Planning strategies
Inspire Lismore 2040 (Local Strategic Planning Statement)
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 requires all councils to have a Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS).
The LSPS for the Lismore Local Government Area (LGA) serves as the primary tool for land use planning, integrating existing strategies such as the Growth and Realignment Strategy, the Economic Development Strategy, the Biodiversity Management Strategy, and the Sport and Recreation Plan.
It outlines the vision, priorities, and actions for land use in Lismore, as well as Lismore's place within the region, its economic, social, and environmental characteristics, and the method for monitoring and reporting on the Plan’s implementation.
Following the adoption of the new Reimagine Lismore Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035 in mid-2025, Lismore City Council is now committed to updating the LSPS and other supporting strategies.
With Lismore at a critical point in its recovery journey, the new LSPS aims to confidently guide the city’s transition to a more resilient, prosperous and liveable future. It will offer a coordinated vision and strategic roadmap that builds on Lismore’s inherent strengths — its Country, people, institutions, character, and location — while identifying practical steps to ensure the city becomes a regionally significant centre of opportunity in Northern NSW.
The new LSPS will also provide a foundation for updating the existing Economic Development Strategy and Biodiversity Management Strategy, as well as for creating a Rural Land Use Strategy and a Community Adaptation Strategy.
Lismore City Council will draw on extensive community feedback gathered since the 2022 flood, as well as the priorities identified in the Reimagine Lismore Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035, to develop the new LSPS. It is expected that a draft will be made available for community consultation in early 2026.
Progress on the new LSPS will be published on this page. For more information, please refer to these Frequently Asked Questions.
FAQs
What level of community consultation will Council undertake?
Council will ensure a robust period of community engagement, incorporating both virtual and face-to-face activities, is undertaken. The community will be informed of the engagement period early in the drafting process and will have access to multiple communication channels. This will provide residents with numerous opportunities to offer their input and share reflections.
When will the community be able to view the draft LSPS?
A draft LSPS and the supporting ancillary strategies are expected to be reported to Council by the February 2026 Council meeting. If the draft documents are supported by Council at that time, the community consultation will commence shortly after.
What other strategies will be impacted?
The LSPS, which establishes a clear vision for the future of Lismore, is Council’s highest-tier strategic planning document. As a result, many supporting strategies will also be impacted in the redrafting process to ensure the vision can be achieved. These will include:
- a revision to the existing Economic Development Strategy
- a revision to the existing Biodiversity Management Strategy
- preparation of a new Rural Land Use Strategy
- preparation of a new Community Adaptation Strategy
Once again, the community will be consulted in the preparation of these documents.
Where will growth occur?
The existing adopted Growth and Realignment Strategy sets a strong foundation for where Lismore’s growth is likely to occur. The new LSPS will build on this detail and outline necessary changes and additions to ensure it aligns with the vision and achieves the community priorities identified in the development of the Reimagine Lismore Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035.
If I believe my land has rezoning value, how do I include it in the new LSPS?
A formal period of community consultation will be carried out in early 2026. Notwithstanding, Council’s Strategic Planning team is available for early conversations.
Why is Council using a consultant to help draft the new LSPS?
The Council has engaged Solve Property Group to collaborate with its Strategic Planning team on developing a new LSPS.
The consultants selected have several nationally recognised subject matter experts in planning and economics who are providing mentoring and co-designing support to the team, building on our local skill base and ensuring the Lismore LSPS will align with the wider Regional, State, and National settings.
Other strategies
Lismore Growth and Realignment Strategy
The Lismore Growth and Realignment Strategy 2022 (GARS) identifies land that is potentially suitable for future housing, commercial and industrial purposes. Growth areas have been identified that are consistent with the planning principles in the Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), meet the economic, social and environmental expectations of the community, have minimal constraints and can be serviced by appropriate infrastructure.
The GARS also identifies Council’s desire to work with State and Federal Governments for a staged retreat of the most high-risk flood prone residential areas, as well as identifying that Council will investigate the viability of applying an Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme for land in the strategy that benefits from any future ‘upzoning’.
The GARS was adopted by Council in December 2022 and supersedes the previous Growth Management Strategy (2015-2035).
Conditional approval was granted by the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in June 2023, with a request for additional information to support the strategic merit of additional employment lands at Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah. An addendum to the GARS addressing these issues was provided and conditionally approved by DPE in September 2023.
Strategic Road Review
The Strategic Road Review is a 20-year plan that defines the road network required to support future population growth while maintaining the level of service Council currently provides. It was developed from a financial, social and environmental sustainability perspective. As such, it provides the nexus between future development and new road infrastructure that Council has to demonstrate if it is to collect road contributions from new development under Section 94 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Nimbin Place Plan
The Nimbin Place Plan identifies a range of public domain improvements and activations across Nimbin, as well as economic opportunities and social initiatives.
The Place Plan captures community ideas and aspirations and sets a roadmap for future activities and development within the village.
Adopted by Council in November 2024, the plan’s approach is for locally-led placemaking initiatives to be undertaken by Council and the community.
The Nimbin Place Plan sets short, medium and long term goals and is recommended to be reviewed every four years.
Nimbin Parking Strategy
The Nimbin Parking Strategy evaluates the current availability, usage, and future needs of parking in the main business area of Nimbin. The strategy includes short-term actions for council to take within two years, such as modifying timed parking areas on Cullen and Sibley Streets and maximising usage of the Western Carpark. It also identifies potential long-term solutions for expanding off-street parking if demand exceeds supply in the future.