Lismore City Council is asking for public submissions on a proposal which would allow a “creative industries hub” to be developed at the old Hurfords site in South Lismore, even though it is flood prone.

The site in Union St was previously used as Hurfords Building Supplies and sawmill and now contains numerous disused and dilapidated large industrial buildings.

The landowner, James Hurford and Co Pty Ltd, is retrofitting the buildings with a view to leasing different buildings to individual tenancies.

The entrance to the site in Union St, South Lismore. PHOTO: Supplied/Google.

Some large warehouses located near the road entrance have already been renovated and are being used for a photographic gallery, gym and bulky goods storage and sales of household electrical/whitegoods.

According to council staff, Hurfords is looking to use the land for a number of different uses including “business incubator” office space, workshops and gallery space for use by creative industries, “pop up” markets, movie and food events and a craft brewery, café and bar.

However, the land is still zoned industrial and flood-prone and so the council has been asked to amend the Lismore Local Environmental Plan to allow the additional uses not allowed on industrial land, such as offices and cinemas.

The council in November last year voted to support the proposal and it has received State Government approval so it is now going out for community consultation.

“The subject land has been identified in Council’s Bridge to Bridge Masterplan (2017) as having potential for a creative industries hub and in the North Coast Regional Plan as employment land,” council staff say in the planning proposal.

Council staff also say that flood risks involved in the new uses can be mitigated with a Flood Evacuation Management Plan to be submitted along with any development applications.

“All buildings are non-habitable so the flood risk to humans is mitigated by an early evacuation policy,” a report commissioned by consultants says.

The planning proposal is on public exhibition from tomorrow until August 16. To make a submission on the proposal, head to: https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/