The countdown is on for one of Lismore’s toughest, and most loved, fundraising events, with nearly 550 competitors set to descend on Hepburn Park this weekend for the Lismore Samson Fitness Challenge. During a small event yesterday, organisers revealed this year’s official shirt colour - light blue - alongside key sponsors who are backing the cause and cheering teams on.The Samson Challenge is no ordinary fitness event. Teams of four will battle their way through nine gruelling challenges, including a farmers walk with jerry cans, a prowler push, a 130kg truck tyre flip, burpees, a 2x2km run, 1km swim, sled pull and a wild obstacle course. The fastest team claims the coveted Samson Title and bragging rights for the next twelve months.But at its heart, Samson is about something far bigger than muscle and medals. The event is a major fundraiser for Our Kids, which purchases paediatric equipment for the Children’s Ward and Special Care Nursery at Lismore Base Hospital.Our Kids Fundraising Coordinator Rebekka Battista says this year’s event is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.“We are feeling pretty good. We have got nearly 125 teams, so nearly 550 competitors coming from all over the area, from southeast Queensland to even out to Armidale,” she said.“We’ve got over 30 people doing the solo and then we’ll probably have about 200 kids doing Samson Kids. So all up, that’s a lot of competitors.”Across the weekend there will be four events: Samson Solo on Friday night, Team Samson on Saturday, Team Samson Teen and Junior, and the ever-popular Samson Kids.It’s not just competitors turning up in force. The event has once again drawn strong local business support.Anthony Magarry, Operations Manager at Basec Engineering, said the company is proud to be stepping up as a platinum sponsor of Our Kids for the next three years.“We’re very glad to be part of the event and support the community,” he said. “This is the first time we’ve sponsored the Samson Challenge.”Basec also has a team competing this weekend.“They’re a bit nervous and a bit anxious… but looking forward for our team to do well and to struggle out there,” he laughed.HCF Ballina and Flip Insurance have also come on board as sponsors for the first time this year.Rebecca Simmons, Branch Manager of HCF Ballina, said supporting Samson aligns with the organisation’s focus on health and local engagement.“We are really looking forward to being part of this local engagement. HCF makes sure that we want to be nice and healthy, so this is a great way to help and support our locals,” she said.Marlena Kamkolkar, Commercial Lead at Flip Insurance, echoed the sentiment.“It’s our first time. We’re partnering together with HCF and we’re excited to be here… for a really important cause. It’s great to be having this local awareness,” she said.Volunteers will also be out in force, with HCF and Flip setting up tents at the finishing line with goodies for competitors and supporters.Behind the scenes, dozens of community groups are helping bring the event together - from Rotary and Lions to the Lords Taverners and Norths Baseball, who are running the barbecue. Summerland Christian College is hosting Samson Kids.“It’s a massive event and there’s lots of playing parts,” Rebekka said. “All these people come together to help Our Kids put this amazing event on.”This year’s fundraising goal has a very clear purpose.“With the funds raised, we’re going to buy a ventilator for the Special Care Nursery, which is pretty amazing,” she said.More than $200,000 has already been raised over the years to purchase vital paediatric equipment for local hospitals, and organisers are hoping this weekend will add significantly to that tally.However, Rebekka says more helping hands are still needed.“In saying that, we really do need some more volunteers. If people would like to volunteer, they can just turn up between 6am and 3pm up at Hepburn Park and we’ll assign them a leg to help out,” she said.As Lismore pulls on light blue this weekend, the message is clear: this is about strength in every sense of the word, physical, community and heart. Whether you’re flipping tyres, handing out water, cheering from the sidelines or cooking the barbecue, the Samson Challenge once again proves what this town can do when it comes together for its kids.

New students are beginning their journey with Southern Cross University this week, with the East Lismore campus buzzing for Orientation Week 2026.Goodman Plaza was filled with free food, live music, information stalls and plenty of nervous excitement on Tuesday, as new and returning students gathered to get their first taste of university life. The start of the academic year is a good reminder of the vital role Southern Cross plays in the local economy and community.Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Julie Jomeen said the energy on campus reflects a strong year of recruitment.“You can see we’ve done really well in terms of student recruitment this year,” she said. “It’s a really dynamic vibe behind us. We’ve had a really successful year in terms of over 5,000 commencing students at Southern Cross University.”Among the highlights is the launch of the new Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours) at the Northern Rivers campus, which Professor Jomeen confirmed has already been fully recruited.“That’s a really exciting opportunity for the region,” she said. “And to deliver courses that really meet the workforce needs of the region.”The university has also introduced new programs including a Master of Engineering and Master of Management, along with a suite of online graduate certificates. However, the most popular courses at the Lismore campus this term are firmly grounded in healthcare and animal science.“Our most popular courses here at the Lismore campus are our Masters of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing courses and Vet Medicine… but also our Bachelor of Veterinary Technology,” Professor Jomeen said.This year alone, the university has welcomed more than 100 students into its new veterinary programs, over 100 international Master of Nursing students and around 150 Bachelor of Nursing students, a significant influx of people who will live, work and study in the region.The majority of students attending Orientation in Lismore will be studying on campus, bringing a clear flow-on effect for local businesses, rental markets and community life.“I think the impact that it has for the community is really significant, both in terms of the economy that it brings into the town,” Professor Jomeen said. She pointed to the university’s refurbished student accommodation as a key factor in encouraging students to relocate to Lismore. “We all know affordable accommodation is a challenge for students, and so I think the addition of that new accommodation is really helpful.”For Georgia, a first-year Veterinary Technology student from Ballina, the decision to study in Lismore was both practical and personal.Georgia (second from the right) and her friends at Orientation Week.“I’ve always wanted to be a vet,” she said. “But the ATAR for vet science is really high so this is like the stepping stone to get there.”Fresh out of high school, Georgia said staying close to home made sense.“It’s super close to home… I might as well live at home with my parents as long as I can before moving out. It’s really expensive at the moment,” she said.She also sees the new veterinary pathway as a real opportunity.“This is the second year of vet tech, but the first year of vet science,” she explained. “We can transfer over into vet science halfway through… but it’s very competitive.”For students like Georgia, the expansion of veterinary and nursing programs in Lismore means fewer young people need to move to Brisbane or further afield to chase their career goals.You can hear more about the latest news from Southern Cross University when Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin joins the Talking Lismore podcast tomorrow.

