Welcome to our final Week In Review for 2025.
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Lane Cove News
Galuwa Recreation Centre To Open 1 January 2026
In the Cove was invited for a pre-opening visit to the Galuwa Recreation Centre, touring both the indoor and outdoor spaces ahead of opening.
The new centre opens Thursday 1st January 2026. There are indoor and outdoor facilities available for hire. Check out our video for a sneak peek.
Official Open Day Event
When: 8 February
Time: 10am–4pm – everyone is invited to attend and see the facility
Where: 180 River Road Lane Cove (at the Lane Cove Golf Course)
How: Keep any eye out for details and of course ITC will let you know when we hear more!
Lane Cove Council Services Holiday Hours
Lane Cove Council will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period, with offices shutting from 12 pm on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopening on Monday 5 January 2026.
During this time some online systems may be offline intermittently due to maintenance.
Essential services remain available:
- Emergency call-outs via the after-hours hotline 9911 3555 will operate 24/7.
- Bins will be collected on their usual schedule through the holidays.
- The Community Recycling Centre in Artarmon closes 24 December and reopens 2 January.
- Lane Cove Return and Earn in Lane Cove West is closed from 25 December, reopening 30 December, then closing again on New Year’s Eve before reopening on 2 January.
Lane Cove Library will open between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, with shorter hours. Greenwich, St Leonards and The Yarn Hunters Hill will also have closures and reduced hours. For full details check here.
12 Days of Double Demerits This Christmas in NSW
If you’re driving this festive season, here’s an important reminder; NSW Police are enforcing DOUBLE DEMERIT POINTS for 12 days over the Christmas and New Year period.
Double demerits apply from 24 December to 4 January.
During this time, offences including speeding, mobile phone use, not wearing a seatbelt, motorcycle helmet offences will attract double the usual demerit points.
For learner and provisional drivers especially, it doesn’t take much to lose your licence — and even full licence holders can reach their limit faster than expected.
Whether you’re heading to Christmas lunches, school holiday activities or travelling out of Sydney, slow down, put the phone away and arrive safely.
Details from Transport for NSW here.
Lane Cove Christmas Lights Competition – Winners & Community Spirit
The winners of the Lane Cove Christmas Lights Competition were announced this week — and with so many outstanding displays across the suburb, judging was no easy task.
The Overall Winner was 78 Phoenix Street, Lane Cove who also took out the People’s Choice Award, voted by the community. With lights and inflatables filling almost every inch of the property, the display was nothing short of epic. Rumour has it a neighbour down the road may have engaged in some cheeky festive tactics — allegedly ordering extra inflatables online and having them delivered to the house to help boost the spectacle.
In a wonderfully generous move, the homeowners Nathan & Mandy asked that their $400 total cash prize be donated to Delvena Women’s Refuge Shelter. As for the gift bag, they hinted it might be shared with the mischievous neighbour — but we’ll have to wait and see.
The competition was proudly sponsored by Rebecca Mitchell from Raine & Horne Lower North Shore, who donated all cash prizes and personally curated the local gift packs. While shopping at Iris & Lin, the wonderful team in store wanted to do more — generously donating eight $25 vouchers to add to the prize pool.
Adding even more festive cheer, Lily Avery from The Boujee Boards offered three $50 vouchers for the top three winners, plus $25 vouchers for all other main category winners, after hearing about the competition.
How good is it when people just want to give and give this holiday season? 💛
Chatswood Urgent Care Clinic Now Open
The Chatswood Urgent Care Clinic opened on 22 December at 270 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. The clinic provides free, walk-in care for urgent but non-emergency medical issues, helping ease pressure on local hospitals.
✅ Open 7 days, early and late, including public holidays
✅ Bulk billed – no appointment needed
📞 02 8666 6849 | Urgent Care Triage Line: 0434 863 211
Thanks to Jerome Laxale for sharing a photo from his recent visit.
Lane Cove Market Square Toilets Upgrade
After years of community advocacy, upgrades to the Lane Cove Market Square public toilets are finally underway. From 12 January, the toilets will be out of action while works are carried out.
The site is owned by Lane Cove Council and leased to Region Group under a long-term agreement. During the closure, alternative bathrooms will be available at The Canopy.
Lane Cove Author Publishes Book On Hot Topic
Lane Cove local Sallee Hitchins has just released Peri Panic — a witty, honest and laugh-out-loud guide to perimenopause that every woman of a certain age will want to read.
It’s available now in paperback and digital forms.
Read our full interview with Sallee and find out why she wrote the book every WOCA (women of a certain age) will be talking about it.
Proposed Woolwich Marina Expansion Rejected
In June and September we covered the Lane Cove 12ft Skiff Sailing Club and Save Our Shores campaign to stop the expansion of the Woolwich Marina.
On Friday 19th December the Land and Environment Court dismissed the developer’s appeal and upheld the decision by the North Sydney Planning Panel to reject the Development Application. You can read a statement from Hunter’s Hill Council here, which includes a link to the judgment.
Background
Concerns about the proposal included:
- Narrowing of the river channel, increasing congestion and safety hazards.
- Restricted shoreline access due to wave attenuators.
- Increased vessel movements, including larger boats up to 25 metres.
- Tripling of the marina’s footprint, limiting public access.
- Potential disturbance of harmful marine sediments during construction.
