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. [6]
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. [7] [8] The median weekly income for residents within the City of Lismore area was marginally lower than the national average. [9]
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). [9] [6]
| Selected historical census data for the City of Lismore local government area |
|---|
| Census year | 2001 [7] | 2006 [8] | 2011 [9] | 2016 [10] | 2021 [6] |
|---|
| Population | Estimated residents on Census night | 41,572 |  42,210 | 42,766 | 43,135 | 44,334 |
| LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | | | 48 | | |
| % of New South Wales population | | | 0.62% |  0.57% | 0.54% |
| % of Australian population | 0.22% |  0.22% | 0.20% | 0.18% | 0.17% |
| Cultural and language diversity | | | |
|---|
Ancestry,
top responses | Australian | | | 31.4% | 29.4% | 39.6% |
| English | | | 30.0% | 29.4% | 41.2% |
| Irish | | | 10.8% | 10.8% | 14.3% |
| Scottish | | | 8.2% | 8.3% | 12.1% |
| Australian Aboriginal | | | – | – | 5.6% |
Language,
top responses
(other than English) | Italian | 0.2% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.4% |
| German | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Punjabi | n/c | n/c | – | – | 0.4% |
| French | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Spanish | 0.1% | 0.1% | – | – | 0.3% |
| Religious affiliation | | | |
|---|
Religious affiliation,
top responses | No Religion | 15.2% | 19.3% | 24.8% | 32.7% | 42.1% |
| Catholic | 25.8% | 25.5% | 24.5% | 21.1% | 18.3% |
| Anglican | 21.9% | 20.7% | 18.7% | 14.6% | 11.5% |
| Uniting Church | 7.8% | 7.3% | 6.2% | 4.7% | – |
| Presbyterian and Reformed | 6.4% | 6.2% | 5.6% | – | 3.5% |
| Median weekly incomes | | | |
|---|
| Personal income | Median weekly personal income | | $378 | $469 | $550 | $685 |
| % of Australian median income | | 81.1% | 81.3% | 83.0% | 85.0% |
| Family income | Median weekly family income | | A$993 | A$1,123 | A$1,351 | A$1,719 |
| % of Australian median income | | 84.8% | 75.8% | 77.9% | 81.0% |
| Household income | Median weekly household income | | A$760 | A$907 | A$1,067 | A$1,319 |
| % 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 |
|---|
| | Steve Krieg for Lismore | 6 |
| | Greens | 2 |
| | Labor | 2 |
| | Independent | 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.
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