Here’s your roundup of the latest Lane Cove news, council updates, events and other community information.
Thank you Oktoberfest at The Diddy for sponsoring this Week in Review
Use the buttons below to skip to what matters to you:
In the Media
Council
Business
Have Your Say
Upcoming Events
Local Sports
Crime & Incidents
Lane Cove News
From one window to 150 years: Greenwich Public School celebrates
Greenwich Public School marks its 150th anniversary this year, and the story of how it grew from a single-room beginning into the school it is today is a fascinating piece of local history. It’s the second local school to hit the milestone this year, after Lane Cove Public School’s 150th earlier in August.
As part of the celebrations Greenwich Public School will host a Sunday spring fair and then a weekday assembly and school open morning in September. Get the full story here.
A 10-year-old, a broken tile, and 100 years of Lane Cove West history
Lucy is 10, lives in Lane Cove West, and spotted something gleaming in the dirt on her walk home from school. Over the following week she collected the rest of the pieces, cleaned them in soapy water, fitted them together on the kitchen table and worked out that what she’d found was a Victorian-era tile which is over a century old.
She’s written it up herself as a junior reporter, and her closing argument is better than anything we could add: you don’t need to have studied archaeology, and you don’t need to be somewhere far away. Take a look in your own backyard. Read Lucy’s story in her own words.
Lane Cove West Public School marks 75 years
A third Lane Cove school milestone lands this month, with Lane Cove West Public School celebrating its 75th jubilee. Read the full story here.
Athletics track upgrade running a month late — clubs back in early October
We’ve had a steady stream of reader questions about the works at Chatswood Rotary Athletics Field on Mowbray Road West, Lane Cove North, so we asked Willoughby Council for an update. Council’s project page originally published the works as finishing by 21 August, but the completion date has been pushed back.
Subject to weather, the upgrade is now expected to be finished in late September, with the track reopening to clubs in early October 2026. Line marking and curing time for the new synthetic surface are built into that schedule. One section of the natural turf track will stay closed until mid-November so the newly laid turf can establish in warmer weather. An official opening is planned for November.
The approved project budget, including all external funding, is $1,352,212. The work covers earthworks and subgrade preparation, pavement layers and supporting infrastructure for a six-lane athletics straight, surfacing for the track, javelin runway and long jump and triple jump runways, plus sand pits, drainage, kerbing and track edging. The Rekortan G13 surface is World Athletics certified and line marking is to World Athletics standards.
The project is funded through a mix of Council funding, NSW ClubGRANTS Category 3 funding, a NSW Government pre-election commitment, and contributions from Northern Suburbs Little Athletics Club and UTS Northern Suburbs Athletics Club. Council says alternative training fields were offered to resident clubs during the closure, and no other works are planned at the site this financial year.
Entries For Lane Cove History Prize Close Monday
Entries for the 2026 Lane Cove History Prize close on Monday 31st August. All the details in our article.
The award ceremony will be held on Tuesday 27th October 2026.
Willoughby Emerging Art Prize – entries close Sunday 30 August
The Willoughby Emerging Art Prize has returned after a 19-year break, with a $15,000 pool: a $10,000 acquisitive first prize plus a solo show at Art Space Gallery, The Concourse and mentoring, a $5,000 second prize, and a Highly Commended award from the Civic Place Trust. It’s open to Australian-resident emerging artists aged 18 and over who are five to 15 years into their practice. Winners are announced on opening night, Thursday 8 October. If you know a local artist, let them know there’s less than a week left to enter. Entry details here.
We went exploring at Riverglade Reserve
With the stunning weekend weather some of the team headed on a little adventure. This time we headed to Riverglade Reserve at Huntleys Cove, and there’s a surprising amount tucked away down there: big open grassy areas, walking paths, bushland, room for the dog to have a run, and plenty to explore along Tarban Creek.
We also found Evanders Secret Garden, a lovely little nature play area hidden amongst the trees. And then there are the flying foxes. Tarban Creek is home to a Grey-headed Flying-fox camp and, once you know they’re there, you’ll definitely know they’re there. The signs on site explain why they’ve chosen this particular patch of bushland, and the job they do pollinating plants and spreading seeds.
It’s really not far from Lane Cove but feels like a completely different little adventure — perfect for a wander with the kids, the dog, or both. Have you explored this one before?
15-storey Burns Bay Road seniors housing proposal knocked off the fast track
A proposed 15-storey development at 92–96 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove has been refused a spot on the NSW Government’s accelerated planning pathway. Vasey Housing Association had put forward 142 homes incorporating seniors housing, communal facilities and retail. The Housing Delivery Authority declined to recommend the project for declaration as State Significant Development, instead directing the developer towards the conventional planning proposal and development application process.
