After years of disruption following the floods, Family Support Network has officially opened the doors to its new premises, marking a fresh chapter for an important family support services.Community leaders, service providers and local supporters gathered yesterday to celebrate the milestone, reflecting on the journey that brought the organisation back to a permanent home.Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the day was about recognising the people who support the region’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.“It’s lovely to be here,” she said. “But the really important point is that we’re doing this for our little people. That’s the key today.”Family Support Network has been part of the Lismore community for more than three decades, providing programs that support children, parents and caregivers through services such as parenting support, playgroups and outreach programs.For CEO Kaali Ortmann, the opening represents the culmination of years of planning, rebuilding and community support after the floods forced the organisation from its previous location.“It’s been four years in imagination and planning and workshopping and work,” she told the crowd. “So today is pretty great.”Ortmann said the organisation’s focus has always remained on the children and families it serves.“We want to acknowledge our community and the children,” she said. “They’re our driving force. They’re why we get up and come to work, and that’s what this space is all about.”The new premises have been designed to support both families and the staff who work alongside them, with dedicated spaces for programs, support services and community activities.Guests were invited to explore the building following a smoking ceremony, experiencing the space rather than marking the occasion with a traditional ribbon-cutting.“There’s no ribbon to cut,” Ortmann said. “We are opening it by experiencing it. I just want everybody to be here and feel the space.”Ortmann also spoke about the strength of the Northern Rivers community, particularly in the years since the floods.“I’m really amazed to stand here and say I’ve got a phone full of numbers,” she said. “When things go wrong, I can call people. The Northern Rivers is amazing.”Family Support Network board chair Iain Graham said it had been a privilege to be part of the organisation’s leadership during a challenging and transformative period.“It’s been an interesting journey,” he said, reflecting on his five years in the role. “I have to acknowledge all the team and the work they do.”Saffin also praised the way community organisations, businesses and government have worked more closely together since the disaster.“One thing that’s happened since the flood is that people have come together like we haven’t sometimes in previous years,” she said. “That sticking together has been fantastic.”The new centre restores a vital hub for families across Lismore and the Northern Rivers. With its doors now open, Family Support Network can continue the work it has done for more than 30 years - walking alongside local families and helping children grow up safe, supported and connected to their community.

Australia’s school population has reached a new record, with the strongest growth coming from the independent sector, according to newly released data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.The latest figures show total school enrolments increased by 0.7 per cent in 2025, adding 28,912 students across the country’s 9,673 schools. That brings the total number of students in Australian schools to 4,160,918, the highest level on record.ABS head of education statistics Mell Plumb said independent schools accounted for the largest increase.“Independent school enrolments grew by 3.4 per cent, followed by Catholic schools at 1.4 per cent,” Ms Plumb said.In contrast, enrolments in government schools fell slightly, declining by 0.2 per cent over the year.Looking at the longer-term trend, independent schools have seen the fastest growth of any sector. Between 2021 and 2025, enrolments in independent schools rose by 15.3 per cent, compared with 5.7 per cent growth in Catholic schools. Government school enrolments fell by 0.4 per cent during the same period.The shift is even more pronounced over the past decade. Since 2016, independent schools have added more than 168,000 students, an increase of 31 per cent, while Catholic schools grew by eight per cent and government schools by five per cent.The data also highlights changes in how long students are staying in the education system.Overall, secondary school enrolments rose by 1.9 per cent in 2025, while primary school numbers fell slightly by 0.3 per cent.Retention rates are also improving. The proportion of students staying in school from Year 7 or 8 through to Year 12 increased to 81.3 per cent in 2025, up from 79.9 per cent the previous year.Similarly, the share of students continuing from Year 10 to Year 12 rose to 81.5 per cent, reflecting a steady trend toward longer participation in secondary education.The figures also show growth in enrolments among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, with 283,611 Indigenous students enrolled in Australian schools in 2025 — representing 6.8 per cent of the total school population.That number increased by 8,911 students from the previous year, while the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students remaining in school from Year 10 to Year 12 rose to 59.7 per cent.The latest ABS data paints a picture of a growing school population, shifting enrolment patterns across sectors, and more students staying in the education system through to the final years of secondary school.

