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Lismore secures $860 million historic funding agreement but we need more for rebuild
Lismore secures $860 million historic funding agreement but we need more for rebuild

28 March 2024, 2:01 AM

One week ago, following tireless negotiations and persistent lobbying by Lismore City Council, a historic agreement to fund the rebuild of around one hundred of Lismore’s roads and bridges, devastated by the 2022 natural disaster, was finalised with the NSW Government.  The agreement not only signifies the governments confidence in the future of the city but also aims to streamline critical funding for transport infrastructure in the aftermath of natural disasters.  The record investment of $860 million provides certainty for the city and the community that the many projects, previously stuck in a holding pattern, can now progress to full investigation and design. Brendan Logan, Council’s Chief Operating Officer, emphasised the magnitude of Council's work in securing this agreement as well as its implications for the city’s rebuild efforts. “This is one of the largest asset restoration funding agreements in Australia’s history, and we are grateful it is now in place for our Roads and Bridges component of the Flood Restoration Portfolio,” he said. “While initial costings for many projects have been determined, further assessment is necessary to understand the full scope of works.  “This funding means Council can now progress with this investigation and the design phase with certainty and at a steady pace. “All going well, some of our most damaged sites, like Blue Knob Road, and Stoney Chute Road, are moving much closer to real restorative work commencing,” said Mr Logan. Mr Logan explained that Stony Chute Road has 11 separate damages on that road alone and around 100 damages in that northern part of the catchment. "This allows us to get on with the design work that allows us to start to formulate contracts to get a managing contractor who will need to take the lead for a lot of this work. We're talking tier one, tier two construction contractor to lead a lot of this that will help us start that rebuild as quickly as possible."The tripartite agreement, involving Transport for NSW, the NSW Reconstruction Authority and Lismore City Council, establishes a new, expedited funding pathway for reconstruction efforts.  Previously, Council operated under a reimbursement model, completing work with its own funds and awaiting reimbursement from the government.  This new agreement ensures upfront funding availability, removing risks and barriers for Council. “What executing this agreement does is lock in a cost estimate, which then provides working capital, which allows us to plan with confidence,” Mr Logan said.  “We can lock in designs and start serious program development, and then begin the process of informing the community, our Council, and the market of what we will be delivering and when.” The NSW State government has previously expressed its commitment to assist flood-affected communities throughout the Northern Rivers region with the rebuild. That commitment made for good announcements, however, accessing funds has been a thorn in council's side until the $860 million announcement. Again, while roads and bridges can move forward there are more components to Lismore City Council's Flood Restoration Portfolio including water (sewage), waste (rubbish), buildings and mitigation so Brendan Logan was delighted on one hand and cautious on the other."I temper my excitement pretty quickly because it's actually only about 60% of what we need or are eligible for an entire asset rebuild. While it's great news for the roads and bridges and those complex landslips and allows us to talk to the market, talk to our staff, talk to our community, talk to our councillors with confidence now because we've got access to working capital. There's still a lot of work to go ahead."Another part of last week's $860 million historical announcement was the $60 million agreement that was signed for the buildings program."It got lost in that announcement last week. Ordinarily, signing a $60 million agreement is a big story. This covers our CBD buildings, our sporting fields, and some of that work that we have already commenced." Funding for water and waste has been an issue in the past, especially when the first Resilient Land Program was announced at the SCU-owned land on Crawford Road. Over 400 blocks will need to be connected to Lismore's sewage system in 2026, which is on life support and is in desperate need of a total rebuild that will take three years. Where is this funding at now?"This one has dragged on but look, I'm very pleased to say that through the help of James Bolton from New South Wales Public Works, we've been able to get those things back on track and at least visible to the right people.""James and I have got quite close to the action there and made a few changes to how the projects are set up and now we're currently working through confirming the funding envelopes and more importantly confirming the agreements that need to be in place not just to ensure good use of public money, but that Lismore council is satisfied that the assets that are going to be rebuilt are fit for purpose for us. So, that's been quite a journey but all things considered, I'm feeling pretty positive about that and I'm thankful for James' help recently."The $860 million roads and bridges and the $60 buildings announcement was wonderful news for our city. As Mr Logan said, it represents about 60% of the work that needs to be funded. Now, attention turns to securing a financial agreement for waste and water, another crucial component of the Lismore flood rebuild.

Northern Rivers residents urged to shape future healthcare by participating in Better Health survey
Northern Rivers residents urged to shape future healthcare by participating in Better Health survey

27 March 2024, 9:02 PM

Healthy North Coast has this week opened its ‘Better Health’ community survey in a bid to gather valuable insights that will help shape the future of primary health care across Northern NSW and the Mid North Coast. Every three years, local communities are asked to share their experiences of primary health care and make suggestions for improvement. It’s a chance for people in Lismore and Northern NSW and the Mid-North Coast to have their say on what’s working, what’s not and to identify any gaps in health services.  The feedback gathered in the Better Health survey will be combined with data to form a comprehensive review of the health needs for our region. This is called the North Coast Health Needs Assessment 2025-2028. “A strong community voice is essential for good health planning and decision making,” said Monika Wheeler, CEO of Healthy North Coast. “Residents on the North Coast are engaging with primary health care services every day, whether for their own personal health needs, their family, or as a health carer. They have valuable insight into what’s working, what needs improvement, and what might be missing entirely. “So if you think you’re having to wait too long for an appointment with a GP, or you think getting support for mental health is too confusing, or even if you’re satisfied with the health care in your area, please let us know. By sharing your thoughts and experiences, you really do have the power to reshape health care in your town.”  The previous iteration of the community survey in Healthy North Coast’s 2021 Health Needs Assessment was called Speak Up. From the Speak Up survey, initiatives like the telehealth service North Coast Health Connect and the social support service Healthy Me, Healthy Community in Port Macquarie were born, to address specific local health needs. “Your feedback helps us prioritise our efforts, ensuring that available funding is directed to the right areas to achieve better health outcomes for all,” added Ms Wheeler. The Better Health survey is open now and will close on Sunday 14 April 2024. It will take residents approximately 10 minutes to complete, with all answers being anonymous and completely confidential. At the end of the survey, participants can enter a prize draw to win one of twenty $100 cash cards. Visit Better Health North Coast to find out more and take the survey by clicking here. 

