Published on 26 February 2025
In the face of high interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis, Lismore CBD occupancy rates have remained steady over December compared with the previous June. The latest Lismore City Council audit of ‘The Block’ shows a healthy increase in occupancy in Molesworth and Keen streets, while overall the rate remained steady at 77%. Mayor Steve Krieg thanked local businesses for their commitment to Lismore and providing local jobs. “While more work needs to be done to encourage businesses into the CBD, the fact that the rate has remained steady shows our local businesses are committed to Lismore and its recovery,” he said. “And despite the cost-of-living crisis, local spend across the LGA in December 2024 totalled $111 million, an increase of 4.2 percent from December 2023.” The Lismore CBD Audit covers central portions of Keen, Molesworth, Woodlark, Conway, Magellan and Carrington Streets. Below are the street-by-street occupation rates at December 2024, compared with June 2024: • Keen Street occupancy rate – 85% (up from 81.1%) • Molesworth Street occupancy rate – 86% (up from 74%) • Conway Street occupancy rate – 67% (down from 72.1%) • Carrington Street occupancy rate – 78% (up from 73.1%) • Magellan Street occupancy rate – 75% (down from 76.3%) • Woodlark Street occupancy rate – 60% (down from 60.7%) This is the fifth Lismore CBD Audit following the 2022 natural disaster, with previous audits undertaken in June and January 2023 and August 2022, and February 2022 (immediately prior to the February disaster). The same area of the Lismore CBD has been audited by Council staff each year since 2017.
Picture: Mayor Steve Krieg with Council's Manager Destination and Economy, Tina Irish.