From the outside, the massive wrapped TAFE NSW site on Conway and Keen Street has been empty and silent for some time.

If you walk around the site you will hear the sound of machinery starting to dig up concrete which is stage one of a massive demolition project.

According to the Lismore City Council Development Application buildings C1, D and K will be demolished (image below):

• Building K –Offices and storage
• Building D – Two classrooms and office
• Building C1 – Offices and amenities

(An overhead image of the TAFE buildings. Photo: supplied)

With minor alterations and additions to Building E including:

1. the removal of 3 internal walls.
2. alterations to an external wall to create a new opening to the amenities room; and
3. the construction of a new accessible pathway.

Buildings B, C and E are heritage-listed buildings that have a significant history in Lismore:

• Building C – Former Ambulance Station (1933)
• Building E – Former Trades School (1929)
• Building B – Former Drill Hall (1906)

(The former Ambulance station or Heritage Listed Building C on the corner of Keen and Conway Streets)

Restoration work is underway by a Coffs Harbour company for Buildings C and E while investigations for restoration are underway for Building B.

A TAFE NSW spokeswoman told the Lismore App that the clean-up and urgent safety repairs were completed at TAFE NSW Lismore in late 2022.

"TAFE NSW is working with an external heritage expert to restore Buildings B, C, and E. This includes removing and replacing badly damaged internal walls in Building E. Due to the extent of the damage, this is a complex restoration project and is expected to be complete by mid-2024. To facilitate the work, three badly damaged structures surrounding the heritage buildings have been approved for demolition."

"TAFE NSW is currently developing options for the return of service delivery at Lismore and will be conducting consultation with the local community about those options before finalising a proposal for review by the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education." 

"As this work takes place, TAFE NSW continues to deliver training for the local community from TAFE NSW Casino, Wollongbar, and Ballina, as well as Southern Cross University."