# City of Lismore

The City of Lismore is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. The seat of the local government area is Lismore, a major regional centre of the state.
The mayor of Lismore City Council since December 2021 is Steve Krieg.

## Towns and localities
### Lismore suburbs

* Chilcotts Grass
* East Lismore
* Girards Hill
* Goonellabah
* Howards Grass
* Lismore
* Lismore Heights
* Loftville
* North Lismore
* Richmond Hill
* South Lismore

### Other areas

* Bentley
* Bexhill
* Blakebrook
* Blue Knob
* Booerie Creek
* Buckendoon
* Bungabbee State Forest
* Caniaba
* Clunes
* Coffee Camp
* Corndale
* Dorroughby
* Dungarubba
* Dunoon
* East Coraki
* Eltham
* Fernside
* Georgica
* Goolmangar
* Gundurimba
* Jiggi
* Keerrong
* Koonorigan
* Larnook
* Leycester
* Lillian Rock
* Lindendale
* McKees Hill
* Modanville
* Monaltrie
* Nimbin
* North Woodburn
* Numulgi
* Pearces Creek
* Rock Valley
* Rosebank
* Rous Mill
* Ruthven
* South Gundurimba
* Terania Creek
* The Channon
* Tregeagle
* Tucki Tucki
* Tuckurimba
* Tullera
* Tuncester
* Tuntable Creek
* Whian Whian
* Woodlawn
* Wyrallah
* Yeagerton

## Heritage listings

The City of Lismore has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* High Conservation Value Old Growth forest

## Demographics

At the 2021 census, there were 44,334 people in the Lismore local government area, of these 49.1 per cent were Male and 50.9 per cent were Female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 5.9 per cent of the population, which was significantly higher than the national average of 3.2 per cent. The median age of people in the City of Lismore area was 44 years, higher than the national median of 38 years. 81.7 percent of people in the city were born in Australia, almost 15 percent higher than the nation as a whole.
Population growth in the City of Lismore area between the 2001 census and the 2006 census was 1.5 per cent; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, the population growth was 1.3 per cent. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78 per cent and 8.32 per cent respectively, population growth in the Lismore local government area was significantly lower than the national average. The median weekly income for residents within the City of Lismore area was marginally lower than the national average.
At the 2021 census, the proportion of residents in the Lismore local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Celtic exceeded 80 per cent of all residents (the national average was 62.9 per cent). In excess of 40 per cent of all residents in the City of Lismore at the 2021 census nominated no religious affiliation, compared to the national average of 38.4 per cent. As at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the Lismore local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (7.2 per cent) where two or more languages are spoken (the national average was 24.8 per cent); and a significantly higher proportion (87.4 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (the national average was 24.8 per cent).
Selected historical census data for the City of Lismore local government area :
| Census year | Census year | Census year | 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 |
| Population | Population | Estimated residents on Census night | 41,572 | 42,210 | 42,766 | 43,135 | 44,334 |
| Population | Population | LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | | | 48 | | |
| Population | Population | % of New South Wales population | | | 0.62% | 0.57% | 0.54% |
| Population | Population | % of Australian population | 0.22% | 0.22% | 0.20% | 0.18% | 0.17% |
| Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | | | |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Australian | | | 31.4% | 29.4% | 39.6% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | English | | | 30.0% | 29.4% | 41.2% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Irish | | | 10.8% | 10.8% | 14.3% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Scottish | | | 8.2% | 8.3% | 12.1% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Australian Aboriginal | | | – | – | 5.6% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Italian | 0.2% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.4% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | German | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Punjabi | n/c | n/c | – | – | 0.4% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | French | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Spanish | 0.1% | 0.1% | – | – | 0.3% |
| Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | | | |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | No Religion | 15.2% | 19.3% | 24.8% | 32.7% | 42.1% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Catholic | 25.8% | 25.5% | 24.5% | 21.1% | 18.3% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Anglican | 21.9% | 20.7% | 18.7% | 14.6% | 11.5% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Uniting Church | 7.8% | 7.3% | 6.2% | 4.7% | – |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Presbyterian and Reformed | 6.4% | 6.2% | 5.6% | – | 3.5% |
| Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | | | |
| Personal income | Personal income | Median weekly personal income | | $378 | $469 | $550 | $685 |
| Personal income | Personal income | % of Australian median income | | 81.1% | 81.3% | 83.0% | 85.0% |
| Family income | Family income | Median weekly family income | | A$993 | A$1,123 | A$1,351 | A$1,719 |
| Family income | Family income | % of Australian median income | | 84.8% | 75.8% | 77.9% | 81.0% |
| Household income | Household income | Median weekly household income | | A$760 | A$907 | A$1,067 | A$1,319 |
| Household income | Household income | % of Australian median income | | 74.0% | 73.5% | 74.2% | 75.5% |

