By Darren Coyne
The historic Lismore Lions Fountain has won a reprieve and its future is now in the hands of the community.
The Lismore City Council last night voted to proceed with advertising plans to build a new public artwork, which incorporates elements of the existing fountain.
The first Lions club in Australia opened in Lismore in 1947, and the fountain was built twenty years later to commemorate that event.
The Lions will next year celebrate 70 years of Lions in Australia, and 100 years internationally.
Mayor Jenny Dowell said some reports that the fountain would be demolished were incorrect.
She said the exhibition of the public artwork plans would include alternative information on the restoration of the fountain.
‘The matter will be reported back to council for a final decision, probably in November,’ she said.
‘In other words, council has not decided to demolish the fountain.
‘The community will have a month after the information is advertised to make comment.
‘We also hope that in that time the Lions Clubs can sort out their differences and decide on an agreed way forward.
‘The debate in Lions hinges around the need to retain heritage or to tell the story of Lions as it is today and what is has achieved in the last 70 years ready for the celebrations in 2017.’
The way forward for Lismore Council obviously is to make the Lion’s fountain operational as a great tourist attraction to Lismore.