The Lismore City Council last night passed two important motions that have concerned the community in the last week. One motion surrounded the Free Hospital Parking at the Lismore Base Hospital while the second motion gave the green light for expressions of interest from interested parties to resurrect the Lismore Lake Pool.

An urgent motion was put forward by Councillor Darlene Cook where Council would defer the proposed reintroduction of paid parking in the hospital precinct that was to recommence this Monday October 19.

Cnr Cook saying that no one knew how long the COVID-19 pandemic would was going to last so a workshop needed to occur so councillors can learn what impact this will have on councils delicate budget while supporting the work of local hospital staff.

The motion was passed giving a further 3 months of free parking in the Lismore Base Hospital precinct with the workshop slated in for October 27.

The Lismore Lake Pool has been a controversial issue for Council since it closed its gates in 2012. After Neil Marks' motion to ask for expressions of interest to resurrect the pool was passed, is it possible that the Lake Pool will return to its glory days?

Perhaps.

The expression of interest now needs those people or groups who think they can refurbish, run and maintain the Lake Pool to put a proposal together and submit it to Council demonstrating their ability to achieve the required criteria.

Interestingly, the discussion from councillors was about the wording of the motion which does not stipulate the land needs to operate as a Lake Pool. This opens up opportunities for other groups to have a completely different idea as to how that land can serve the community. Of course, all proposals need to be approved and voted on by Councillors.

Another controversial issue voted on last night was the recent battle of words between LCC and the Northern Rivers Times newspaper following the front page headline about LCC General manager Shelley Oldham's award nomination.

In the Mayoral Minutes, Mayor Isaac Smith proposed a motion that condemned the "hatchet job" on Ms Oldham asking for an immediate apology from the editor. Council will withdraw all support for the paper until an apology is received.

This motion was passed by Councillors Cook, Bird, Ekins, Moorhouse and Smith.

The longest debate of the night was about extending the life of the River Bank Road quarry at Monaltrie following a submission looking for a sixteen (16) year extension by Santin Quarry Products.

There were seven (7) speakers against the extension during the public submission session with Councillors later trying to get an exact answer as to when the quarry removed their first load which determines when the 25 year lease would finish and the quarry repatriation time would begin, as well as ongoing compliance issues and the effect of fine dust particles on neighbouring properties.

After the original motion and two foreshadowed motions it was determined to defer the matter to allow staff to seek legal advice relating to the conditions of consent.