Dozens of cultural and sporting hubs across Lismore, including the town's iconic City Hall, are now restored and revitalised after suffering flood damage in 2022.
It's a significant milestone for Lismore's multi-year flood recovery, with all 45 building projects under the City Council's Flood Restoration Portfolio now complete.
The $112 million restoration works were primarily jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority.
Additional funding was provided through Create NSW, the State Library of NSW, and contributions from Lismore City Council.
The restored buildings include major civic, cultural and sporting facilities, from the revitalised Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore Library and Municipal Building through to community sporting hubs such as Albert Park Baseball Complex, Lismore Basketball Stadium and Lismore Tennis Club.
Lismore City Hall was the program's most ambitious restoration, with the iconic venue requiring a complete internal reconstruction.
It was stripped to its bare shell before being carefully rebuilt, with internal layouts reconfigured to improve functionality, flexibility and resilience against future flooding. It's due to reopen in early 2027.
Snapshot of the Flood Restoration Portfolio:
- $112 million invested
- 21 public amenities buildings upgraded
- 11 sporting clubs and community groups returned to their facilities
- 4 cultural buildings restored and reopened
The significance of the program extends well beyond the physical restoration. For Lismore locals, these buildings are woven into everyday life. They are the places where local athletes train and compete, artists showcase their work, people learn, and residents connect with one another.
Together, these projects stand as a testament to the Lismore community's resilience and serve as a foundation for the city's continued renewal and growth.
More information on the full list of projects can be found here:
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain:
"The completion of these projects marks a major milestone in Lismore's flood recovery, restoring community facilities that bring people together while strengthening their resilience to future disasters.
"Recovering from disaster is about more than rebuilding buildings.
"It is about helping communities restore the services, facilities and spaces they rely on every day."
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin:
"The City Hall is a cultural jewel of Lismore. The restoration of 45 buildings across Lismore marks an important milestone in the recovery journey of our community that is more than symbolic. It's real progress in the places where we work, learn and play.
"It's been almost five years since the people of Lismore and the Northern Rivers experienced the terrible 2022 flooding events. But in that time, our community has banded together and built back stronger.
"By investing more than $100 million we've been able to ensure that not only will the people of Lismore be better prepared and more resilient in the face of future disasters, but that we have the infrastructure, facilities and spaces to come together as a community and thrive."
Quotes attributable to Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg:
"The restoration of these facilities has always been about people. They're the places where our community gathers, learns, celebrates achievements, supports one another and creates memories.
"After everything our community has been through, seeing these spaces full of people again is incredibly meaningful. It's a reminder that recovery is ultimately about restoring the places that bring us together."
Quotes attributable to Executive Director Flood Restoration Portfolio Charlotte Foy:
"Delivering 45 building projects required extraordinary commitment from Council staff, contractors, consultants, suppliers and funding partners working towards a common goal of returning these facilities to the community.
"Many of these buildings presented unique technical challenges, but every project was driven by the same objective: returning important community facilities so residents could once again access the places that matter to them.
"Seeing them open, active and contributing to everyday life once again is an achievement everyone involved can be proud of."
