Opening of $14.2 million project gives employers more options

By Samantha Elley

When all three levels of government work together, it bodes well for the community.

This is what has happened with the recent opening of the new road and bridge link between Oliver Avenue in Goonellabah and the Bruxner Highway.

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“We are here to officially open one of the most critical transport links in and out of Lismore,” said Lismore mayor, Steve Krieg.

“What this road and bridge has done is opened up more industrial and residential land.

“It goes all the way up to the roundabout at Hepburn Park.

“It is critical to transportation links to get onto the Bruxner Highway from our industrial estate here.”

Janelle Saffin, state member for Lismore acknowledged the project started under a different state government, but still has the full support of today’s new government.

“It does open up industrial land that’s really important in our area, as well as residential land,” she said.

“My observation was it was rolled out quite quickly.

“We are rebuilding and building back better and it is going to get better in the next few weeks.”

Kevin Hogan, federal member for Page, said the health for any regional town is the industrial centre.

“That’s why this is really important, this is about helping the industrial precinct behind us, there’s going to be double access and transport routes in and out of that,” he said.

“This is about getting more employers, people employing people in our regional city into the vacant land and some of the industrial precinct land will open up.”

A major positive for the area is that it is flood free, making it attractive for employers to invest in Lismore.

The new Tucki Tucki Bridge. Photo by Samantha Elley

“In our daily talks with employers, they are always looking for somewhere flood free, and this is a really good option for them,” said Mr Krieg.

“It’s still close to the CBD and still in the Lismore LGA.

When asked if businesses may take the option to relocate to Goonellabah and out of Lismore, Mr Krieg said there are more options.

“There’s already businesses co-occupying, such as Ongmac has an industrial shed up here, but their retail precinct is still down where it was in the CBD,” said Mr Krieg.

“It provides an evacuation point, but people still want their footprint.

“To me, the CBD and South Lismore are still the heart and soul of Lismore, but this gives them an option to have a safe space.”

Ms Saffin said many businesses were looking to expand before the flood.

“They were looking for land still in Lismore so some of them will operate jointly,” she said.

“They will stay (in Lismore) but they need more room for their expansion.

“If you have a look at Norco who is rebuilding, but rebuilding in a way that if another flood did come, they wouldn’t have all the down time they’ve had to have now.”

The works  included the construction of the Oliver Avenue link with a new bridge over Tucki Tucki Creek, a new roundabout at the Oliver Ave/Holland Street/Taylor Ave intersection, modification/upgrades to the existing roundabout at Bruxner/Holland St to facilitate B-double movements, construction of a new public carpark at Hepburn Park and earthworks to Council-owned land at 260 Oliver Ave to facilitate additional industrial lots.

Funding was secured via $11 million from the NSW Government, $2 million from the Australian Government and $1.17 million from Lismore City Council.

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