newy.com.au – YouTube creator, author and upcycling advocate Beau Miles will headline Lake Macquarie’s Living Smart Festival when it returns to Speers Point Park on 19 September.
Miles, known for offbeat online videos that show him turning discarded materials into usable items such as paddles, desks and chicken coops, will join presenters and guests focused on sustainable living, innovation and cultural connection.
“I remember seeing a friend of mine pick up rubbish once when she had no idea anyone was watching,” Miles said.
“I will forever think of that moment and that human action as a brilliant moral foundation, and I know that my best storytelling often shows moments that register this kind of genuine truth.”
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the festival was now in its 15th year of encouraging people to protect the planet through local action.
“Everyday sustainable choices can make a big difference,” he said.
“Beau Miles is a shining example of that principle and I’m looking forward to him sharing his thoughts and life experiences with the Living Smart crowd.”
Miles, who describes himself as “odd, offbeat and authentic”, will deliver a 45-minute presentation during the day’s program and run a separate 45-minute hands-on workshop. He will also judge the festival’s school garden bed competition, in which teams from schools across Lake Macquarie create garden beds reflecting sustainability and inclusion themes.
Applications have opened for stallholders and food vendors wanting to take part in the 2026 festival. Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Community Partnerships Matt Holloway said organisers were looking for participants who reflected the event’s environmental values.
“We’re keen to partner with stallholders and food vendors who source local products and services, avoid waste and single-use items, use recyclable materials and/or tap into our circular economy,” he said.
The 2026 Living Smart Festival is sponsored by Hunter Resource Recovery, University of Newcastle, Hunter Water, Solo Resource Recovery and Source Separation Systems. More information and stallholder applications are available at livingsmartfestival.com.au.
