Last Wednesday, January 11 marked one year since our Lismore City Council councillors were sworn in for the new shortened term following the December 2021 local council elections.

What a twelve-month period it has been.

The Lismore App wanted to ask the newbies, those voted into council for the first time, how they saw the first twelve months as a Lismore City Council councillor. This is nothing against the longer serving councillors who are into term their second, third or fourth terms, it is getting perspective from the debutants.

When all eleven councillors were voted into office, no one could have predicted what was to come. It was always going to be difficult in the first six months learning about the role including meeting protocol and councillor regulations etc, let alone adding Australia's worst natural disaster into the mix.

This is what some councillors had to say:

MAYOR STEVE KRIEG

This has been without question the most challenging year of my life, personally and professionally.

Taking on a role in public office is daunting, and I will admit that there have been many times in the past year when I have suffered from self-doubt, uncertainty and anxiety.

There’s a weight of responsibility that sits heavily after surviving a natural disaster, but I feel blessed that I have had wonderful support from family, friends, councillors and council staff to share the load.

Obviously, we are living through our region's most difficult period, but with adversity comes opportunity. I am optimistic about Lismore's future and am excited to play a small role in rebuilding our community.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow councillors for their support and guidance, my family for putting up with me, but most of all the wonderful community that we live in, that keeps me fighting for them every single day.

Cr/DEPUTY MAYOR JERI HALL

I received a bunch of flowers from my husband congratulating me on “surviving my first year”. What a year it’s been. 

The flood completely floored everyone in Lismore including me coming in as a new councillor, having “all of these great plans” to revive our town.

What has followed hasn’t seemed super rewarding. Following the floods, all the big decisions were taken away from local government and transferred to the state government. We haven’t been able to really input into flood mitigation, rebuild, repair as those decisions have been delegated to the NRRC, Resilience NSW etc. Sometimes it feels like we are screaming into a void. That’s been a disappointing realisation. 

I have absolutely loved getting to know more of the community, people whom I never would have met if it wasn’t for my position on Council. I’ve also absolutely loved my position as chair of the Local Traffic Committee (formally Traffic Advisory Committee), it feels good to feel like we are making beneficial changes on, what I would call, a pretty grassroots level. 

In 2023 I’m looking forward to welcoming our new GM, continuing our commitment to affordable housing, new housing developments and most importantly, the rebuilding of our city. 

Cr Big Rob

'Fake news, no comment!'

For the record, all seven councillors were contacted for comment.