Each week we bring together the most important Lane Cove news, community updates, council information, local sport highlights and upcoming events — all in one place. If you want to know what’s been happening in and around Lane Cove (and what’s coming up next), this is your go-to wrap.
Lane Cove News
The key local stories, announcements and updates affecting our community this week.
Library Launches Japanese Language Collection
On Harmony Day, Saturday 21 March 2026, Lane Cove Library officially unveiled the new Japanese Language Collection.
The launch saw traditional Japanese music and dance on display, craft activities and a first look at the collection of books including Japanese texts as well as Japanese editions of other worldwide literary classics.
In addition to the unveiled books, Mayor Merri Southwood announced at the launch that even more titles are being shipped to Lane Cove Libraries.
The collection will be further expanded with e-books, audiobooks and magazines available through the existing online catalogue, and through the Libby app which links readers to millions of texts from libraries around the world. You can use Libby for all types of books, not just the Japanese language collection.
Synergy Youth Attendees Contribute To New Public Art Project
A new bike safety mural has been unveiled at the Synergy Youth Centre on Little Street combining public art with an important road safety message for local riders. See our cover photo.
Led by Lane Cove Council, the project brought together young people from the community to collaborate with artist Sam Absurd on the design, creating a vibrant and engaging piece.
The mural aims to promote safer cycling habits, particularly among younger riders, by encouraging visibility and awareness on local roads. It also provides an opportunity for local youth to contribute creatively to a shared community space.
Fittingly, the mural was unveiled on Friday 20 March which was national Ride to School Day.
Get Wild About Lane Cove This Sunday
This Sunday sees a fun event for all ages coming to Lane Cove North for the third time.
The Stringybark Creek Residents Association (SBCRA) and Lane Cove Council are again organising the Wild About Lane Cove event at Mindarie Park Lane Cove North. This family-friendly event features a wildlife show, guided bushwalks and a free BBQ.
Get excited to get wild – all the details here.
Lane Cove Rotary’s Catwalk For A Cause
Lane Cove Rotary is hosting an event that is set to bring together friends, local fashion, emerging creative talents AND philanthropy this April.
Catwalk for Cause will take place on Thursday, 23 April, offering a vibrant evening designed to celebrate local talent while raising funds for Delvena Lane Cove – A Women & Children First Refuge.
Held at The Alcott, the event will feature runway presentations from a range of Lane Cove boutiques, including Zjoosh, The Hunted, Found, Bella Cove Lingerie, Iris & Lin, Taking Shape, Miss V and Denim Life. Their showcases will include both current and upcoming collections.
The night will also highlight sustainability and emerging talent, with curated op-shop fashion looks and design works from 2025 HSC students.
Funds raised throughout the evening including proceeds from raffle prizes, virtual tickets and major auction items will go directly to Delvena Women & Children’s Refuge. Delvena provides critical support to women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.
Seating will be General Admission along the runway so arrive early to grab a prime position, and to be seated with friends if coming in a group.
If you can’t attend in person why not purchase a virtual ticket to support Delvena.
Details and booking link here.
ArtXtra! Opens Wednesday
One of the most anticipated annual exhibitions at Gallery Lane Cove is ArtXtra! which is the annual exhibition from the Lane Cove Art Society.
ArtXtra! is an exhibition open to all financial members of the Lane Cove Art Society. It provides insight into society’s diversity through painting, printmaking, and drawing. All exhibited works are available for acquisition.
This year’s exhibition will run from Wednesday 25 March to Saturday 11 April, the opening event and award presentations this Friday 27 March. See below for details.
There are over ten prizes awarded across this exhibition with The Lloyd Rees Prize and The Guy Warren Prize the most prestigious.
Visit the exhibition Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 4.30 pm and Saturday 10am – 2.30pm.
ArtXtra! Opening Event + Award Presentations
When: Friday 27 March 2026
Where: Gallery Lane Cove, 164 Longueville Rd, Lane Cove
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
How: Free. RSVP here.
Win Tickets to The Sydney Royal Easter Show
In the Cove is offering a chance to win a Family Pass (two Adult and two child tickets).
All you have to do is fill out the form below and tell us in 25 words or less about your favourite In the Cove feature and why you like it (the feature can be something on our website or on our social platform).
The competition closes at midnight on Wednesday, 27th March, 2026 (a family ticket at early bird price is $125.00). Winners will be announced on 28 March 2026.
