I understand Lismore Council has had a hard time since the 2022 flood, and I also understand businesses in the CBD, especially those reliant on customer numbers, are having a really hard time.
From my observation and experience, few of those with shopfronts in the CBD are there after 3pm. I know Council is organising and publicising events to draw people to the CBD. However, Ballina LGA’s population now exceeds Lismore’s, and businesses are relocating there.
Ballina Council wants to become a ‘regional city’, and its arguments for many years have been for Lismore to abandon its passenger flights (now achieved) and for the rescue helicopter to be relocated there. It worked hard to get Rous Council to relocate there.
From my perspective Lismore Council needs to do more to make our beautiful city attractive to those who don’t live here. As one small example, it is sad to see the state of the median strips and road verges along both highways. They look as if no-one cares about the main roads into our CBD and are not at all welcoming.
On the other hand, when driving into Ballina, excluding the vegetation that has escaped from the MI (which I think is the state government’s responsibility), it’s a very different story. I know Ballina itself didn’t receive the same damage that Lismore and Ballina’s villages received, but in my opinion Lismore Council can no longer cry poor, particularly given Council’s frequent references to its improved financial position. The section of Council with responsibility for medians and road verges simply does not receive sufficient funds to carry out what is their prime responsibility. To me, it reflects Council’s priorities and does nothing to make our city attractive to tourists. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
