It's on! Port Stephens
What is 'It's on!'?
It’s on! Port Stephens is our events and activation program aimed at bringing life and vibrancy to our public spaces.
The program focuses on delivering small, regular, community led, low cost activities that are and connected to the local identity of our town centres.
How did it start?
'It's on!' began following the introduction of the Nelson Bay Smart Parking scheme where income from parking fees was committed to supporting place activation and events in Nelson Bay. To ensure we delivered programs that met the expectations of business and community, consultation was carried out during the Nelson Bay Smart Parking Pop Up to find out what type of events and activations our community would like to see in their town centre. Data from the Liveability Index further informed us of what activities our community would like to see in the program.
It’s On! Nelson Bay trial program will continue through until March 2022.
Where are we now?
The success of the program so far has resulted in securing additional funding from external funding sources and enabling us to deliver more activation programs to the broader LGA including Raymond Terrace, Lemon Tree Passage and Medowie over the next few months, encouraging business growth, increasing community participation and ownership of place activation, seed new ideas and enhance liveability and wellbeing across our LGA.
Activities so far have been funded by The Festivals of Place – Summer Night Fund 2022, The Festivals of Place Summer Fund 2021.
The It’s on! brand is continuing to grow and it's expected that with community and business participation and further success in securing external funding, Council will be able to continue to deliver activations across our town centres and further support business growth, increase community participation and ownership of place activation, seed new ideas and enhance liveability and wellbeing across our LGA .
A trial activation program – It’s On! Nelson Bay has been in place since July 2021 and has included various activations such as markets, live music, kids activities, public art and street performances. This program is possible thanks to the Nelson Bay Smart Parking scheme where income from parking fees was committed to supporting place activation and events in Nelson Bay.
It's on! This season celebrates our holiday period over Christmas and New Year. Last year we distributed collateral such as banners, footpath stickers, bin stickers and flyers throughout town centres including Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay. A window dressing competition was also held to encourage business participation and to further support shop local campaign.
This program is funded by The Festivals of Place Summer Night Fund. This program includes a series of activities including Homegrown Markets, music, giant games and skate comp’s across three town centres from February to April 2022.
Get in touch if you:
- have a product range you’d like to demonstrate or share as part of wellness or health.
- are part of a fitness group that wants to hold their activity outdoors.
- are part of a group that has something interesting to share.
- know a local musician who would like to perform.
- have a specific artistic talent that you’d like to showcase.
Register your interest with events@portstephens.nsw.gov.au and we will be in touch.
Please note, with all activities Public Liability cover is required and some activities do require additional approvals.
If you're a business in a location we're holding our activations, this is your chance to get inspired and benefit! The purpose of our activation program is to bring vibrancy to public spaces to attract more people into town and shop locally. So think about how you can get them to your business.
Suggestions for businesses to leverage off activities happening in town
- Promote a special It’s on! take-away meal for an activity – pre-ordered takeaway lunch for music in the park or coffee and/or breakfast special after boot camp
- Promote special offers on your social channels
- Attend an activity and review it on your social channels
- Take a photo of a customer with their lunch from your café in their yoga gear / listening to music / participating – and post on your social channels,
- Share the link to the It’s on in Nelson Bay! program on your social channels
- Make sure your staff are informed and know what’s going on so they can discuss it with customers
Think about the most exciting and vibrant streets you have visited and explore what can be done on your footpath or together as a group of shops.
Have you participated in the It’s on in Nelson Bay! activities? We're trialing these unique experiences to support local businesses and attract people to the town centre.
As this is a trial, your feedback is important to help shape the future of activities.
Help us plan for your future place
