Mayor Steve Krieg's Notice of Motion for council staff to develop a Property Strategy so Lismore City Council can streamline its operations and manage $2.3 billion worth of assets better was met with protests outside council chambers by members of the Richmond River Historical Society and supporting public at yesterday's council meeting.

About 30 people positioned themselves at the back entrance of the Lismore Council building in Goonellabah chanting "Save our Museum", "Hands off our Museum", and "Renew the Lease".

Council meeting day turned into a divisive battle with the Krieg team on one side and the Richmond River Historical Society (RRHS) on the other with strong support from The Greens Councillors Guise and Waters.

How did it get to this point?

President of the RRHS Robert Smith spoke to the media before the 10am meeting start time saying they were offered to move to the Municipal Building in 1992. The Lismore App understands they were in the Trench Building (next to Stock Pot) since it was formed in 1936.

Mr Smith claimed that council started the property strategy in June last year.

"They kept us out completely from the discussions, let alone the decisions that were made. I mean, it's within two weeks ago we find out there were decisions made, and that's it. And while they say, oh look, we've got options like this or that for you, it's effectively a fait accompli. It's done."

One of the key points for the RRHS was to not be at risk of flooding due to the removal of heavy and sometimes fragile objects that are "all precious to the history of Lismore".

Mr Smith said discussions with council is that RRHS would be located in various places until a suitable building is found. "We know there's no suitable place. It's not going to emerge."

One of the possible locations Mr Smith mentioned was the Lismore Tourist Information Centre, which is being refurbished near Heritage Park.

"They mentioned only one possibility, and it was for instance, and that was after two full meetings.

At the moment, the Lismore Museum is in a pop-up store on Molesworth Street. During councillor questions in the meeting, Mr Smith said that about 200 square metres would be required for a preferred site for the RRHS.

When it came to debating the Property Strategy in chambers, an amendment was put up by Councillor (Cr) Knight-Smith, which Cr Guise seconded by adding a point 4 to the original motion, and that was that 'the General manager immediately execute a lease to the Richmond River Historical Society at 165 Molesworth Street, Lismore'.

It was clear that some councillors wanted the RRHS to remain in their current location regardless of the outcome of the Property Strategy findings and committed council to a written 5-year lease, which had been a verbal agreement in the past.

Mayor Krieg acknowledged that the Property Strategy motion had turned into an RRHS versus Council debate rather than what is best for the community in the long term.

"This isn't about the Municipal Building or it's not about the Terrania Shire building, it's not about 42 Oliver Avenue. It is about a package of $2.3 billion worth of assets which our ratepayers simply cannot manage, they cannot maintain, and they cannot afford.

"I did not write this Notice of Motion to target the Historical Society. You don't take things personally in this job, you really don't, but I had the Historical Society out at my house in September, and you feel like an absolute criminal when this is turned around as we're evicting the Historical Society. If that is the case, then I apologise for misleading you by inviting you to my property and showing you the cemetery and all of those other things attending your AGMs, and all of the other connected meetings that we've had together.

"This policy proposal was never about the historical society and your location. It's turned into that. But what I want to see done is adequate and proper management of our pocket parks, for example, looking after the 47 community groups that we provide peppercorn leases to. There's 47 of them scattered through our LGA, all deserving of the best possible facilities at the best possible location.

"It's about streamlining our operations as an organisation. Do I want to see Council staff in the CBD? You betcha. I want to see two hundred, three hundred of our council staff walking the streets for lunch, supporting our local businesses, doing their Christmas shopping in our retail sector. I am an unashamed advocate of bringing our council staff back to the CBD, and that's what this policy is intended, in part, to see happen. But it's also a reality check. Is that a reality to bring those staff to the CBD? Is there better use for this building that we stand on now? What about GSAC? What about the facilities that Lismore City Council owns in Goonellabah, that industrial estate that's sitting there along Oliver Avenue? All of those things are involved in a property strategy.

"I want to see Lismore be able to grow, be able to thrive, be able to manage our assets properly, and to do that, we need to have the correct strategies in place."

Cr Gordon mentioned that not one person had acknowledged that the Property Strategy could put the RRHS in a better position than they are now.

"At the moment you are in a terrible situation, you have nothing. I'd like to think that in a very short period of time, this chamber will come back and say we've got a solution, and you're going to say, we love it. And, I hope and pray that's the case. And I will do my best, as I'm sure every other person in this room will do their best to ensure that happens."

Cr Rob agreed with Mayor Krieg and Cr Gordon that a Property Strategy is an important step forward for council's future financial position.

The first amendment was defeated 7/4 with Crs Dalton/Earls, Knight-Smith, Guise and Waters voting for and Crs Hall, Gordon, Battista, Rob, Bing, Jensen and Krieg voting against.

Cr Battista had put forward a foreshadowed amendment adding a point 4, which said 'priority be given to find a suitable location for the Richmond River Historical Society'. He also apologised if the communication to the RRHS was not what it should have been, and the lack of time that has caused angst for Mr Smith and the committee.

While other councillors like Dalton-Earls, who was pragmatic about the outcome, Cr Guise was particularly scathing in his remarks after the first vote.

"So, we're turfing out the Historical Society. Shameful, shameful. And, the way it's been done, the way it's been done. I mean, talk about disrespect to a long-standing institution in Lismore, and we're going to let them languish now for years more. We're going to resettle them in another temporary location, and we're going to pretend that we've got their best interests at heart along this process."

This foreshadowed amendment was passed 9/2, with Crs Guise and Waters opposed.

During the fifty-minute discussion about the Property Strategy, it was revealed by council staff that the first draft of the Property Strategy should be ready by the end of March.

It then comes back to council with an implementation model so councillors can read and debate the recommendations and vote on a way forward.

There is definitely more to come.