Council backs 10-year plan to re-imagine Lismore

AFTER 18 months of public consultation, the Imagine Lismore 10-year plan is set to be unveiled for public comment, but not without some resistance.

An artist's impression of Lismore's proposed "destination" park.

AFTER 18 months of public consultation, the Imagine Lismore 10-year plan is set to be unveiled for public comment, but not without some resistance.

Council last night voted 8-3 (councillors Greg Bennett, Matthew Scheibel, and Gianpiero Battista against) for the aspirational plan for Lismore's future to go on public display for 28 days.

Some of the masthead items on the plan include a new CBD council headquarters and the residential development of North Lismore Plateau, plus the revamp of the Lismore CBD riverside area and the $5 million Lismore Park proposal.

While many of these big ticket items require substantial or 100% external funding, Council's aim is to be "shovel ready" to boost its chances of attracting state or federal grants.

But councillor Greg Bennett fired a broadside of criticism at the plan, arguing "all the big cuts" were being deferred to the 2016 council.

He also claimed council's debt would double as a result of the plan from the estimated $90 million in borrowings.

It is understood Council's debt service ratio - the proportion of its income with which it has to pay off interest on debt - is expected to peak at around 15% under the plan.

At this level, it would "raise alarm bells" in the NSW Division of Local Government, according to Cr Bennett.

In supporting the motion to put the plan on public display, Cr Isaac Smith said the plan accurately reflected the community's aspirations and that "50 years of mismanaged assets" were the reason Council faced tough times ahead.