UPDATE:NSW Police have confirmed the crash that closed the Bruxner Highway at Lindendale this afternoon involved a NSW Rural Fire Service truck, a NSW Police vehicle and a civilian car.About 4pm today (Thursday 5 March 2026), emergency services were called to the Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar – between Lismore and Ballina – following reports a marked police vehicle and Rural Fire Service truck had been involved in a collision.On arrival, officers attached to Lismore Police District were told a third vehicle – driven by an off-duty police officer – had also been involved in the crash.The marked police vehicle had been on urgent duty with lights and sirens activated before the crash.Three police officers were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics for minor injuries and taken to hospital for further assessment.The occupants of the RFS truck were not injured.Officers attached to Richmond Police District have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Richmond police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Emergency services remain at the scene on the Bruxner Highway between Cowlong Road and McLeans Ridges Road, with the highway still closed in both directions while crews manage the incident and clear the vehicles.Detours remain in place for motorists, with light vehicles being diverted via Cowlong Road and McLeans Ridge Road. Drivers are being advised to allow around 10 minutes of additional travel time and to follow the directions of traffic controllers in the area.ORIGINAL STORY:A crash involving a truck and a car has forced the closure of the Bruxner Highway at Lindendale this afternoon, with authorities shutting the road in both directions.The incident occurred on the Bruxner Highway between Cowlong Road and McLeans Ridges Road and was first reported at around 4:24pm.Emergency services and Transport for NSW crews are currently attending the scene. The highway remains closed while the situation is managed and the vehicles involved are cleared.Motorists are being advised to avoid the area and use an alternative route where possible. Drivers should also allow extra travel time as traffic diversions and delays are expected.Transport for NSW is continuing to monitor the situation, with the most recent update recorded at 4:27pm.MORE TO COME

Four years on from the 2022 floods, Southern Cross University is not just rebuilding, it is expanding, investing and reimagining its place in Lismore.Speaking on the latest episode of Talking Lismore, Professor Tyrone Carlin, Vice-Chancellor of Southern Cross University, reflected on steering the university through COVID, flood disaster and now into a period of renewed confidence and growth.“I’ve had the privilege of being an academic for more than 30 years,” Professor Carlin said, outlining a career that took him through major Sydney institutions before arriving in the Northern Rivers in 2018. He stepped into the Vice-Chancellor role in 2020, right in the middle of COVID”.The pandemic forced the university to “completely retool” its operations within days, including navigating the surreal reality of a hard border running along its Gold Coast campus.“We had about seven days to flip the model,” he said. “But what it demonstrated to me was one of the great benefits of being a relatively smaller institution bound together by strong relationships. There was a lot of trust, and that became critically important.”If COVID tested systems, the 2022 floods tested spirit.Sitting in the same room that became the university’s emergency command centre, Professor Carlin recalled the “complete confusion and fog” of those first days as rain continued to fall.“We developed a sense of clarity about our stance,” he said. “We were going to do everything we possibly could to make this a little bit easier, a little bit more livable, for anyone we could help.”The campus became home to emergency services, evacuation operations and two displaced schools. Normal university business was effectively suspended in favour of community need.“That’s really informed a lot of the decisions we’ve made since,” he said.One of those decisions has been to open the campus more deliberately to the community. With Trinity Catholic College and Living School now based on site, alongside health services and ambulance crews, the campus has taken on new energy.“There’s a vibrancy to it, there’s a joy to it,” he said. “People don’t feel there’s something different about the university. They feel they can touch it, they can be part of it, and that’s a great thing for our town.”That same forward-thinking approach is behind the launch of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours), which begins next week in Lismore.“There’s only seven places in Australia where you can study veterinary medicine… we will be the eighth,” Professor Carlin said. “And we’re doing that right here in Lismore.”The program has been years in the making, shaped by repeated conversations with local farmers and practitioners concerned about regional vet shortages.“There’s such a shortage of veterinarians in our region,” he said. “You’d hear from practitioners about how stressed they are and about succession… who’s going to come after me?”Southern Cross has invested $15 million internally to establish the program, with strong support from local vet practices and DPI Wollongbar for placements and training.In coming years, between veterinary medicine and veterinary technology, up to 500 to 600 students could be studying on campus.“I think that will benefit not just the university, but this region,” he said.Sport is another area of growth. A $3.6 million NSW Government grant announced last year will fund an Olympic-standard athletics track and field facility at the Lismore campus, with construction expected this year and community access planned for next year.Olympic-standard athletics facilities to be available at the Lismore campus (image supplied).“There’s not another one between Tamworth and the northern end of the Gold Coast,” Professor Carlin said. “It will draw in schools and community athletics groups and add to that vibrancy on campus.”With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, he sees the facility, alongside the university’s Olympic-standard water polo pool, as part of Lismore’s broader sporting opportunity.Accommodation is also returning, with 60 beds reopening under the Sirius College development, already fully booked.“It’s about confidence,” he said. “We really believe in what we do here, and we’re prepared to invest against that.”Looking ahead five to ten years, Professor Carlin says success will be measured not just in enrolments or rankings, but in community connection.“This university is now ranked within the top 300 institutions globally for research, and we’re only 31 years old,” he said. “Lismore deserves a world-standard institution. We’re confident about where we are now, but we’ve got enormous ambition for where we go next.”To hear the full conversation with Professor Tyrone Carlin, including his reflections on leadership, research breakthroughs and what the next decade could hold for Lismore, listen to the latest episode of Talking Lismore on the Lismore App or via the website.

