Lismore City Council staff and councillors get the October meeting underway at 10 o'clock this morning.

The old Fromelles Manor building on McKenzie Street in Lismore's CBD is one of the first items on the agenda.

The ex-RSL retirement complex was purchased by Social Futures last year, and with $768,862 in funds provided by the State Government, will be turned into a 58-bed housing complex for homeless people if it is approved by the majority of councillors today.

The DA proposes temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness who are eligible for the particular pathway and service provision that Social Futures will offer. The site will be staffed by social workers and service providers offering wrap-around support, such as psycho-social support, specialist mental health, alcohol & drug support, legal advice and employment support.

The rooms are mostly single rooms, with some family rooms provided. Each room has a private bathroom, some of which are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The facility also includes communal facilities, such as lounge rooms, play areas, a central outdoor courtyard, kitchens, laundry, etc.

The new building will not house permanent residents, it will provide temporary accommodation with the intent to quickly provide permanent housing for its clients.

While service providers, police and health are supportive of the DA, there has been some negative feedback from local residents and businesses. They included the potential for increased crime; anti-social behaviour; and impacts on neighbourhood amenity.

In addressing these concerns, council staff said the short-term residents would be selected carefully, and would need to sign an occupancy agreement. There would be no walk-ins. The facility is also drug and alcohol free. Clients who breach the agreement due to poor behaviour or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be evicted from the facility.

There is 24/7 on-site staffing proposed, and the facility will directly employ 10 employees (including staffing for The Buttery and Bunjalung Tribal Society). 

Lismore City Council staff have recommended that councillors approve the DA.

Northern Rivers Rail Trail

Now that the Rail Trail has been open for nearly 12 months, Lismore Council would like to make amendments to the LEP 2012 (Local Environment Plan) so that more local businesses, community facilities, entertainment facilities, information facilities, and the like, can line the rail trail and strengthen Lismore's visitor economy.

In May, Council resolved to support the planning proposal and put it on public exhibition. If any objections were received, it was to come back to council for determination. There were fourteen submissions, some objections, so council will vote on the planning proposal today.

Staff said that while the objections were noted, they did not raise significant concerns which would undermine the Proposal's merits, and alignment with legislative requirements and local strategic objectives remains. 

In other council matters today, the Dunoon & Districts Sport & Recreation Club is looking to buy 117m2 of council land, which its clubhouse encroaches on, Councillors (Cr) Rob, Battista and Gordon are looking to rescind last month's Crime Prevention Plan vote and Cr Knight-Smith wants council to write to the Federal Government about the number of illegal tobacco and vape shops in Lismore.

The October Lismore City Council meeting gets underway at 10am.

The Lismore App will have a full review on Wednesday morning.