Lismore urban area loses estimated 566 residents between June 2022/23
Lismore urban area loses estimated 566 residents between June 2022/23

27 March 2024, 8:00 PM

One of the many asked questions following the February 2022 flood was what would happen to Lismore's population in the short term. As expected Lismore is estimated to have lost residents.The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its Estimate Resident Population data on Tuesday. It said the population of Australia’s capital cities grew over 500,000 in the year ending June 2023, the largest annual growth recorded by the ABS.​Beidar Cho, ABS head of demography said: “Australia's capital cities grew by a record 517,200 people last financial year, with this growth largely driven by net overseas migration.”​Melbourne (up 167,500) and Sydney (up 146,700) had the biggest increase in 2022-23, with Perth and Brisbane each also adding over 80,000 people. Along with Adelaide (28,100), these five cities had their largest annual population growth since the start of the series in 1971.​Perth had the highest growth rate (3.6 per cent), followed by Melbourne (3.3 per cent) and Brisbane (3.1 per cent). The growth rate for the capitals combined was 3.0 per cent, more than double the growth rate for regional Australia (1.4 per cent).Lismore's estimated population for the urban area showed a decline of 3.8% or 566 people on June 30 2023. The 2022 population was 14,903 and the 2023 population was estimated to be 14,337.The data is broken down into geographical areas referred to as Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2). Lismore LGA has three SA2 areas – Lismore (which encompasses the Lismore urban area), Goonellabah, and Lismore Surrounds (which encompasses Lismore’s rural areas).For the Lismore Surrounds area, the numbers were in positive territory with 121 new residents (15,855 to 15,976) for a growth rate of 0.8% while Goonellabah had 82 new residents or 0.6%. The rest of the Northern Rivers saw growth except for Casino itself where the population decreased by 99 (-0.8%). Richmond Valley grew by 0.4%, Ballina 0.9%, Bangalow 1.8%, Lennox/Skennars Head 2.7%, Byron Bay 1.3% and Kyogle was steady.A Lismore City Council spokesperson said the decrease can be seen as a direct result of the 2022 floods, as the Lismore SA2 area contains areas of flood-prone residential land where many homes have become uninhabitable and/or have been purchased by the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA).(The view from Girards Hill on March 1 2022)"Despite the decrease in population due to the 2022 floods, Council continues to plan for growth. Lismore saw increases in population in both the Goonellabah and Lismore Surrounds SA2 areas between 2022 and 2023."Council is involved in several projects to drive growth and increase housing supply in the local government area. This includes a planning proposal at 1055 Bruxner Road that could provide up to 1000 new dwellings; and the NSWRA Resilient Lands Initiative project with Southern Cross University that could deliver more than 400 dwellings at East Lismore."We anticipate a significant uplift in our population and economy due to the construction workers needed as we rebuild and deliver the significant infrastructure pipeline. Furthermore, the proposed expansion of the university research footprint in Lismore is expected to generate further population growth."As Lismore is the regional service centre, its growth is integral to the wider region’s development. As such, Lismore will proportionally increase in population, especially in sectors serving jobs, such as aged care and healthcare. This anticipated growth highlights a pressing need to address the impact on housing demand for the region."There were no surprises in the ABS estimate, although it never makes good reading. However, the future does look bright with more and more land being announced for development. As Mayor Steve Krieg has said previously, Lismore's rebuild is about a ten-year project and we are only two years into the rebuild.

New local data finds ‘concerning’ drop in awareness of key stroke sign
New local data finds ‘concerning’ drop in awareness of key stroke sign

27 March 2024, 7:01 PM

Concerning new Stroke Foundation data has found that people living in the seat of Page are going backwards when it comes to recognising one of the most common signs of stroke. The foundation’s F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) National Awareness survey, completed by YouGov, found that only 48 per cent of Page residents know that facial droop is a sign of stroke, which is a massive 13 per cent decrease compared to last year ( 61 per cent). Additionally, awareness of the inability to lift both arms as a sign of stroke has dropped by four per cent when compared to 2022. Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, says this is very concerning given every minute counts when someone is having a stroke. “We are very concerned by the survey results telling us is that fewer people in the Page region would recognise a stroke and might not know that it is a medical emergency that requires you to call 000.Stroke is always a medical emergency and every minute counts when it is happening.” In 2023 Stroke Foundation commissioned YouGov to survey thousands of Australians on their awareness of the signs and risks of stroke and test their knowledge of the F.A.S.T. acronym which highlights the most common signs of stroke (F for facial droop, A for inability to lift both arms, S for slurred speech and T stands for time. Stroke is always a medical emergency so call an ambulance immediately). “When a stroke strikes, it attacks up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute. Acting quickly and getting emergency treatment by calling 000 can be the difference between surviving and living well after stroke or death and long-term disability.” “Knowing the signs of stroke and recognising a stroke saves lives,” Dr Murphy said. The survey also measures Australians’ awareness of the risk factors of stroke. One of the leading causes of stroke is high blood pressure. In the Page region, around 34,926 people are living with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Thankfully, awareness of high blood pressure being a modifiable risk of stroke has increased by five per cent compared to the year before. “I cannot stress enough the importance of having regular health and blood pressure checks to firstly identify if you have high blood pressure and then work with your GP on ways to reduce your blood pressure and control it.”

Organisers cancel 2024 Splendour in the Grass
Organisers cancel 2024 Splendour in the Grass

27 March 2024, 6:52 AM

Tickets only went on sale a few weeks ago but today organisers have cancelled this Splendour in the Grass music festival at Byron Bay.The festival was to be held on July 19, 20 and 21 with Kylie Minogue, Tones and I, G Flip, Turnstile and Arcade Fire some of the many artists booked in for the annual event.The Splendour website said:IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2024With a heavy heart, we’re announcing the cancellation of Splendour in the Grass 2024, originally scheduled from Friday 19 July to Sunday 21 July in Ngarindjin / North Byron Parklands. We know there were many fans excited for this year’s line-up and all the great artists planning to join us, but due to unexpected events, we’ll be taking the year off. Ticket holders will be refunded automatically by Moshtix. We thank you for your understanding and will be working hard to be back in future years.QUOTE FROM JESSICA DUCROU & PAUL PITICCO, CO-CEOs SECRET SOUNDS“We’re heartbroken to be missing a year, especially after more than two decades in operation. This festival has always been a huge community effort, and we’d like to thank everyone for their support and overall faith. We hope to be back in the future.”If you have purchased tickets for Splendour in the Grass 2024, you don’t need to do anything – your ticket(s) will be automatically refunded back to your credit card/PayPal account and Moshtix will let you know when this has been done.Refunds will be processed within the next 5-10 business days.If your card details have changed, please wait for Moshtix to contact you directly regarding this.Splendour isn't the first festival to be cancelled in 2024. The list includes Groovin' the Moo, Falls Festival, ValleyWays, Coastal Jam and Vintage Vibes and the pausing of Hobart's iconic Dark Mofo.Dr Sam Whiting, Lecturer in Creative Industries at the University of South Australia has written an article entitled 'Why are so many Australian festivals being cancelled?' said, “Even Australia’s queen of pop, Kylie Minogue, could not rescue Australia’s festival sector from ongoing woes. The wages, housing and cost-of-living crises are hitting young people hardest, so it is unsurprising that they are cutting back on expenses such as festival tickets. "Further, following several years of disruption and supply-chain issues, festival promoters are cash-strapped and reliant on cash-flow from early ticket sales to secure events and maintain confidence. Without high demand for tickets from the outset, promoters are not going to shoulder the additional risk of running these events below capacity."Additionally, streaming and other changes to music consumption habits have changed the way young people engage with music. A multi-stage, multi-genre festival is not as appealing as an immersive experience focused on one genre or a closely curated group of acts. While genre-specific festivals and smaller, boutique festivals continue to do well, the ‘something-for-everyone’ models of Splendour, Groovin’ the Moo, and previously Big Day Out are losing their popularity. "A lineup as eclectic as Splendour’s recent announcement unfortunately no longer provokes the same level of demand it once did, as young people and audiences no longer access new music via radio or other mainstream media outlets or broadcasters, usually catering to a broad and diverse audience. Tastes are at once both more mainstream and more niche, flattening out middle-ground audiences and pushing them to each end of the cultural consumption spectrum."Beyond changing audience behaviours, the Australian events and festival sectors have been impacted by increasingly severe weather events (exacerbated by climate change), the tyranny of distance for international acts (and huge costs associated with travel), skyrocketing public liability insurance (which is affecting small venues and major festivals alike), and a depreciating Australian dollar that can’t compete with American and European markets. All of which is producing a serious crisis not only for festivals but for the live music sector at large.”NSW Minister for Music, John Graham said, “The cancellation of Splendour in the Grass is devastating news.“The festival industry is under extreme pressure, and I am deeply worried about the health of the festival scene here in NSW.“The NSW Government offered financial support to help the event proceed this year. We will continue to work with them and hope to see them return next year.”

