Lismore’s economy supports a regional catchment of more than 250,000 people, with strengths in health, education, professional services, retail, culture, agriculture and the creative industries. However, successive natural disasters, structural economic change, infrastructure constraints and workforce pressures have created significant challenges for local businesses and the wider community.

Council needed an economic strategy that could respond to immediate recovery priorities while creating the foundations for sustained, locally driven growth. It also needed to identify where Lismore could compete, how economic opportunity could be distributed across the community and what role Council and its partners should play in enabling change.

Solve Property Group was engaged to prepare a new Economic Development Strategy for 2026–2036, aligned with the LSPS and Council’s wider strategic planning framework.

The brief required a strategy that would:

• establish a clear economic vision and direction for Lismore;

• identify the sectors, precincts and capabilities with the greatest potential;

• support business growth, investment and quality employment;

• strengthen workforce skills and pathways;

• build greater economic resilience and diversity;

• retain more economic value within the local community; and

• translate long-term ambition into prioritised and deliverable actions.

Our approach combined economic research, strategic planning and targeted engagement to build a detailed understanding of Lismore’s existing economy, competitive strengths and future opportunities.

The work incorporated baseline economic profiling, demographic and workforce analysis, sector assessment, precinct prioritisation and engagement with businesses, institutions and other key stakeholders. This evidence was used to identify the economic drivers most capable of supporting sustainable growth and strengthening Lismore’s regional role.

The Strategy places people and community at the centre of economic development. Its community wealth-building approach seeks to ensure that growth supports local businesses, develops local skills, creates accessible employment and retains more value within the Lismore economy.

Importantly, the work was undertaken in parallel with the LSPS. This enabled economic priorities to directly inform decisions about land use, infrastructure, housing, centres and precinct development—and ensured that the city’s growth ambitions were supported by a credible economic foundation.

The Strategy is supported by an implementation framework distinguishing between Council-led, partner-led and advocacy-led actions. This provides clarity around responsibilities and creates a realistic pathway for delivery aligned with Council’s role, resources and capacity.

The Economic Development Strategy (EDS) gives Lismore a clear framework for moving from recovery towards regeneration and long-term prosperity.

It connects Lismore’s economic strengths with practical opportunities for investment, industry development, workforce growth and precinct renewal. It also provides Council with a stronger basis for coordinating partners, directing resources and advocating for the infrastructure and government support required to unlock growth.

Together with the LSPS, the Strategy aligns where and how Lismore grows with the jobs, businesses and investment needed to sustain that growth. The result is an integrated platform for building a more resilient economy, strengthening Lismore’s regional role and ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared across the community.

The EDS was adopted by Lismore City Council on 8th September 2026.