New North Lismore Plateau development plan sent to Minister

THE North Lismore Plateau development is “back on track” after a Lismore City Council voted 7-1 to send a revamped proposal to NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes.

THE North Lismore Plateau development is "back on track" after a Lismore City Council voted 7-1 on Tuesday to send a revamped proposal to NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes for approval.

Last month the NSW Land and Environment Court found the original proposal was invalid because it was altered after going on public exhibition.

The fault lay with the Department of Planning which had ordered the removal and review of all environmental zones on the North Coast, including those proposed on the plateau.

The plateau's "e-zones" protected sites of Aboriginal cultural heritage and environmentally sensitive areas.

Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell said the proposal now to be sent to the Minister for Planning was simply the version which went on public exhibition originally.

"This is the proposal as we originally intended it to be," Cr Dowell said.

"We've had a hiccup in this process but we feel now we're back on track."

Cr Vanessa Ekins voted against approving the proposal over concerns that the council would end up paying too much for infrastructure which "developers should pay for".

But while the council was planning to pay upfront for two roads into the site, it would receive those costs back eventually in the form of development contributions, Cr Dowell said.

Aboriginal elder and stakeholder John Roberts also spoke in favour of the development.