Learning to ride in a safe environment will soon be easier with construction underway of a circuit zone at the Lake Macquarie Variety Playground at Speers Point Park.

Manager City Projects, Adam Wakeman, said kids on tricycles, scooters, bikes, and wheelchairs will be able to learn courtesy and good road manners on the circuit zone. “For younger riders there is a slower paced ‘town centre’ track, which measures 80 metres in length and built to imitate driving around town,” Mr Wakeman said. “Here, travellers will encounter two-directional traffic, intersections, pedestrian crossings, roundabouts, and a solar powered recharge station for ‘refuelling’. This is inter-connected with a 95m one-directional track that has plenty of fast bends for the more experienced rider.”

“Picnic shelters, seating, and other furniture with additional swings will be also installed in this fully fenced circuit zone located at the far end of the playground in the coming months,” he added.

Construction on the circuit zone is expected to be completed by the next school holidays in October.  The construction of the circuit zone will not affect the rest of the Variety Playground.

Seven further zones will be built by early next year with thanks to the Federal Government's Regional & Local Community Infrastructure Program - Strategic Projects grant and funding from Council, Variety the Children's Charity, and Xstrata Coal.
You can keep up to date with what is happening at the playground by joining the Facebook group Lake Macquarie Variety Playground.

To celebrate and showcase the work of the third year graduating acting students, Hunter TAFE is proud to present:

MR CLEGG’S CREATIVE INDUSTRY

This inaugural two-week festival of performances includes:
•  plays by Pulitzer Prize winners, The Zoo Story by Edward Albee and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley
• the Australian premiere of Dr Horrible - the world’s first musical blog
• and four new works written and developed by the graduating students

The third year graduating students of the Advanced Diploma in Arts (Acting) will have either written, performed, directed and/or produced the festival works.

As the Festival takes place during the school holidays, children and parents can also enjoy daytime performances of a re-working of the children’s classic Alice in Wonderland.

Each night over the two-week festival, there are three distinct TRIPLE TREAT programs, which means there are three exciting shows in each program.  The programs are:

•  STARS AND STRIPES – 3 plays by American writers
•  FRESH BAKED – 3 new works written and directed by our graduate student writers
•  INTIMATES – 3 works written, performed and directed by Australian women

• DR HORRIBLE (the internet musical) – is a LATE NIGHT SHOW scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights only 

Buy a single ticket to each production or buy a Friend of Mr Clegg ticket and get a festival ticket to everything on offer to the session of your choice over the two-week period.

PRICES:
Each Triple Treat program: $15.00

ALICE (children’s show): $10

DR HORRIBLE (late-night show): $10

Become a Friend of Mr Clegg and purchase a COMBO ticket to get admission to the three programs, plus Alice and Dr Horrible for $40.00

Festival dates: Tuesday 6th July – Sunday 18th July 2010
Venue: The Civic Playhouse, Hunter Street Newcastle

Tickets available from TICKETEK 49291977

For more info click here.

World Environment Day 2010 has the theme of 'Many Species. One Planet. One Future', and looks to celebrate the diversity of life on Earth - coinciding nicely with this year being the International Year of Biodiversity. So what better place to celebrate than The Hunter Wetlands Centre.It's also a great chance to wish the Wetlands a happy 25th Anniversary.

On Saturday, June 5th, The Hunter Wetlands Centre will celebrate their 25th Anniversary and World Environment Day with a family carnivalwhich promises to be fun for all.

The essence of community spirit is no stranger to the location. Years before the transformation into the Hunter Wetlands Centre, the site was known as Marist Park and was home to the Hamilton Rugby Club. The sporting fields lay dormant for a number of years before community efforts brought it back to life and with the help of over 355,000 volunteer hours, the site has undergone a remarkable process of rehabilitation and regeneration to become a haven for wildlife and people.

Thanks to a committed staff, dedicated volunteers, supporter groups and members conservation, work on the site has seen a return of healthy wetlands providing habitat for over 250 birds and many other wetland species, including threatened and endangered species.

There are many activities planned for the 5th June including the ceremonial planting of the 100,000th plant onsite by founding conservation enthusiasts Max Maddock and Paddy Lightfoot. On the same day The Wetlands will also launch their Local Schools Working Together project with a sod turning for our new Education centre by Sharon Grierson MP. The Department of Education and Training’s Wetlands Environmental Education Centre currently services annually over 8,000 school children from public, catholic and independent schools and this capacity will double on completion of the new building.

Anna Ryan, Ecotourism Manager of the centre says, “We’re very excited to have the two events on the one program for our Anniversary, as the ceremonial planting symbolises acknowledgement of our progress and how far we’ve come with the regeneration of the site and the new educational facility project looks ahead to what we’re going to achieve and how we will continue to grow in the future. We play a key role in communication, education and public awareness to the community and it’s nice to think that with continued support we can go from strength to strength”.

The Anniversary and World Environment Day Carnival will be a busy day with a community planting session, talks, workshops, tours, stalls, food, children’s activity zone, entertainment and a canoe challenge. People can discover an array of activities from dip netting, bushwalking, observation towers, board walks, rainforest treks, Cafe Nourish, the visitors centre and much more.

Entry for the 25th Anniversary and World Environment Day Carnival is by donation.

Visit the Hunter Wetlands Centre website for more information