newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie welcomed 210 new Australian citizens on Friday in the city’s largest citizenship ceremony, with a shift to Belmont 16s allowing more than twice the usual number to take part.
Mayor Adam Shultz said moving the event from Rathmines Theatre to the Belmont venue’s main auditorium had helped reduce a backlog of citizenship requests.
“Our city is growing, and with that comes an increased demand from people born overseas to become new citizens here,” he said.
The new citizens ranged in age from one to 83 and came from 40 countries. The United Kingdom, Nepal, the Philippines, India, New Zealand, Vietnam, Canada and South Africa accounted for the largest groups.
Residents from across Lake Macquarie took part, with Cameron Park and Edgeworth strongly represented. Cr Shultz said that likely reflected increasing cultural diversity in the city’s growth areas.
Lake Macquarie City Council will hold another citizenship ceremony at Belmont 16s in November before returning to Rathmines Theatre for a ceremony on 26 January 2027.
Dates and venues for further ceremonies will be determined once the 2027 parliamentary calendars are released.
