What's Happening in Your Local Community?

This month we take a look around the Chambers to find out what's happening in your local community.

BRIAN SUTERS HONOURED FOR ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

An architectural legacy that spans more than half a century has earned Brian Suters the City's highest honour. The award-winning architect has been named a Freeman of the City in recognition of his significant contribution to Newcastle's built form and enduring commitment to mentoring the next generation.

Fittingly, the honour was conferred within the walls of the updated Civic Playhouse, which Brian designed for City of Newcastle in 2004.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Brian's work had helped shape the way we see Newcastle today and would continue to be appreciated for generations to come.

"His legacy is evident throughout the city, from our striking Brutalist former City Administration Centre, which has recently been reborn as Newcastle's first five-star hotel, to the modern surrounds of the Civic Playhouse and the remarkable Bauhaus-influence design of his own former family home on Wolfe Street, which won the prestigious Blacket Award for

Architecture in 1980," Cr Nelmes said Brian acknowledged the role City of Newcastle played in his career and said he was

thrilled to be honoured as a Freeman of the City more than half a century later.

"Newcastle has been the mainspring of my success as an architect and the basis of my community participation," Brian said.

Brian joins an esteemed list of 14 other Novocastrians to be awarded the City's highest honour, including writer, philanthropist and historian Vera Deacon, community volunteer Howard Mole and Surfest co-founder Warren Smith.

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SWIMMING POOLS SET TO EXPAND AS DEMAND SOARS

Swim centres could be expanded and improved across Lake Mac to help cater for the City's growing population over the next 20 years. Lake Macquarie Council Section Manager Community Assets Brendan Callander said community input was now open on the Aquatic Facilities Strategy, which will guide the future of the City's six swim centres.

"This is all about catering to our rapidly increasing population because we know that in 20 years, our city will be home to 30,000 more people," Mr Callander said.

Speers Point Swim Centre, built more than 60 years ago, could potentially be expanded to boast a heated indoor pool, new amenities and an 'adventure zone' with slides and a water zipline course. Or Swansea and West Wallsend swim centres could host heated indoor pools which would run learn to swim and warm water therapy sessions year-round.

"We're asking everyone in the community to tell us what they like about our swim centres, what they dislike and how they might use the pools in years to come," Mr Callander said.

Feedback will be coupled with best-practice research to develop a draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy. Residents can have their say through an online survey until Monday, 11 April. Go to shape.lakemac.com.au for more information.

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MAITLAND FAREWELLS ITS NAVAL NAMESAKE

Around 25 officers and sailors from HMAS Maitland will parade through the streets of Central Maitland from 10am on Saturday 2 April, during the vessel's final Freedom of Entry march before being decommissioned at the end of April.

The ceremonial march will celebrate the vessel's long association with the City of Maitland, which stretches back to when it was first commissioned and the inaugural Freedom of Entry to Maitland in September 2006.

Members of the HMAS Maitland will form up in The Levee's Shared Zone at 10am and will march along The Levee/High Street until they are challenged by the local commanding officer of NSW Police at the junction of High, Hunter and Victoria streets.

The march will then resume, under police escort, towards Maitland Town Hall, concluding at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery. A full closure will be in place in The Levee, corner of High and Bulwer Street, High Street to Dransfield Lane, corner of High Street and Bourke Street, Preschool Lane and Drill Hall Lane between 8am, and 11am.

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$200,000 IN EVENT FUNDING UP FOR GRABS

Lake Macquarie City Council will make available more than $200,000 to support and build local, community and major events to grow the City's culture and identity. Round One of Council's 2022/2023 events funding is open until 29 April, with grants available across three categories.

Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said individual grants of up to $2000 were available for local events and celebrations, up to $10,000 for community events and up to $20,000 for sponsored events and festivals.

"This program aims to fund meaningful, creative, high-quality events for our community and visitors to Lake Macquarie. We will prioritise engaging, surprising and entertaining events that are attractive to visitors and have the potential to inject money into the local economy," Ms Hemsley said.

Council offers funding biannually, in March and November each year for events six months to 12 months in the future. To assist applicants, a grant application information session will be held online and face-to-face Wednesday 6 April, 5.30-6.30pm. Bookings will be available when applicants start their applications. Go to lakemac.com.au to download funding

guidelines and for more information.