Lismore's next chapter is being written, and the community is being invited to help shape it.
Lismore City Council has opened public consultation on a major long-term Strategic Planning Framework that sets out a positive, resilient and ambitious vision for how the city and its villages will grow, evolve and thrive over the coming decades.
At the centre of the exhibition is the draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), a State-required document. It looks beyond short-term pressures to plan for the long term, supporting future generations, local jobs, housing choice, strong villages and a healthy environment.
The draft LSPS plans ahead for a community of up to 60,000 people over time, supported by 10,000 new homes on flood-free land and 6,500 local jobs. It is about creating opportunity, enabling renewal and ensuring Lismore remains a vibrant and liveable regional city.
Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the consultation period is a chance for the community to engage in a conversation about Lismore's long-term future.
"This is about planning with confidence and care, learning from our past while focusing firmly on the future," he said.
"We want to make sure Lismore grows in a way that reflects our values, protects what we love and creates opportunities for the next generation. We want to hear from everyone during this consultation and we've purposely designed it to last 8 weeks to give everyone that chance."
The LSPS is supported by four key strategies that together form the broader planning framework. These include the Economic Development Strategy, the Rural Land Use Strategy, the Biodiversity Management Strategy and the Resilience and Adaptation Strategy.
Each strategy focuses on a different part of Lismore's future, from growing local jobs and supporting business, to protecting the natural environment, planning for rural lands and strengthening how the community responds to change. Together, they provide a coordinated and balanced approach to growth, ensuring decisions are aligned and working toward a shared vision for Lismore.
The comprehensive engagement period for this framework includes:
- Staffed pop-up consultation space at Lismore Library every Monday and Wednesday from 10am - 2pm
- Drop-in sessions across our villages
- Market stalls across the LGA, and
- Online opportunities
All exhibition documents, plain-English information and details on how to contact staff and how to make a submission are available on Council's Your Say page.
Mayor Krieg encouraged everyone with an interest in Lismore's future to get involved. Councillor Listening Posts will run alongside the general pop-up space at Lismore Library on Mondays and Wednesdays. Check the Your Say page for session times.
"Big-picture planning works best when it is shaped by the people who live here," Mayor Krieg said.
"This is a genuine opportunity to help guide Lismore's future, and we encourage the community to get involved."
The exhibition will remain open for the advertised consultation period, after which all feedback will be carefully reviewed and considered before the final planning framework is presented back to Council.
Add your feedback here .
