Council Decides: February 2026 Ordinary Meeting

Welcome to our February issue of "Council Decides", where we update you on the decisions and discussions of the Lismore City Council's monthly Council meeting.

The business papers and attachments for the meeting can be found here

PUBLIC ACCESS

Three people spoke on four topics during Public Access

• One speaker spoke in favour and one against a proposed Clunes Master Plan
• Two spoke in support of Council accepting the Lismore Greyhound track
• Two spoke in favour of the recission motion regarding the construction of a footpath on Standing Street at The Channon
• One person spoke in favour of the motion regarding dwelling entitlements

MAYORAL MINUTE(S) AND CONDOLENCE MOTIONS

Councillors resolved to:

• receive and note the Condolence motion for the victims of the Bondi Beach Terrorist Attack.
• receive and note the Condolence motion for Father Paul Glynn and forward a letter of condolence to the family from the Mayor

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Councillors resolved to:

• receive the minutes from the 3 December 2025 meeting of the Flood Risk Management Committee and adopt the recommendations contained therein.

  MATTERS ARISING

  Councillors resolved to:

• ·note the responses to Questions on Notice
• rescind 1.2.20 Council Briefings Policy and adopt the terms of reference for the Briefings Committee as attached to the business papers
• adopt the draft Code of Meeting Practice at Attachment 1 to the Business Papers with the inclusion of clause 14.12, complete the Public Representation Application Form, which is available on the website, in the manner determined by Council, (2) note minor administrative changes (formatting and corrections) may be made to the policy when required, (3) reaffirm its previous resolution that Ordinary Meetings of Council be held on the second Tuesday of the month commencing at 10.00am from 10 February 2026 to 8 August 2028 and notes meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at 43 Oliver Ave Goonellabah or 165 Molesworth Street Lismore, and (4) determined the Order of Business for a Council Meeting as follows: (a) Opening of meeting, (b) Acknowledgement of country, (c) Pause for reflection, (d) Apologies and applications for leave of absence or attendance by audio-visual link, (e) Confirmation of minutes, (f) Disclosures of Interest (g) Mayoral minute(s) and condolence motions, (h) Reports of committees (i) Matters arising, (j) Reports of the General Manager, (k) Notices of motion/Questions with notice, (l) Confidential Matters and, (m) Conclusion of the meeting

REPORTS OF THE GENERAL MANAGER

Councillors resolved to:

• endorse Option 2 (Licence Agreement and Easement Acquisition) related to City View Driver Sewer Remediation, as the preferred approach for reinstating sewer infrastructure damaged during the AGRN1012 event, proceed with the acquisition of easements over the affected Crown land by compulsory process, in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 and section 186(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, acknowledging that the process is expected to take approximately 3 to 6 months, subject to Ministerial approvals and Native Title compliance, and Delegate authority to the General Manager to: (a) negotiate and finalise all matters associated with the compulsory acquisition of easements, including interim access arrangements with Crown Lands NSW, (b) Issue all notices and undertake all procedural steps required under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991, including submission of the application to the Minister for compulsory acquisition, (c) Engage legal and specialist advice to address Native Title and Crown land requirements, (d) Execute all documentation necessary to facilitate construction and complete the acquisition, and (e) finalise compensation and settlement matters arising from the acquisition process, delegate authority to the General Manager to: a. Negotiate and finalise all matters associated with the compulsory acquisition of easements, including interim access arrangements with Crown Lands NSW b. Issue all notices and undertake all procedural steps required under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991, including submission of the application to the Minister for compulsory acquisition c. Engage legal and specialist advice to address Native Title and Crown land requirements d. Execute all documentation necessary to facilitate construction and complete the acquisition e. Finalise compensation and settlement matters arising from the acquisition process
• approve the acquisition of part of Lot 3 in DP 602872, known as 51 Three Chain Road, Lismore, to formalise existing flood levee and stormwater encroachments and to facilitate construction of the Snow Street Flood Pump Station, (2) the closure of West Street, Lismore and its potential transfer as part of a land swap to be used in compensation negotiations for the acquisition, (3) the land acquisition and tenure arrangements proceed under the following structure: (a) Lismore City Council acquire the required land and grant Rous County Council an easement for the pump station, existing levee and associated infrastructure, with compensation (including potential land swap) to be negotiated with Rous County Council to own the pump station and associated infrastructure, (4) the landowner's reasonable costs associated with the acquisition and road closure be met by Council, including but not limited to survey, fencing, Council fees, reasonable legal fees, valuation fees and plan registration fees and (5) delegate authority to the General Manager to negotiate and finalise the acquisition, compensation (including any land swap), easements, road closure and all documentation necessary to give effect to this resolution
• adopt the attached Clunes Master Plan
• adopt the December 2025 Quarterly Budget Review Statement and approve the recommended changes to the 2025/2026 budget, (2) write to the Premier and relevant ministers to expedite the processing of acquittals.
• ·note the monthly Financial and Investment report
• approve the amendments to the current Investment Policy