Lismore to spend RDA windfall shading carparks, footpaths

IN A SURPRISE move, Lismore City Council has opted to spend its Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) grant on shade structures for a Lismore carpark.

IN A SURPRISE move, Lismore City Council has opted to spend its Round Five Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) grant on building shade structures for the Clyde Campbell carpark in the Lismore CBD.

The funding round allocated $436,455 to Lismore City Council for a project that can be started immediately.

Several proposals were put forward at last night's extraordinary council meeting including Stage One of Lismore Park and upgrades to CBD footpaths.

Council will provide metal roofing over 120 car parks as well as covered walkways into the CBD.

The all-weather car parking is designed to attract more shoppers into the CBD and make CBD businesses more competitive with those at nearby Lismore Shopping Square.

The proposal also recognises the covered space could be used in the future for events in the CBD, such as the Lismore Carboot Market.

"Throughout the Imagine Lismore process revitalising the CBD came up again and again during the community consultation as a priority," Mayor Jenny Dowell said.

Despite the staff recommendation to use the RDAF funds to complete Stage 1 of the shovel-ready Lismore Park masterplan, Cr Dowell said the feeling among councillors was the funds were not sufficient to make even a first stage of Lismore Park viable.

"This we believed was giving us something that the community wanted, that be would be complete with this injection of funds alone," Cr Dowell said.

"We also know that revitalising the CBD has many flow-on effects for businesses throughout the city as more visitors come to shop and enjoy the heart of Lismore.

"We know this will be welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce and retailers as well as local shoppers," Cr Dowell said.

Council will now finalise the grant with the RDAF and arrange a tender process for the job, with work not expected to commence until next year.

Cr Dowell said Council would then consult with the business community about the most appropriate time to start the work.