Your entry must include your name, postal address and email address. Only one entry per email address.
This competition is only open to people living or working in the Lane Cove Council Area and Lane Cove North and proof of residency/business place may be required. See full terms and conditions here.
Click here to enter and for more information about the 2026 Royal Easter Show.
Lane Cove In The News
Where Lane Cove has appeared in wider media, including regional and national coverage.
Owners Of The Longy Buy The Oaks In Neutral Bay
Hospitality group Gallagher Hotels have just bought the iconic The Oaks in Neutral Bay for $140m.
The group bought The Longueville Hotel in 2022 and also have the Hunters Hill Hotel as part of their growing pub family.
You can read more in this Sydney Morning Herald piece (paywalled), which includes some analysis of the recent upward trajectory of the pub sector and the sale of another iconic site with a bit more altitude.
Confusing Speed Humps Not Just A Lane Cove Problem
There’s been a fair bit of talk locally around the speed humps that were installed on Longueville Road in 2024. They quickly caused confusion amongst pedestrians and motorists alike. Lane Cove Council addressed concerns by implementing bollard signage at each site.
Well, it turns out it’s not just a local issue. This article from the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 23 March mentions Lane Cove amongst a list of other sites around Sydney who are all experiencing similar levels of confusion and frustration.
Lane Cove Council
Updates from Lane Cove Council, including decisions, consultations, works and local initiatives.
New Bushcare Group Formed
Following a successful ‘come and try’ event on Clean Up Australia Day at Gamma Road Reserve Lane Cove Council has decided to form a new Bushcare group at the site.
The new group will be known as the Three Toed Skinks, named after the lizard found at the reserve during the event.
The group will meet on the 2nd Sunday of every month 1 pm – 4 pm. Under guidance from staff, key tasks will be weeding, clearing rubbish and monitoring the progress of newly planned natives.
The first scheduled session is Sunday 12 April.
Find out more about Bushcare in Lane Cove and register your interest for a group here.
Have Your Say
Opportunities for residents to provide feedback, have their voices heard and get involved.
Children & Families Strategy
Lane Cove Council is currently asking locals to comment on their draft Children and Families Strategy.
The Strategy is designed to set a clear direction for how Lane Cove Council will plan, deliver, partner and advocate for the well-being of children and families.
What would you like to see Lane Cove focus on?
To have your say on the Draft Children and Families Strategy, please make a submission by either completing:
- the online survey
- or via email to [email protected](External link) quoting Draft Children and Families Strategy ref SU8891.
Submissions close 12:00 pm, Thursday 9 April 2026
General Information
Important safety updates, alerts and information relevant to Lane Cove and surrounding areas.
Rollout of Digital Birth Certificates Begins
In an Australian first, young people aged 16 to 21 who were born in New South Wales can now opt in to a new Digital Birth Certificate, making it easier to access identification.
Available statewide through the Service NSW app, the secure digital document allows users to store and manage their birth certificate on their phone, in line with international security standards.
Initially, the rollout is limited to 16 to 21-year-olds who hold a NSW driver licence or photo card. The digital certificate can already be used to verify identity for key requirements such as job-related licences, including RSA and RCG certifications.
The initiative is being delivered by Service NSW in partnership with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, with plans to expand its use across more services in the future.
NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib, said the move gives young people a more convenient and secure way to access one of their most important identity documents.
The Digital Birth Certificate is optional, with more information and opt-in available via the Service NSW website.
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.
Child Car Seat Checking Clinic
Lane Cove Council is hosting a Car Seat Safety Checking Clinic this Saturday. Make sure your child’s car seat is safe and correctly fitted with a qualified technician. Ask about transitioning your child between the different stages of car seats.
You can also donate unused car seats for recycling or reuse.
When: Saturday 28 March
Time: 10 am – 1 pm
Where: Lane Cove Council chambers carpark (between Little & Phoenix streets)
How: This service is exclusive to Lane Cove LGA residents. Registrations essential.
Tech Savvy Seniors: Intro Cyber Safety
Tech Savvy Seniors is a digital literacy training session especially established for seniors to help develop the skills and confidence to access information and services online. Organised by Lane Cove Library, this workshop covers the basics of internet security, discusses some of the things that can go wrong, measures you can take to help avoid them, and some tools available to protect you and your computer.