Tropical Fruits has moved quickly to reassure members and the broader Lismore community after social media posts claimed the organisation was on the brink of collapse and unable to pay contractors working on its South Lismore clubhouse rebuild.Speaking with the Lismore App, Management Committee Chair Lisa Thorpy said while the club, like many community organisations, is navigating financial pressures, claims circulating online have been exaggerated and, in some cases, are simply untrue.“I love our community. I love our Lismore community, and I love our Fruits community,” she said. “But unfortunately some people take a little bit of information and turn it into something that it’s not.”Ms Thorpy said the first point to clarify is transparency. The Tropical Fruits Management Committee meets fortnightly, and those meetings are open to all members.“Nothing happens without members having access,” she said. “Everybody’s welcome to have a voice. There is nothing that happens that the membership doesn’t have access to.”Much of the online commentary has centred on the rebuild of the Tropical Fruits clubhouse in South Lismore, rather than the organisation’s festival and year-round operations.Ms Thorpy said it’s important to understand there are “two aspects to Fruits”.“There’s what I call Fruits operating… the end-of-year festival, how the club runs through the year, organising events for members,” she said. “And then there’s the rebuild project.”She confirmed the rebuild is being funded through a grant from Create NSW, which is delivered in instalments as milestones are reached.“As we reach milestones, they release more of that grant funding,” she said. “We’ve just reached our second last milestone and we’ve submitted the report and we’re waiting for those grant monies to hit our bank.”Addressing one of the more serious claims circulating online, Ms Thorpy was unequivocal.“There seem to be some posts saying there are concerns about contractors not being paid. That’s absolutely not true,” she said. “We have our legislative responsibilities that we adhere to 150 per cent. Anybody who works on that site is paid.”She said the organisation “definitely has enough funding to get ourselves to lock up”, meaning the building will be completed to a secure stage. There is also funding to move toward occupancy. Where the shortfall lies is in the final fit-out.“What we’ve realised as we come towards the end of the project is that we don’t have the funds that we thought we had to be able to fit the place out beautifully,” she said. “We have some money to get ourselves to occupancy, but we don’t have enough money to fit it out to make it beautiful. That’s our problem at the moment.”As a result, the committee has called a temporary stop-work period while it reassesses costs and determines what is needed to complete the project and what additional funds may need to be raised.Construction pressures have also played a role.“When we started the project a couple of years ago, we budgeted it at construction costs from a couple of years ago,” Ms Thorpy said. “Like everybody else, we’ve been caught because construction costs have increased exponentially over that time.”Unexpected works have added to the bill. She gave the example of the roof, which the committee initially hoped to retain.“Once we actually started to go into it, we couldn’t save that roof. So that was an additional cost,” she said. Importantly for the broader Lismore community, Ms Thorpy stressed that the Tropical Fruits New Year festival, a major drawcard for the region, is unaffected.“The festival will go ahead,” she said. “It’s a completely separate part of the organisation.”If additional funds are needed to complete the fit-out, local fundraising may form part of the solution, a path familiar to many community organisations rebuilding after the 2022 floods.For Ms Thorpy, the priority now is ensuring accurate information is shared and members feel informed.

Parents and staff at Richmond River High Campus have been formally reassured that construction is continuing, as a federal heritage protection application places the new North Lismore site under assessment.In a school community update issued yesterday, the NSW Department of Education confirmed work remains underway at the new flood-resistant location.“Work is continuing on site as planned,” the letter states.The notice acknowledges media reports about a possible legal challenge “may cause concern” but says the department is engaging with the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and remains confident it has “followed all proper procedures, including respecting cultural sensitivities and meeting legal requirements for the school site”.The reassurance follows confirmation that applications have been lodged under Section 9 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act (ATSIHP Act), seeking emergency protection of the redevelopment site.A spokesperson for the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said the department has received the applications and is processing them in accordance with the Act.“No decisions have been made,” the spokesperson said. “As these applications are currently under assessment it would be inappropriate to comment further.”There are no statutory timeframes for determining matters under the ATSIHP Act, meaning the assessment does not operate under fixed deadlines.Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has urged Federal Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt to act quickly.“This school was devastated by the floods. Our community has fought hard to see it rebuilt,” Mr Hogan said.“Students have already endured enormous disruption. They deserve certainty, not more delays.”He described the campus as “vital infrastructure for our region” and said the Minister must make a decision quickly given the impact on hundreds of local families.State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin also weighed in.“I would be disappointed if there were any delays in the construction, particularly for our school community,” she said.However, Al Oshlack, who has been assisting Bundjalung Elder Michael “Mickey” Ryan in the matter, said the issue, in his view, is not about opposing education infrastructure but protecting what he describes as one of the most culturally significant sites in Lismore.“The disappointment, if it goes ahead, is one of the most significant places in Lismore, a cultural heritage site, which even their archaeologists have alluded to is over 10,000 years old,” he said.“Even by the admissions of the education department, this is a significant cultural heritage site, and that’s something we can’t just lose here in Lismore.”He said alternatives should be considered, including rebuilding on the former site with increased flood resilience or locating the school elsewhere on suitable high ground.“We want the high school,” he said. “I’ve got three kids that went there and I did my teaching prac there in 1972.”The rebuild of The Rivers Secondary College Richmond River High Campus is a key part of Lismore’s post-flood recovery. With no statutory deadline under the federal Act and no decision yet made, the future timeline now rests with Canberra - while in Lismore, parents, students and the wider community wait for clarity.