Federal Govt looking to establish Net Zero Economy Authority
Federal Govt looking to establish Net Zero Economy Authority

27 March 2024, 1:51 AM

The global shift to net zero emissions is Australia’s opportunity to become a renewable energy superpower.That is why today the Albanese Government has introduced legislation to establish the Net Zero Economy Authority to ensure Australian workers and regions realise and share the benefits of the net zero economy.The Government is also announcing $189.3 million over four years from 2023-24 (and $53.3 million per year ongoing) in resourcing for the Authority.The Authority will support the economy-wide net zero transformation that is underway by acting as a catalyst for private and public investment, major project development, job creation and transition, and skills and community development.Global efforts to reduce emissions have already started transforming traditional industries, creating new opportunities to broaden Australia’s industrial base and strengthen our sovereign capability.The Albanese Government is already delivering a strong policy agenda to reduce emissions by 43 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050.This Authority will be pivotal to delivering this goal and realising the broader benefits for our nation.Today’s legislation is another step forward in our plan for a net zero economy.The Net Zero Economy Authority, an independent statutory body housed in the Prime Minister’s portfolio, will:Facilitate public and private sector participation and investment in emissions reduction and net zero transformation projects across Australia, including working with established investment funds.Support workers in emissions-intensive industries to access new employment, or acquire skills to improve their employment prospects, including an Energy Industry Jobs Plan to help workers in closing coal-fired power stations transition to new jobs.Support communities – including First Nations communities - to participate in, and benefit from, the economic shift to net zero emissions.Share information about Australia’s transformation to net zero economy, educating communities and supporting social licence for the transition.Promote coordination and consistency across government policies and programs.It will play a key role in our plan to make Australia a renewable energy superpower, building on more than $40 billion in job-generating investments.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “There is no nation on earth better placed than Australia to achieve the energy transition here at home and power it in the world.“We are home to every metal and critical mineral essential to net zero. Our workforce is skilled and valued, our safety standards are the highest in the world and we have a proven track record as a reliable producer and exporter of energy and resources."The Net Zero Economy Authority will play an important role in one of the most significant economic events in Australian history and position us as a renewable energy superpower."We are committed to working across governments, with regional communities and industries, and our international partners, to secure the opportunities of Australia's net zero future.”Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said, "Neither government funding nor private capital alone can meet this challenge. It will take both, working together, to secure the opportunities of Australia’s net zero future."Our local and regional communities are at the forefront of the economic shift. Through this new body, we can better support them to seize the opportunities of a net-zero economy."We will work in genuine partnership with business, unions and communities to help make sure no one is left behind as we seize on this once in a generation opportunity."

Save Wallum campaign a finalist in NSW 2024 Environment Awards
Save Wallum campaign a finalist in NSW 2024 Environment Awards

26 March 2024, 10:35 PM

The Save Wallum campaign to stop the destruction of 30Ha of the rare Wallum ecosystem in the Byron Shire has been named a finalist in the Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) Environment Awards 2024. The award ceremony will be held in Sydney tonight (Wed 27 March) and Save Wallum Spokesperson and Ecologist James Barrie will be attending with Tegan Kitt, another founding member of the group.The NCC awards has seven categories with Save Wallum a finalist for the Marie Byles Award. The Marie Byles Award celebrates a group which has initiated an outstanding new environmental campaign, launched in the last 24 months, and has demonstrated strong commitment and passion for the conservation of the NSW environment.“This finalist nomination is a testament to the hundreds of volunteers who have come together and achieved so much in such a short amount of time, " says Svea Pitman one of the original Save Wallum instigators.“To be recognised at a state level for the work this community has done to date is humbling. The campaign has been remarkable in its inclusion of varied and diverse ways to share the Save Wallum message, first and foremost from our indigenous elders and many families' involvement and support.“Some unexpected areas of community engagement have included the wallum song and choir performances, farmers market stalls, pre-school and school ‘special wallum animal’ movement and song classes, the 24/7 Vigil and even, as this is a suburban protest, a neighbour liaison to include and accommodate all community voices. “Stronger recognition of how significant our remaining environmentally intact spaces are, in this time of dire human ecological impact, is one thing that has fuelled the campaign, says Ms Pitman.  “One of the highlights and true gifts has been weekly cultural smoking ceremonies and ecology tours of the proposed development site. This has helped bring a deeper understanding of this precious ecosystem at risk, and allows the community to advocate for it from a place of true understanding and genuine connection. “Learning about NSW planning policy and the willingness of community members to skill up quickly in this area to advocate widely for a place that is so unique, has been another area of amazement.“I also want to acknowledge the enormous contribution our dedicated photographers and ecologists are making to this campaign, in helping us to document the threatened species that inhabit this site, and showcasing them with such professional images, it is a true gift’, Ms Pitman concludes.The NSW Environment Awards will be MC’d by broadcaster, comedian and author Wendy Harmer and celebrate the remarkable dedication and achievements of nature lovers, campaigners, grassroots environmentalists, and conservation groups throughout the state.

