Lake Macquarie City Council has closed out 2025 with a strong focus on gratitude, inclusion and community resilience, highlighting both recent emergency efforts and new long-term plans to strengthen unity across the city.​

Gratitude after Redhead blaze

At the final council meeting of the year, Mayor Adam Shultz opened proceedings by thanking residents and emergency services personnel who responded to a serious bushfire north of Redhead on Saturday, which threatened homes and an aged care facility. He said the community felt deep appreciation for those who worked through dangerous conditions and acknowledged neighbouring communities on the Central Coast and in Bulahdelah that suffered significant losses.​

Christmas appeal and community support

Councillors marked the meeting by placing gifts under the Christmas tree for the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal, which partners with Samaritans to support local families facing hardship during the festive season. Residents are being encouraged to donate an unwrapped gift at any Lake Mac Library branch before Friday 12 December to help ensure no one in Lake Macquarie wakes up empty-handed on Christmas morning.​

New multicultural and Aboriginal plans

Council formally adopted two major strategies aimed at building a more inclusive city: the Multicultural Lake Mac Plan 2025–2029 and the Aboriginal Community Plan 2025–2029, Bayikulinan. The plans are designed to reduce barriers, promote respect and belonging, and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to participate fully in civic life, which the council says will strengthen social cohesion and support local economic growth.​

Governance, flood risk and environment

Councillors endorsed a Mayoral Minute outlining the process to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer, including appointing Local Government Management Solutions to assist with the search. They also adopted the Stockton and Neighbouring Creeks Flood Study, which examines flood behaviour in creeks including Morans, Stockton, Mullards, Clacks, Melaleuca and Dora to guide future flood-risk management.​

Event funding, grants and 2026 meetings

Council approved 22 event funding applications totalling $63,709, backing activities such as national windsurfing titles at Wangi, Raffertys Coastal Run 2026, a major mountain biking event at Awaba MTB Park and national surf rowing championships at Blacksmiths Beach. Four Community Environment Grants worth a combined $19,940 were also endorsed, including support for “MycoNet: The Mycelium Solution”, which will run workshops on sustainable mushroom cultivation using waste products like hemp, while council meetings in 2026 will temporarily move to Hunter Sports Centre while the administration building and chambers are offline.