Lismore’s emergency response capability is set for a major boost, with construction about to begin on a new NSW State Emergency Service North Eastern Zone headquarters in Goonellabah.The upgraded headquarters at 7 Lancaster Drive will be double the size of the existing building, transforming the way large-scale emergencies are managed across the region and delivering modern, purpose-built spaces for the volunteers and staff who serve our community.For a city that knows all too well the power of floods and severe storms, the announcement carries particular weight.State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the upgrade was a significant and well-earned investment in the local SES team.“The NSW SES North Eastern Zone headquarters is a well deserved upgrade for our local SES family, made up largely of volunteers but with some paid staff,” Ms Saffin said.“Having more modern facilities will make their job of keeping us safe easier to do.”The project forms part of a $27 million statewide investment in upgraded SES zone headquarters, aimed at bolstering flood and storm response and improving preparedness across NSW.Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said some existing facilities dated back decades and were no longer suited to the scale of modern disaster management.“Some of the current facilities were built in the 80s and 90s at a time when teams were much smaller and disaster management and responses were very different,” Mr Dib said.“Our SES volunteers continue to go above and beyond for their communities, and they need to grow, plan and train to rapidly respond to the next disaster.”“These new facilities will give our dedicated personnel the facilities they need to manage emergencies into the future as part of their important work to keep the community safe.”Construction in Goonellabah is expected to begin in late April, pending weather delays, and will take approximately six months. The new building will be prefabricated offsite before being transported to Lancaster Drive, where cranes will lift it into place.When complete, the headquarters will feature a Level 3 Incident Control Centre capable of seating more than 50 people. This space will allow large teams to coordinate rescue efforts, logistics, media and communications during major flood or storm events, all from a central command point close to the communities they serve.Modern operation rooms, briefing areas and expanded coordination spaces will ensure information and rescue taskings can be managed efficiently when every minute counts.NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM said the new headquarters would help the service meet the challenges of increasingly complex disasters.“The new zone headquarters will help our teams face the challenges of the future and provide a space they can grow into for decades to come as they continue to expand capabilities and membership,” Commissioner Wassing said.“I look forward to seeing these purpose-built headquarters come to life and provide our dedicated staff members and volunteers with the spaces they need to serve communities at the highest level.”“These new facilities will improve the operational response and management of major incidents at a regional level, close to where the disaster is unfolding.”Importantly, while the exterior shell of the current lower level building will remain in place, the interior will be completely rebuilt. Internal walls and furnishings will be removed and replaced, creating a more functional, contemporary space tailored to today’s emergency management needs.Furniture and equipment removed from the existing headquarters will be repurposed at other NSW SES units across the state rather than sent to landfill, ensuring resources continue to support communities elsewhere.For Lismore and the broader Northern Rivers, the investment is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about backing the volunteers who turn out in the middle of the night, who knock on doors, fill sandbags and coordinate rescues when our region needs them most.

Fresh details about last year’s Resilient Homes Program data breach have emerged during Budget Estimates last week. This includes confirmation that the contractor responsible is no longer working for the NSW Reconstruction Authority, and that an independent review into the incident will be made public.The breach dates back to March 2025, when a contractor accessed and downloaded a large file from the Resilient Homes Program system. That file was then uploaded to a personal ChatGPT account, in breach of NSW Government IT policies.Reconstruction Authority Executive Director Kristie Clarke outlined what occurred.“As you indicated, a contractor downloaded quite a large file from one of our Resilient Homes Program Salesforce systems. This was in breach of the New South Wales government IT policies. That file was downloaded from Salesforce and then uploaded to a personal ChatGPT account. It was quite a large file, containing over 10,000 individual records.”The file was detected through internal IT monitoring systems. However, determining exactly what had been uploaded, and whose information had been affected, proved complex.Ms Clarke told the hearing retrieving the correct file took time.“Unfortunately, the contractor did not provide the correct files in the first instance, so we had to make a number of requests to get those files.”Because the upload occurred via a personal account, forensic specialists were engaged to analyse the data and determine the scope of the breach. While more than 10,000 records were contained in the file, the detailed review found that 2,031 individuals had personal information impacted.Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, who is also the Minister responsible for the Reconstruction Authority said she was formally notified months after the incident occurred.“It was around July when I was formally notified, 7 July, actually.”When questioned about the time taken between the March breach and October notification of affected residents, the Minister acknowledged the delay.“I was advised that it took that long to work out which files had been in the so-called public domain, and it took that time. For me, it wasn't satisfactory that it took that long, but it did.”She also confirmed it was not 10,000 individuals impacted.“It wasn't the 10,000. That's what they had to sort through. It was 2,031 individuals, and everyone was contacted.”Following notification of the breach, the Minister directed that an independent review be undertaken.“That independent review has taken place and it's nearly finalised. I'm just getting the affirmation from Ms Fitzgerald that that is nearly finalised. I said the findings of that would be made public, so you'll see that in due course.”The review is now nearing completion and will be released publicly.For the Northern Rivers community, the breach struck at a sensitive time. Thousands of flood-affected homeowners had provided personal and, in some cases, sensitive information as part of applications for buybacks, retrofits and relocations under the Resilient Homes Program.The public release of the independent review will provide the most detailed account yet of how the breach occurred, how it was handled, and what changes have been implemented since.

Lismore City Council is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from community organisations, not-for-profits, businesses, industry groups and other interested parties for the future use of the site at 1 Molesworth Street, Lismore, the former Lismore Greyhound Racetrack.Council is seeking innovative, sustainable and flood-aware proposals that deliver community benefit, economic stimulus or strategic value for Lismore. The EOI process is designed to test market and community interest and inform a future report to Council. At this stage, Council has not determined a preferred future use for the site.The site has not operated since the February 2022 flood. Due to flood damage and high reinstatement costs, the venue was deemed no longer viable for racing.Greyhound Racing NSW has formally offered to gift the land and infrastructure to Council. At its Ordinary Meeting on 10 February 2026, Council resolved to accept the former Lismore Greyhound Track as a gift, subject to appropriate due diligence.As part of this resolution, Council determined that the land will be classified as Operational land under the Local Government Act 1993, providing greater flexibility in relation to leasing, licensing, development or potential future disposal, compared with Community land classification.Council’s due diligence processes include property investigations, risk assessments and other checks required prior to formal transfer.Successful proponents will receive the site “as is” and will be expected to undertake their own due diligence.TimelineEOI Closes: Monday, 30 March 2026Report to Council: Tuesday, 12 May 2026Late submissions will not be accepted. EOIs must be submitted via Council’s online portal.Assessment CriteriaProposals will be assessed against criteria including:Strategic alignment with Council’s Community Strategic PlanCommunity benefit and public valueEconomic impact and job creationRisk considerations, including potential significant adverse impactsProponent capability, governance and financial viabilityLong-term sustainability of the proposed endeavourShortlisted proponents may be invited to present their proposal to Council or participate in further negotiations.Council encourages forward-thinking proposals that respond to the site’s flood history while unlocking new opportunities for community use, economic growth and long-term resilience in Lismore.For further information and to submit an EOI, visit Council’s Your Say website.

