Local accountant and former general manager of NORPA, Patrick Healey, will lead the Independent Lismore team at the Lismore City Council elections to be held later this year.

The team launched their campaign yesterday morning under the misty rain of the rotunda at Spinks Park where Patrick told the Lismore App that part of his motivation to run for council came from an epic three-year process to get council approval to build a sign.

“It really started back in my days as NORPA General Manager when we were trying to get a sign built for three years. We had the funding in place but it took three years for the DA process. Every year council tried to break the contract that we had negotiated. That really motivated me, particularly around development applications, to get involved,” Patrick explained.

“I was connected to all these people and we all had similar stories so we decided if we banded together we could bring a practical, logical approach to council. Whether it’s housing, business, anything – everything is really slow,” he added.

With the aim of ‘Let’s Grow Lismore’, other members of the Independent Lismore team are Chief Executive of Rekindling the Spirit Georgina Cohen, local radio host Nora Vidler-Blanksby, general practitioner Dr Andrew Binns OAM and teacher Geof Webb.

Mr Healey said the community needs a new Council, one that puts growing Lismore and the community at the heart of every decision.

“We believe that political parties and ideology have no place in local government. We are a group of independents who believe that the community must be at the heart of every decision your Council makes,” he said.

“We believe what is lacking in Lismore is a vision for our future that is based on a practical, logical and a non-political approach to decision making.

“For too long, we have all said Lismore has great potential - it’s now time to reach that potential.

“We want to build the dam so that our community has a sustainable source of water, we will bring greater transparency and proper management of council’s finances and stop expensive projects like the Lismore Park which not only floods but will leave the community with an annual $1 million maintenance bill, and we will say yes to sustainable developments and create a DA one-stop shop to help local businesses.

“It’s time to start working together to Grow Lismore.”

To read more about the Independent Lismore team and their policies, go to www.independentlismore.com.au

Independent Lismore Policies:

We believe that political parties and ideology have no place in Local Government. We are a group of independents who believe that the community must be at the heart of every decision your Council makes

We believe Lismore City Council is lacking a vision for our community’s future that is supported by a practical, logical and non-political approach to decision making.

For too long, people have said Lismore has got great potential - it’s now time to reach that potential. We will grow Lismore with the following policies:

Development Applications - Residential and Business

Development applications in Lismore LGA are notoriously slow, to address that would do two things:

1. Introduce KPIs for timelines in approving applications for residential and business development applications. 

2. Create a one-stop shop designed to guide and remove the surprises in the development application process. The purpose of the one-stop shop is to take a holistic approach that outlines the entire process for residents and businesses.

More Housing

Lismore has a housing shortage. We want more residential developments approved to provide housing security for our present population and to grow Lismore into the future.

After roughly 20 years the North Lismore Plateau development still hasn’t happened. We will grow the population of Lismore through ensuring there is an increase of housing stock across all markets.

Increasing our population means people will be spending in our local shops, creating more local jobs, as well as growing Council’s rate base rather than imposing a huge Special Rate Variation.

If we are to truly progress our financial outcomes and the provision of local government services, we need to grow the population. We need to offer a greater range of housing options ranging from large residential through to medium housing density and smaller homes.

Financial management

Our team has a deep understanding of finances and want to see Lismore City Council’s finances improve. We will bring greater transparency and openness to the community in how council manages its finances and make Lismore sustainable.

We must get the right balance between our assets, maintenance and operating costs, and our future growth. It is time to focus on the basics and getting that right. Expensive projects like the proposed $30 million Lismore Water Park with a yearly maintenance cost of $1 million must be immediately taken off the table and replaced with a renewed focus on building new suburbs to grow our ratepayer base.

Water security

We must do more to secure the CBD and south Lismore from flooding. At the same time, we have a ridiculous situation where we have a shortage of water. To that end, we will support the building of the Dunoon Dam over environmentally dangerous water mining or a desalination plant.

Plan for the CBD

Work with CBD business owners, the Square and the Business Chamber to develop a plan that integrates the Square with the CBD.

We support a 12-month rate break for any CBD business that seeks to redevelop their property especially for offices, CBD housing or shop-top apartments. 

We will work to create a night-time economy by supporting the creative industries, hotels, restaurants and cafes.

Climate change and sustainability

Addressing climate change does not mean saying no to new developments or seeking new opportunities for our community. New developments can be built sustainably, and we can benefit from the opportunities presented by the future of sustainable industries.

Attracting new economic opportunities

If COVID has taught us anything it is that good social connectivity is important and businesses can be located anywhere. We should seize this as an opportunity to promote Lismore as a base for new businesses and services.

With our enviable lifestyle, there should be nothing to prevent anyone from wanting to establish a business and making a long-term commitment to living here.

We will seek to make Lismore an attractive place to invest through promoting internet and other technologies for a 21st century economy.

Indigenous

Thanks to our Elders, we are lucky to live in a place where the Bundjalung culture and language thrives. We should nurture, celebrate and experience Bundjalung culture in all aspects of Lismore life. We will work with other organisations to build a financially sustainable Bundjalung Cultural Centre for locals and tourists.

Health and wellbeing

We will promote health and well being in our community. That means promoting cultural and sporting activities for maintaining our mental and physical health. We need more walking trails with historic, environmental and cultural meaning. We will actively promote the use of established facilities in our community.

Villages

One of Lismore’s great strengths is its many unique villages. It is important Council works with these communities to help them develop the infrastructure, tourism and new opportunities that they want.