Krieg declares ‘year of delivery’ in $411m budget

Lismore City Council will invest heavily in construction, flood recovery and infrastructure projects under its proposed $411.3 million budget for 2026/27.

Mayor Steve Krieg said years of planning and advocacy had helped secure record state and federal funding, allowing major projects to move into the delivery phase.

“This is a year of delivery for Lismore. After the hard work to secure funding and prepare projects, we are now seeing that translate into real outcomes on the ground,” he said.

“Our community has been clear about what matters most, and this budget is focused on delivering exactly that.”

 

 

Among the major projects scheduled for delivery are pavement upgrades and significant progress on the South Lismore Sewer Treatment Plant Resilience Upgrade.

The council has proposed keeping general rate increases in line with the state government’s 3.1 per cent rate peg while continuing support measures aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures.

The freeze on inner CBD business rates will remain in place, alongside free waste vouchers and subsidised community programs across libraries, pools and leisure facilities.

“We know there are significant pressures on households, and we’ve been deliberate in protecting access to services and supporting our community where we can,” Krieg said.

The scale of works planned across the local government area is expected to support local jobs, contractors and businesses while strengthening confidence in the region’s long-term future.

The proposed budget aligns with the council’s draft long-term Strategic Planning Framework, which aims to accommodate a population of 60,000 people while creating 6,500 new jobs and delivering 10,000 homes on flood-free land.

It also includes ongoing support for major events and festivals designed to boost tourism and community engagement.

“We are also focused on strengthening Lismore’s reputation as a vibrant regional hub by attracting major events while continuing to grow beloved local festivals such as Eat the Street, creating a dynamic calendar that celebrates music, food and community,” Krieg said.

The draft 2026/27 budget will be placed on public exhibition from May 13 to June 10, 2026 and can be viewed through Your Say Lismore.