Council Comment
 Merv King
Much Achieved in Three Years
Over the past three years, Lismore City Council has approved and supported many projects and improvements to our city and its surrounds.
The flood levee to protect against a one-in-ten-year flood will give a greater confidence to potential developers and businesses as well as providing protection to our residents.
The new Library in the old Lismore High School B Block, costing over $1m, will be a big boost to our citizens and Council’s ongoing support of the Art-in-the-Heart cultural centre concept is widely acknowledged.
New investment in our City has been approved and supported by Council. Officeworks, Bunnings Warehouse, the major expansion of Lismore Square and the new Coles Centre at Goonellabah are a few examples.
Road funding has been increased by Council to more than $12m per year, including Government grants. Council’s Roads Management Committee has approved requests to Council to allow extra grading for unsealed roads and to allocate additional funding for an extension of the sealed road network
The Molesworth Street upgrade is long overdue and will enhance CBD shopping. The alterations in Woodlarks Street to help alleviate traffic problems are being monitored. However, traffic build-up will continue to be a major problem. Council is currently looking at options to divert traffic from Bangalow Road around the city centre.
The new Pineapple Road Intersection has taken away a major black spot and this should be the beginning of another bypass.
The SCU and Council have jointly funded the new Kellas Street access road and Council has encouraged and approved developments at the University and by our Area Health Service and private hospitals.
The Riverbank redevelopment of the Wilson’s River banks, which has been supported by so many people, has already seen over $1m raised in grant funding and promises an exciting commercial and recreational focus for the city.
Council will soon have a customer service presence in the CBD. The old Gundurimba Shire Council building in Magellan Street will provide a site where citizens can directly access council services and information. The site will also provide a base for Council’s rangers. The new CBD street maintenance service has been put in place by Council and seems to be meeting with widespread approval.
The fitting out and development of Elders Park in Goonellabah will shortly have its official opening. The development of Kadina Park is going ahead and Council has approved the development of the Goonellabah Recreation Centre on the Simeoni land. Discussions with the developers over final plans are continuing.
Council has provided financial assistance to the Lismore Show Society, NORPA, the Lantern Parade Festival and the Herb Festival.
The opening of our air terminal, approved by the previous Council, has been a huge boost to our airport and the decision by Aspect North’s Geospatial Information Centre in Lismore promises major benefits to our city.
There is plenty happening in the Lismore area and this council is the driving force.
Merv King
Mayor of Lismore
|
