Wade Park in East Lismore is one of the most popular parks in the Lismore LGA. As Mayor Steve Krieg told media today, "The place is packed with birthday parties and celebrations" every weekend.

(Mayor Krieg addressing the media today at Wade Park)

On February 28, Wade Park was underwater which included a mix of sewage from the nearby Lismore Sewerage Treatment Plant when it ceased working on the same day. The NSW Government fencing blocked access to the park for a couple of months before the site was deemed safe for parents and children to return.

That was the past, now Lismore City Council (LCC) and the community is looking to the future. LCC is calling for the community, especially those that live in the East Lismore area, to give feedback on what they want Wade Park to be.

Mayor Steve Krieg said, "Through adversity, you've got to look for opportunity, and you've got to be optimistic. It's been said many times that Lismore has been gifted almost a clean slate to be able to redesign and rebuild in a way that is sustainable into the future and, of course, front of mind for us as a council is resident safety when we're talking about rehousing and rebuilding. But it also presents an opportunity for a park that was so badly damaged in the flood and a national organisation wants to get on board and leave a legacy for Lismore. This is a great opportunity to again have first-class facilities in our city."

Mayor Krieg is referring to Parks & Leisure Australia which held its NSW conference in Goonellabah in July.

NSW/ACT President Heather Nesbitt said, "As an organisation, we wanted to help Lismore with its rebuild and ensure that Wade Park was resilient and sustainable in the future."

"Our members know first-hand the disastrous impacts of climate change on open spaces, recreation and sports facilities and programs. We know that Councils and communities need resources and funds to build resilience and support community recovery."

In a twist of fate, the organiser of that conference, Catherine O'Regan, is now working for Lismore City Council (LCC) in the Economic Development team.

When thinking of what you want Wade Park to look like in the future, Mayor Krieg said, "The sky is the limit, give us the biggest and best ideas."

"Things like the barbecues and maybe a sink to clean up, but more proactively, play equipment for the kids, whether it's a big jumping pillow or something along those lines. It's used for road safety with all the parks so do we explore and expand on that and create a cycleway, different things to what we've got over at Nesbitt Park with the mountain bike track."

Once the feedback is received, LCC will form a Masterplan through the cooperation of Parks and Leisure Australia before it goes back out to the community for further comments before LCC seeks grant funding.

You can give your ideas, big or small, via LCC's 'Your Say' website by clicking here. There are a few questions to help you through the process once you have signed in, which is compulsory.

As for timelines, "We've got to get the Masterplan done, which obviously will be after the community consultation and the feedback of what the community wants. These guys are good at what they do and the Masterplanning won't take too long, but it'd be nice to see a bit of work being carried out by this time next year, that's for sure.

For now, get on and have your say Lismore. You have a chance to get exactly what you want for Wade Park.