The Hunters Hill Council and the North Sydney Planning Panel opposed the development, which led proponents, Michael Fountain Architects, to launch proceedings appealing the ruling in the NSW Land and Environment Court. Hunters Hill Council joined the proceedings as a respondent. The costly process led the Council to seek donations from the public to support the legal fight.
The court hearings were held in September 2025.
North Shore Police Welcomes New Officers
North Shore Police Area Command has welcomed 11 new Probationary Constables to the local area this week. If you spot them out on patrol, give them a wave and help welcome them to the North Shore. Congratulations to all — we wish them long and distinguished careers serving our community.
Day of Reflection Held
The Australian Government and NSW Government declared Sunday 21 December a Day of Reflection to honour the victims of the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
Flags were flown at half-mast on government buildings, and Australians were invited to light a candle and observe a minute of silence at 6.47pm, one week after the attack. The day coincided with the final full day of Chanukah, making the loss particularly poignant. Lane Cove Canopy also put flags at half-mast.
Lane Cove Council
Lane Cove Council Holiday Closures
Council offices close 12pm Tuesday 24 December and reopen Monday 5 January.
Due to essential cyber security upgrades, online systems will be unavailable from 11am Christmas Eve to 9am Monday 5 January, including payments, DA enquiries and online forms. Some services will be limited.
After-hours emergencies: 9911 3555
Lane Cove Library: Open between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day (reduced hours); closed New Year’s Day, reopening 2 January
Bins: Collected as normal
Community Recycling Centre: Closed 24 Dec, reopens 2 Jan
Return & Earn: Closed 25 Dec, reopens 30 Dec; closed again New Year’s Eve, reopens 2 Jan
More info: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au
Holiday Reading Sorted With Lane Cove Literary Awards
The 2025 Lane Cove Literary Award Winners, Shortlists and selected Longlists are available online for you to enjoy. They are the perfect option for reading on the go, relaxing by the water or while retreating to a quiet space during the holidays.
Winners were announced in November.
The Awards are a national writing competition run by Lane Cove Council and comprise of entries across seven categories:
- Short Story Prize
- Poetry Prize
- Travel Story Prize
- The Burns Bay Bookery Residents Prize
- Synergy Youth Prize (16 – 24 years)
- WAIG Women Writers Prize
- Wise Sage Prize (65+ years)
Start your holiday reading adventure here
General Safety Information
Helpful Holiday (And Every Day) Apps
Service NSW has provided a useful list of apps that can help you get information fast – both for planning fun or in an emergency. All items have both an app and desktop site.
- Hazards Near Me – get the latest emergency warnings and advice on local floods, bushfires and tsunamis
- BOM Weather – shows current conditions, forecasts, warnings and radar
- Emergency Plus – helps accurately inform emergency call takers of your location when calling Triple Zero (000)
- Live Traffic NSW – so you know what’s happening on NSW roads at any time
- BeachSafe – access the latest conditions about every Australian beach including patrol status, hazards, swell and tide
- AirSmart – check the air quality in your local area and reduce your exposure to air pollution
- GoodSAM – notifies first responders if someone nearby requires hands-only CPR
Marine Rescue NSW – helps boaters to stay safe on NSW waters.
Upcoming Lane Cove Events
There is so much happening around Lane Cove. See below for a selection of what’s coming up. For a comprehensive list check out In The Cove’s Event Calendar.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve At The Canopy
Plastic Soul returns to the Canopy with their 4 Piece band for a free NYE 2025 concert.
Formed in Sydney by some of the local scene’s best, Plastic Soul is a party band with a predilection for all things funk and soul.
From ’60s Motown classics to the smoothest selections of 2000s R&B, Plastic Soul has you covered for any occasion, traversing the decades in a high-energy funk celebration. Put simply, the band has one mission – to lather you up with grooves so irresistible you’ll have no choice but to get up and boogie.
When: Wednesday 31st December
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Where: The Canopy Stage
How: FREE. BYO picnic. Note: Some of the restaurants may require bookings.
Coming Soon – Shaping Hand At Gallery Lane Cove
The first exhibition of 2026 at Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios is Shaping Hand. It will feature the works of their very own teachers, students and staff.
The exhibition highlights the vibrant works of Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studio’s artistic community, showcasing the hands that shape and inspire.
The exhibition runs Wednesday 7th – Wednesday 21st January 2026.
There will also be a special Finnisage (closing) Event:
When: Wednesday 21 January
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Where: Gallery Lane Cove, 164 Longueville Road
How: Free. RSVP here.
St Leonards Lunar Laneways – Save the Date
Celebrate Lunar New Year at St Leonards Lunar Laneways on Saturday 28 February 2026, 4pm–9pm, along Canberra Avenue (next to Wadanggari Park).
Enjoy free night markets, live performances, workshops and glowing art installations for all ages. Proudly supported by Transport for NSW through the Open Streets Grant Program.
🔗 Updates: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au
This Week in Review is proudly sponsored by The Diddy
Looking for something fun to do locally? The Diddy has plenty going on this summer! On their What’s On calendar you’ll find regular crowd-pleasers like Trivia Thursdays with free entry and prizes, seasonal specials like Spritz Season with all spritzers for $16, beer of the month deals and more to make the most of long summer evenings with mates. The Diddy
Nestled on Longueville Road, The Diddy’s relaxed spaces and community-friendly vibe have made it a local favourite for decades. Whether you’re grabbing a drink on the greens, joining live music at the weekend, or booking in a group function, The Diddy brings people together — and we’re grateful to have them supporting In the Cove and the local community.
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