Council passes $301 million budget with a focus on basics and city rebuild

In the second year of delivering against its most recent long-term financial plan mayor Steve Krieg said the budget achieved an economically and socially responsible plan to strengthen the city's continued prosperity.

"This budget represents our plan for continuing to deliver on the sustainable rebuild of Lismore. It sets a strong plan to ensure we take strides toward growing as a prosperous, connected and thriving regional hub of the Northern Rivers," he said.

"A year ago, we were still planning through uncertainty. Today, we stand on the back of a strong year of public and private investment and are reflecting on a year of record capital works delivery."

Lismore City Council's 2024-2025 budget focuses on the basics while also delivering on the services and amenity that makes Lismore great.

Council has a mandate from community to deliver financially sustainable operations with a focus on the responsible use of rate payer funds.

A total of $209.9 million has been allocated to supporting basic services like water, waste, sewer, roads and bridges.

"A majority of our budget is invested in the essential services our community cares about the most," Cr Krieg said.

"We have heard our community and are investing more than $18 million into the maintenance of city assets, including a 30.7% increase in our drain and storm water management investment.

"We are also investing in a road network which in total is greater in length than the distance from the Sunshine Coast to Sydney, more than 750km of sewer and water pipes across the local government area and maintaining 277 parks as well as open space the equivalent of 711 football fields.

"We know people expect us to deliver on the basics, but we also have to ensure we don't lose sight of the services and amenities that make Lismore a great place to live, to connect and to create.

"From pools to libraries, parks, sporting clubs, walking trails, galleries, dog parks and events, we are striking a balance investing $19.8 million into the important facilities and services that build a liveable community."

Almost $7 million is also being funnelled into the community services and assets that support a safer city, while $2.5 million in funding has also been set aside to support Council's strategic focus on affordable housing.

Council's 2024-2025 budget also includes $1.43 million in discounts and concessions to help ease the financial burdens for those who need it the most.

During the Extraordinary Meeting, Councillors also voted to include $25,000 in this year's budget for the installation and maintenance of sharps disposal bins, $20,000 in cash and $20,000 in-kind for the Lismore Lantern Parade, $1100 for Magpie Centre administration, as well as $30,000 for the Eltham Public School safety project to come out of the existing Roads budget.

Councillors also voted to amend the Delivery Program to include seeking funding for a footpath/cycleway from Dunoon and Modanville.

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS