With a background in administration and the financial markets, Gwen Trimble moved from Sydney in 1991 and settled in Nimbin.

Her first job in the area was on the fledgling free local newspaper “The Lismore Echo” which exposed her to the concerns both great and small of the Lismore community. After leaving The Echo she worked for the local clothing manufacturer Sunbuster Sportswear for many years.

Over the last 15 years or so most Nimbin residents know her either from her work at the local NRMA office and Nimbin Motors or as a Marriage Celebrant. She currently manages accounts for Nimbin Emporium and is Treasurer of the Nimbin Health and Welfare Committee.

She has been involved and campaigned for numerous community causes over the years. She is a member of Lismore Council’s Nimbin Advisory Group, actively campaigned against coal seam gas mining and is opposed to the Dunoon Dam. She drove the campaign for Nimbin’s rural water consumers to retain their town water supply. Now semi-retired, she lives with her partner of 30 years in their off-grid, eco-friendly rural home.

Gwen feels she has a lot to contribute to local government and has the time required to devote to the role of Councillor.

Gwen is running for Council with Elly Bird and Our Sustainable Future.

You can read more about OSF policies on our website at www.oursustainablefuture.org.au



What is your vision for Lismore over the next 3 years?

Most importantly, we need to continue on the path to sustainable financial recovery as delivered in the current Council Budget Paper. I will focus on finding a solution to the current Nimbin water security crisis and a Dunoon Dam free Lismore water strategy.

We need to find a way to encourage a mix of housing options in future developments so that affordable housing stock is available to the community. I will focus on ensuring that Nimbin and our villages are represented in the Chamber.

What are your objectives being a councillor?

As a Councillor, I would support the implementation of smart water initiatives and oppose the Dunoon Dam.

Seek to manage growth in Nimbin to retain our village character and heritage value.

Support initiatives that further Nimbin’s economic development which fit with community needs and expectations.

Support Council’s current policy to lobby State and Federal Governments for additional funding to repair and reconstruct roads.

Support the vibrant and myriad Nimbin Community organisations like the School of Arts, NNIC, NCCI, NACRS, Headers and the newly funded Rainbow Road and Aquarius Park project. Support the existing Koala Plan of Management and biodiversity management strategy, including the Rural Landholder Initiative (which has enabled extensive bush regeneration).

Support strategies that will encourage the construction of affordable housing stock.

What was your motivation to become a councillor?

To represent a village perspective on Council. For some years, I know the Nimbin community have felt overlooked in decision making, I expect many of the other Lismore village communities have also. These village communities need to be in a position to influence policy that will affect them. As a member of the Nimbin community for 30 years, I believe I understand the village perspective and can competently give voice to it.

How does Lismore become a vibrant, prosperous city?

Now there’s a good and difficult question. If anyone thinks that question can be answered with a slogan like “grow small business” they are being disingenuous. A city becomes vibrant and prosperous, if it offers attractive venues and exciting events, is home to, or the destination of, enough people with money to spend on things other than essentials. The Tropical Fruits New Year Celebration or the Masters Games or the Lantern Parade are examples.

The last few years of “flood, fire and pestilence” have made it impossible for Lismore to get close to vibrant or prosperous and I don’t know that Council alone can make it so. It can encourage small business in the CBD by considering rate concessions or can stage events that attract visitors. The path to a prosperous city must be found through working together and utilising the strengths of stakeholders across the community.

The Council and the community can support each other. Find a way to fit community needs with service provision and then call on Council to facilitate those efforts. 

Do you hold any concerns for the region that have not been addressed?

I have great concern for those issues which we, as yet, do not have knowledge of but will soon reveal themselves. I believe those challenges are likely to be linked to the environment and sustainability. As a community, we will need to be ready and able to swiftly pivot and address them as they become evident.

Our sustainable future relies on it.