## Council
### Current composition and election method

The governing body of Lismore City Council comprises eleven councillors, including the mayor, for a fixed four-year term. The mayor is popularly elected using the optional preferential system, while the ten other councillors are elected using the proportional representation system. There are no wards. The most recent election was held in 2024, and the makeup of the council, including the mayor, is as follows:
| Party | Councillors |
| Team 'Not Nationals' Krieg | 6 |
| Greens | 2 |
| Australian Labor Party | 2 |
| Independent Big Rob | 1 |
| Total | 11 |

### Executive management

Lismore City Council is managed by a general manager and three executive officers. Senior management turnover is significant at Lismore.
General manager Gary Murphy left the organisation in late 2018 and was replaced by Shelley Oldham. Shelley Oldham's employment was terminated in February 2021. Michael Donnelly replaced Shelley Oldham as an interim general manager before being offered a contract by the outgoing council late in 2021. Following the election in December 2021, the Krieg Team secured control of council and sacked Michael Donnelly at considerable cost to ratepayers. The Krieg Team appointed their mate John Walker as interim general manager in February 2022. Following an employment process which started late in 2022, John Walker was not offered a contract. The general manager since February 2023 is Jon Gibbons.
During this period of significantly turning over general managers, there was a significant turnover of executive officers. These senior managers were previously known as executive directors. They are now known as chief officers. John Walker's attempt to be called chief executive officer was blocked and the top position is still known as general manager.

## Election results
### 2024

2024 New South Wales local elections: Lismore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Steve Krieg for Lismore | 1. Steve Krieg 2. Jerilee Hall (elected) 3. Andrew Gordon (elected) 4. Electra Jensen (elected) 5. Andrew Bing (elected) 6. Gianpiero Battista (elected) 7. Nardia Pidcock 8. Chris King 9. Tara Cole 10. Mitchell Dowse 11. Richelle Weekes | 12,240 | 48.7 | −0.5 |
| | Greens | 1. Adam Guise (elected) 2. Virginia Waters (elected) 3. Luke Robinson 4. Shae Salmon 5. Lindall Watson 6. Binnie O'Dwyer | 5,435 | 21.6 | +6.9 |
| | Labor | 1. Harper Dalton-Earls (elected) 2. Jasmine Knight-Smith (elected) 3. Kevin Bell 4. Joy Knight-Smith 5. Lewis Tayloe 6. Glenys Ritchie 7. William Harrison | 4,127 | 16.4 | +4.1 |
| | Independent | 1. Big Rob (elected) 2. Shaen Springall 3. Luke Tanttari 4. Christopher Knight 5. Stella Coleman | 2,961 | 11.8 | +4.3 |
| | Independent | John Jenkins | 379 | 1.5 | +1.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,142 | 94.0 | −1.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,616 | 6.0 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,758 | 83.8 | −2.1 |

### 2021

| Elected councillor | Party |
| Peter Colby | Steve Krieg |
| Jeri Hall | Steve Krieg |
| Andrew Gordon | Steve Krieg |
| Electra Jensen | Steve Krieg |
| Andrew Bing | Steve Krieg |
| Vanessa Grindon-Ekins | Greens |
| Adam Guise | Greens |
| Darlene Cook | Labor |
| Elly Bird | OSF |
| Big Rob | Independent |
2021 New South Wales local elections: Lismore :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Steve Krieg for Lismore | Steve Krieg for Lismore | 12,766 | 49.2 | +49.2 |
| | Greens | Greens | 3,820 | 14.7 | +0.8 |
| | Labor | Labor | 3,195 | 12.3 | −10.3 |
| | Our Sustainable Future | Our Sustainable Future | 2,769 | 10.7 | +0.0 |
| | Independent | Independent | 1,948 | 7.5 | |
| | Independent Lismore | Independent Lismore | 797 | 3.1 | |
| | Animal Justice | Animal Justice | 653 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,948 | 95.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,140 | 4.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,088 | 85.9 | |

## Sister cities

Lismore has sister city relations with the following cities:
* Isle of Lismore, Scotland
* Yamatotakada, Japan, since 1963
* Lismore, Ireland, since 2000
* Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA, since 2001
* Makassar, Indonesia