Lismore Library is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day with a powerful and entertaining keynote event featuring broadcaster, storyteller and women’s wellness advocate Mel Bampton.Mel's acclaimed one‑woman show, Womb with a View, will be presented at the library this Thursday, 5 March at 5.30pm.Blending spoken word, humour and evidence‑based insights into women’s health, Womb with a View is billed as a “keynote with clout” — a peri‑powered presentation designed to educate Gen Z, motivate Millennials and celebrate Gen X.Mel Bampton is widely recognised for her influential media career, including her work with triple j, her long tenure as an ABC talkback presenter, and as the creator of the iconic Like A Version segment.She is also an author and respected figure in the Australian music industry.Beyond broadcasting, Mel is a certified therapist and the Founder of The Prana Project, an initiative that integrates environmental care with mental‑health practices.Her work focuses on women’s hormonal health and reshaping neural patterns that keep people stuck in negative cycles.This special International Women’s Day event is free to attend, with bookings essential.Event DetailsWhat: Womb with a View – Mel BamptonWhen: Thursday 5 March, 5.30pmWhere: Lismore LibraryCost: FreeFor booking details, contact Lismore Library on 6621 2464 or click here.

An urgent bid to stop construction of the new Richmond River High Campus has been lodged with the Federal Government, just weeks after work began on site.The application, made under section 9 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth), seeks emergency protection of the redevelopment area, arguing it is a significant Aboriginal cultural landscape under “serious and immediate threat of injury or desecration”.The Lismore App has seen the official Application Summary, which confirms the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water received the submission on 13 February 2026 from a Widjabul Wia-bal person of the Bundjalung Nation. It is understood the application was made by Bundjalung Elder Michael “Mickey” Ryan.The specified area covers the Richmond River High Campus redevelopment site at 163 and 170 Alexandra Parade, North Lismore. According to the summary, the applicant states that “the sites and the djurbil are connected” and that archaeological reports have identified cultural heritage material “thousands of years old”, including yellow ochre and crystal quartz lithic blades.The application estimates there are “over 100,000 artefacts” within the immediate impact area and describes the land as part of thesacred dreaming site. It also links the site to the “Wundaraan”, encompassing the Lismore Showground, described as “a very big meeting place, bringing tribes from all over the country”.The application argues that if construction proceeds, “the entire site will be impacted destroying and desecrating the significant cultural heritage. Once this harm occurs it will be irreversible”.School representatives with Lismore MP Janelle Saffin at the official sod turn recently. This move comes shortly after the rebuilding works had commenced on the new Richmond River High Campus. The rebuild is a key piece of the NSW Government’s education strategy for Lismore, with the campus designed to sit on higher ground beside future housing being delivered through the Resilient Lands Program.Around the time the section 9 application was lodged, The Lismore App observed a noticeable slowdown in visible activity on the plateau, with machinery idle and fewer workers on site. We contacted the NSW Department of Education to clarify whether works had been paused.A department spokesperson said: “Work is continuing on the rebuild of the new Richmond River High Campus.”It is understood there was a consultation and assessment process undertaken prior to construction. This included extensive Connecting with Country consultation with the Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation, engagement with Aboriginal staff and students, consultation with the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), and archaeological surveying across the site.The Lismore App understands the department has also received a separate section 9 application from a Minyunbal/Bunjalung woman covering the same specified area. Supporting the urgent bid is an affidavit sworn in the NSW Land and Environment Court by consulting anthropologist Dr Inge Riebe . In her evidence, Dr Riebe raises concerns about the adequacy of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report (ACHAR) prepared for the redevelopment.Dr Riebe states that, in her opinion, the assessment does not sufficiently address the cultural significance of the broader landscape. This includes pathways connecting the plateau from Tucki to Wollumbin, and a relationship to the Lismore Showground as a ceremonial meeting place. She argues that without that broader cultural framing, “there is no basis for evaluating potential impacts,” and warns the project has the potential to cause irreversible damage to cultural heritage values.The latest application comes just weeks after the NSW Land and Environment Court dismissed a 667-lot subdivision proposal by Mackycorp Pty Ltd on neighbouring land along Dunoon Road.In that judgment, Commissioner Peter Walsh found the developer had not provided “a satisfactory assessment of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance of the subject land within the wider landscape”, despite acknowledging the strategic importance of the plateau for housing and post-flood recovery.“Understanding cultural significance comes first,” Commissioner Walsh said, referencing the Burra Charter, before impacts can be properly assessed.Mr Ryan carried that case forward, with Mr Oshlack describing it at the time as a clear “either-or” decision.“Either you set about destroying what we estimate could be hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of artefacts for the sake of this development, or you don’t,” Mr Oshlack said last month.Now, with construction of the school underway and an emergency application before the Government, the North Lismore Plateau again finds itself at the centre of the news cycle.For many families, the rebuild of Richmond River High represents stability, recovery and a future on higher ground. For traditional owners and knowledge holders, the plateau is described as a deeply significant cultural landscape tied together by ceremony, story, pathways and generations of connection.

Community members in the Northern Rivers have once again begun getting organised to stand up for the unprotected native forests across the region. This year, public protest and marches are being supported by more diverse tactics – including citizen science.Preparations have begun for the 2026 March in March for Forests, this year to be held in Lismore at The Quad at 10am Sunday 22nd March. A wide array of local musicians and performers will join the stage with some of Australia’s finest forest experts for a morning of entertainment and action.The 2026 March builds on the huge crowds of recent years where hundreds of people marched in Byron, Mullumbimby and Lismore calling for the protection of our precious forests.Northern Rivers March in March Coordinator Valerie Thompson said that it’s time to bring the march back to the heartland of our region, and onto the doorstep of many native forests still vulnerable to the ongoing pressures of industrial scale logging.“Right now, when we need forests the most, they are still being destroyed”, says Bob Brown. “Around Australia, native forest logging is killing endangered animals like the koala, Greater Glider and Swift Parrot’.Alongside the region’s iconic koala, it’s also the Greater Glider impacts are really hitting home for concerned locals. They have begun to venture out into regional forests at night to search for the homes of these elusive, silent creatures on the brink of extinction.Lismore resident Daisy Nutty went out for several nights of looking for Greater Gliders in state forests west of Lismore, and was delighted to spot the impossibly cute species. ‘I strongly recommend getting out there and being the eyes for our beloved gliders, quolls, frogs and owls when Forestry Corp just can’t seem to see them. That’s the power of community protecting our local native forests” Daisy said.This year forest marches will be held in Lismore, Adelaide, Bega, Bellingen, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Ulladulla. There will be opportunities to join local citizen science efforts at the Lismore March in March.Northern Rivers March in March Coordinator Valerie Thompson said the Northern Rivers region is home to many native forests - right on Lismore's doorstep - that are still vulnerable to the ongoing pressures of industrial scale logging.“We are calling on an immediate end to the needless destruction of native forests, the homes of our iconic endangered species such as the Koala and Southern Greater Glider”, Ms Thompson said. “Forestry Corp logging practices also make our forests more susceptible to catastrophic fires, which is something this region most definitely could do without”.March in March for Forests is coordinated by the Bob Brown Foundation.

