Picture :visitlismore.com.au
The Lismore City Council has voted to proceed with a workshop in the new year to examine the proposed $90 million expansion of the Lismore Shopping Square, and also to develop a business case for a Regional Sports Hub that includes an Olympic Ski Jump Training Facility.
Cr Neil Marks had lodged a notice of motion for the Square expansion which apart from some minor changes was supported by a majority of the councillors.
Voting for the workshop were Lismore mayor Isaac Smith, Crs Darlene Cook, Greg Bennett, Nancy Casson, Neil Marks, Gianpeiro Battista and Bill Moorhouse. Against were Greens councillors Vanessa Ekins and Adam Guise. Cr Ellie Bird was absent.
The proposed workshop would consider the minimum footprint requirements for the expansion, the full impact the expansion would have on neighbouring Humbly Oval, and opportunities to mitigate the impact on the Lismore CBD.
Last night’s vote prompted a response from Page MP Kevin Hogan who said it was a positive move.
‘It’s time that councillors stop talking about ‘fluffy’ things like rainbow crossings and start focusing on things that matter to our community like jobs, like Richmond Valley Council does,’ he said.
‘Almost 2000 signed my petition within a fortnight calling on the council to reverse its decision to knock back the proposed $90 million investment.’
Meanwhile, a majority of councillors also threw their support behind a proposal to build an Olympic ski jump facility in Lismore as part of a regional sports hub.
The council voted to work with the Office of Sport to develop a project proposal and business case for the Lismore Regional Sports Hub, involving a multi-sport precinct with indoor and outdoor facilities.
The Olympic Ski Jump Training Facility would be incorporated as part of the hub development.
The project proposal and business case are to be reported back to the council at a future meeting.
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