I'm delighted to see work start on the $2.3 million project that will provide a high-quality cultural facility for our community and boost visitor numbers to our region.

I am a great supporter of the growing arts and creative industries.

I believe the arts enrich our community and add to the liveability of our city.

Through council's Arts, Heritage and Cultural Plan, we aim to play a greater role in fostering creativity through support and investment in urban and public art, place activation, creative industries, heritage and cultural development programs.

The enhancements to the building will allow our gallery to better cater to the community through diverse and inclusive programs, with an emphasis on Aboriginal programming, contemporary art and artists, cultural tourism and public education programs.

The gallery has had an interesting history, moving locations multiple times, so I am very excited to see the redevelopment take shape at its permanent home.

The work is scheduled to be completed in the latter part of this year.

To stay up-to-date with the project, visit lakemac.com.au/city/works/art-gallery-expansion

If you are around the northern part of the lake this weekend, you might see or even hear the action as part of the Personal Water Craft (PWC) 2019 Australian National Championships.

You might know PWC's better as Jet skis or Sea-Doos.

Whatever you know them as, it's very exciting to host another championships here in our city, especially off the back of some big surfing, lifesaving and wind surfing events that have been held in the last couple of months on our lake and at our beaches.

I encourage the whole community to get down to the lake foreshore and take in the fast-paced action on the water.

It will be a wonderful opportunity to see the national stars of the sport as they compete to be crowned the new Australian champions.

Thank you to both the AJSBA Committee and NSWPWC Association for working with us on what should be another great weekend in Lake Mac.