After seven years tucked inside the Strand Arcade, Sheila Turner is packing up her frames, canvases and carefully stacked art supplies, and moving into a shop four times the size.Sheila Turner Picture Framers and Art Supplies will soon open at 31 Woodlark Street, the former home of The Jean House, marking a significant new chapter for one of Lismore’s much-loved small businesses.“I’ve grown too big,” Sheila laughed. “Three years later it’s still too small. So that’s why I’m going to a bigger spot. And that’s four times bigger than here. It’s amazing.”Sheila first opened in the Arcade about seven years ago, starting in shop number 12 as a picture framer. As demand grew, she expanded into art supplies, eventually operating across two spaces before moving into her current site after it was cleaned up post-flood.Her move into art materials wasn’t part of the original plan. It came after the 2022 flood, when a long-standing local supplier closed its doors.“I just did picture framing,” she said. “And then after the flood, because they closed down their art supplies, there was a gap. I had already done art supplies in New Zealand when I had a picture framing shop there, so I sort of knew what to do. So I spoke to them and they said no, they’re not coming back. So that was the opening I needed.”Now, with a prominent road frontage on Woodlark Street, Sheila is preparing to expand again, this time beyond framing and supplies.“I’ve spoken to four fairly prominent artists, and I’ve got a nice blank wall that they’re going to come and bring their pictures for me to sell for them,” she said. “So it’ll be an art gallery as well.”The larger space will also allow her to stock stretched canvases in a wide range of sizes, wooden art blocks, and ready-made photo frames, something she hasn’t had time or room to focus on until now.The empty shop on Woodlark is about to get a new life“Those sell like hot cakes, but I haven’t had time to make any,” she said, gesturing to a busy pile of orders waiting to be completed. “It’s busy, it’s busy.”Until now, the business has been a one-woman operation. That’s about to change.“My son is coming in to work with me, so I’m going to teach him framing,” she said. “And his partner will come in when she’s ready, she’ll help me with the art materials.”Her son, currently a pastor, has resigned from his chaplaincy role to join the family venture.“It’ll be a family thing,” Sheila said. “It’s new for him… but he’s practical, he should be fine, and we get on. There’s no family histrionics there.”The move itself will be swift. Sheila is hoping for less than a week, thanks to help from her son and a group of volunteers ready to pack, lift and reinstall shelving, carpeted display walls and equipment.“I’m actually feeling a little bit… I think it’s like seeing a big mountain, and you’ve got to get on the top of it,” she said. “But you’ve got to approach it that you start little steps, and go up slowly.”The growth comes after navigating enormous challenges. The 2022 flood rose far higher than expected, destroying much of her electric equipment.“The flood wasn’t nice,” she said quietly. “That’s the first time I’ve ever been in a flood… I lost a lot.”Her manual framing machines survived, still bearing light rust marks, and today they remain at the heart of her shop.As she prepares to reopen on Woodlark Street, Sheila’s story is one many in Lismore understand: rebuild, adapt, and keep going.From a single framing bench in the arcade to a full-scale framing shop, art supply store and emerging gallery space, Sheila Turner’s expansion is another sign of confidence returning to the CBD.

Seb Stockdale is in the fight of his life, and Lismore is fighting alongside him.The 20-year-old local, known to many through his family’s much-loved business Stockpot Kitchen, urgently needs a stem cell transplant after being diagnosed with an aggressive blood cancer. Since his family shared the news, the response from the community has been immediate and overwhelming, and it’s continuing to grow well beyond the Northern Rivers.At the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Lismore Donor Centre, more than 60 locals have already joined a dedicated team called Seb’s Stem Cell Success, with 53 officially added to the national stem cell registry. But as Seb’s dad, Graeme, explains, that figure only captures one part of what’s happening.“That’s just Lifeblood in Lismore,” he said. “There’d be heaps more registering through Stem Cell Donors Australia and at other Lifeblood centres.”Across Australia, friends, family and even strangers are stepping up. In Graeme’s hometown of Albany, supporters are campaigning hard. In Townsville, his grandmother is sharing the message just as strongly. Registrations are flowing through Stem Cell Donors Australia, where eligible donors aged 18 to 35 can order a free cheek swab kit to their home.Image supplied“They send it to you, you swab the inside of your cheek, wrap it up and send it back,” Graeme said. “I know heaps of people who’ve done it that way because they’re a bit scared of the whole giving blood thing.”For those comfortable donating blood or plasma, joining the registry can also happen during a Lifeblood appointment. Either way, the goal is the same, to find a match for Seb, and for others waiting.Stem cells are specialised cells found in bone marrow, the soft tissue inside your bones. They have the unique ability to develop into different types of blood cells, which makes them crucial for healing and immune function. For patients with blood cancers such as leukaemia, a stem cell transplant replaces diseased cells with healthy ones from a donor, restoring the body’s ability to produce healthy blood and rebuild the immune system. For many, it represents the best chance at long-term survival.Although around 175,000 Australians are registered as stem cell donors, only about 24 per cent are currently considered suitable due to age and updated testing standards. Younger donors, particularly men aged 18 to 35, offer better outcomes for patients and are urgently needed.For the Stockdale family, those statistics are deeply personal. Seb has just finished his second round of chemotherapy. The treatment has knocked him around, but Graeme says his son’s strength continues to shine through.“The rest of his body is absolutely great,” he said. “He’s strong, he’s young, he’s fit. Everything else inside him is good. It’s just that damn blood and marrow that’s put a bit of a damper on it all.”Between treatment cycles, Seb has periods where he feels relatively well, but the uncertainty is constant.“When Seb’s in hospital, things can change really easily with this sort of thing, especially after chemo,” Graeme said. “The prognosis one day might be totally different the next. It’s a really hard thing for your brain to get around.”The family, who run a tight-knit business where staff feel more like extended relatives, are leaning on each other as they navigate each day.“We’re doing a lot of trying to hold each other up… just taking it day by day,” Graeme said.Still, it’s Seb’s outlook that continues to inspire.“He can always see a silver lining. He’s very positive. He’s sure he’s going to find his match. But he’s very happy that thousands of other people are going to find theirs as well.”That perspective has turned one young man’s diagnosis into something much bigger. The registrations in Lismore are significant. The growing numbers across the country are extraordinary. But at the heart of it all is a local family hoping and believing that somewhere out there is the person who can give Seb his second chance.Once again, Lismore is showing what it does best… wrapping its arms around its own and doing everything possible to help.

