Your creative ideas on how to transform our local streets into shared public spaces are needed. 

Your ideas will help Lismore Council apply for a share of the NSW Government’s new $15-million Streets as Shared Spaces fund.

The grant funding is for Councils to implement pilot measures to increase public places where people can safely walk, cycle or exercise with social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said simple changes like widening footpaths or closing a street to vehicles on weekends will make our community healthier and more walkable.

Lismore’s Deputy Mayor Darlene Cook said the funding brief already echoes Council’s ideas about creating revitalised, user-friendly walkways and public areas.

“In the 1980s, Council was considering turning the Lismore CBD into one-way streets with a pedestrian mall,” Cr Cook said.

“But if we close off streets or redesign them into shared spaces, we would have to change our approach to traffic access.

“In the past, we tried a temporary pop up in Club Lane which went so well, we permanently closed the lane to traffic and now it’s a lovely spot with laneway dining from the Bank café.

“We already have shared zones with low speed limits on Carrington and Magellan streets too.

“This grant funding could let us pilot some more areas like this and we could try rolling out some of this without disrupting major traffic.

“Where do we want people to come to? 

“We can enhance the footpath dining experience and maybe promote shop top housing – where you can see people promenading outside your house. 

“We could have more gardens, green spaces and treescapes.

“We want to enjoy the CBD and link it with the river – we already have a project underway to start this, linking City Hall with Heritage Park and the river.

“If we can reduce the traffic load on the streets, maybe people will get active and ride their bikes more.”

Cr Cook said it would be great to bring the concepts out of the CBD and into North and South Lismore too. 

The shared spaces grant funding allows Councils to apply for grants of up to $100,000 for short-term, quick response projects, such as widening footpaths and temporary cycle lanes.

They can also apply for up to $1 million for longer-term projects, such as changes to road alignments and widths and trialling lower speed limits.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the program will help communities transition out of the pandemic, support the construction industry and encourage economic activity back into our streets.

“If the pilot projects gain widespread community support, we’ll look to make them permanent so more people can enjoy the outdoors once this pandemic is over,” he said.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said community input is essential in helping councils choose projects that will benefit their communities. 

“An online social pinpoint map is available on the NSW Government website for users to click directly on a specific area and leave their comments and ideas,” she said.

Cr Cook said Lismore City Council will make information available to the local community on its website in the near future. 

Lismore City, Kyogle, Tenterfield Shire and Tweed Shire councils can apply for Streets as Shared Spaces grants until June 30, 2020.

For more information visit: https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/streets