Hepburn Park will be off limits as a site for temporary flood housing, after Lismore City Council once again rejected the State Government's request to use this much loved green space.
While empathetic about providing temporary flood accommodation, councillors at Tuesday night's meeting voted to advise the State Government Hepburn Park was not available.
As part of public access, several people, including a representative from Far North Coast Hockey, spoke eloquently about how much this green space meant to the community of Goonellabah.
After the same proposal was rejected at July's council meeting, the State Government wrote to the Mayor Steve Krieg and said it was highly likely it would be unable to meet the critical need for temporary housing among Lismore's thousands of displaced flood victims, without Hepburn Park.
Flood Recovery Minister Steph Cooke asked for council's agreement for use of Hepburn Park as there were no other suitable sites.
A temporary housing site in Wollongbar has been in operation since May, and additional sites have been secured at Southern Cross University and at Alphadale Road in Lindendale..
Lismore Golf Club was unlikely to progress due to construction complexities and the site's steep incline
It was noted in the council's agenda, the NSW Government had verbally advised it would compensate council significantly should agreement be forthcoming over Hepburn Park.
Prior to Tuesday's meeting Mayor Steve Krieg said the push for this temporary accommodation was "five months too late".
Hepburn Park is a well used sporting facility and is used as a helicopter base during emergencies.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
