From Strategy To Delivery – Lismore’s Economic Development Strategy Is Open For Public Exhibition
Lismore City Council, in partnership with Solve Property Group, has released its draft Economic Development Strategy (EDS) for public exhibition, marking an important step in shaping the city’s economic future.
Open for community feedback from 4 May to 26 June 2026, the Strategy sets out a clear pathway for building a resilient, inclusive and future-focused economy - supporting Lismore’s role as the civic, cultural and economic heart of the Northern Rivers.
Developed through extensive research, economic analysis and targeted engagement with local businesses, institutions and stakeholders, the EDS translates Lismore’s long-term planning vision into practical, deliverable actions.
Turning Strategy Into Action
As part of Lismore’s broader Strategic Planning Framework, the Economic Development Strategy plays a critical role in implementing the vision set out in the Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS).
While the LSPS defines where and how the city will grow, the EDS focuses on how that growth will be realised - supporting local jobs, strengthening industries and enabling investment.
At its core, the Strategy is focused on delivering approximately 6,500 new jobs to support Lismore’s long-term population aspiration of 60,000 people, ensuring that economic growth is both achievable and locally beneficial.
A Resilient and Locally Driven Economy
The EDS positions Lismore for planned, resilient growth, reinforcing its role as a regional capital supporting a catchment of more than 250,000 people across Northern NSW.
It reflects a new phase for the city, defined by opportunity, resilience and locally driven renewal. Central to the Strategy is a commitment to community wealth building, ensuring that economic growth strengthens local businesses, builds skills and keeps value circulating within the community over time.
“Lismore has a unique opportunity to shape its economic future with confidence and purpose. This Strategy positions the city as the civic, cultural and economic heart of the Northern Rivers, translating ambition into practical action around jobs, local enterprise, investment readiness and regional collaboration. It is both aspirational and practical — a clear pathway for Lismore to grow as a resilient, innovative and regionally significant economic centre.”
George Bougias, Partner - Advisory
Key Priorities for Economic Growth
The Strategy identifies a number of priority areas that will drive Lismore’s economic future:
Job creation and business growth: Supporting local enterprise, attracting investment and creating new employment opportunities across key sectors.
Industry diversification and innovation: Building on strengths in health, education, agriculture, creative industries and manufacturing, while supporting emerging sectors such as circular economy and climate-adapted industries.
Skills and workforce development: Strengthening education and training pathways to ensure local people can access quality jobs and businesses have the workforce they need.
Place-based regional leadership: Reinforcing Lismore’s role as the region’s service, cultural and economic centre, supporting collaboration across the Northern Rivers.
Collaboration and delivery: Working in partnership with government, industry, First Nations organisations and the community to accelerate implementation and deliver shared outcomes.
An Evidence-Based and Collaborative Approach
Solve Property worked closely with Lismore City Council to develop the Strategy through a multi-disciplinary approach across planning and economics.
The EDS integrates baseline economic profiling, sector and precinct prioritisation, and structured engagement with local businesses, institutions and delivery agencies. It is supported by a clear implementation framework that defines Council-led, partner-led and advocacy-led actions - ensuring delivery is realistic and aligned with Council’s capacity.
Importantly, the Strategy is explicitly focused on translating evidence into prioritised, actionable outcomes that can be delivered over time.
Supporting Industry and Investment
Lismore’s economy is underpinned by a diverse mix of industries from agriculture and agri-business to health, education, creative industries and manufacturing - supported by a strong base of locally owned businesses.
The Strategy identifies opportunities to strengthen these sectors while positioning Lismore to attract new investment, support innovation and respond to emerging economic trends, including digital transformation, renewable energy and circular economy initiatives.
A Framework for Growth
Once finalised, the Economic Development Strategy will establish a clear growth framework that articulates the economic drivers required for Lismore to achieve its long-term vision. It provides a coordinated approach to investment, job creation and industry development - ensuring that economic growth supports not only population growth, but also long-term community wellbeing.
From Strategy to Delivery: The Lismore Futures Plan
Solve Property is also preparing a Futures Plan for the City of Lismore, translating long-term economic and land-use analysis into a practical investment and delivery roadmap.
The Futures Plan presents a clear vision and establishes a coordinated roadmap for Lismore’s future as a regionally significant centre of opportunity in Northern NSW. It provides a new narrative for the city, alongside a structured framework to guide decision-making, investment and delivery - ensuring that growth benefits both Lismore and the broader region.
By combining economic analysis and narrative, spatial logic and implementation sequencing, the Futures Plan creates a clear pathway from strategy to delivery, supporting coordinated investment and enabling tangible outcomes on the ground.
A Milestone for Lismore
The public exhibition of the Economic Development Strategy represents a key milestone in aligning planning, economics and delivery to shape a shared vision for Lismore’s future.
Together with the LSPS and supporting strategies, it forms part of an integrated approach to shaping Lismore’s future - ensuring that growth is resilient, inclusive and grounded in local strengths.
Solve Property is proud to support Lismore City Council in delivering this important project and helping guide the region’s growth and transformation over the coming decades.
View the Draft EDS
About Solve Property Group
Solve Property Group is a specialist advisory firm working at the intersection of planning, economics and strategy. The firm partners with government and industry to shape the future of places, unlock growth and deliver evidence-based outcomes. Solve Property partnered with Lismore City Council in the development of the Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), bringing integrated planning and economic expertise to support a robust, evidence-based and future-focused strategy.
