With the recent challenges of flooding, bushfires and changes made due to COVID-19 restrictions, local businesses have been doing it tough.

From Lismore’s laneways to Nimbin’s redevelopment – what do you think our towns need to revitalise our business centres?

Lismore City Council’s CBD activation officer Kathy Gray wants locals to come along to two meetings this week to feed their ideas into Council’s new Business Activation Plan for Lismore and Nimbin.

What does the future hold for Nimbin?

Kathy said the meetings on Thursday and Friday hope to tease out the possibilities for strengthening business and economic success of our towns, by understanding the aspirations of the local community better.

“Nimbin and Lismore both have unique offerings and we want to create short term outcomes, in partnership with community, that create a big impact in our area," she said.

“We want to know how can we leverage our unique strengths and help make the spaces more vibrant for people working here, as well as visitors to the Northern Rivers region.

Themes

“We have already identified some themes and want to share insights from that learning with the community and also generate new ideas to activate CBD areas.”

“For example, we already have some possibilities emerging in the laneways project - how can we activate the new facilities in this? How can we work with more with the parklets being trialled?

“We also have some events to work with, including new ones being developed – such as the Shine Festival.”

Kathy said the implementation of the new Business Activation Plan will be funded by the Special Business Variation Rates and will be actioned swiftly.

“We look forward to hearing from business and property owners, CBD residents and workers, and community members frequenting the central business areas of Lismore and Nimbin,” Kathy said.

Workshop details and registration

Lismore workshop: Thursday, 15 April, from 6pm to 8.30pm, at Lismore Workers Club

Nimbin workshop: Friday, 16 April, from 12.30 pm to 3pm, at Nimbin Community Centre. 

The workshops will be held in small groups of about 20 and people are encouraged to register online.

To register or find out more about the Business Activation Plan, visit http://www.yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au (numbers are limited and COVID safety measures will be followed). 

The Business Activation Plan is currently overseen by the Business Activation Plan Working Group, which includes representatives from the Lismore and Nimbin business chambers, Lismore Square and Regional Development Australia - Northern Rivers.