As the news of who and who isn’t running for Mayor of Lismore was finalised yesterday, the candidates are going to the ballot today (which was delayed by over three hours) to see what order they will appear on the voting form.
Cr Bird drew number 6 of 6.
Our Sustainable Future, led by current Councillor Elly Bird and her team have officially launched their campaign for Lismore City Council.
Councillor Bird is running for Mayor of Lismore City Council with what she says is a strong team of long term locals, business owners and environmental advocates on her ticket.
The Our Sustainable Future team
The candidates on the Our Sustainable Future ticket are Carlos Vieira-Silva and Deborah Ray, who are both business owners in the Lismore CBD, Jyllie Jackson the driving force behind the Lismore Lantern Parade, and Simon Clough previous Deputy Mayor and long-term community campaigner.
Cr Bird says that as Mayor she would lead the community to face challenges head-on, focusing on working together with councillors, staff and our community, to find practical, positive and sustainable solutions.
Climate resilience and disaster preparedness a priority
‘Our priority focus for the next term of Council and beyond is climate resilience and disaster preparedness; affordable housing; financial sustainability for the organisation; and prioritising roads, infrastructure maintenance and efficient waste management into the future. We are totally committed to sustainable economic development and supporting our business community to grow and to establish new initiatives that will enhance and improve our unique community identity.’
Cr Bird says her team’s position on key policy areas of interest to our community is that they oppose the Dunoon Dam and support resilient system-wide water efficiencies and solutions like purified recycled water. ‘We will also prioritise CBD revitalisation and business recovery from Covid; we support development on North Lismore Plateau which has been a long term strategic goal for Council for many years, and which has been through a detailed and thorough consultation process with Traditional Custodians; and we support the Rail Trail because of the economic benefits it will bring to Lismore.’
An active and responsive Councillor
Cr Bird says that she was elected in 2016 after five years working on the successful campaign to make the Northern Rivers Gasfield Free. ‘Since then I’ve proven that I am an active and responsive Councillor – I led our flood recovery with Lismore Helping Hands, supported our community through the bushfires, and I have consistently advocated for local businesses. I am experienced, diligent and committed. I show up, I work hard, and I listen.
Cr Bird feels she has the right balance of experience and passion required to lead a new Council with many new faces following the upcoming election. ‘I have the skills, the dedication and the commitment to be the next Mayor of Lismore and I am looking forward to working in partnership with our community to build a future we can all be proud of.’
Cr Bird announced Gwen Trimble who is a long term resident of Nimbin as number two on the ticket. ‘We are working hard to have Gwen elected to Council alongside me as a sorely needed Nimbin representative. As our largest village and our most significant tourist destination, Nimbin needs dedicated representation on Council.’
Neil Marks to retire from Council
Last night Cr Neil Marks surprisingly announced that not only will he not be running for Mayor at the Lismore election, he will also not be running for Council. ‘
‘It’s a shame that Neil Marks is retiring from Council at this election,’ said Cr Bird. ‘He has been a very diligent and dedicated councillor who has served our community well for 13 years and I wish him well.’
Cr Bird’s 20 Questions for The Echo are here.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding the Lismore Elections
A public hearing into insurers’ responses to the 2022 flood was held in Lismore last Thursday, with one local insurance brokerage business owner describing the compact that exists between insurers and society as ‘broken’. It’s been a long wait, but two years on from the 2022 flood REDinc in Lismore have announced the official opening of a new Performing Arts Centre. Springing to life in the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens this April school holidays, Understory is a magical, interactive theatre adventure created for children by Roundabout Theatre.
Bridge expansions, upgraded pumps, enhanced evacuation routes and nature-based projects are just a few of the 36 projects being rolled out as part of the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program.
The Albanese Government has provided $150 million to the... Northern Rivers Peace group, Remembering and Healing is inviting all community members to a peace gathering on the eve of ANZAC Day. Walking through Lismore’s elegant Starcourt Arcade, a new burst of colour appears in one of its little shops, instantly prompting two children to squeal in delight: ‘Legoooooo!’. The NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSW RA) is under examination to look at how it has managed the response to the 2022 floods and other disasters. This year’s Youth Week is theme is Express. Empower. Get loud! This April school holidays, a magical outdoor theatre show for kids is happening in Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens. Understory is a magical, interactive theatre adventure for kids. Two teens will appear in court today charged following an alleged break and enter and pursuit through the Northern Rivers.
Flood insurance inquiry’s North Coast hearings
REDinc’s new Performing Arts Centre is go!
What’s happening in the rainforest’s Understory?
Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program announces 36 projects
Wage peace not war
Where the children can play: Lismore’s new Lego café
Has the state government responded effectively to the 2022 flood and...
Express. Empower. Get loud! for Youth Week in Lismore
School holidays special event at the Botanic Gardens
Teens charged following break and enter and 50km pursuit
How can you support the proposed 2000 lot development with a population increase of 6 to 8 thousand
without having a new dam at Dunoon.
How can you say you want to improve roads when the NLP development proposes to put an estimated
14,000 car movements a DAY on our roads.
How can you promote fiscal responsibility when Council is borrowing 30 million dollars for supporting
infrastructure for the NLP developers who are standing to make hundreds of millions of dollars of profit?
How can you have a policy for social housing when no provision at all is being made in any development including,
and especially the NLP, the single biggest development ever before Council.
Our Sustainable Future is a fancy name but the reality is naivety or worse electoral deception on a grand scale
on a Community who are just fed up with the shenanigans of the Lismore City Council.
Al you didn’t mention: how do you “take strong action on climate change” while continuing the conversion of Nimbin from highly productive farmland to lantana and marijuana-based tourism attracting people from the other side of the world travelling on jets?