As we head into the fortnight before Christmas, I am reflecting on what has been a busy, fun and productive year – my first full year as Mayor of Lake Macquarie.

There have been many highlights from a community perspective: a record public works budget of $111 million; opening the first stage of the Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange; starting work on an exciting $15 million sporting and recreational hub at Cameron Park; and, securing funding to build the Munibung Road ‘missing link’  between Boolaroo and Cardiff.

Our second Lake Mac Big Weekend was a huge success, as was the hosting of the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships - which will be back at Blacksmiths early in the new year – and the inaugural Float Your Boat festival lit up a wintry Lake Macquarie with a flotilla of imaginatively illuminated craft.

We worked with the community to find solutions for the Pelican Boat Ramp, to decide on a design for the new Belmont Baths and to get input for a planned smart transformation of Charlestown’s Pearson Street Mall into a vibrant public space that will double as a digital playground and technology precinct.

Projects to improve the Warners Bay foreshore and Speers Point Park are nearing completion, as is the main-street makeover of the Toronto Town Centre.

I have sharpened my ribbon-cutting skills opening new parks, playgrounds, boat ramps, jetties and pool upgrades, including the wonderful Grannies Pool revamp.

 I also turned the first sod on the building of the state-of-the-art organics processing facility at Awaba that will allow residents to recycle all of their food and green waste from July 2018.

Amid all of that, I have had the pleasure of meeting thousands of people in our community and learning more about the many local organisations and businesses that help make our community tick.

It has been a busy and rewarding year, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together in 2018.

My warmest wishes for Christmas and the holiday season.