Get your buns into a blood donation chair this Easter Lismore & NRs!
Get your buns into a blood donation chair this Easter Lismore & NRs!

26 March 2024, 9:03 PM

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has a cheeky, but seriously life-saving message for Lismore and Northern Rivers locals in the lead-up to Easter. They need a lot of buns on seats in their blood donor centres across the Easter holidays and April to ensure there is enough supply for hospital patients. That includes an additional 120 blood and plasma donors at Lifeblood’s donor centre in Lismore across the month of April. Lifeblood spokesperson Scott Morrison said donation booking numbers need a boost throughout the Easter period and into April (March 29-April 30) while many donors travel or take a break from their routine. “Blood is complex and cannot be synthetically produced, so we rely on the generosity of donors to ensure patients have access to the blood they need when they need it,” Scott Morrison said. “We are urging Lismore, Ballina and Casino residents to step up, keep our donor centre chairs full and help maintain blood supplies at a critical time.” Blood and blood products will be needed every 18 seconds this Easter weekend and throughout the school holidays across April by trauma and emergency patients, mums delivering babies, people with blood conditions and cancer patients. Just one patient involved in a road accident can need high volumes of blood quickly to survive - as many as 100 bags depending on their injuries. Platelets are also vital to combat life-threatening bleeding in emergency situations. Platelets act like tiny bandaids to clot blood, but only have a shelf life of seven days. “You never know when you or someone you love may need blood,” Scott added. “A blood donation only takes one hour, with just 5-10 minutes on the couch, while a plasma donation takes 90 minutes.  “Our friendly team in Lismore is waiting to welcome donors and ease any nerves. You can enjoy some delicious snacks afterwards and leave knowing your life-giving donation will have a life-changing outcome.” To book an appointment call 13 14 95, book online at lifeblood.com.au or on the DonateBlood app.

Easter Break: double demerits, increased traffic and busy waterways
Easter Break: double demerits, increased traffic and busy waterways

26 March 2024, 8:02 PM

Easter 2024 is around the corner which usually means rain in the Northern Rivers and heavy traffic as people drive up and down the Pacific Motorway.The weather forecast is for some showers over the four days, although not significant amounts at this stage with temperatures in the mid-twenties.Double demerit points start after midnight on Thursday with police targeting speeding, motorcycle helmets, seatbelts and mobile phone offences until midnight Monday, 1 April.Transport for NSW is encouraging those travelling on the Pacific Motorway through northern NSW to plan their trip and allow extra travel time during the Easter long weekend, with high traffic volumes and delays expected. Coffs Harbour and Tugun, near the NSW/Queensland border, are two of four known pinch points for people travelling northbound to Queensland on the Pacific Motorway. The notorious M1 Pacific Motorway upgrades in Queensland will no doubt cause significant traffic delays north of the NSW border. While this work will pause during the Easter period, heavy congestion is expected on the Pacific Motorway north of the NSW border at most times, with the busiest days predicted to be Monday, 1 and Tuesday, 2 April. As reported yesterday, there will be congestion on the Pacific Motorway through Tyagarah and surrounding roads for Bluesfest.For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW app, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.For the latest information on Queensland traffic conditions refer to qldtraffic.qld.gov.au or call 13 19 40 to receive updates on road incidents, delays or roadwork in real time.Marine Rescue NSW is also expecting large numbers of boaters to hit the state’s waterways over the Easter long weekend.Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said across the Service’s 46 units, 3,300 volunteers are ready to respond to those needing assistance on the water.“Marine Rescue NSW has had a busy start to the year with over 1500 search and rescue missions, we are expecting this Easter long weekend to be busy on the water.“Last Easter our crews completed 109 search and rescue missions over the four days and safely returned 247 people to shore,” he said.Commissioner Barrell said safety and preparation is paramount to an enjoyable day on the water.“We're encouraging boaters this weekend to put all their eggs in one basket with the Marine Rescue NSW app. The app gives you live weather updates, safety checklists and importantly, you can Log On with your local Marine Rescue NSW base so that your safe return is being watched by our dedicated volunteers,” he said.Commissioner Barrell said it only takes a minute to protect a lifetime.“It is simple to Log On. You can do it over the Marine Rescue app or via VHF marine radio channel 16.“Keeping across the weather is vital to safe voyage.“If you're heading out on the water this weekend, make sure that you've got enough safety equipment, you have fuel and fuel and reserve, you've Logged On with your local Marine Rescue NSW base and of course, wear a lifejacket,” he said.Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer-based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.If you are going away and leaving your house unattended, make sure you let a neighbour know so they can keep an eye on your property. There has been an increase in house break-ins and car thefts in Goonellabah, Lismore, Casino, and Ballina in the past three months.

Resilient Lismore receives full ‘Repair to Return’ funding
Resilient Lismore receives full ‘Repair to Return’ funding

26 March 2024, 7:00 PM

Resilient Lismore has welcomed the finalisation of its funding deed with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which will enable the continuation of its ‘Repair to Return’ program.Resilient Lismore Executive Director Elly Bird said that in 2024 the organisation is scaling up its ‘Repair to Return’ project to best utilise the $5 million funding.“Repair to Return was formerly known as the ‘Two Rooms Project’, which used volunteer labour to construct walls in two rooms of badly flood-damaged homes,” Ms Bird said.“Repair to Return has evolved as we have secured funding, and now we engage qualified tradespeople to do the work. Our scope has expanded to provide partial repair of homes, including kitchens, bathrooms and other critical repairs.”(Repair to Return Project Manager Grant Huggins and Project Officer Felipe Olaondo Nogueira. Photo: supplied)“After nearly two years of our home repair work being privately funded by local organisations and philanthropists, we are very grateful that the NSW Reconstruction Authority is providing this additional funding so that we can continue to help people return to safe and secure homes.”“It’s a significant milestone for us and we extend our gratitude to Premier Minns and his government; to the Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dibb and of course to Janelle Saffin the Member for Lismore who secured this funding commitment for our work.”“The Repair to Return program provides qualified trades assistance to owner-occupiers who were living in the affected property at the time of the disaster and who still need to live there.“We prioritise people who can’t progress their recovery on their own, we prioritise vulnerable people, and we are trying to help as many people as we can. We work in Lismore and in downstream communities, including Coraki, Woodburn, Wardell, Bungawalbin and others - we have a regional footprint.” Ms Bird said.“We are not doing renovations or total rebuilds, but we will help people repair their homes so they have somewhere safe and secure to live. There is a high level of need so there might be a waitlist depending on the situation and the work that is required. We can’t guarantee that we can help everyone but we are doing our best to help as many people as we can.”“We can provide labour and materials, or we can help people use the materials they already have. We can help to restore essential plumbing; repair and restore kitchens; assist with electrical work; re-sheet walls; assist with furniture and whitegoods - and more. People just need to talk to us to see what we can do.Ms Bird said there was still a mountain of work to do for the Northern Rivers to build back and develop resilience for future events.“This is a multi-year, long-tailed recovery process,” she said. “We understand that people from outside the region might think, ‘Oh, that was two years ago, it’s all over now’, but that is far from the truth.“Lismore and the Northern Rivers are on the way back but there is still plenty that needs to be done: homes that need to be repaired, people who need assistance, and businesses that need support.“Resilient Lismore is here for the long haul because this is our community: our staff and volunteers are from this community. We love it, we are here to help the people we live alongside, and we are committed to helping our region not just to survive but to thrive.“We are grateful to the Reconstruction Authority and to our partners and supporters for their ongoing commitment to our community. We are particularly grateful to the local people who have provided significant funding to get us to where we are now, and who have helped us to help so many people live in safer housing.”Amanda Leck, Head of Adaptation, Mitigation and Reconstruction at the NSW Reconstruction Authority, said supporting the Repair to Return program was a practical example of the organisation backing a community-led initiative that clearly works.“The work in Lismore is not just about buying back homes and rolling out our Resilient Lands Program, it’s about restoring a community and maintaining its unique identity for the long term,” she said. “We know we can’t stop disasters from occurring, but we can do more to prepare and prevent the worst of their impacts. “It’s critical we’re better prepared for future disasters with Councils and local community leaders and will develop local Disaster Adaptation Plans that consider all possible options.”

