Lismore plans for population of 60,000

LISMORE City Council has opened an eight-week public consultation period on a long-term planning framework that would guide the city towards a future population of 60,000 residents.

The draft Local Strategic Planning Statement looks beyond short-term pressures and sets out a vision for how Lismore could expand over time.

The plan would support up to 60,000 people, backed by 10,000 new homes on flood-free land and 6,500 local jobs.

The framework is intended to shape how the city develops across housing, employment, environment and resilience, while ensuring future growth reflects community values and lessons learned from recent natural disasters.

Mayor Steve Krieg said the consultation was an opportunity for residents to directly influence the city’s long-term direction.

“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 eight weeks to give everyone that chance.”

The plan is made up of an Economic Development Strategy, a Rural Land Use Strategy, a Biodiversity Management Strategy, and a Resilience and Adaptation Strategy.

Each of the strategies focuses on a different aspect of Lismore’s future development, from supporting business growth and local employment, to managing rural land use, protecting natural environments and strengthening the city’s ability to respond to future challenges.

As part of the consultation process, council has established a range of opportunities for community input.

Staff will be available at pop-up consultation sessions at the Lismore Library every Monday and Wednesday from 10am to 2pm.

Additional drop-in sessions will be held across surrounding villages, along with market stalls throughout the local government area, allowing residents to provide feedback in person.

Councillor listening posts will also operate alongside the library sessions, giving residents further access to elected representatives during the consultation period.

Feedback can also be provided through council’s Your Say page.