The April Lismore City Council meeting saw the Lismore Lake Pool go to expressions of interest while the Dunoon Dam option for water security was killed once again and Nature Based Solutions will be considered as a priority in future Floodplain Risk Management Studies.

The future of the Lismore Lake Pool is still in doubt following last nights council meeting. Two motions were lost which leaves a past resolution in place and that is to gather expressions of interest from members of the public or organisations to restore the Lake Pool to its former glory or for a new use of the area that must have public access.

The question now is "will Lismore Lake Inc. put in a submission?" President of Lismore Lake Inc. Big Rob said in the public access part of the meeting that it would not be making a submission with other expressions. Lismore Lake Inc sought a memorandum of understanding from council to be the only group to restore and run the Lismore Lake Pool at no cost to the ratepayer. Cnr Nancy Casson's foreshadowed motion on this point was lost so now we wait to see what, if any, submissions will be made.

Cnr Bill Moorhouse said he has been driving past the Lismore Lake Pool and just wants to see something happen. "I don't really care what happens but something needs to happen not just talk about it."

The water security motion brought by Cnr Casson was to consider all options including the Dunoon Dam but this was only supported by Cnr's Marks and Moorhouse. Cnr's Cook, Guise, Lloyd, Ekins and Bird all voted against the motion and voted in favour of Cnr Cook's foreshadowed motion which was to encourage and support Rous County Council to develop a diversified portfolio of water supply options that does not include the Dunoon Dam.

The debate over the Dunoon Dam surrounds Aboriginal heritage, burial grounds and ecological destruction including a koala corridor and the cost effectiveness of building the Dunoon Dam against the alternatives options plus securing water for the next 100 years as we live in the highest rainfall area in NSW.

Lismore's water security for the next 40 years and beyond now lies with the investigation of groundwater aquifers, desalination plants and recycled water.

What we don't know is how much these alternative water supplies will cost ratepayers. There was discussion around State Government Grants to help fund the capital costs to investigate these options.

You may remember the Lismore App story about the completion of the $8.2 million South Lismore Flood Mitigation Project (The $8.2 million South Lismore Flood Mitigation Project is complete) which was endorsed by the Lismore Floodplain Management Committee. In a motion brought by Cnr Guise the committee will now ask Rous County Council to investigate nature based solutions and social solutions (flood preparedness training and education) as a priority over proposed engineering solutions for the rest of the Lismore Floodplain Risk Management Study.

This was a distinct shift in councils position as Cnr's Guise, Lloyd, Cook and Ekins voted in favour of the motion and Cnr's Marks, Moorhouse, Bird and Casson voted against it. As it was a four/four tie, Mayor Ekins used her casting vote to pass the motion.

Those people who use the gravel parking at Hepburn Park in Goonellabah should get ready for that area to change to a more formalised car parking bay option with curb and guttering and a roundabout at Oliver Avenue and Holland Street in the future. Council voted to endorse the dedication of the land to a public road. This will mean the removal of a few trees near the roundabout to facilitate the change.

The timing for the changes is not yet know at this early stage.

The next Lismore City Council meeting will be on Tuesday May 11 when the fate of Skimmo's Takeaway will be discussed as part of the 7-Eleven D.A.