More people in Lake Macquarie live with a disability than the NSW average and West Ward Labor councillor Madeline Bishop said a new council plan would ensure it remains a "very inclusive city".
Councillors unanimously supported placing Lake Macquarie City Council's draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026-2030 (DIAP) on exhibition for 28 days.
The plan is guided by the principles of social justice, protecting human rights of people with a disability, embedding lived experience and removing barriers to participation.
Lake Macquarie has 45,286 residents, 22 per cent of the population, who identify as having a disability.
More than 11,000 (7.27 per cent) of those people have a profound or severe core activity limitation, which is above the state average of 5.75 per cent.
The number of people who require assistance with core activities increased 33 per cent between 2011 and 2021 and a quarter of students in schools identify as living with a disability.
The DIAP outlines ways the council can improve access, participation and inclusion for people with a disability across services, infrastructure, employment and decision-making.
"This will allow people to demonstrate their strengths and it creates awareness and creates inclusion and our city is a very inclusive city," Cr Bishop said.
"I'm proud of this city and I'm very proud of this document and look forward to it going out on exhibition."
West Ward Independent councillor Kate Warner supported the DIAP and said it goes beyond legislative requirements.
"There's been quite a lot of consultation with external stakeholders and internal committees that exist within council, including the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee that I am the chair of," Cr Warner said.
"It has been wonderful to hear from the committee and hear their lived experiences with disability, both those that have a disability and those that care for others.
"To hear some of the ideas and suggestions and some of the limitations that they experience in our community has been heartwarming, and it really has made me proud to see this document come forward to council, to see that we are taking it seriously and that we want to be a safe and inclusive city."
The councillors also unanimously voted to sell four lots of council-owned land.
The lots are located at 17 Herbert Street in Belmont, 59A Pacific Highway in Charlestown, 29 Arnott Street in Edgeworth and 94 Sunshine Parade in Sunshine.
Council staff told the councillors that funds from the sale of the lots would be placed in the council's strategic property reserve to "enable us to develop other parcels of land as part of our strategic operations and pipeline of development".
The council's strategic property reserve is sitting at $9,995,000.
Sailing and New Year's fireworks received the most favourable conditions from the council's Events and Festival Funding Grants Assessment Committee.
Of the $47,000 committed by the council to 10 events in the first round for the 2026-27 financial year, $20,000 or 42.55 per cent, has been allocated to sailing.
The Tasar Association of NSW received $10,000 for its National Sailing Championship scheduled for January 2 at the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, which is expected to attract 290 attendees.
The Toronto Amateur Sailing Club also received $8000 for its NSW Youth Sail 2026, anticipated to be attended by 1000 people between September 30 and October 5, and the Sabot Australian National Championships on January 10.
The Emergency Services Sailing Regatta on November 9 at Belmont was also boosted by a $2000 grant.
The Wangi New Year's Eve fireworks will receive a $5000 cash injection and the Wangi Quilters Biennial Quilt Show received $2000.
Other successful applicants were Carols On Dobell ($2000), Taste & Torque Festival ($6000), and the Youth Surfing National Battle ($10,000), which is expected to draw 1400 people to Hams Beach next April.
"The recommended events represent a diverse mix of community, cultural and sporting activities right across Lake Macquarie, including major festivals and large community celebrations," Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz said.
"There's also a strong focus on sporting events, particularly sailing championships and surfing competitions which attract regional and national participants."
Cr Shultz said the 43 supported events in 2026 had attracted an estimated 75,000 attendees and generated $4.2 million for the Lake Macquarie economy.
