Lismore CBD Pop-Up Precinct set to boost local economy

Lismore City Council has got together with key stakeholders to inject life and community back into the CBD. Here are the details.

Two of Lismore region’s largest markets will be setting up in the Lismore CBD as part of the city’s plan to reactivate its local economy.

There will be three Sunday markets each month at a new Pop-up Precinct in the CBD with opportunities for local flood-affected businesses to trade.

Lismore City Council General Manager John Walker said the Pop-Up Precinct is a collaboration between Lismore City Council, Lismore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Channon Craft Market Inc and the Lismore Car Boot Market.

It is funded by Resilience NSW.

“The Our Place: Lismore Pop-Up will help revitalise Lismore by helping flood-affected businesses to trade, allowing the community to access support services and creating a space in the middle of the CBD for the community to come together,” Mr Walker said.

Lismore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ellen Kronen, will be facilitating retailers’ participation in the Sunday markets.

Ms Kronen met with managers of Lismore Car Boot Market Marny Bonner and Channon Craft Market Robyn Kelly on Sunday to discuss the initiative and plan for the first market scheduled for June 5.

Ms Kronen said bringing everyone together in a central trading precinct is an inspiring way to kickstart the local economy.

“There is a lot of interest for the more permanent pop-up shops that will become part of the environment down here while businesses rebuild,” she said.

“Stall holders will have to set up and pack down but once we’ve got some more permanent structures here it will be a more permanent thing,”

Ms Kronen said there are still details to be ironed out like health and safety requirements yet she is confident the initiative will be successful.

Lismore Car Boot Market Manager Marny Bonner said the markets start as a small business incubator.

“For those people who have a really good idea but not a lot of experience or capital, they build their business up at the market then they’re able to venture forth into mainstream retail.

“We consider that our greatest success when that happens.”

Our Place: Lismore Pop-Up Precinct is being established at the Harold Fredericks carpark, on the corner of Dawson and Magellan Streets for two of the region's largest markets and local retailers who can trade from June 5. Picture: Cath Piltz

Channon Market Manager Robyn Kelly said having The Channon Market in town will be great.

“Our roads are hard to access at the moment,” Ms Kelly said.

“We lost all of our equipment in the floods so it will be great to have a temporary space until we get ours back to normal.”

“Reactivating our area’s two iconic markets, in partnership with CBD businesses, will bring cash, culture and community together in the heart once again.

“We are all working together to make this happen and for it to be as easy as possible for traders to get back to doing what they do best,” she said.

The site will house approximately 70-80 stalls from each market plus local businesses that wish to use the site.

More to come.

Grand opening is Sunday, June 5 from 7.30am at the Harold Fredericks carpark, on the corner of Dawson and Magellan Streets in Lismore.