Lake Macquarie City Council is reimagining the role of arts, heritage and culture in city life and looking to foster a new era of creativity. You can learn more about our plans to foster this environment and build our creative industries in the draft Arts, Heritage and Cultural Plan 2017-2027. It sets nine strategic goals for the next decade.

View the plan and provide feedback at haveyoursaylakemac.com.au.

I attended the Lake Macquarie City Business Excellence Awards on Saturday, where the entrepreneurship and diversity of our business leaders was on prominent display.

Business of the Year went to JettProof, an innovative Kahibah-based business that produces ‘sensory clothing’ for children and adults who live with autism, Aspergers and other sensory-based, neurological conditions. Amber Moncrieff, the practice manager at Hunter Plastic Surgery, won Business Person of the Year, while Blake Bennett, whose company Zimpleweb specialises in digital design and marketing, was named Young Business Person of the Year.  The Sustainability Award was won by Academy Sheetmetal, of Cardiff, which also picked up the Excellence in Business Practices Award.

Congratulations to all the winners. You can find out more at lmbea.com.au.