Supermarkets could face sell off of parts if watchdog given teeth
Supermarkets could face sell off of parts if watchdog given teeth

26 March 2024, 4:58 AM

The consumer watchdog would be given new powers to bust apart Australia’s supermarket duopoly if they are found guilty of anticompetitive behaviour, if a new bill for divestiture laws is based by parliament. Under the proposed legislation, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) could force the nation’s grocery giants to sell off parts of their operation if they were found to be engaging in practices such as price gouging or market power abuse. NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said the development was welcome news to the peak farming body, which had long been calling for the powers to be introduced to address serious market power imbalances in the supermarket sector. “Australia’s supermarket sector is one of the most concentrated in the world – and for years, we have seen farmers subject to gross market power imbalances as a result of this environment,” Mrs Reardon said. “In the recent Senate inquiry into supermarket prices, divestiture powers were one of the key solutions we presented to combat the anticompetitive behaviour of these giant middlemen, and it is a relief to hear this recommendation heard.”As the bill entered the Senate this week, Mrs Reardon said many hoped meaningful competition reform was now on the horizon for the sake of farmers and families, who deserved fairer prices for their food. “Farmers shouldn’t have to accept prices below the cost of production, or contract terms on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis, nor should they have to face the prospect of produce being rejected for no given reason,” Mrs Reardon said. “Yet that’s been the reality for the agricultural industry as to date, there hasn’t been the powers available to bring these bad behaviours to account. “There’s now real hope on the horizon for farmers and rural communities who have been suffering with unfair prices at the farm gate, as well as families who shouldn’t be paying the prices they do at the checkout.”

Increased traffic for Bluesfest over Easter long weekend
Increased traffic for Bluesfest over Easter long weekend

25 March 2024, 8:00 PM

Easter normally means a wet long weekend and Bluesfest for the Northern Rivers.This year's line-up is incredible with the likes of Jack Johnson, Jimmy Barnes, Ben Harper, Tom Jones, The Teskey Brothers, Ricki Lee Jones and loads more world-class acts hit the stage over five days.(Photo: Bluesfest Facebook page)Of course, this means increased traffic on the Pacific Motorway through Tyagarah from tomorrow (Wednesday 27 March) as crowds start to arrive for this year's Byron Bay’s Bluesfest at Byron Bay Event Farm from Thursday 28 through to Monday 1 April 2024.Transport for NSW say to expect delays on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Ewingsdale Road and Gulgan Road, as well Mullumbimby Road, Gulgan Road, Tyagarah Road, Old Pacific Highway and Ewingsdale Road as motorists make their way to the festival.Motorists should exercise caution and follow the direction of traffic controllers and signage along the motorway directing motorists to the festival site.Motorists travelling to Bluesfest or in the area over the Easter long weekend should allow extra travel time and expect delays in the area throughout the weekend.Consider alternative routes or travelling outside the peak crowd arrival/departure times to avoid some of the delays. Motorists are reminded to plan their journey and drive to the conditions.For more information on getting to the grounds including parking and bus options visit the event websitewww.bluesfest.com.au/travelFor the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW app, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

SCU's Vice-Chancellor gives an update on the Lismore campus including new vet medicine course
SCU's Vice-Chancellor gives an update on the Lismore campus including new vet medicine course

