Lismore City Council has welcomed the State and Federal Government’s announcement of grants totalling $15 million to assists Lismore’s City Hall and, arts and cultural sector as they continue to rebuild after the February 2022 natural disaster.

Mayor Steve Krieg said the announcement was great news for the community and will allow popular services like the library and art gallery to continue to provide services while their buildings are being repaired, as well as delivering flood resilience and functionality enhancements to Lismore City Hall.

“This is great news for the entire community, including library users and our arts community,” he said.

“Our community has missed City Hall, the Lismore Library and the Regional Art Gallery since the natural disaster and these grants are a significant step in Lismore’s rebuild.

“I would like to thank local State Member Janelle Saffin and Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan for their assistance in getting these important grants.”

About $8 million of the total package will go to community organisations within the local government area, with Council receiving almost $7 million, which comprises of:

• $5.2 million for Lismore City Hall flood mitigation and sustainable improvements
• $177,240 for the Lismore Library to create a meeting and workshop space at Lismore Central Shopping Centre, and
• $1.3 million for the continuation of the Pop-Up Regional Art Gallery and office space in Magellan Street.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the rebuilding is vitally important to help re-open arts, cultural and community spaces.

“They are at the very heart of community life,” she said.

“We rely on our galleries, museums and cultural hubs to revive our spirits and tell our stories and they are critical to the identity of our cities and towns.

“Investing in these spaces is about investing in the future of our communities so they can flourish.”

Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the grants will play a role in our recovery.

“The restoration of our civic buildings after the floods is an important stage of the recovery and the creation of cultural facilities and activities is essential to restoring our community wellbeing,” he said.

“I look forward to the work commencing.”

The projects were successful through the second round of the Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package – Arts and Cultural Assets Program, designed to support medium to long-term recovery under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Planning is underway to restore the Memorial Baths ready for Summer. While there are still challenges to reach this goal, early dewatering of the pool to enable hydraulic investigations has commenced. In addition, orders for long lead time mechanical equipment have been placed.

Swimplex Aquatics have been contracted to partner with Bennett Constructions to complete the works.

The fences surrounding the site will also be receiving a creative and colourful update, displaying artworks from 10 local artists as part of The Creative Fencing Project. To read more on this project, take a look at Lismore Regional Gallery's post.

There are a number of Flood Restoration Project works currently being completed, on the vast list of buildings and facilities requiring repair. This page aims to share milestone updates, that may benefit the wider community. Please see below updates on some of the projects shared for this month.

If there is a project you would like particular updates on, please utilise the Q+A function of the main article or contact Council on council@lismore.nsw.gov.au

Albert Park

The clubhouse repairs are being finalised, with the batter practice building erected by next week. Restoration works will be nearing completion for Albert Park in the first week of July. These works have generated interest from local, State, Australian and international baseball associations.

Crozier Oval

With the announcement of Masters Games in September, the Crozier Oval toilet blocks have been highlighted as a priority to be completed. The repair and estimated scoping is being finalised, while discussions continue with various state government bodies to ensure the works are carried out as soon as possible.

Elaine Blanch Tennis Courts Clubhouse

With the announcement of Masters Games in September, the tennis courts have been highlighted as a priority to be completed. The repair and estimated scoping is being finalised, while discussions continue with various state government bodies to ensure the works are carried out as soon as possible.

Marie Mackney Netball Club

With the announcement of Masters Games in September, the netball courts have been highlighted as a priority to be completed. The repair and estimated scoping is being finalised, while discussions continue with various state government bodies to ensure the works are carried out as soon as possible.

Memorial Baths

Planning is underway to restore the Memorial Baths ready for Summer. While there are still challenges to reach this goal, early dewatering of the pool to enable hydraulic investigations has commenced. In addition, orders for long lead time mechanical equipment have been placed.

Mortimer Oval

With the announcement of Masters Games in September, the Mortimer Oval toilet blocks have been highlighted as a priority to be completed. The repair and estimated scoping is being finalised, while discussions continue with various state government bodies to ensure the works are carried out as soon as possible.

The initial site inspections have been conducted by Managing Contractor, Bennetts Construction for all identified sites to understand the scope needed for the design and construction of repairs to the buildings.

There are over 30 Lismore City Council owned buildings. For all of these restoration projects, the design for works is planned to be completed by late 2023. As designs come to 50% completion, meetings are being held with a stakeholder representative to discuss. In addition, introduction meetings with stakeholders either in person or over the phone are being completed to understand immediate priorities, key dates and general discussion points to inform the project works schedule.

For reference, the funds required to pay for returning all Lismore City Council’s assets back to pre-flood damage conditions are governed by NSW Government disaster recovery guidelines. These guidelines require detailed designs and estimates for each site to be approved by various NSW government agencies before final repair works can commence to return all assets back to pre-flood damage condition.

Both the NSW and Federal government has been supportive to date in aiding with the initial clean up and make safe of the region. However, the final part of returning assets back to pre-flood condition does require Lismore City Council to follow these NSW government disaster recovery guidelines. Council is currently working with all levels within the NSW government to ensure that the funding for the final repairs happens as soon as possible.

The Flood Restoration Projects are progressing. Updates are being shared with stakeholders directly, with all public information to be shared on this Your Say page.

Lismore’s Albert Park is ready to host its first national sporting event following the rebuild of the popular baseball and softball complex that suffered extensive damage in the February 2022 natural disaster.

