Lake Mac Council backs youth-led strategy and community donations

newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie City Council has recommended the adoption of its draft Youth Strategy 2025–2029, following a Standing Committee meeting on 11 August 2025. The plan, shaped through extensive consultation with young residents aged 12 to 24 and youth advocates, aims to address the evolving needs and challenges faced by the city’s younger population.

The strategy outlines a series of actions to improve opportunities for youth across areas such as education, employment, health and wellbeing, civic engagement and access to nature. Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the initiative reflected Council’s goal to ensure young people feel “heard, represented and actively involved in shaping their communities”.

“By providing opportunities and resources that help young people navigate their transition from education to employment, we create an environment where they can thrive, succeed and contribute meaningfully to society,” Cr Shultz said.

Key features of the draft include the introduction of an annual Mayoral Rising Star Award recognising HSC achievers, the continued promotion of the Education to Employment program, and efforts to ease cost-of-living pressures through collaboration with youth sector organisations advocating for increased government support.

Council also recommended 12 donations under its Donations Program, with proposed recipients to receive $2,000 each. These include Hunter Wildlife Rescue for portable signage to support koala rescues, Redhead Community Library for new materials and Orchestra Nova Inc. for the purchase of a timpani drum.

In other matters, Councillors approved a modification to an existing development application for a resource recovery composting facility at 76 Nomad Road, Toronto. The decision, made after a third review that included a site inspection, comes with updated conditions aimed at addressing environmental concerns raised during the process.

Meeting agendas, reports and the recorded stream of the 11 August session will be available via lakemac.com.au.