Council Decides: September 2025 Ordinary Meeting

Welcome to our September 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

MAYORAL MINUTE(S) AND CONDOLENE MOTIONS

Councillors resolved to:

• support the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (NRRI) project and its findings, support the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and CSIRO, and in particular Dr Jai Vaze and his team at CSIRO, request CSIRO to investigate and model flood mitigation options 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 as a bundle, and write to The Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister Regional Development, Territories and Local Government; The Hon Janelle Saffin MP, Minister Small Business, Recovery and the North Coast; The Hon Kevin Hogan MP, Federal Member for Page; Brendan Moon, CEO NEMA; Dr Jai Vaze, Senior Principal Research Scientist (Hydrologist), Project Leader, NRRI, CSIRO to affirm Council's position and support for this modelling and ask the CSIRO if they would consider undertaking the Lismore Flood Risk Management Study and Plan after June 2026

  MATTERS ARISING

  Councillors resolved to:

• note that 82 Ballina Road (Ballina Street Tennis Courts), was clearly intended to be included in the Lismore Park Plan of Management 2020 as categorised Sportsground, consistent with the mapping, photographs, and narrative references in the document, correct the Schedule of Lands in the POM to include Lot 10 DP 812156 as Sportsground, and record this correction as an administrative rectification of a clerical omission, not as an amendment under section 41 of the Local Government Act 1993

  QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

  Councillors resolved to:

• note the Questions on Notice responses provided in the business paper

• REPORTS TO THE GENERAL MANAGER

  Councillors resolved to:

• forward the planning proposal for 202 Caniaba Road, Caniaba to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) seeking a Gateway Determination and proceeds to public exhibition in accordance with any Gateway requirements and confirm should any objections be made during the public exhibition stage that the planning proposal be reported back to Council. If no objections are received, the planning proposal be finalised and made, as per the delegation of the Gateway Determination
• accept the financial report provided by the Nimbin Chamber of Commerce for the expenditure of the Nimbin Business Rate for the period 1 October 2024 to 30 June 2025
• receive and endorse the attached Delivery Program Progress Report for the period January to June 2025
• adopt the Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy, as attached in the business paper
• Receive and note the August 2025 Investments Report
• delegate authority under Transport for NSW (2025) Authorisation and Delegation Instrument to the General Manager, disband the Local Traffic Committee and establish the Local Transport Forum as per TfNSW (2025) Authorisation and Delegation Instrument, and Terms of Reference are established and returned to Council for adoption at the October meeting and that Council nominates Councillor Hall to fill the role of Chairperson of the Local Transport Forum
• in accordance with section 131 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 Council approve the write-off of $17,272.74 in water consumption charges owed by Mr Jeffrey Herne for the property at 41 Caniaba Road, leaving an outstanding balance of $10,042.34
• in accordance with section 131 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (NSW) Council approve the write-off of $318,592.58 of the liquid trade waste charges owed by Norco Co-Operative Limited, for the period of October to December 2023, leaving an outstanding balance of $99,590.00 inc GST
• approve the delegations to the General Manager, outlined in the attachment to this report
• appoint Councillor Jeri Hall as Deputy Mayor for the period until September 2028
• hold Ordinary Meetings of Council for 2026 on the second Tuesday of the month commencing at 10am from 10 February to 8 August 2028
• receive and note the Councillors Expenses and Facilities Policy - January 2025 to June 2025 Report
• receive the Mayoral Attendance Report for August 2025
• amend the Affordable and Diverse Housing Policy 5.2.33 to include a provision stating that any housing receiving Council financial incentives under this Policy must not be used for short-term or holiday accommodation
• council consult with the Headers and install a bin and dog poop bag dispenser along the Nimbin Rainbow Walking Track adjacent to the Headers soccer field
• commence preparation of a new Crime Prevention Plan for Lismore, given the most recent plan was created in 2011 and has not been updated since: (a) the Plan is to include genuine community consultation to identify local safety priorities and objectives, (b) undertake this work with the objective of seeking accreditation of the final Plan from the NSW Department of Attorney-General and Justice Crime Prevention Division, pursuant to Part 4 of the Children (Protection and Parental Responsibility) Act 1997, thereby satisfying the requirements of the Safer Communities Compact, and (c.) a draft to be brought back to Council for a briefing
• advise the NSW Reconstruction Authority that the preferred position of Council going forward in relation to resolution BP24/333 is that the highest and best use be determined in consultation with Council staff for buyback properties in the Lismore local government area
• ask the General Manager urgently review, implement and action solutions to help resolve ongoing concerns regarding illegal camping, parking and anti-social behaviour around the Nimbin CBD and request NSW Police to patrol the carpark

CONFIDENTIAL SESSION

Councillors resolved to exclude the press and public to consider confidential matters. After the session, Councillors returned to announce they resolved to:

• accept the quotation from GHD Pty Ltd to provide professional services required to support the Flood Restoration Portfolio delivery team for the next 24 months, for the sum of $1,978,080.00 (excl GST), $2,157,905.45 (incl GST)
• progress the Landfill Development Project to concept design and business case development, including: (a) further technical studies and investigations, (b) direct consultation with key stakeholders and engage with councils through the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation