The list aims to “highlight the many threats endangering a number of Australia’s most unique and fragile surfing and coastal environments”, and the SFA’s website lists an endangered wave as: one where the wave itself is threatened, or the immediate coastal environment and amenity is threatened.

Stockton’s beachfront being added to the list lends credence to the concerns residents have had for years, Save Stockton Beach founder Simon Jones said.

“We need everyone to take the problem seriously and come to the party at this point, instead of all the buck passing that has been going on for years,” he said.

“I’m so glad that we’ve been able to combine with Surfriders, and that they’ve seen this as something important beyond the scope of our area. They can help bring attention to the more intangible problems – you can’t put a price on being able to go to the beach.

“Being on this list means we can include it, and show that it’s an important part of our efforts in trying to save the beach, so it’s a crucial step forward.”

News of Stockton Beach’s addition to the list comes in the same week the Save Stockton Beach petition recorded its 10,000^th signature, in a bid to have extra government resources directed towards erosion control.

The petition will now be debated in state parliament after achieving the required number of signatures, and Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp revealed he would be “driving it down next week”.

“This government cannot continue to ignore what is happening in Newcastle,” he said. “It needs to take a leadership role and work with Newcastle Council to develop a long-term solution to this issue.”

The petition was launched in response to community concern about the loss of hundreds of tonnes of sand from Stockton beach.

The state government provided $1 million in emergency funding last week to remove exposed rubbish from the former Stockton tip site. While the majority of the exposed section of the former tip is on land owned by Hunter Water, recent large swells have exposed a new area that is the responsibility of NSW Crown Lands.

Newcastle council has developed a draft Newcastle Coastal Zone Management Plan - Stockton for certification under the Coastal Protection Act 1979.  

The draft Plan will remain on public exhibition until Thursday 28 June 2018.

A variety of government agencies currently play a role in the management of coastal erosion a including councils, Department of Planning, Office of Environment and Heritage, Roads and Maritime Service and Crown Lands.

“As a result, action is limited to knee jerk responses when it gets to crisis point, led by Councils with limited resources,” Mr Crakanthorp said.​