It was one of four seniors housing projects across NSW to be knocked back from the pathway, alongside proposals at Five Dock, Cessnock and Wollongbar. Importantly, the decision doesn’t mean the development is dead; the fast-track pathway is designed to pick out projects capable of delivering housing quickly, and unsuccessful proponents can still pursue their projects through the ordinary planning system. Read The Weekly Source’s report.
In the Media
The law that decides whether newsrooms like ours survive is before Parliament
The News Bargaining Incentive would make platforms like Google, Meta and TikTok either strike deals with news organisations or pay a charge on their Australian ad revenue. In the Cove backs the law — big tech should pay for journalism. The problem is in the detail: a platform only needs eight deals to wipe the charge, and nothing guarantees a single one reaches a small independent outlet. If the charge is paid instead, the money is shared out largely on how many journalists you employ, which rewards the biggest players.
LINA, the association In the Cove belongs to, estimates around 700 public interest publishers could be left in limbo, and is asking Parliament for a guaranteed slice of deals for small publishers, a bigger and better-targeted grant program, and rules that fit lean and volunteer-run newsrooms. The Bills are before Parliament now. Read our full piece here — it’s been updated as the Bills have moved.
Lane Cove Council
Planning Panel decides three applications tonight – including a phone tower on Northwood Road
The Lane Cove Local Planning Panel meets in the Council Chambers at 5pm tonight, Tuesday 25 August, with three applications to determine.
5 Northwood Road, Longueville — an application by Amplitel for a monopole carrying Telstra, Optus and TPG mobile equipment. Four submissions were received. It’s before the Panel because it seeks to exceed the height standard by more than 10%, in this case by 263%. Council staff are recommending approval.
15 Standish Street, Greenwich — a proposal to subdivide the site into two residential lots and build a three-storey secondary dwelling on the new lot. Two submissions were received, and staff are recommending refusal. Among the issues listed: the proposal has not been granted integrated approval by the RFS under the Rural Fires Act, along with non-compliant building height, setbacks, wall height, excavation and setback from bushland.
1 Library Place and 139 Longueville Road — Council’s own application for works to the World War II Memorial Cenotaph and the Library, including three granite panels bearing military emblems and the Ode of Remembrance, spotlighting angled towards the Cenotaph, and an interpretive plaque on the Library wall. It was notified for 28 days and attracted no submissions. Applications on Council-owned land go to the Panel as a matter of course.
Minutes are published on Council’s website after the meeting.
Council Working To Improve Safety Around Shared Bike Scheme
In recent weeks there’s been a lot of talk about the increasing number of Lime Bikes in the area, and some of the negative impacts residents have seen (as well as the importance of additional transport options).
In answers prepared for councillors ahead of last week’s general meeting, Council confirmed that the rollout of Lime bikes across Sydney LGAs has been incremental, and that Lime has simply been moving share bikes into the Lane Cove LGA over recent months as usage has increased. Council has been engaging with Lime Bikes about their operations.
The NSW Government’s new regulatory framework for shared e-bikes commenced on 14 August.
At the Lane Cove Council meeting in 20 August Council resolved 7–2 to act on shared e-bike safety following resident complaints about poorly parked or dumped Lime bikes. Staff will investigate dedicated marked parking zones including no-stopping areas or reallocated car spaces near shopping precincts, popular parks and sporting grounds such as Blackman and Galuwa, and residential pockets with high trip data.
Council will also run a public education campaign on the new NSW regulations, including the requirement that operators remove bikes blocking footpaths within three hours, and will add an online reporting link for bikes not collected in time. Staff are to report back on compliance monitoring and enforcement outcomes, and once Lime’s rollout ends, seek feedback from residents and existing advisory committees on what worked, what didn’t, and where enforcement hotspots exist. Councillors also requested advice on Council, operator and user liability for injury or damage during the trial, and directed staff to apply for the NSW Government’s Sharing Scheme Grant Program, which could bring Lane Cove up to $200,000 of a $6.6 million fund for parking infrastructure and bike clearance.
Speed Reductions Measures In Lane Cove North
Last week local residents raised the question on when the speed reduction measures in Lane Cove North will come into effect.
Lane Cove Council provided an update on their website; “Transport for NSW has recently inspected the area and identified a small number of minor amendments which staff have undertaken in recent weeks. We are now awaiting confirmation of the timeframe for the installation of the permanent pedestrian lighting, which is the final outstanding component of the works. TfNSW requires the pedestrian crossings at Kullah, Mindarie and Hatfield to have permanent pedestrian lighting operational before the precinct can be declared 40km/h.”
