As we know, accommodation has been Lismore's Achilles Heel since the 2022 big flood. Last week, we published a story about the refurbished AZA Motel; today we look at the Lismore Gateway Motel.

The Lismore Gateway Motel is very close to finishing its post-flood renovations and opening its doors to guests once more.

Ashlee Rogers, the operations manager for the motel group, is looking forward to the reopening. 

“It's going very well. Work has progressed very fast, but there are some issues that we weren't aware of initially that had to be addressed, that were all added to the scope of work, so it took longer than planned.

“I'll be honest; it wouldn't have happened without having the facility for people to stay on site. Financially, it would not have been possible. Even though we've got somewhere for them to stay in Ballina, it's too far. 

“Having the tradies live on-site also tested out the rooms as they were building. That's part of the reason why all the bathrooms had to be done was because the trades were using them and highlighted issues that the flood caused that we weren't aware of. So it was beneficial that they were in them and not guests.”

The motel will open over three stages. The first stage will open up 19 rooms, while the landscaping, pool, and final rooms will be renovated in stage two. The third stage will be the addition of new common areas.

The motel's reopening will include kitchen and laundry facilities to make it more comfortable for long-term residents. 

“We've got a guest kitchen upstairs as part of phase one, for the convenience of food preparation.

“The bathrooms have been fully modernised, with “walk-in showers, which is much more suitable for people.”

The “loud” work at the motel has been completed, so the works still under renovation will be sectioned off and will not affect guests.

“We'll have the doors closed so you won’t even know it is going on where the work's still continuing.”

The stage two works are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Gated parking and garden areas will be secure areas for the guest's comfort.

(The lobby is being fitted out for the opening)

“Then phase three is the rest of downstairs, the common rooms. A guest kitchen area with full kitchen facilities where guests can prepare meals and then seating space in our old restaurant space as well.”

A decision was made not to reopen the restaurant, “The cost to replace the equipment that we moved to higher ground, that wasn't high enough, is just too big. And it was hard to staff, even before the flood.”

There are plans for a gym to be added as part of phase three. The changes that are being made reflect the wishes and feedback of customers.

In an acknowledgement of the connection with their patrons, their first-ever customers, Sarah and Larry will be invited back to be their first guests in the newly refurbished motel.

“They now live a lot closer than when they first visited. They are at Lennox Heads, but they are keen to come and stay,” said Ashlee Rogers, the operations manager for the motel group.

Ashlee describes the motel as a “Nice, relaxing, place to reset and recharge. Use it as a bit of a base to explore the area. Our tagline is, “Rest here, roam there.”

“A lot of the leisure guests used it as a good spot to base themselves to go and explore our beautiful region. Our front office staff are great at highlighting what there is to do in the area and the beautiful things our region has to offer. And if they don’t get to do it all, they want to come back!”

While Ashlee has been overseeing the journey to get back to business in Lismore, she is not the intended manager. They are actively seeking people for the role, but it has been difficult to fill.

Ashlee has already been taking bookings for later this year around the Christmas and New Year period and into next year.

“I have taken some function bookings for next year, some bigger conferencing events, but not individual rooms at this stage.”

Keep up to date with the latest on their Facebook page

Contact Ashlee at the hotel via email at [email protected] or on (02) 6621 5688.