It has now been over a year since the devastating floods that ravaged our community in early 2022, and while some businesses have managed to reopen their doors, others are still struggling to get back on their feet.

It is pleasing to see businesses reopen, and new businesses pop up around town, but there are a number of businesses that are still closed due to delays with approvals, documentation, insurance, and building supply shortages.

Business NSW’s Northern Rivers director Jane Laverty said some businesses are still waiting to make decisions.

“What they're looking for is a vision for Lismore, something that can really build that confidence up,” she said.

“They need to know that if they're investing in a business and investing in rebuilding their teams, their staff and their customers and their supply chains, that there's going to be a future there for them.”

“A vision can shift and change, and it can evolve, but it has to be aspirational, to give businesses confidence to put their money on the table alongside government.”

The Lismore App has received many enquiries asking where certain businesses are up to in their recovery, like the Lismore Cincema and the Workers Club, we have done our best to get the answers.

Lismore Workers Club General Manager Stephen Bortolin had some bad news for club patrons, with the Workers Club not expected to open until May 2024.

There have been delays in the approval process with documentation still being worked through which means construction has not begun.

Mr Bortolin said construction should start in mid to late May then it should be a 30-week build.

Birch Carroll & Coyle Lismore Cinema is another business that remains almost untouched since the flood. After several requests by The Lismore App to try to understand what is delaying the reopening, we received the below one-line statement:

“We are currently exploring all options for Lismore and we don’t have anything to announce at this stage.”

With more positive news, State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin has this week reopened in her pre-flood location at 55 Carrington Street.

Burrito Bar also reopened this week under Lismore Central. Franchise Partners Lucky and Dileep opened this store just two months prior to being wiped out by the flood.

On the corner of Molesworth and Magellan Street in the Lismore CBD, Eight Brothers Barbershop has had signage up for a number of months promoting they are “opening soon”.

This week the business posted on their Facebook saying we wouldn’t need to wait much longer.

“As many of you have been patiently waiting for the new Lismore barbershop to open, we have finally been approved and are excited to announce our opening date,” they posted.

Eight Brothers Barbershop isn’t the only new business opening in Lismore, with Mexican restaurant 187 Cantina opening its doors last week, Brightway Lighting fitting the store out for a reopening in a matter of weeks as is the case with the Instyle SleepCentre.

Jane Laverty also indicated there are several start-ups that are looking to come to Lismore.

“We're also seeing a number of start-ups coming to this region… there's your everyday oxygen, and then there's Northern Rivers oxygen, that actually attracts many entrepreneurs,” she said.

“They're not just attracted to the Byron Shire - where we've seen that growth over the years - they're actually looking around the whole of this region, and where it is affordable to actually kickstart a business.”

“I think that's really where Lismore has a real opportunity to connect, if we can deliver for those entrepreneurs in terms of technology, enabling infrastructure and housing, then I'm excited about what we can do in this region over the next five and 10 years.”