Lismore City Council’s Chief Operating Officer Brendan Logan said Council’s Managing Contractor for the repair of flood-damaged buildings and fields, Bennett Constructions, had put in a great effort to complete the works in time to host the School Sport Australia National Baseball Championships.

“This is the first Council facility to be restored since the natural disaster and is a small but important milestone in the recovery of Lismore, where sport is a large component of our social fabric,” he said.

“Like a lot of things in Lismore, Albert Park suffered major damage, including to its clubhouse, canteen, netting and four playing fields.

“With this rebuild effort by Bennett, Albert Park once again meets international standards and is ready to welcome players from around the country.”

From this Sunday, Albert Park will host the School Sport Australia National Baseball Championships, with more than 350 people coming to Lismore, including 160 players, 30 officials. Eight teams from the ACT, NSW, QLD, South Australia and Victoria will play off during the week-long event that ends on 13 May.

The championship is estimated to generate $350,000 for the economy, supporting local businesses and jobs.

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement (DRFA) provides funding for Council to restore buildings, parks, and facilities to their pre-disaster condition. However, this funding does not allow Council to “improve”, make changes to layouts or materials, or increase the capacity of existing buildings, parks or facilities. Whilst all of Council’s Parks and Public toilets are close to being restored, more complex assets such as the buildings raise opportunities for Council to ‘build back better’.

Recognising many of Council’s assets are within the flood zone, consideration for flood resilience needs to be made in choosing the materials and designs of buildings as restoration works continue. Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements allow for complementary works to be completed alongside Essential Public Asset Restoration works, so long as Council combines their own funds/resources or have alternative funding sources for the reconstruction that’s identified as a variation to the asset’s pre-disaster condition. As part of the restoration this provides an opportunity for Council to improve assets to not only be more flood resilient, but potentially better serve our community.

Council is excited to announce it’s been successful in two grant programs – the Essential Community Sport Assets Program (ECSAP) and Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program (CLIRP) – Arts and Culture Priority Needs Program – focusing on several flood effected buildings and facilities to improve these assets for the community. Details on the grants received are available below:

Essential Community Asset Program (ESCAP)

• $507,248 for Crozier Field and Mortimer Oval for LED Lighting upgrades.
• $996,358 for the Lismore Netball and Tennis Clubhouses, and Albert Park Baseball complex - flood resilient repairs to the sporting facilities, including the change rooms, toilets, kitchen/catering areas and flooring. It will relocate the electrical distribution facility above flood levels, provide replacement fencing and upgrade the field drainage.
• $344,510 for the Lismore Basketball Stadium- Replacement of subfloor and associated supports for stadium floor.
• $1,000,000 for the Lismore Memorial Baths – Upgrade of pump and filter systems.

Further information on ESCAP Grant recipients can be found here.

Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program (CLIRP) – Arts and Culture Priority Needs

• $104,000 – Lismore Municipal Building – Sub-Floor Venting and Roof Restoration
• $494,400 – Lismore Library – Internal Fit out- re-fit of internal walls, fixtures and fittings using flood resilient and resistant materials, and electrical, data and security components above flood height.
• $499,004 – Lismore Regional Gallery – Internal Fit out - flood resilience will be incorporated into this project, including flood-resilient materials
• and fixed features, and storage facilities above flood levels.

Further Information on CLIRP – Arts and Culture Priority Needs grant recipients can be found here.

Council has also completed applications in further grant programs including the Infrastructure Betterment Fund and the Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program (CLIRP) – Community Assets Program. Council is awaiting the outcome of these applications.

Lismore City Council has today received $325,427 in funding from the NSW Government to help with the rebuilding of the Lismore Library.

To read the announcement, visit: https://lismore.nsw.gov.au/news/funding-received-to-assist-with-library-flood-recovery

The funding will be used to replace shelving, furniture and equipment that was destroyed in the February 2022 natural disaster. It will also be used to future-proof the library with large open spaces.

Richmond Tweed Regional Library Manager Lucy Kinsley said the Lismore community needs the return of library services to this building.

“A library is more than a place to borrow books - it is a community hub, a place to meet, make use of technology, attend programs and workshops available to all ages, or simply relax. To be able to bring back all these programs and services will be wonderful,” she said.

Today’s announcement brings the total amount of funding dedicated to re-establishing the library services to almost $1 million.

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg welcomed the funding.

“The library is such an important part of our community. To have it return to its historic building will be a confidence boost for Lismore,” Mayor Krieg said.

Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Bennett Constructions as Managing Contractor to complete a next stage of the Lismore Buildings and facilities rebuild.

To read the article announcing this please visit: https://lismore.nsw.gov.au/news/bennett-constructions-appointed-as-managing-contractor

Brendan Logan (Chief Operating Officer – Lismore City Council) with Tim Cohen (General Manager – Bennett Constructions) and Mick Furchtman (Project Manager – Bennett’s Constructions).In February and March Council was also pleased to receive the announcement of several grant applications in relation to buildings requiring flood repairs. Council made submissions under the Infrastructure Betterment Fund, Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package and Sports Infrastructure Recovery fund for specific betterment options and upgrades at flood damaged buildings. This funding will be used complementary to disaster recovery funding to provide betterment or variation to some building’s pre-disaster condition to improve the assets flood resilience.