2022-23 Operational Plan and Budget

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Consultation has concluded, see News Feed below for further details.



Council is pleased to present the Imagine Lismore Draft 2022-2023 Operational Plan including the Revenue Policy and Borrowings and Fees and Charges for the community’s review and feedback.

Natural Disaster 2022

Council suffered a catastrophic disaster in February/March 2022 which has significantly impacted the community and has also caused major damage to most Council’s assets.

Once the event can be quantified and the support that will be available from various Government Agencies confirmed, the budget will be amended to reflect these outcomes. Some key features of the upcoming plan are:

Council’s financial position remains challenging and unsatisfactory. Council’s revenue base is not matched to its expenditure and in its current form is insufficient to maintain its current asset base and to deliver targeted service levels, which results in limited capacity to address asset maintenance backlogs (including road improvements) and deliver discretionary services and activities such as tourism and economic development initiatives. Increasing the revenue base is not recommended until costs and priorities are re-determined.

The focus of the 2022/23 Operational Plan:

  1. Back-to-basics - The 2022/23 budget is a back-to-basics budget and bringing the cost of the business under control and in line with revenues. Budget targets have been set by Management and are in line Council’s overall strategic priorities.
  2. Recovery - Council has suffered a catastrophic disaster in February/March 2022 which has significantly impacted the community and has also caused major damage to most Council’s assets. Once the event can be quantified and the support that will be available from various Government Agencies confirmed, the budget will be amended to reflect these outcomes.


To begin the process of recovery as an organisation and as a community, this budget includes some limited investment strategies/ key enablers that are targeting roads assets maintenance and renewals, property asset renewals and the economic development of Lismore. A total additional General Fund investment of $5.3 million increase from 2021/22 year in the above.

These initiatives have been funded through the control of costs such as employee costs, consultancies, and the strategic redirection of funds. In addition, no program will receive more funds that last year. Council has also used reserves that were accumulated in 2021 and reported to Council as part of the 2021 Financial Reports. These reserves are in accordance with Council’s Reserves Policy 1.5.10.

These investments are the foundation of a strategy which seeks to ensure Council’s internal operations are as efficient and effective as possible, unlocking improved productivity across the business and delivering long term financial sustainability.

We value your feedback and appreciate any input you may have.

Hard copies:

Hard copies of the Draft 2022/23 Operational Plan will not be freely available to the community due to requirements under the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020.

You can provide your feedback via a submission in the following ways:

  • Online - see the submission form below
  • In writing to the General Manager, Lismore City Council, PO Box 23A, Lismore, NSW 2480
  • Via email to council@lismore.nsw.gov.au

The Operational Plan is on public exhibition from 13 May to 10 June 2022.

Council is pleased to present the Imagine Lismore Draft 2022-2023 Operational Plan including the Revenue Policy and Borrowings and Fees and Charges for the community’s review and feedback.

Natural Disaster 2022

Council suffered a catastrophic disaster in February/March 2022 which has significantly impacted the community and has also caused major damage to most Council’s assets.

Once the event can be quantified and the support that will be available from various Government Agencies confirmed, the budget will be amended to reflect these outcomes. Some key features of the upcoming plan are:

Council’s financial position remains challenging and unsatisfactory. Council’s revenue base is not matched to its expenditure and in its current form is insufficient to maintain its current asset base and to deliver targeted service levels, which results in limited capacity to address asset maintenance backlogs (including road improvements) and deliver discretionary services and activities such as tourism and economic development initiatives. Increasing the revenue base is not recommended until costs and priorities are re-determined.

The focus of the 2022/23 Operational Plan:

  1. Back-to-basics - The 2022/23 budget is a back-to-basics budget and bringing the cost of the business under control and in line with revenues. Budget targets have been set by Management and are in line Council’s overall strategic priorities.
  2. Recovery - Council has suffered a catastrophic disaster in February/March 2022 which has significantly impacted the community and has also caused major damage to most Council’s assets. Once the event can be quantified and the support that will be available from various Government Agencies confirmed, the budget will be amended to reflect these outcomes.


To begin the process of recovery as an organisation and as a community, this budget includes some limited investment strategies/ key enablers that are targeting roads assets maintenance and renewals, property asset renewals and the economic development of Lismore. A total additional General Fund investment of $5.3 million increase from 2021/22 year in the above.

These initiatives have been funded through the control of costs such as employee costs, consultancies, and the strategic redirection of funds. In addition, no program will receive more funds that last year. Council has also used reserves that were accumulated in 2021 and reported to Council as part of the 2021 Financial Reports. These reserves are in accordance with Council’s Reserves Policy 1.5.10.

These investments are the foundation of a strategy which seeks to ensure Council’s internal operations are as efficient and effective as possible, unlocking improved productivity across the business and delivering long term financial sustainability.

We value your feedback and appreciate any input you may have.

Hard copies:

Hard copies of the Draft 2022/23 Operational Plan will not be freely available to the community due to requirements under the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020.

You can provide your feedback via a submission in the following ways:

  • Online - see the submission form below
  • In writing to the General Manager, Lismore City Council, PO Box 23A, Lismore, NSW 2480
  • Via email to council@lismore.nsw.gov.au

The Operational Plan is on public exhibition from 13 May to 10 June 2022.