Lismore City Council has surpassed a $10 million investment in water infrastructure upgrades since 2020, as part of a long-term program to maintain a safe and reliable water supply for the community.
Through its Capital Works Water Pipeline Renewal program, Council has renewed more than 20.4 kilometres of water mains, 5.8 kilometres of service lines and installed 680 new water and fire service meters across the Lismore Local Government Area.
These works have been largely delivered by Council's own Water and Wastewater team, with support from local contractors where required.
Mayor Steve Krieg said the project forms part of a commitment to ongoing investment in our capital works program.
"This is a great example of rates at work," Mayor Krieg said.
"It's not always visible, but it's vital. These renewals are about keeping our water network safe, reliable and ready for the future.
"And this is just the tip of the iceberg," he added.
"In the current Draft Council budget for the 2025/26 financial year which is now on public exhibition, Council is investing over $240 million in its planned capital works program.
"That means the community will start to see more projects like this—not just in our water network, but right across our essential infrastructure, services and local priorities. This will continue annually, which means planned capital works will be an on-gong investment for years to come.
"Lismore's Water and Wastewater team continue to deliver high-quality upgrades right across our city, using modern materials and new technology to get the job done with minimal disruption."
Manager of Water and Wastewater, Tom Lloyd, said the CBD renewal demonstrated the scale and technical challenges involved in modern infrastructure replacement.
"We're standardising on high-performance polyethylene and PVC mains that meet current design codes and offer a service life of 80 to 100 years," Mr Lloyd said.
"Our goal is to reduce unplanned maintenance by targeting known weak points in the network and delivering permanent upgrades—not temporary fixes."
The broader works include pipeline renewals ranging from 100mm to 280mm in diameter, using the same durable materials and trenchless methods wherever possible. Contractors have also contributed, delivering a further 3.5 kilometres of main upgrades, bringing the total to more than 23.9 kilometres of upgraded water infrastructure since 2020.
One of the largest projects completed under the program was the contractor delivered 2024 renewal of 1.7 kilometres of ageing cast iron water mains in the Lismore CBD. That $3.4 million upgrade involved the installation of a fully welded polyethylene system, securing the city's central water supply for the next 100 years.
Mr Lloyd also said the complex project required precision planning, directional drilling and staged works to minimise disruption to local businesses and residents.
"We've adopted trenchless techniques where ground conditions and alignment allow," Mr Lloyd said.
"It enables faster installations, fewer disruptions to traffic and residents and in many cases, reduced environmental impact compared to traditional open-cut excavation."
All new installations undergo pressure testing and are assessed to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, with water quality confirmed through certified chemical and bacterial testing.
This $10 million investment is a critical step in ensuring Lismore's water network remains safe, strong and ready for the future.
