Taking Lismore to the world

LISMORE will embark on its biggest ever tourism marketing campaign, new city centre manager Jason Mumford has revealed.

AMBITION: Lismore’s new city centre manager Jason Mumford has big plans for continued improvement. Picture: Luke Mortimer

LISMORE will embark on its biggest ever tourism marketing campaign, new city centre manager Jason Mumford has revealed.

The State Government and Lismore City Council have pooled $150,000 to fund a renewed marketing push for the city and its central business district.

"There's been some state government funding, money that's come out of the Lismore city centre manager budget and some Lismore City Council money, combined to give us over $150,000 to actually market Lismore and the CBD, which will kick off May 1," Mr Mumford said.

The marketing and communications specialist described the cash as a game changer.

He said Lismore business owners would likely be pleased they weren't obliged to contribute towards the campaign.

"That's the biggest marketing campaign this city has seen," he said.

"We just haven't had that sort of cash before."

The marketing campaign will run over six months and it will include tourism package deals for major events, sold through www.wotif .com and the council's Come to the Heart website, according to the council meeting agenda from March.

Starting with Gemfest and finishing with the Lismore Show, the campaign aims to showcase the diversity of Lismore and it will include food, shopping, signature events, sport, art and culture.

The council is counting on media coverage to promote the campaign, including the Sydney Weekender TV show, which will return to Lismore for a feature story next month.

Meanwhile, the council is proposing to reduce fees for new businesses within the CBD by way of changes to Section 64 and 94 contributions.