The Lismore City Council says it will invest nearly $245 million in improvements to capital infrastructure next financial year, if a current draft budget is approved.
Mayor Steve Krieg says the money is almost double that invested in capital programs last financial year and is to be spent on roads, bridges, buildings, water and sewerage.
The draft budget on public exhibition until 12 June includes rate rises capped to the State Government’s peg of 3.9%.
Councillor Krieg says recent community consultation shows roads, stormwater, drains, waste management, flood mitigation, youth services and housing are top concerns.
The mayor says the council has listened but wants to hear back from the community again to make sure they got it right.
Not a ‘back-to-basics’ budget, says mayor
He says it isn’t a back-to-basics budget, rather it’s about investing in the right areas across all council operations to strengthen Lismore’s economy and create a city and villages that attract people to come live, work and raise a family.
Under the draft budget, nearly $185 million is to be invested in roads and bridges, nearly $29 million on Lismore’s sewer system assets and more than a million dollars in drains.
The total budget is $430.5 million, compared to just over $3 million dollars in the Lismore City Council budget ending June this year and includes a forecast for a cash surplus.
The mayor has attributed the increase to ongoing and effective lobbying of Australian and State governments since the 2022 flood and landslide disasters.
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. 