25 March 2024, 7:00 PM

Southern Cross University (SCU) has had a very challenging last four years.Go back to March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning, SCU announced an income shortfall of $58 million over two years describing the situation as an 'economic crisis'.COVID-19 was the catalyst for SCU to start to think differently and reinvent how it operates in a new world.Then February 2022 provided SCU with an opportunity to not only help the community when it desperately needed but also provide a look at what SCU Lismore could be like in the future.The Lismore caught up with Vice-Chancellor Tyrone Carlin and asked what that future looks like for Southern Cross University and especially the Lismore campus now life is settling down two years on from any disaster."Our university is a much larger university than it was back in the time of the early 90s and early 2000s. But our students are distributed quite differently to that time bearing in mind that Coffs Harbour has been a part of our university story ever since inception but obviously Lismore is usually regarded as the birthplace."Students are distributed different ways. Half of them at any one time are tapping into things online and that necessarily means that the life of the campus is different."When this university was founded It had incredibly limited capabilities in terms of research. Over the course of the last three decades but with a really particular and emphatic growth over the last decade or so, the university invested very, very heavily in building up research capability and probably the single most significant, block of contribution to that core work at the university occurs here at this campus. "One of the things that I think a lot of people in the community don't necessarily realise, because a lot of this work is going on in laboratories and things that they can't necessarily observe, is just how much world-class science and indeed social science and health research is taking place here on the Lismore campus. Because we've got the land, the space and all of the sort of beauty and amenities of Lismore, this really is our absolute research hub. "This is where we've got the vast majority of our group of PhD students. This is where we've got a very substantial concentration of our researchers. This is where we've got a very substantial concentration of research infrastructure and this is also where we've got two very substantial and nationally significant commercial research laboratories that do work for industries like farming, pharmaceuticals, the food industry and so on."So research is a big, big part of our future." Mr Carlin explained that universities have a dual obligation under the regulatory framework that exists in Australia to do two core things. One is education and the other is research. You cannot be a university in Australia unless you are meeting certain standards, and they're quite rigorous standards in relation to both education and research."So when you see the university establishing itself on an upward trajectory into the top 600 or so institutions, where we're now sitting, a lot of that is driven by the work that we're doing in research and a lot of that is happening at Lismore, and that will continue to be the case. This is the epicentre of a lot of that work."More broadly than that, because the campus was designed in an era where the dominant mode of interaction with students was face-to-face and the dominant place where that face-to-face activity was occurring was Lismore, and that, of course, has all changed. "We've been in a position to be very thoughtful about the way that we maximise and really take the highest and best use of some of the facilities that were traditionally university facilities but are no longer so. That's why, for example, we've got that very deep sort of integration of Trinity Catholic College onto the campus. That's why, when the floods hit and a lot of the Lismore TAFE facilities were very, very badly damaged, we were able to get their creative arts programs up and running very quickly here and use a lot of kit that we already had in place. It's why we've got the Living School here thriving. It's why we've got GPs, mental health services, and other allied health services operating in and around our clinic. It's why we've got the ambulance station still operating at our campus."Our campus planning process, very much conceives of this campus as an integrated learning and health hub, but particularly an educational hub. That vibrancy through that sort of shared use approach is something that is very much in evidence when you come to the campus these days."Some people say to me, what's the university's intention? Is Lismore really important? "Yes, it's our birthplace, it is the absolute beating heart of that core element of our persona and indeed, I'm pleased to be able to tell you that for the first time in a lot of years, this year we have grown the number of students who have commenced their programs here at Lismore. So we're even getting students coming back in larger numbers. Not hugely larger numbers but seeing that growth come back to this campus is also pleasing.A breaking piece of news that will please those interested in veterinary medicine was announced by Mr Carlin."We're bringing new programs that we hope will attract additional students to Lismore. Importantly, one of those in the near term is veterinary medicine. It will only be the eighth program in Australia that produces accredited veterinarians and that will be happening here on the Lismore campus. Again, because we've got the capacity to have all of the necessary laboratory animal handling and other facilities that you need for a high-quality program of that ilk.With Trinity and the Living School now utilising SCU's facilities, do you feel there will be a long-term commitment to keep SCU as an educational hub in Lismore?"We, have a deep belief that there is enormous virtue in that model and everything that we have done in interacting with Trinity and the Living School has been reflective of that. "Ultimately, the governing bodies that oversee, respectively, Trinity and the Living School will have to make up their own minds about where they see themselves as being best situated. We're very hopeful that as they reflect on that, they can see a huge ongoing upside in being part of this precinct. If for no other reason than there is a virtue of a cross-organisational educational community, and it obviates the requirement that would otherwise arise to replicate very expensive infrastructure, like swimming pools and gyms and basketball courts and specialist science laboratories and all those sorts of things, road networks and everything else, which we can quite ably share and as you've seen we're enormously happy to share.If that commitment was there, would that mean a redesign of the Lismore campus? "There's been a lot of thought that has gone into that. We will be releasing the product of that thinking in the guise of a master plan for the precinct in the near future. I think I've got a time booked in with the university community over the next 4 to 6 weeks to really begin sharing that. When we do that, I dare say that it will demonstrate that the logic of your question is very sound. "We've been working on this and working on it collaboratively with a range of other partners because we did a whole series of things in a very agile way post-flood. But we knew when we were doing that, or at least we knew in the early days after we began doing that, that in due course what we would need to do is take a step back and do a really careful process of reflection and planning. We've been working hard on that over the last sort of 12 to 18 months and that will come into the public gaze soon.How much land has the university got at its disposal?"The campus proper is a very expansive site in its own right. It comprises basically the entirety of this very, very beautiful valley in which we are situated. There there is a very substantial amount of, as yet, undeveloped, unutilised land on the campus proper site. "That is one of the reasons why when we were reflecting on the Crawford site we realised that if it crystallised into that vision for the kind of housing that we know is just so desperately needed here that would in no way curtail the aspirations or capacity of the university to do all of the things that we foresee that we may wish to do. We've got huge optionality on the existing campus site.People talk about SCU's heyday back in the 80s and 90's, do you see the campus reaching those or greater heights again?"I would say that the university is always changing and always moving forward, and in terms of the national and global stamping of the university today and its overall scale, it is a much, much more substantial undertaking today than it was at the foundation here. If we can calibrate that, in the early days here you were talking about a student population in the sort of 3 to 5000 range and they were a very visible population because they were on this campus. Today, the university is approaching closer to 20,000 students. That means the number of people that we employ is very substantially enlarged set against the cohort of people that we employed in the earlier times and it means that the reach of the institution is wider."One of the reasons that you have had such substantial changes in the populations of students seeking places at institutions like this is because the Commonwealth has radically changed funding arrangements for universities over the last couple of decades. I'll just explain a little about what I mean about that. "Back in the times that you've referred to, universities were funded on a very strict quota basis and the number of places available across the sector as a whole was small relative to the demand for those places. The system was managed as such. In the early millennium period, the Commonwealth changed its approach and introduced something called the 'demand-driven' funding system. When the demand-driven funding system was enacted, what it literally meant was that any institution could, in a practical sense, with some very, very small limitations on things like medical training places, any institution could offer as many places as it wanted."When that occurred, what happened was there was an explosive growth in the availability of places across the sector and that imbalance between supply and demand changed quite radically. A number of institutions, particularly metropolitan-based institutions, in effect grew hugely. So, in that period of time, there are a number of universities across Australia that grew their enrolments by more than Southern Crosses' total enrolments. So, the dynamics of where a place might be available and who might be seeking a place at a particular institution are radically different today than they were in the era that people often hark back to."However, what is interesting, is that the Commonwealth in the universities accord final report, and certainly the panel are starting to adopt this language of 'system-based planning' again. The outworking of the logic that I've explained to you has been that there has been a drawing of students out of the regions into the cities. And there has also been the creation of institutions that are at scale that would have been frankly, wholly unimaginable a generation ago. Now you're talking about institutions like Monash, for example, that have 80 to 85,000 students enrolled. Places like Sydney in the 70,000 range. These are just mega, they are just unimaginably large."One of the things that policymakers have really started to reflect on, is if they are to provide an envelope for further growth in higher education in Australia, such that we can get greater access and participation to higher education than we've ever had before. There is an operative question as to where that growth might take place. I think a lot of the policymakers have realised that it may not be in the country's interests to allow some of the existing mega institutions that are sitting in the 80 to 85,000 range to suddenly, over a period of a decade or two, become 150 or 160,000 institutions."One way that the government could attend to that could be to be quite purposeful in allocating more of those growth places specifically to institutions like Southern Cross University and specifically to places like Lismore. That is the open discussion that is occurring across the university sector at the moment and within government."To tie a bow around that, the underlying circumstances that created the conditions in which you saw those large concentrations of students at the Lismore campus, many of whom were not northern rivers people by origin, but came out of the cities. Those conditions disappeared, over an important period of time and have not yet returned. "During that period of time, though, the university has evolved and adapted in the way that we sort of traversed earlier on and of course, created new campuses, including, notably our Gold Coast campus. But as we look to the future, what will be really important, is the decisions that the Commonwealth makes in relation to where it wants to put those growth places, and indeed the kinds of programs that it wants those growth places to be associated with. Much will turn on the nature of those decisions which I think we will start to see crystallising, or at least the beginnings of those, in coming years."In the meantime, we're building more and more research capacity. We've been attracting a greater number of students to the university and as I said one of the really great things this year is we've, finally looked at it and said, wow, we'veactually got a larger cohort of commencing undergraduate students at the Lismore campus this year than we had last year and I'm hoping we can repeat that again and again and again. Because for us, that's a great news story and we understand the significance of that to Lismore and its ongoing vitality."We are bullish on Lismore. We are optimists about Lismore, but we're also realists in that the world in which we're working is quite a different world to the world that existed at the time of the inception of the university 30 years ago."