Business
Galuwa Dining edges closer to opening – function bookings now open
The new venue at the Lane Cove golf course is taking end-of-year function bookings ahead of its official opening, following the pre-opening wine tasting earlier in the month. Here’s where things are up to.
Free chicken on Saturday as Chargrill Charlie’s turns 37
The Burns Bay Road store is marking the chain’s 37th birthday with a week of daily app deals and one big Saturday. On Saturday 29 August, the first 50 app members in store get a free Birthday Feast — a whole BBQ chicken, regular chips and a 1.25 litre drink. After those 50 are gone, app members can buy a whole BBQ chicken for $10, capped at 100 per store. Both offers are in-store only, app members only, one per customer.
The daily deals run through the app and don’t carry over: Coogee Bowl for $14 today, chicken and chips for $19.89 on Wednesday (a nod to the year it started), free dessert with a Family Pack on Thursday, and $1 hot chips on Friday. Full details here.
Macquarie Veterinary Hospital moving to a purpose-built home after nearly 50 years
After close to five decades caring for local pets, Macquarie Veterinary Hospital is moving into a brand-new purpose-built facility. Plenty of Lane Cove pet owners have been going to them for years.
Have Your Say
1–3 Austin Crescent planning proposal
A planning proposal for 1–3 Austin Crescent is on exhibition, with submissions closing Thursday 10 September. Read the proposal and comment.
Draft Data Breach Policy
Council’s draft Data Breach Policy is open for comment until Wednesday 9 September. Share your feedback.
Upcoming 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.
Opening Event — Dream and Reason: Paradoxes of the Sublime
Gallery Lane Cove opens its next exhibition with a celebratory evening showcasing Dream and Reason: Paradoxes of the Sublime — a striking contemporary printmaking exhibition featuring six artists exploring nature, awe and the limits of human reason. Archibald and Sulman Prize winner Wendy Sharpe AM headlines alongside printmakers Andrew Totman, Salvatore Gerardi, Juanita McLauchlan, Annika Romeyn and Bridget Hillebrand. The exhibition also marks the 60th year of the Australian Print Council and the 65th of the Sydney Printmakers. The exhibition is on now and runs until 11 September 2026.
When: Wednesday 26 August 2026
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Where: Gallery Lane Cove, 164 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
How: Free. RSVP here.
To coincide with this exhibition one of the featured artists, Andrew Totman, will host a monoprinting workshop. Details here.
Lane Cove Bush Kids: Owl Babies in September
Council’s Bush Kids program has a great session on the way. Owl Babies will run twice at Stringybark Reserve, 9.45am on Wednesday 9 September (book here) and Tuesday 22 September (book here).
FYI, you need to book a child ticket and an adult ticket together. If there are no child tickets showing, the session is effectively full. More about the program on Council’s Bush Kids page, or email.
Film and gaming music at The Concourse – Sunday 30 August
The Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra brings a programme of film and video game music to The Concourse at Chatswood, from 3pm on Sunday 30 August. One for families and for anyone who has ever got a bit emotional over a soundtrack. The Concourse, 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood.
Lane Cove Festival launches Friday 4 September
A month of live entertainment and cultural experiences across Lane Cove, incorporating Sydney Fringe. The full program is now out, and it includes so many Lane Cove favourites and a host of acts from the wider Fringe Festival. Browse every event.
Strength by Women free Women’s Health Week open morning — Saturday 5 September
A free open morning for local women, with a local doctor and an exercise physiologist talking midlife health, bones and strength. Coffee cart and breakfast table on the day. More information.
Lane Cove Fun Run – Sunday 13 September
The Lane Cove Fun Run returns next month, with local community groups and stallholders getting involved on the day. More information and register details here.
Young writers’ competition opens Tuesday 1 September
Willoughby Council is running an emerging writers’ competition for 8 to 13 year olds, with entries open from Tuesday 1 September through to Friday 9 October. A good one for budding authors in the family.
Local Sports
Two Lane Cove grand finals this Saturday – get to Eric Tweedle
Lane Cove Old Ignatians have two sides playing for a premiership this Saturday 29 August at Eric Tweedle Stadium, and the club wants the whole of Lane Cove there.
The Colts kick off first at 11.40am against Beecroft, having edged Knox 11–10 in a nail-biter of a semi. Then at 3pm, 1st Grade take on Knox in the Clark Cup Grand Final after a statement 77–19 win over Hornsby in their semi — 13 tries to three, with blindside flanker Oscar Brady alone finishing with four tries and a conversion, and fly half Henry Madigan landing four conversions.
It wasn’t a perfect finals weekend across the board: 2nds went down 27–12 to Hornsby and 3rds lost 31–7 to Colleagues. But four teams made the finals and two are now playing off for silverware. Club coach John Morrison said “two premierships for LCOIRFC is now the prize ahead of us.”
