In a heartening sign of recovery for a community hard-hit by disaster, the Lismore Cinema has finally flickered back to life, almost four years after historic floods devastated northern New South Wales.
A Long-Awaited Return to the Big Screen
The cinema on Keen Street welcomed back film lovers just before Christmas, following an extensive refurbishment. Its closure had left a significant gap in the town's social fabric, forcing residents to travel to nearby towns such as Kyogle, Byron Bay, or Ballina to watch the latest releases. The return of the venue has been met with considerable local enthusiasm, marking a pivotal moment in the area's protracted comeback from the natural disaster.
The Community Impact of Lost Amenities
General Manager Tammi Sloane spoke candidly about the challenges faced by Lismore during the cinema's absence. She emphasised that being without a central entertainment venue was particularly difficult, especially for the town's younger population. The prolonged closure underscored how vital such community spaces are for social connection and local morale, beyond just being a place to watch films.
A Milestone in a Broader Recovery
While the cinema's reopening is a cause for celebration, it arrives against a backdrop of ongoing struggles for the Northern Rivers community. Reports indicate that, three years on from the floods, Lismore's housing crisis has intensified, leaving many residents still in precarious situations. The restored cinema stands as a symbol of resilience and a step towards normalcy, yet it also highlights the complex, multi-layered nature of long-term disaster recovery where progress in one area can coincide with persistent challenges in another.
The journey back for Lismore is far from over, but the lights coming back on at the local cinema provide a welcome beacon of hope and a tangible piece of the town's pre-flood life restored.
