Since the 2022 big flood, the majority of Lismore businesses have built back better and given flood-affected areas a much-needed facelift. Think about the Northern Rivers Hotel, Furniture Court on Molesworth Street and Henry's Bakery on Keen Street.

The O'Neill Auto Group on Ballina Road, next to Dan Murphy's, will get a $1.25 million facelift in the next 12 to 18 months after Lismore City Council approved its development application (DA) last week.

The showroom extension is not due to any impact from previous floods, but rather due to the insistence of one of the car manufacturers.

O'Neill's has the franchise for Nissan, Kia and LDV.

When you look at the current layout, Nissan and Kia share the showroom 50/50, with LDV taking a small section of the lot closer to Dan Murphy's.

Owner Paul O'Neill Jr told the Lismore App that Kia wanted more cars on display in its own showroom section.

"Over a long period now, they've wanted their own showroom to go along with what we've already got here. It's roughly a six-car showroom that Nissan and Kia share, so roughly 50/50. Although we can probably fit up to eight cars in the show at the moment."

"There's certain things that the manufacturer needs us to meet as part of our dealer agreements. They don't just come up with an idea and say, ' You have to do it now. ' They've been talking about it for quite a long time now."

The good news for Paul Jr is that Kia will contribute toward the $1.25 building costs, but most will be met by the O'Neill Auto Group.

The extension will see the Kia showroom move to the left side of the site, looking at it from Ballina Road. The existing building will continue towards Dan Murphy's, and have a square end to accommodate the Kia range of cars in a showroom setting. LDV will split the two major car manufacturers.

(An artist's impression of the new O'Neill Auto Group showroom)

As you would expect, the building works will affect normal operations until complete.

"It's going to be very disruptive. We'll probably lose 50% of our yard while the building site is here. The working environment, especially for our administration area and staff, is going to be compromised."

While under construction, some staff will move to the South Lismore holding yard; otherwise, it is a conversation with the builders to see if certain areas can remain active work sites while construction starts on the other end of the building. It will be a juggling act.

The larger showroom space means that Paul O'Neill Sr, who purchased the Nissan dealership in the early 2000s and passed away from a heart attack in March 2024, will be recognised through photos and plaques. Paul Sr was a popular and much-loved member of the Lismore community.

"With everything that happened in the last few years, we can recognise Dad in some way. Not in memory of, but to have a presence in the new building."

ELECTRIC, HYBRID, OR COMBUSTION ENGINE

When it comes to what type of cars the O'Neill Auto Group sells, the change to more fuel-efficient models is slow. Internal combustion engines still rule the roost.

"I would say 80% definitely," Paul explained. But, like I said, in the next 12 months we will see change as manufacturers feel more pressure from the government about meeting certain emission criteria. You can see the prices of hybrids have come back a fair bit in the last probably, six months. That may continue as we achieve higher volumes of hybrid vehicles.

"EVs are still pretty steady across our three brands that we've got. Kia is probably our highest-selling EV brand that we sell the most. They brought out an EV 3, which is, since it's been out, definitely our highest volume seller than anything we've had before. So, it is changing."

Depending on how you view change, there are a lot of positives coming in the next 12 to 18 months at the O'Neill Auto Group, from an operational and a vehicle perspective.