Clear your Saturday and bring the family. More at Lane Cove Rugby.
Lane Cove Old Ignatians launching a women’s side for 2027
The club is starting a Ladies 10s competition for the 2027 season — the Joy Johnson Cup — and it’s being built as a fully integrated part of the club from day one, with most games played at Tantallon alongside Grade and Colts. It’s a fast, social, ten-a-side format, and they’re after players, coaches, managers and supporters. You don’t need to have played before. Register your interest here, or email the club.
Lane Cove’s Chris Andry takes the win at Beat the Blue
Local racing driver Chris Andry has come away with a win at Beat the Blue, the annual charity event where members of the public go head to head with NSW Police Force Highway Patrol officers to test their driving skills, with everything raised going to NSW Police Legacy.
“Photos and all will come soon, but super happy and proud to say we’ve won — couldn’t disappoint Lane Cove,” Chris told In the Cove.
Chris went to Lane Cove Public School, and Lane Cove was the first place his parents lived when they moved to Australia in 2007. “I’ve been racing competitively since 2024,” he said.
This year’s event ran from 3pm on Saturday 22 August at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek, with a Show and Shine, trade stands, food trucks and a kids zone alongside the driving. You can find out more about the event at Beat the Blue, and follow Chris at chrisandryracing.com or on Instagram.
Congratulations Chris.
Summer netball comes to Galuwa – expressions of interest now open
Lane Cove Netball is bringing a summer competition for NetSetGO ages to the new outdoor courts at Galuwa, and it’s built to actually teach the game while the kids play it: 35 minutes of skills followed by a 35-minute match, every Tuesday for 10 weeks across Term 4.
It runs Tuesdays from 13 October to 15 December, with 6–7 year olds playing 4.30–5.40pm and 8–9 year olds 5.45–6.55pm. It’s a round robin ladder with prizes at the end, it’s open to boys and girls, and you don’t need to belong to a club — all clubs are welcome and no membership is required. Coaches, equipment and fixtures are all provided; you just need to put forward a team of 8 to 10 players. There’s a court-side cafe to watch from and plenty of undercover parking.
Expressions of interest close Sunday 13 September, with no payment required at this stage. Once teams are finalised, the cost is $320 per player, paid individually. Express your interest here, or email [email protected] for more information. Galuwa Sports & Recreation Centre, 180 River Road.
Lane Cove Cricket Club wants more girls on the field
Lane Cove Cricket Club is keen to bring more girls aged 4 to 7 into its Saturday morning Cricket Blast program. If you’ve got a daughter who fancies a swing, this is the entry point. More about the club here.
Crime, Accidents & Incidents
Significant Emergency Response To Mowbray Road Garage Fire
Around 6.15 pm on Tuesday 25 August car on fire in a garage at a unit block on Mowbray Road resulted in a significant emergency service response. Police, Fire & Rescue NSW and NSW Ambulance crews attended the scene.
According to NSW Ambulance firefighters pulled a man in his 60s from the vehicle. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and medical teams who came by road and the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter (which landed at Tantallon Oval). Under the care of the NSW Ambulance medical team he was taken by road to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.
Parts of Mowbray Road were closed for some of the evening with Police directing traffic away from the scene.
Police attendance at Lane Cove Market Square was a workplace incident
A number of readers contacted us after seeing police vehicles at the entrance to Lane Cove Market Square around 1pm on Wednesday 19 August. We asked NSW Police, and the Police Media Unit has confirmed the matter was a workplace incident. It was not fatal. SafeWork NSW is investigating and there is no further NSW Police involvement.
The emergency response was supported by a Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter which landed at Pottery Green to ensure specialist medical staff could get to the scene quickly (see the amazing cover photo from reader Jock Robertson).
Thank you to everyone who got in touch with updates throughout this incident, and to the locals at Pottery Green who sent us some amazing photos.
Two Car Crash In Lane Cove West
On Wednesday 19 August at around 5 pm emergency services attended a two-car crash on Centennial Avenue at Fig Tree Street and Barwon Road in Lane Cove West.
The accident resulted in 1 of 2 eastbound lanes being closed and police, paramedics and fire crews attending the scene.
No injuries were reported.
This Week is sponsored by Oktoberfest at The Diddy
Ten beer tents. Three live bands. One very big Saturday at the bottom of Longueville Road. The Diddy is going all in on Oktoberfest this year, and thankfully you won’t need to trek halfway across Sydney to get there.
Oktoberfest at The Diddy kicks off at midday on Saturday 3 October, with the grounds of Longueville Sporting Club taken over by ten beer tents, live music all day and plenty of German food to go with your stein.