Just Street, Goonellabah announced as latest Resilient Lands location
Just Street, Goonellabah announced as latest Resilient Lands location

25 March 2024, 6:12 AM

"Today is a great day." Those were words from Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin and Mayor of Lismore Steve Krieg as they officially announced the latest location for the Resilient Lands Program in Goonellabah.(Susie George NSWRA, Janelle Saffin and Steve Krieg at today's Resilient Lands Program announcement)Mount Pleasant Estate on Wedgetail Court will be the new street for many flood-affected residents if they decide to take up the offer of relocating or building something new on the 50 blocks that will be available. Wedgetail Court comes off Just Street which is connected to Oliver Avenue in Goonellabah and is not far from the Goonellabah Shopping Centre.On February 9, Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully and Ms Saffin announced the first Resilient Lands Program location, Crawford Road, in East Lismore where 450 blocks will eventually be released to flood-affected residents and the general public with an allocation to affordable and social housing.Unlike those blocks, which need some MOU (memorandum of understanding) red tape to sort through between the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) and Southern Cross University, Wedgetail Court is already built and can house the first person by the end of the year or early 2025."It's further demonstration of our progress with the recovery. We know that we need housing, we know it's a big need in our area. We know that we lost housing due to the flood and the buybacks and gradually, we'll be able to replace that and hopefully build more," Ms Saffin told media this afternoon.The design of the new housing estate is flexible depending on the number of buyback residents who wish to move to Goonellabah and what their financial situation is.If more townhouse living is needed then the design will adapt to accommodate that need and if more stand-alone housing is needed then it will adapt to that requirement. Block sizes will vary but there will be some around the 400 sqm to make it more affordable.Susie George from the NSW RA said, "We're really excited to be part of releasing these 50 blocks today here in Goonellabah. It's such a beautiful place to live and you can't help but walk down here and actually think about living here. It's got spaces as well for relocatable homes, so some of the flood flood-affected homes we hope might be part of this whole precinct as well as other blocks. We're really excited."(From the back of the new Mount Pleasant Estate development looking towards Just Street, Goonellabah)The relocation of a flood-affected house will depend on an individual's financial circumstances and the condition of their house. There are a lot of variables in each case.For example, if a person has already renovated their house with a new kitchen and polished floorboards, this should cost between $100,000 and $150,000, depending on the size of the house. If a person has not renovated the house at all then relocation costs, including costs to make it liveable, could be $300,000. Depending on the cost of a block of land and if it is a flat or sloping block, this may make it unaffordable to relocate a person's old house and more affordable to build a new house on-site or take a more affordable townhouse option.The Mount Pleasant Estate Resilient Lands Program will be a test case for house relocation, as NSWRA can get a real-life case study or two and be able to share that information with other people who are thinking about relocating their homes.The Wedgetail Court site has been established for quite some time. The delay in today's announcement was due to the negotiations with the developer."To actually buy the properties, you have to work with the people who own it and that can take a while to negotiate as anyone who's ever bought anything knows, buying a house is hard enough. If you're buying a whole block of land in an area where you're going to house up to 50 dwellings then that just takes time. Argy bargy backward and forward," Ms Saffin explained.There are some civil works that need to be completed on the new site and that should be done by mid this year. At the same time, construction of a house for a flood-affected person should begin at the same time.Susie George said there was a list of people who have already expressed an interest in moving to the new estate and as of today that numbered over 100. So, it is looking likely that 100% of Mount Pleasant Estate will be flood-affected residents.What of the established local residents on Just Steet and those on Dudley Street that back onto Wedgetail Court?The NSWRA concierge team, led my Matt, has been door-knocking and talking to those who have been home. The response has been positive as people were aware of the development and the need for housing and receptive to the fact this will help flood-affected people and families. Housing density was the only area of concern.Mayor Steve Krieg said, "2024 is the year of making things happen on the Northern Rivers and in particularly Lismore." It certainly feels that progress is being made this year in the vital area of housing and that there is "more to come".As a community, we wait for the next Resilient Lands Program announcement in the Lismore LGA and hope it is not far away.As Janelle Saffin said today, "None of this is easy. It's the first time it's ever been done to this scale and it's not they're programs designed to fully compensate everybody and give the timeline that people need. So, it's a work-through process that we're doing. I call it a reparations program, it's not compensation. It's some money to help people make decisions about where they can go if they want to be off the so-called floodplain.""Today is a great day."

NSW Health consults with staff on updating COVID-19 vaccination requirements
NSW Health consults with staff on updating COVID-19 vaccination requirements

24 March 2024, 10:51 PM

NSW Health is consulting with staff, health unions, and local health districts about proposed changes to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements for healthcare workers.NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said if consultation leads to any change to the current COVID-19 vaccination mandate, NSW Health will continue to strongly recommend all its workers stay up to date with their vaccinations, in line with our advice for the broader community.“COVID-19 vaccination continues to provide strong protection against severe illness, particularly for people at higher risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, including older adults and those with underlying health conditions,” Dr Chant said. “While the latest evidence shows most people have now developed protection from serious disease due to vaccination and/or previous infection, COVID-19 remains a serious public health issue.”The latest advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), recommends: a COVID-19 vaccination every six months for all adults aged 75 years and overa COVID-19 vaccination every 12 months for adults aged 65 – 74 years, and adults aged 18 – 64 with severe immunocompromise; these people can consider a vaccination every 6 monthsa COVID-19 vaccination every 12 months can be considered for all other adults aged 18 – 64 years, and those aged 5 -18 years with severe immunocompromise.In August 2021, during the pandemic, NSW Health introduced mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all healthcare workers to protect staff and their families, patients, visitors, and the broader community.  Under the current work health and safety framework for infectious disease screening and vaccination, NSW Health workers are required to have had at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a medical contraindication. However, as with all public health policy, NSW Health conducts regular reviews to ensure policy reflects the latest expert advice.The community is encouraged to maintain their vaccination status in line with ATAGI advice and take precautions to protect themselves and others from infection.Evidence also shows that, for the recently circulating Omicron variants, vaccination prevents transmission only for short periods of time. The use of infection prevention and control practices continues to help prevent transmission in healthcare settings.We will continue to keep staff informed of any changes to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements arising from the consultation period and thank them for their ongoing, outstanding efforts in keeping the community safe and well.