One of Lismore’s most newest food events is nearly a sell out, with locals and visitors eager to pull up a chair at Tavola LisAmore! on Saturday, 14 March 2026.The refurbished William Smith Pavilion at the Lismore Showground will be transformed into a vibrant Italian piazza for a family-style long lunch celebrating convivio - the Italian tradition of gathering around the table in joy, familiarity and togetherness.Headlining the event is acclaimed chef Daniela Maiorano, a fourth-generation cook born in Abruzzo and now a rising force in Australia’s culinary scene. Daniela, whose handmade Italian recipes have attracted more than a million views online, will bring her “Made in Italy, shaped in Australia” philosophy to Lismore for one afternoon only.She’ll be joined by her brother Attilio, with the Maiorano family’s passion at the heart of the kitchen.“We are beyond excited to have Daniela joining us for 2026,” said Tavola LisAmore! President Maree Santarossa. “Tavola LisAmore! is about community, heart, and soul — qualities Daniela shares with every dish she creates. To have a chef of her calibre and digital reach celebrating with us in Lismore is a massive win for the region.”Guests can expect a multi-course journey through Italy, showcasing the best local seasonal produce. The feast begins with traditional antipasto and crispy bruschetta, followed by arancini, focaccia and salad. Main courses include rich seasonal risotto and perfectly al dente rigatoni, finishing with decadent dessert and traditional biscotti. Professional coffee will be provided by Amici.On arrival, each guest will be welcomed with a drink - Prosecco, Italian beer or a Fabio Italian Soda - with the bar also featuring premium wines from De Bortoli, limoncello spritzes and more.More than just a long lunch, the event is also about giving back. A portion of proceeds will support Women Up North and their vital work in the community.Doors open at 11.30am, with lunch served from 12pm through to 3pm.With tickets now limited and the event close to capacity, organisers are urging anyone keen to attend to secure their place at the table. Tickets are available via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/tavola-lisamoreTavola LisAmore! promises an afternoon of food, family and connection, a celebration not just of Italian heritage, but of Lismore’s enduring community spirit.

Richmond Landcare Incorporated is putting out a call for action, seeking community volunteers to help us deliver their pilot project: Nature-based Solutions: Building Flood Resilience in the Lismore Catchment. This important pilot aims to collect evidence that will demonstrate how revegetation of riparian and floodplain areas in upper sub-catchment streams can reduce flood peaks and subsequent flood risk to downstream communities, as well as improving water quality through reduced sediment loads. The pilot is focussing on sites along the Tuntable and Terania creeks upstream of the Channon. They require community volunteers to support the project, either through participating in planting trees and sedges at key sites, and/or through undertaking maintenance activities such as weed removal around newly planted sites, to help the trees and sedges not just survive, but to thrive. It is critical that these plantings reach their full potential to act as barriers that will slow surface runoff from upper catchment foothills and hold floodwaters breaking their banks onto the adjacent floodplains. Trees and sedges planted in gullies, will also reduce erosion and impacts of sedimentation on water quality. Richmond Landcare’s On Ground Works Project Officer, Ivy Young, said the volunteer days offer more than just environmental benefits.“These volunteer events are great opportunities for the broader community to connect with each other, and have meaningful impact to the health of our waterways,” she said.Please see below for the upcoming event.Event Details: • Date: Tuesday 10th March • Time: 8.30 am – 1 pm• Location: 241 Terania Creek Road, The Channon• Registration: https://www.richmondlandcare.org/event-details/nature-based-solutions-community-tree-planting-day If you are interested in participating and unable to make this event, please contact Ivy Young on projects@richmondlandcare.org to be added to our volunteer panel. You will then be advised when future events will be held. This Nature-Based Solutions project received funding from the Australian Government.

Four years after floodwaters rose 14 metres through Lismore’s CBD, one of the city’s most symbolic buildings is almost ready to reopen.Lismore City Hall, the last major forward-facing piece of public infrastructure still under reconstruction from the 2022 disaster, is now just weeks away from being handed back to Council.Standing outside the building this week, Mayor Steve Krieg described the moment as significant.“We are at a construction zone,” he said. “This is the last forward-facing piece of infrastructure since the 2022 flood to yet be open. We are close. We're looking at another four or five weeks before we can finally open the doors on City Hall.”Inside the main room at City HallThe project, funded through $20 million in Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements jointly funded by state and federal governments, has also received an additional $4 million from Council to incorporate resilience upgrades and improvements not covered under disaster funding.City Hall was one of the most visible casualties of the 2022 flood. Now, as it nears completion, it marks a turning point.“It’s hard to believe that we’re four years on from one of Australia’s biggest natural disasters,” Mayor Krieg said. “And in that time, we’ve achieved so much in the rebuild and the recovery of Lismore.”The rebuild has focused not just on restoring the building, but strengthening it. While no structure in Lismore can be described as fully flood-proof, City Hall has been rebuilt with more durable, resilient materials designed to withstand future events.“Is it perfect or is it flood proof? It’s not flood proof clearly,” Mayor Krieg said. “But it is a lot more resilient and a lot more hearty.”Looking towards the Fountain Room in the downstairs part of City HallHe pointed to practical design changes that reflect hard-earned lessons.“It’s just things like floor coverings. Now when you go for a look through it, there’s epoxy floors rather than timber floors,” he said. “It’s industrial chic, as we like to call it in Lismore now, hose out and away you go again.”Beyond the structural upgrades, the reopening will restore a key community space that has hosted everything from concerts and theatre to weddings, community forums and public events over generations.Brand new amenities throughout the facilityBefore the flood, City Hall was operated by NORPA, which has since relocated to The Joinery. Council is now in discussions with organisations about how the space will be programmed moving forward.“It will be very much a community accessible space,” Mayor Krieg said.He said interest is already building.“We’ve already had contact from our local eisteddfod committee,” he said. “Let’s bring some concerts back. People talk about what music they’ve seen in City Hall in the past.”He added that the venue will be flexible, capable of hosting weddings, community events, performances and more.“Wedding venues, you name it,” he said.Council expects the building to be formally handed back by the end of March, with an official opening anticipated in late April or early May.Mayor Krieg recalled the devastation in the days immediately after the flood.“I remember driving around with a major general who had done several tours to war zones and he’s crying going, ‘I’ve never seen anything like what I’m seeing in Lismore,’” he said. “And now look at how far we’ve come in four years.”For the Mayor, City Hall reopening is not just about bricks and mortar, it is about confidence.“Our council is doubling down,” he said. “We are committed to this city like you wouldn’t believe. We’re not like a state government agency that drifts in, spends a bit of time here and goes back to Sydney. We are here for the long haul.”As tradies put the final touches on the building, there is a growing sense that this reopening represents more than just the return of a venue. It signals that the civic heart of Lismore is beating again.

