Council Comment

with Merv King

Lismore's Regional City Focus

Recently Lismore City Council completed a number of plans that will cement our place as a regional city. These include the strategic plan and the social and community plan. Work on the strategic plan commenced in October 2003 when Council's community directions project was launched.

This sought the views of our citizens on many aspects of Council's operations. From this information and with the input of staff and the newly elected Council, the strategic plan was developed. Strategic priorities are economic development, quality of life, leadership by innovation, natural environment, infrastructure and our leadership in water and waste management.

Contrary to the view of some, Council has not broken with its agricultural "roots". Agriculture will always be central to Lismore's' economy, and it is still a very important industry that is growing, developing and diversifying. From our traditional reliance on the dairy, beef, timber and sugar industries, we have progressed into horticulture with macadamias as a major industry, apiculture, medicinal herbs, organically grown fruit and vegetables and a range of other products.

Rates

With the State Valuer General soon to release the new valuations for our area, Council is monitoring the situation closely. Workshops are being held to try and determine a rating system that is as fair as can be, but until valuations are released, we can't assess the implications. One of the options is to calculate rates using a base amount, which would apply to all ratepayers with the valuation accounting for the remaining 50-80% of the rate charged.

Keen Street

Council has approved the upgrade of Keen Street and we are interested in the views of retailers as the project proceeds. I have received letters making suggestions and a meeting between Councillors and Keen Street business owners may be worthwhile in November.

Sports action

Lismore the regional city is also renowned as a sporting city. The first three months of next year should be a sporting bonanza. With major cricket and baseball carnivals in January, a pre-season NRL rugby league match between Cronulla and Parramatta in February and the Australian Modified Production Speedway Titles here at Easter, as well as our usual sporting events during that period, it augurs well for sports fans and our city.

Urban residential development

Next week a delegation of Lismore councillors will meet with the Assistant Planning Minister, Dianne Beamer, to encourage the Government to make a greater variety of land available for residential development.

Lismore is becoming very attractive to new residents as it is affordable and has many lifestyle and employment and educational benefits.

I believe more land should be made available to allow more choice in our market and that will benefit many parts of the city.