It has been nearly four years since Lismore's housing, commercial and industrial stock was dealt a blow by the 2022 big flood. The housing market was already struggling following the migratory effects of COVID-19, which saw house prices rise sharply and rental stocks tighten.

2026 finally looks to be the year when heavy machinery will be seen all over the LGA as Lismore moves into the construction phase of the flood rebuild.

The 400 block Crawford Road site in East Lismore (at the back of the 50 Built-To-Rent site on Military Road) and the 80 blocks in North Lismore will see some infrastructure construction. Even the Mt Pleasant Estate site in Goonellabah should see some new residents move into the renovated, relocated flood homes, and hopefully, the rest of the estate will see some further building activity.

Arguably, Lismore's biggest and most anticipated building site is the approximate 75 hectares on the right side of Oliver Avenue in Goonellabah, as you drive towards Ballina Road.

The estate is being branded as Ridgeview Heights, and is a mix of 400 residential and 100 commercial and industrial lots that will be home to over 4,000 ongoing jobs once completed, plus hundreds more during construction.

60 hectares was rezoned in July 2025, paving the way for a diversity of housing, including detached, townhouses and units. The commercial and industrial land will help create a new central community in Goonellabah.

(Part of the Ridgeview Heights site off Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah. Image: supplied by RWC)

Parks, playgrounds and walking and cycling tracks are planned throughout the area, including the regeneration of Tucki Tucki Creek as a green corridor for people and wildlife. Dedicated areas are set aside for shops, childcare and recreation.

Ray White Commercial has announced expressions of interest for all or the individual lots of the Ridgeview Heights development. Key property highlights include:

• Strategically located flood-free land
• 9.55Ha* R1 General Residential land parcel - Lot 101
• 9.73Ha* R3 Medium Density Residential land parcel - Lot 102
• 3.72Ha* E1 Local Centre land parcel - Lot 103
• 8,360m²* Proposed retail drive-thru service station site with main road access - Lot 104
• 26,000* + cars daily traffic count
• Part of a master plan development
• State government and local council infrastructure incentives

Nathan Huxham is the locally born Ray White Agent living on the Gold Coast.

"There will be six separate titles issued, probably in February or March. So you've got R1 general residential, R3 medium density residential, E1 local centre, that's where we expect a sort of shopping centre, retail precinct to go. There's industrial, and there's also mixed use," Nathan told the Lismore App.

"If someone wants to take them all in one hit, they're welcome to, but essentially, they'll be individual contracts, so we do imagine they'll be individual buyers for each precinct."

Accompanying the email being sent to prospective buyers are artist impressions of the precinct that look impressive.

(Artist's impression of Ridgeview Heights. Images: supplied)

Part of the email says, "With multiple permissible development options such as a large scale residential subdivision, land lease community development, aged care & retirement facilities, commercial, retail and shopping centres, service station with retail drive thru, childcare facilities, churches and places of worship, function centres, shop-top housing, tavern & hotel/motel accommodation, medical centres and educational facilities to name a few, this opportunity is perfect for visionary developers!"

The expectation is that Ridgeview Heights may attract some of Australia's large retailers to the Lismore LGA, such as JB Hi-Fi, another Bunnings, a larger Harvey Norman or the Good Guys.

(Artist's impression of the new tavern in Ridgeview Heights. Image: supplied)

The proposed tavern/pub will be new, as will a service station (if rezoned) on the Pineapple Road side of Ballina Road.

For now, Nathan and Ray White Commercial are taking expressions of interest until January 27.

"As with any master plan that we sell, we take expressions of interest. If someone only wants, say, 2000 m² of it, we record that and, at the end of the campaign, we present all the EOIs to the vendors. If someone does take that precinct, they get that EOI to assist with their DA." 

You would expect 75 hectares of flood-free land in Goonellabah will generate a great deal of interest from local, interstate and institutional developers. Watch this space.