An iconic but long-dormant site in the heart of Lismore could soon be given a new lease on life, with Council set to consider accepting the former greyhound racing track at 1 Molesworth Street and calling for ideas from the community on how it could be reused.

The matter is being brought to Lismore City Council’s meeting this Tuesday, February 10, where councillors will be asked to decide whether to accept the gifting of the land from Greyhound Racing NSW and begin a 30-day Expressions of Interest process for its future use.

The Molesworth Street site, once home to greyhound racing in Lismore, has remained unused since the devastating floods of 2022. After repeated flood damage and costly repairs dating back to weather events in 2017, the venue was ultimately deemed no longer viable for racing.

Mayor Steve Krieg says the proposal is about rethinking how flood-affected land can still play a role in Lismore’s recovery.

“We’re doing everything we can to try and reactivate sites that have been dormant since the flood,” Cr Krieg said. “This is an opportunity for an iconic site to be repurposed.”

Greyhound Racing NSW has formally offered to gift the property to Council, saying the local authority is best placed to determine how the land could be used for the benefit of the community.

In its statement, GRNSW confirmed racing will not return to the site and acknowledged the long relationship between the organisation and Lismore, particularly through challenging years marked by floods and disruption.

This photo of the racetrack underwater is from early March 2022

The Council report notes there is no immediate planned use for the land, which is why staff are recommending an open call for Expressions of Interest to see what ideas emerge from community groups, organisations and other stakeholders.

Cr Krieg says those conversations have already begun.

“There’s already been people approaching both Greyhound Racing NSW and the Council about the site,” he said. “We have to think differently about what we use our floodplain for, and the different organisations that have already reached out have some great ideas to repurpose that site.”

Under the proposal, Council would first complete due diligence before finalising the transfer, then classify the land as operational and advertise the Expressions of Interest for 30 days. Any submissions would then be brought back to Council for a decision.

For many locals, the greyhound track is a familiar landmark, even in its current quiet state. The Mayor believes bringing activity back to the site, in whatever form it takes, is an important step in the city’s broader recovery.

“It’ll be good to see another big site in the town reactivated in some capacity,” Cr Krieg said.

As Lismore continues to rebuild and adapt after the floods, the future of the former greyhound track could become another example of how the community is finding new purpose in places shaped by its past.