The critical decision-making documents, like the Community Strategic Plan, dominated this week's Council meeting. However, there were other motions and votes that are worth writing about.

Rural planning changes, Bounty Street parking changes, Business Lismore's $50,000 funding request, and the interview process for the new General Manager were also covered.

The changes to Council's Planning Proposal to introduce artisan food and drink industries and creative industries into Lismore's RU1 Primary Production, E1 Local Centre (smaller-scale commercial activity) and E2 Commercial Centre (larger-scale commercial activity) land use zones drew mixed reactions from councillors.

On one side, you had Councillors Adam Guise and Big Rob, who were concerned that more microbreweries opening in rural areas would lead to more cases of drink driving. There was also concern about the limit of 100 patrons onsite at any given time, which would lead to road issues.

The other side involved Crs Andrew Gordon, Dalton-Earls, Electra Jensen and Gianpiero Battista. Their position was that planning has held Lismore back for the last twenty (20) years because of red tape, that these types of businesses will feed into the Rail Trail and that the agritourism laws are determined by the state government, not Lismore City Council.

The motion was easily passed.

There were more planning changes to the Lismore Local Environmental Plan when the next motion was put forward. 10.3 involved changes to land zoned E4 General Industrial around the Lismore railway station.

The aim of the planning proposal was to allow for additional appropriate commercial and cultural activities around a section of the existing rail corridor that would support the rail trail as a tourist destination for Lismore and the Far North Coast. The additional uses include community facilities, entertainment facilities, information and education facilities and retail premises.

(The Lismore railway station to the right of the rail trail)

Cr Big Rob was predictable in his negative comments about the rail trail; however, he did support growing South Lismore, as did all councillors. Cr Jensen mentioned she saw eight (8) bikes outside the Southside Bakery in support of the rail trail, while Cr Battista said that we seem to find a problem with everything we do in this town. "Can we focus on the positive, please?" he stated.

This was the first of a few unanimous votes from Tuesday's council meeting.

The search for a General Manager has begun with a recruitment company advertising the position for three weeks before forming a shortlist of eight (8) candidates. Councillors then have the option to be part of the preliminary interviews and the subsequent second round of interviews.

All councillors are invited to be part of the interview process, although they will be held over two full days during a working week. Councillors asked for some flexibility around the actual days given workloads and conferences at the end of June.

Bounty Street will have six nominated 2-hour parking spots after another unanimous vote.

Bounty Street moved to 10-hour parking, in reality, all-day parking, to accommodate an increase in local flood restoration workers. Unfortunately, Lifeblood Lismore has its donation centre on Bounty Street, and blood and plasma donors were having to park quite far away and walk to the centre to give their life-saving donations.

While it was not confirmed during the meeting, you would assume the six spots will be directly outside the front of Lifeblood Lismore. This is a staff decision.

There was some more good news, this time for Business Lismore, as they were granted $50,000 in another unanimous vote.

Councillors praised the work done by the new Business Lismore board to promote and advocate for the local business community in the CBD, and that this funding includes South Lismore, North Lismore and Goonellabah.

Councillors were also impressed that Business Lismore turned down the offer of more money, so they could learn to 'walk before they run'.

The final item of the May meeting was a confidential item and involved the lease of 97 Caniaba Street, South Lismore.

There were no details as to why this land was being leased and to whom it was being leased; however, there was an indication that it could be for the storage of buyback houses.

Watch this space.

Despite efforts to get through the meeting agenda, councillors failed to do so. Due to councillors' commitments in the next few weeks, it was decided by the mayor that all other items will be carried over to the June 10 meeting.