When: Thursday 16 April 2026
Time: 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Where: Lane Cove Library
How: For Adults. Bookings essential.
Youth Week Is About To Get Very Colourful
Youth Week is coming up 16 – 26 April. The theme for 2026 is Dream. Dare. Do. There is plenty to do around the Lower North Shore but one of the highlights is sure to be Colourfest 2026 in St Leonards Park.
The event is for all ages and will see participants take part in the colour run, join the relay challenge in teams of four (High School students) or simply come along to enjoy the music and festival setting. The event will also feature prizes, giveaways and free activities throughout the afternoon.
What: Colourfest
Where: St Leonards Park, North Sydney
When: Saturday 18 April
Time: 1 pm to 5 pm
How: FREE. Registration required.
Harbourcare Kayak x Earth DayTake action this Earth Day and join Lane Cove Council’s Harbourcare team for a kayak along the Lane Cove River, collecting litter along the foreshore as we explore and protect this beautiful ecosystem.
There are options to BYO kayak or hire one. Participants must be 11yrs+. <16yrs requires a guardian to attend.
What: Paddle to clean up
Where: Lane Cove River. Depart Lane Cove West
When: Friday 24 April 2026
Time: 9 am to 12.30 pm
How: More information and registration link here.
Local Sports
In the Cove is a massive supporter of local sport for young and old. If you have something you’d like us to mention about your local club’s events or achievements, check out our contact details at the bottom of the article.
Lane Cove Cockatoos Runners Up In Debut Season
The Lane Cove Cockatoos have wrapped up an impressive debut season in the 2026 Wheelchair Basketball Club League, finishing second overall after a strong campaign.
Heading into the final round on Sunday 22 March at Hills Basketball Stadium in Castle Hill, the Cockatoos were right in contention for the title. Sitting second on the ladder behind the Illawarra Eagles, they needed to win all six of their games to claim the championship; a huge challenge for any team, but especially for a team in their first year of competition.
While the Eagles ultimately secured back-to-back titles, the Cockatoos’ runner-up finish is an amazing result that bodes well for their chances in future competitions.
The OC Rollers finished third to round out the podium, while the Central Coast Waves were awarded the Craig Jarvis Spirit of the Game Award, recognising their sportsmanship and team spirit throughout the season.
This year’s competition was the biggest yet across NSW and the ACT, with growing participation reflecting the rising popularity of wheelchair basketball.
The Cockatoos have been hosting training at Galuwa Recreation Centre, where they have welcomed players of all abilities and experience levels.
Photos by Karen Watson Photography & Jazmine Ross Photography
Lane Cove Cats Bring In Swans For Season Launch
The Lane Cove Hunters Hill Cats are launching their 2026 season in style!
Head down to Blackman Park on Thursday evening for your chance to meet some Sydney Swans team members.
It’s going to be a fun event for the whole family, with footy games & activities and sausage sizzle and of course the chance to meet some current AFL stars.
This is your chance to meet the Swans stars up close – grab a photo, get an autograph, and enjoy an afternoon full of footy fun for the whole family.
Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club
The Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club has been running a very successful ‘Transition to Racing’ program over the sailing season with sailors in the sabot & ILCA 4 classes participating. The evening of Friday 20 March was the final session and the club captured the stunning images below – it must have been after the afternoon deluge!
The official season may be drawing to a close – Closing Day is this Sunday 28 March -however the club hopes to have some Autumn events over the next couple of months.
Closing Day is a fun event that’s open to members and interested members of the public. Details here.
Crime, Accidents, Incidents
Police, emergency services and incident updates reported in and around Lane Cove.
Accident Reignites Concerns Over Barwon/Fig Tree/Centennial Intersection
Another accident at this intersection.
In the five years from 2013 to 2017, 11 crashes occurred at this intersection, resulting in two fatalities and six people injured, one of them seriously.
In 2018, a report on Centennial Avenue said that residents’ concerns would be forwarded to Network and Safety Services at Roads and Maritime (as it was then known) for their consideration. The only action that has been taken is to remove the left-hand turn permitted when the lights are red and a red light camera. Read our article here.
Can You Identify This Person?
North Shore Police Area Command are seeking assistance from the public to identify a female who may be able to assist with their enquiries into alleged thefts which occurred in Chatswood Chase on multiple dates in February and March 2026.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or has knowledge of the identity of the person (s) depicted to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. Information is treated in strict confidence. Reference E86937603.
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