Renewing Lismore’s business community and local economy

Lismore City Council is working with our business community through our Business Renewal Engagement to help Lismore thrive again.

We welcome your ideas and ways to work together to revitalise local shopping, boost visitation and enjoyment of our business centres, strengthen our economic ecosystem, and share new positive stories for Lismore.

Your input will inform Council’s planning, advocacy and collaboration with government agencies, and our work with local businesses and organisations to progress through disaster recovery and renewal.

Business Renewal Engagement Update

Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas and priorities in the Business Renewal Engagement currently underway.

We also value collaborating with Business Lismore in delivering the 13 September 2023 Forum, and our next steps for activation, and CBD enhancements and promoting our business community. As stated at the Forum by Shaun Haysom, President of Business Lismore and Centre Manager of Lismore Square, “It’s crucial to acknowledge that our business community recognises the potential that Lismore holds. We are seeing the resilience and determination of our entrepreneurs and business owners. The spirit of our community is a testament to our shared commitment to the growth and prosperity of our city.”

For those who could not make it to this Forum, please answer some quick questions here or you can book a 1:1 conversation with our team here.

You can also find informative presentation slides published here. This 13 September Forum presentation included staff updates about Lismore community vision and blue print; the upcoming ‘meanwhile’ marketing campaign to change Lismore’s narrative; a summary of CBD improvement works; and snapshot of business activation and promotions since the March 2023 engagement.

Business stakeholder input is invaluable for our planning, action and advocacy, and at this stage we are focusing on:

• Vibrancy and visitation
• Enhancing CBD experience
• Economic development enablers
• Stories for growth.

Informed by this engagement, the Destination and Economy Team is also soon to share the new draft Lismore Business Activation Plan for stakeholder feedback. There are increasing resources for local busineses published on our website and you can contact us at business@lismore.nsw.gov.au for queries and ideas for activating and promoting Lismore.

About Business Renewal Engagement

Approximately 18 months on from the 2022 natural disaster, this engagement builds on efforts across the Lismore Local Government Area. We acknowledge this is a long journey - with much positive progress to reflect upon thanks to local businesses and supporting agencies, along with other essential strategic initiatives in partnership with State and Federal Government.

You can see previous insights from Business Renewal Engagement snapshots for March 23 and August 22. This engagement is also intended to inform updating of the Business Activation Plan, and we are reaching out for stakeholder input during September - October 2023. Further engagement opportunities and insights will be shared here as this stage of engagement concludes.

Credit: Images above feature:

• The Business Engagement Forum held at the Lismore Bounty Motel on 13 September 2023
• ‘In The Heart’ public sculpture in Lismore Laneways by local artists Eden Crawford-Harriman and Holly Ahern, 2021