Last night's Lismore City Council monthly meeting was attended by only seven (7) councillors with two late 'leave' withdrawals.

At the start of the meeting Deputy Mayor and Chair Darlene Cook mentioned that Councillors Nancy Casson and Eddie Lloyd applied for leave yesterday due to both being unwell while Mayor Isaac Smith was on holiday leave. Former Councillor Gianpiero Battista resigned last week effective immediately.

The question remains as to whether Councillors Casson and Lloyd will continue their extended twelve month term that was forced upon all local councillors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday Councillor Casson told the Lismore App she will make a decision about her role as a LCC Councillor at the end of September. Councillor Lloyd has not responded for comment.

It should be noted that this would have been the final LCC council meeting before council elections were held before COVID-19 struck in March.

The Lismore Park Plan of Management was adopted by council five votes to two.

(the Lismore Parklands masterplan)

Those in councillors in favour spoke of the planned parklands being a real attraction to bring people into Lismore and the CBD. "Passive recreation activities are increasing and we are not investing in these areas", Cnr Ekins said, while Cnr Marks referred to the success of the Tamworth Recreational Park where a lot of families rugged up and used the park and its facilities during winter. "This may not happen tomorrow, next week or in the next 5 years", Cnr Marks said, "but we need to have a vision and this is something that is positive for families to look forward to".

Cnr Guise spoke against the adopting the plan because if its huge price tag which now sits at $25 million. "It is what I consider a park with bells and whistles that goes beyond what we can afford as a community". Cnr Guise said. He also took a swipe at the $1.2 million being paid to consultants for the completed project.

The point was made that although the Lismore Park Plan of management is now adopted in principal, it will not progress without Federal and State Government funding. Then there is the proposed $1 million maintenance costs that need to be offset.

In other agenda items Northcott Drive in Goonellabah was re-zoned to potentially allow another seventeen blocks of land for sale in the future while the Farmers Markets Guidelines Review was also adopted. The debate regarding the guidelines was the impact of selling non-locally grown fruit such as Stanthorpe apples at the Magellan Street markets and what impact this has on local fruit & vegetable businesses. The new guidelines states that 75% of stalls must be given to locally grown produce.

The final part of the meeting was accepting the resignation of Councillors Bennett and Battista with both being thanked for their contribution to the Lismore community in their time as councillors. Councillor Bennett said that he decided two years ago to not contest the next council elections then put his farm on the market. An offer was made which is now unconditional so Cnr Bennett will no longer be part of Lismore as he will be moving out of the area.

The next council meeting will be on September 8. The question is how many councillors will attend that meeting?