Lismore City Council and Rous County Council have signed a three-year lease for Rous to rent the Lismore Visitor Information Centre on Molesworth Street.
Lismore City Council's Director of Partnerships, Planning and Engagement Eber Butron said Lismore Council will work with Rous in delivering tourist information, and environmental and cultural services.
"The Centre is a significant asset for Lismore and the agreement means it will continue to be used as a Visitor and Cultural Information Centre."
"This is great news for both councils and, most importantly for our community and local businesses which benefit from tourism," he said.
Under the agreement Lismore City Council will maintain the ground floor toilets that are used by visitors to the nearby popular Heritage Park.
Mr Butron said Lismore Council will provide tourism information at both Lismore and Nimbin and, will work with Rous to develop cultural tourism opportunities.
"We are also looking into developing a tourism App for all of the Lismore Local Government Area," he said.
Lismore City Council called for Expression of Interests to lease the landmark building last year.
Rous County Council General Manager Philip Rudd the opportunity to lease the building dovetailed with its Reconciliation Action Plan.
"Banyam Baigham Elder Aunty Thelma James played a key role in working together with the team capturing the social, cultural and environmental history of Lismore and surrounding areas during the redevelopment of the Lismore Visitor information Centre nearly a decade ago.
"When Lismore City Council sought Expressions of Interest for the reopening of the centre, Aunty Thelma - together with Rous County Council's Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Group - identified the opportunity to re-launch the centre – not just to service the Lismore Visitor Information needs but also to function as the Rous Cultural, Environmental and Information Centre – to provide a focus for engaging with the community around water supply, catchment management, flood mitigation and weed biosecurity issues.
"It also provides Rous with an opportunity to work together with the Widjabul people of the Bundjalung Nation and other Aboriginal organisations, corporations and individuals on community engagement and education around cultural awareness and heritage matters."
