storm on 26 May 1974 and the wreck has become an icon and landmark for the local area. As we were driving towards the closed off Lavis Lane entrance, an Australian Pied Oystercatcher was hopelessly tangled in fishing line and lures and caught by National Park Officers in a net. It was great to see the passion and dedication from these National Park Officers in trying to save this injured bird.

I ‘quote’ from a local Newcastle newspaper source:

“The Oyster Catcher that was rescued last month has returned home. The bird was released on Stockton Beach yesterday after a stint of intensive recuperation at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. Stockton Beach is one of only a few sites along the Hunter coast where this species breeds.’’

Worimi Conservation Lands Board chairwoman Petrice Manton said. ‘‘It supports at least six resident breeding pairs and it is great to see this bird being returned.’’ Taronga wildlife hospital manager Libby Hall said catering for the bird during its rehabilitation was a challenge fit for an episode of MasterChef. ‘‘I had to open and dice fresh pipis and present them on a bed of finely filleted pilchards in what was essentially a jus of pipis,’’ Ms Hall said. ‘‘I’ve never had to do anything like that before.’’ An estimated 500 Australian Pied Oystercatchers are left in NSW. Four Wheel Drivers must ensure that they respect the natural habitat of the beach and refrain from driving on the plants and grasses on dune structure. Access to the recreational vehicle area is subject to restrictions which we as Club members should abide by. I thank Brian Kirkman for such an informative say. In summary, we can still access the beach area and a large section of the dune area. I commend National Parks and the Worimi Conservation Lands Board for their efforts to date. Andrew Boyd

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