NSW Government to begin public consultations on Compulsory Land Acquisitions review
NSW Government to begin public consultations on Compulsory Land Acquisitions review

24 March 2024, 9:02 PM

The NSW Government has begun public consultation on their review into improving compulsory land acquisition processes for communities impacted by state infrastructure or other public projects, delivering on a key election commitment. In-person public consultation sessions will take place in Nowra, Singleton, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Parramatta and Wagga Wagga, with two online sessions also scheduled to take place in April.Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin told the Lismore App she believed the compulsory land acquisitions would involve disaster-affected areas like Lismore and the Northern Rivers. This could mean that some streets that only have one or two houses left following buybacks could be subject to a compulsory acquisition for the greater good of the community if the land was turned into a community use such as parkland. The Land Acquisition Review is considering a whole of government approach to acquisitions, including processes undertaken by agencies when acquiring land, roles and responsibilities, and how best to ensure consistent acquisitions under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. The review will consider potential legislative changes and improvements to acquisition processes to strike the right balance between the rights of landowners and the benefits of essential public infrastructure such as trains, roads and renewable energy projects. Some of the key themes raised in the review’s discussion paper include improved consistency in government processes, measures to ensure genuine negotiations and outcomes, better coordination of multiagency acquisitions, clarifying certain compensation provisions, and potential legislative amendments to clarify requirements. The Land acquisition review, led by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, follows a joint parliamentary inquiry into land acquisition for major transport projects. Community consultations are occurring between 22 March and 3 May 2024. The NSW Government encourage all interested stakeholders to respond to the discussion paper and provide suggestions for improvements.  Further information on the review, its discussion paper and how to make submissions are at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/land-acquisition-review. Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said, “Compulsory acquisitions are necessary at times to allow state infrastructure and other public projects to proceed for the benefit of the wider community, such as schools, roads, water and electricity infrastructure projects. “However, there are opportunities to improve processes which are being explored by this review to help landowners negotiate more effectively on their compensation. “We want to put people in the best position to understand their legal rights and ensure there are consistent and transparent acquisition processes across government.”

Could the future for South Lismore be high rise apartments?
Could the future for South Lismore be high rise apartments?

24 March 2024, 7:02 PM

On Saturday, the Lismore App published a story about the cleanup and potential art creation at 10 Casino Street, South Lismore A phoenix may rise out of the ashes on Casino Street.The next point of contact was Richard Jones, the owner of the block of land at 10 Casino Street.Richard first wanted to apologise to the people of South Lismore for taking so long to clear the site. He was waiting on some government funding.The Casino Street land has been in the Jones family for over 60 years. Richard explained that his father Paul Jones purchased the building and business to create a blacksmith and steel fabrication workshop.Paul Jones helped build a lot of Lismore, the Northern Rivers, areas of NSW and South East Queensland. He helped build Richmond River High School and built many drive-in cinema screens back in the 1960s and '70s.Due to his work, name and reputation, Paul Jones had a lane named after him right next to his business in 2012.So, what will happen to the newly cleared site going forward?"A lot depends on the state government and Lismore council," Richard said, "And what flood mitigation will occur in the future and what zoning and planning criteria will be in place.""I would like to put up a mid-sized apartment building with two levels of car park for affordable and social housing.""That sort of thing could be the start of a new way of building flood-resilient housing in the area. It's close to shops, transport and the CBD."Richard's answers won't come until after the release of the CSIRO report due on 30 June 2025, various mitigation options are run and Lismore City Council determines what its flood planning levels in South Lismore will be."If the planning laws allowed it, we could go up six stories and have 30 odd units up there.""If you chat to people on the ground in South Lismore, they don't want to live anywhere else. Southies really are a resilient mob.""But for now, we will put a slab down on the block, put a fence around it and Sheaffe Motors will be parking their trucks on there for a while."Richard Jones offered another view on what could be possible as Lismore looks at its future and as a city in transition, we should keep all options on the table, especially if it proves to be a safe option.

NORPA to take audiences on a wild ride to   Lismore Showgrounds with 'Wildskin'.
NORPA to take audiences on a wild ride to Lismore Showgrounds with 'Wildskin'.

23 March 2024, 9:01 PM

NORPA is taking audiences on an adventure outside the theatre once again, announcing it will stage its original work Wildskin in a warehouse space at the Lismore Showgrounds. A sensory, destination-theatre experience, Wildskin inhabits an outrageous and unpredictable world that’s part bush-thriller, part road-trip and a whole lot of NORPA’s signature theatrical style. From the company that brought you Love for One Night at the Eltham Hotel, Wildskin will transform the space at the Lismore Showgrounds to immerse you in the story from the moment you arrive. Be taken on a wild ride with Eva, who believes the only way to mend her broken life is to go on the road, solo. Lost, alone and under-prepared, she is soon breaking rules, and embracing danger. (Photo: Darcy Grant) First performed in 2018, Wildskin thrilled audiences with its whip-smart dialogue and hilarious physicality, and was hailed as 'A visual and emotional feast' (Australian Stage), and 'inventive, playful, accessible and life-affirming' (ArtsHub). Director Julian Louis has turned up the dial for the 2024 version, relishing the opportunities presented by reimagining Wildskin as a site-specific work.  “Wildskin at the Lismore Showgrounds is a fantastic new beast, using an atmospheric location that perfectly lends itself to NORPA’s playful and physical style of storytelling."We’re creating a whole experience and doing what we love as a company, taking theatre into surprising places, pushing the form, and bringing audiences with us. It’s going to be a wild ride!” said Julian Louis, Wildskin director and NORPA Artistic Director. Wildskin roars into the Lismore Showgrounds from 12 September for a limited season only, with tickets on sale now through www.norpa.org.au. Like Love for One Night at The Eltham Hotel, Wildskin at the Lismore Showgrounds is bound to sell out, so round up your mates and book your tickets for a night of daring and joyous theatre.  DetailsWildskin By NORPA12 - 28 September, 2024The Lismore Showgrounds, 116 Alexandra Parade, North Lismore NSW Tickets on sale now via www.norpa.org.au

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