February 28, 2026, isn't just the fourth anniversary of the big flood; it is also four months until the release of the $11.4 million Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative. This is when the CSIRO proves whether flood mitigation is possible for the Richmond River catchment.We know that CSIRO lead scientist Jai Vaze is testing 2 bundles using three different floods, 2008, 2017 and 2022.There are four constant flood measures in both bundles, they are the Tuckean Swamp upgrade (barrage operates optimally), the Tuckombil upgrade (replace Fabri-dam with a swing gate), Bruxner Highway upgrades (culverts) from Casino and the opening of Boundary Creek to the ocean north of Evans Head. The Boundary Creek calculations for the effective width have not been calculated yet.The difference in the two bundles being modelled is the number of detention basins at choke points in the upper and lower areas of the Richmond River Catchment. Bundle 1 will model 5 detention basins, while Bundle 2 will model 9 detention basins.What is a detention basin?Basically, a detention basin is a man-made structure that holds water temporarily during a heavy rainfall period that may lead to flooding further downstream. The size of a detention basin is determined by its needs. In our case, the optimal size will be determined by the CSIRO modelling.The wall of a detention basin can be nature-based or man-made, most likely concrete. In our case, this will most likely be concrete, due to the potential size needed to hold back a large volume of water and to allow remote operation of automatic release gates.As the detention basins are temporary and not a permanent water storage facility, there will be natural flora growth.Lead CSIRO Scientist Jai Vaze said, "All the water will be gone if they are used just for flood mitigation and detention. Then once the water is released, effectively, it will be back to the normal land, except that there will be that blockage, but the river will be open."In normal conditions, the water flows within the bank, only during floods does it exceed. And also, I will say that the areas we have picked where we will be detaining, were already fully flooded, meters of water under for a substantial time during 2022."Jai clarified that he and his team do not provide any detailed structural design for the detention basin wall."That's not our expertise. What I will be showing here is, what are the potential options . After that, there are so many steps. So if the government of the day, state, federal and council are all on the same page and they want to implement it, then a business case will have to be put. A proper structural analysis has to be done. They might have to run a flexible mesh 2d model, which gives more options for stress testing."Jai explained that 2D is used for modelling the floodplain (water over land), while 1D is used for rivers. "You need that because most of the water was on the land, and it came from the land to the river, but then it travels mostly through the river."DETENTION BASINS IN ACTIONThere are a number of detention basins in action around Australia. Finding information from relevant government departments, however, was difficult to ascertain. There was a lot of handballing, with no agency willing to give detailed answers to a lot of questions. That includes the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), which put us on to the Dam Safety Team in the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers. Detailed answers were to be sourced from local councils.In NSW, we were directed to NSW Water, which directed us to Sydney Water or the relevant local council.It appeared that no one wanted to go on record detailing the components and success of their detention basin.On 1 December 2020, the QRA said on its website:Images of the flash flooding through Toowoomba’s CBD became one of the iconic memories of the Queensland floods in January 2011. In 2015, Toowoomba Regional Council completed $25 million worth of flood mitigation projects, ensuring the city is more resilient to future flooding events.The West Creek component involved West Creek channel works to increase capacity between James Street and Herries Street as well as an upgrade to the Goggs Street stormwater system. The East Creek component consisted of new detention basins at Ballin Drive Park and Garnet Lehman Park, an upgraded detention basin at Ramsay Street/Spring Street, upgraded culvert beneath South Street on East Creek, and East Creek channel works to increase capacity between James Street and Creek Street by upgrading the Mary Street culvert.The flood mitigation projects were made possible by $20 million in joint State-Commonwealth NDRRA Category D funding and $5 million contribution from Toowoomba Regional Council.(The East Creek detention basin in Toowoomba. Image: Toowoomba Regional Council)The Toowoomba Regional Council website states that the East Creek - Ballin Drive and Garnet Lehmann detention basins play a key role in reducing major flood peaks downstream, including the inner city and where East Creek meets West Creek. Together, the basins at Ballin Drive and Garnet Lehmann provide important benefits:lower flood depths by about 500mm in the CBD during a one-in-100-year eventreduce peak flow rates by around 40% at James Street and 30% at Ruthven Streetremove at least 15 properties from the one-in-100-year flood zoneimprove safety for pedestrians and road userscut costs for road culvert upgrades and channel worksreduce repair and maintenance costs for roads, footpaths, and community assetsbetter control of stormwater and erosion.We can say with confidence that the detention basins in the upper catchments of the Richmond River will be a great deal larger than those in Toowoomba.The best example of a dry detention basin comes from Gwinnett County Government in Georgia, USA.They say the Key Features of a Dry Detention Basin, include:The dam, or embankment, impounds water to reduce downstream flooding.A sediment forebay slows incoming stormwater runoff and allows sediment to settle out.The outlet control structure (OCS) contains a low flow opening, or orifice, that controls the flow of water out of the basin. In the event of heavy rain, the OCS also includes a high-flow opening that allows water to bypass the basin and prevent the embankment from overtopping.The bottom of the dry detention basin is gradually sloped towards the outlet to allow water to drain out of the basin and prevent standing water. Vegetation (typically turf grass) helps provide some water quality benefit, stabilizes soil in the dry detention basin, improves aesthetics, and can also provide recreation opportunities.Riprap is installed at the forebay to slow down runoff and filter sediment, debris, and other solids from runoff.Filter stone is typically installed in front of an OCS to filter sediment, debris, and other solids from runoff.(An image of a dry detention basin from the Gwinnett County Government.)For a video representation, click here to go to their website. There is also a list of maintenance suggestions for a detention basin.This was supported by the brief comments made by Queensland's Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers that detention basins usually use natural land contours, but may include man‑made embankments if needed.It is likely that our detention basins will involve mechanical gates to release larger volumes of water, they said many basins use passive overflow structures with walls and outlets that are commonly soil, rock, concrete, or reinforced culverts. This naturally, releases water gradually.Detention basins can be interconnected, so for the Richmond River Catchment, they could be part of a coordinated catchment system using sensors and modelling.When it comes to preparing a site for a detention basin, the site is surveyed and shaped; some vegetation is cleared, but key areas may be retained. Grass, shrubs and riparian plants are often kept to stabilise soil.In a heavy rainfall event, the advice is that short‑term inundation usually does not harm flood‑tolerant plants. Vegetation does play a role in a detention basin, slowing the flow, reducing erosion, and improving water quality.As for the flow of water released into the catchment to minimise flooding in the low-lying urban town centres, like Lismore, and further downstream, like Coraki, this can be determined by CSIRO modelling from the history floods, in this case 2008, 2017 and 2022.The above tells us that while detention basins have been used successfully in other local government areas in NSW and Queensland, they are not on the scale that may be needed to effectively reduce a major flood by 1-2 metres. As Jai Vaze has said previously, if it can be reduced at all.We patiently await the release of the modelling results on 30 June, 2026.

