Why there’s a “great need” for this Lismore CBD mental health development

The owner of this business has signalled this Lismore location is “perfect” for her to deliver her vital services.

The develoment hopes to ​provide counselling to children and adults.

A “passionate” Lismore mental health advocate is proposing a new business to tap into an ideal location.

Counsellor Natalie McKenzie is hoping to open a new counselling service at 10 Carrington St, Lismore.

The development application lodged with Lismore City Council proposes a medical centre to provide counselling to children and adults using two rooms of the Carrington St premises.

Occasional group work and training may also be provided, according to the plan.

Ms McKenzie outlines the space’s last known tenants were a community legal service.

The business owner said the location would be the “perfect” place to launch the service.

“The site is located only a few sites along from Headspace, providing counselling and support services to young people in the community and directly near to Salvation Army, also providing assistance to people in the community in need of support,” she wrote.

“The provision of another opportunity to access counselling located in the local area in which this site is located is of great social benefit to the Lismore community.

“There is great need for such services in the local area and also in terms of access for people with disabilities to access services that are able to assist them as part of their NDIS Plans.”

She said she would like to start the “change of use” development as soon as possible to fill the gap within services in the community.

“The provision of such broad counselling services from this site will be of great benefit to the Lismore community and to children and adults in the community and will provide no economic or environmental concerns and only provide further quality community access to counselling and support and create positive social implications,” she said.

“I am very passionate about the opportunity this site … and am extremely keen to commence the provision of counselling services as soon as possible.”

The hours of operation would be Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and Saturday 9am – 1pm if approved.
The application is currently on exhibition and can be viewed here.