Lismore set for construction boom

LISMORE is experiencing a surge in development, with more than $46 million in applications approved in March alone.

The influx is expected to push the total value of developments this financial year to more than $100 million.

Projects include an $8.5 million office development in the CBD, a $2.7 million community facility, two large residential DAs from the Archdiocese, and Stage 2 of the Eastwood Estate – a $10 million development with 176 lots.

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the spike reflected growing investor confidence.

“Normally, in a good year, we would be looking at perhaps $100 million of DAs being approved for the Local Government Area, so $46 million in one month is an incredible sign of business confidence in our city,” Cr Krieg said.

“We are at slightly under $100 million just now, so we are going to have a good year.

“The great thing is these are new developments, not rebuilds.”

He said council had focused on population and housing growth since the 2022 floods.

“After the devastating impact of the 2022 flood event, this Council has made a deliberate and focused effort to sustainably grow Lismore in terms of population and housing.”

“These figures show we are on the right track toward regaining our status as a regional powerhouse.”

Cr Krieg also praised the planning team for quicker approvals.

“The State Government has a planning league table and if you look at how Lismore is going in the region against our peers, we are doing quite well,” he said.

“We are tracking at just under 80 days average for Development Application (DAs) approvals with 80 per cent of DAs approved within expected timeframes.

“Lismore is a great place to invest and do business, and if you put your DAs in with all the correct information, you will receive approval fairly quickly compared to other Local Government Areas.

“These trending figures show we are definitely open for business and ripe for investment. Council is here to support Lismore to rebuild and to grow.”