Continuing with the reflections on the four year anniversary of the 2022 floods, State Member for Lismore and now NSW Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin says it is both deeply personal and a reminder of how far the region has come, and how much work still lies ahead. Here is her statement:"Today marks four years since the 2022 floods — that inland tsunami none of us were prepared for. It was our trigger moment. Life before 2022, and life after. Change we didn’t ask for, but change that forced its way through our front doors, our back screen doors, and up through the floorboards into our lives. Like so many, my family felt it deeply. We lost our dog. My husband nearly drowned. And he never really recovered — just as some people here are still struggling.But as your local Member, I didn't just see that struggle—I lived it with you. That lived experience became my fuel. It's why I've been so determined to look at what worked and what didn't, ensuring we never repeat the mistakes of the past.Since our last anniversary, I’ve been appointed Minister for Recovery. It’s a shift from advocating as local member to advocating statewide. I’m taking the lessons we learned the hard way in the Northern Rivers and putting them at the heart of how this state handles disasters. I’m here to make it count. My job is to strengthen the NSW Reconstruction Authority. It’s a young agency, but it’s growing up fast to be recovery ready and response ready. Efficient, competent and compassionate, even when the conversation is difficult. And this is a year of action: - About 1000 homes will have been removed from the highest risk floodplain areas.- Up to 600 more will have been raised, rebuilt or retrofitted with flood resilient materials.- And we’ll continue the serious conversations about long term mitigation and adaptation. And across the region, roads, bridges, schools, clubhouses and public assets — from Lismore City Hall to the Tweed Heads croquet club to Hardwood Farm drainage - are or have been rebuilt. It’s a massive investment in our future. Here in the Northern Rivers, we are trailblazers. What we have done and will do becomes the blueprint for how the rest of the country faces extreme disasters. We know the pain of 2022. But we also know something more powerful: that we can rise, rebuild and reshape our future.We have come a long way and got a way to go. But we are now turning the corner on recovery, so many good things are happening to secure our future. I’m committed to that safe and secure future. And I know — because I’ve seen it — that this community has the courage, the love and the heart to shape it with me. Let’s keep doing this together."

The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) has outlined a decisive year of delivery in the Northern Rivers—accelerating home buybacks and retrofits, critical infrastructure repairs and long-term flood mitigation planning to keep communities safer.In the four years since the 2022 floods, the NSW Government alone has committed more than $1.3billion in regional recovery, including small business recovery grants and support packages, demolition programs, the Resilient Homes Program, and the Resilient Lands Program -- backing families, local economies and housing recovery across the region.Under the Essential Public Asset Restoration (EPAR) – Build Back Better program, more than $1.5 billion has been committed to Northern Rivers councils, with $537 million delivered to date and more than 2,500 infrastructure projects underway across local and state networks. This is restoring roads, bridges, community facilities, repairing landslips and essential services at scale.To date, the RA has bought back more than 779 homes, with an additional 119 approved offers working through to settlement, relocating families from the highest risk flood areas in the Northern Rivers. These homes are set to be removed from the floodplain by the end of the year, ensuring communities can plan for their renewal of these vacated areas, under the largest program of its kind in Australia.The RA has also completed 848 Resilient Measures home assessments across the Northern Rivers. Out of this, 253 grants have been approved, and 111 homeowners are in the process of scoping and seeking quotes for works.The first sales of safer land, enabling relocation of flood buyback homes and new housing, will begin in coming months at Mount Pleasant in Goonellabah. Further sales are expected to begin in East Lismore and North Lismore by the middle of the year.Through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP), the RA is advancing the region’s flood mitigation blueprint—36 projects in total including major flood pump station upgrades, town drainage, raising bridges and roads, and widening flood channels across the region. Twenty-two projects have been completed and 15 are in the delivery phase for 2026–2027.Looking ahead, the RA is leading the region’s first multi hazard Disaster Adaptation Plan. Risk mapping and community engagement are underway, and a 40-member Community Reference Group is guiding development; regional risk findings and adaptation options will be shared in 2026, and informed by the upcoming CSIRO final report into flood mitigation for the Richmond River catchment.The Northern Rivers is setting a national benchmark in recovery and resilience—demonstrating how communities can rise, rebuild and adapt to a changing climate through practical investments, local partnerships and long-term planning.The NSW Reconstruction Authority remains focused on delivery for the community in 2026 and beyond.

Heavy rainfall has combined with ongoing roadworks to create dangerous driving conditions and significant delays on the Bruxner Highway near Lismore Airport, with motorists reporting widespread potholes and near-misses along the stretch.Major works are currently underway on the state road near the airport, with reduced speed limits and traffic control already in place. But persistent rain has quickly deteriorated the surface, leaving sections of the highway riddled with potholes and water pooling across lanes.This screenshot from a video circulating on social media shows the damageSocial media has been flooded with photos and commentary from frustrated drivers.One local posted: “Please if you are coming into Lismore from Casino side near the airport can you please slow down. The roadworks the council started are very dangerous! The road is absolutely stuffed!”The same driver described a frightening moment on the road.“Some car just spun out and nearly hit me on the other side of the road cause they were going too fast and hit one of the potholes. Luckily everyone is ok. Please stay safe everyone.”Others reported traffic crawling at around 20km/h, with vehicles banked up in both directions. While some online commenters questioned who was responsible for the works, the Bruxner Highway is a state road.The Lismore App understands that Transport for NSW crews are currently on site assessing the damage. Emergency grading works are scheduled to take place tomorrow to stabilise the surface and address the worst of the potholes.Motorists are being urged to slow down, drive to conditions and allow extra travel time.