Have your say on the future use of buyback land
Lismore has been through significant change since the 2022 floods and will continue to evolve and grow.
Lismore City Council, together with the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA), invites community to provide feedback on practical, flood-compatible uses for buyback land that will support recovery, resilience and the future of Lismore.
Funded by RA, we’re undertaking precinct planning to explore and shape the future use of buyback land across Lismore. Precinct plans for four areas are being prepared: Lismore Centre, East Lismore, South Lismore and North Lismore. The buyback properties cover over 70ha of land and we welcome your feedback for individual lots or for whole precincts.
This project is about planning a safer and more resilient future for flood affected land, ensuring it can provide lasting benefit to the community while recognising that these areas are no longer suitable for new housing.
We know this project has been a long time coming. We are building on consultation and visioning work already undertaken with the community since 2022.
Some of the possible uses might include:
- additional parkland
- community and recreation spaces
- event space
- entertainment and cultural spaces
- industrial and commercial businesses
- car parking.
It is important to note that the land will not be used for new housing.
We are working with a specialist consultant team to ensure the precinct plans are thorough, practical and guided by what you value most.
Constraints we are working within
Flooding is a fundamental consideration for the future of the buyback land. Lismore’s floodplain includes areas of extreme, high, medium and low flood risk.
This means not every use will be suitable everywhere. Potential future uses will need to be appropriate for flood-prone land and balanced against other factors including:
- flood risk
- cultural heritage
- costs
- ongoing maintenance requirements
- impacts on neighbouring residents
- community benefit
- environmental values.
You can explore Lismore's interactive flood map here.
Future vision for the precincts
We have prepared an Ideas and Opportunities Paper that outlines the journey so far, a draft vision for the precincts and possible opportunities and ideas for the buyback land.
This work builds on consultation and visioning work already undertaken with the community since 2022 and is guided by technical studies, environmental considerations and broader community and city priorities.
You can download the paper here.
How to get involved
Help shape the future of Lismore by sharing your feedback on the proposed opportunities we have identified for buyback land and land use within the precincts. Your feedback will help shape the precinct plans and will be considered alongside technical studies, environmental considerations and broader community and city priorities.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Share your thoughts in a short survey here.
2. Meet the project team at a drop-in session
Stop by at any time during the listed timeslots to learn more about the project, ask a question or share your feedback. No booking required. All ages welcome.
- Thursday 15 October 2026, 5pm – 7pm at SCU Library Event Space
- Friday 16 October 2026, 10am – 12pm at Koori Mail
- Thursday 22 October 2026, 3pm – 5pm at Norma’s Kitchen - Lismore Showground
- Friday 23 October 2026, 10am – 12pm at South Lismore Bowling Club
3. Register your interest for a community workshop
Places are limited, so please submit an expression of interest here to attend a two-hour community workshop. Choose the precinct you are most interested in.
- North Lismore: Saturday 17 October 2026, 9am – 11am
- Lismore Centre: Saturday 17 October 2026, 12pm – 2pm
- East Lismore: Saturday 24 October 2026, 9am – 11am
- South Lismore: Saturday 24 October 2026, 12pm – 2pm
Phase 1 engagement is open until 11:59pm on Sunday 1 November 2026. After this, we will prepare draft precinct plans for you to review and provide further feedback in early 2027.
If you have any questions, please refer to the FAQs.
Specific land interests in Lismore
We’ll be exploring a range of options for land across Lismore. If you’re interested in purchasing a parcel of vacant land, please register your interest using the link below. Please note: Decisions relating to future ownership will be guided by the precinct planning process and NSW Government policy and processes. This includes whether land will be sold, the value of that land and other considerations.
Register interest in purchasing land
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Widjabul Wia-bal people of the Bundjalung nation, traditional owners of the land on which we work, live and play.
We are in the early stages of partnering with the Widjabul Wia-bal people to shape the future of this land. As part of this commitment, engagement has commenced with the Board of the Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation (Registered Native Title Body Corporate). This collaboration will continue throughout the development of the precinct plans to ensure their knowledge, priorities and aspirations directly guide future land uses. Together, we are exploring meaningful opportunities to care for Country, support cultural continuation and stewardship, and create lasting cultural, social and economic benefits for the members and community.