The first flood buyback auction of the year saw a packed house in Lismore overnight, as 60 attendees watched 10 homes go under the hammer for prices ranging from $5000 to $42,000.Since December 2024, 140 buyback properties have been offered for sale across the Northern Rivers, sparking interest from across the country.  Last night’s event at the Lismore Workers Sports Cub, conducted by Wal Murray Lismore, attracted 34 registered bidders – including four joining by phone – resulting in 100% clearance rate and a total value of $266,100.Auction highlights:141 Dawson Street, Lismore: $27,000157 Dawson Street, Lismore: $29,50035 Ewing Street, Lismore: $42,00025 Junction Street, East Lismore: $32,00025 Charles Street, South Lismore: $40,0003 Webster Street, South Lismore: $17,0004 Crown Lane, South Lismore: $500038 Ostrom Street, South Lismore: $23,00015 Second Avenue, East Lismore: $18,5009 Barnes Avenue, South Lismore: $32,100.The auction drew a diverse crowd of builders and young families, along with a new wave of buyers seeking to transplant these homes into ‘nature-filled’ rural setting. With previous sales ranging from a nominal $1 to $200,000 the program has earned a reputation as one of Australia’s most accessible housing opportunities, drawing a national spotlight to the region’s recovery efforts.All homes under auction have been purchased by the NSW Reconstruction Authority through the $880 million Resilient Homes Program, jointly funded by the NSW and Australian governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).To participate, buyers must prove they have secured flood-free land for relocation before the end of 2026.All NSW proceeds from the home sales (after costs) are reinvested into the Resilient Homes Program to support more flood-affected residents.First National Real Estate will conduct the next flood auction at the Murwillumbah Services Club on March 17.For more details on the upcoming auction visit:  https://www.fnmurwillumbah.com.au/pages/real-estate/relocatable-homesMinister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said it brings her great joy to see these homes from our community repurposed. “These homes are part of mine and the wider community’s shared history, and this program has always been about people. Those who received a buyback, those giving those homes a second life.”NSW Reconstruction Authority Executive Director Northern Rivers Adaptation Division Kristie Clarke also reflected on the sale.“This year is about delivery: rebuilding, relocating and renewing communities so the Northern Rivers is safer, stronger and more resilient for the future. “Around a thousand homes will be bought back by the end of 2026, and we’re making a final push for 600 more households to strengthen their homes through Resilient Measures grants by mid-2027. “As a result of these goals, we’re calling on builders and construction experts to join one of the biggest home resilience and relocation efforts ever undertaken in Australia on the back of these successful auctions.” 

On World Wildlife Day, with gum leaves rustling in the background and volunteers gathered in East Lismore, Friends of the Koala marked the beginning of a new chapter, launching a major expansion of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital as part of its 40th anniversary year.The milestone event on Tuesday brought together long-time volunteers, veterinary staff and supporters, including Tweed-based Team Koala, who presented a cheque to help kickstart the next stage of fundraising. The goal is to expand and fully fit out the specialist koala hospital so it can meet growing demand across the Northern Rivers.Friends of the Koala President Rhonda James said the timing felt right.“World Wildlife Day provides a fitting backdrop for our launch announcements which highlight the importance of protecting threatened species and the habitats they depend on,” she said.Inside the shell of the soon-to-be koala hospitalStanding inside the current hospital space, Rhonda explained that while major structural works have been made possible thanks to previous funding support, the next stage, the internal fit-out, is now critical.“You can imagine like all the benches, the vet equipment… that in itself is probably $400,000,” she said. “Any donations from now will go to the fit-out. We’ve kind of made a tentative date for October because that’s our 40th anniversary event.”Friends of the Koala has only operated its own dedicated hospital for the past five years. Before that, sick and injured koalas were treated through a network of local vets and volunteer carers. Today, the East Lismore facility is the busiest koala hospital in New South Wales, seeing up to 350 koalas each year.Superintendent Veterinarian Dr Kate Thomas said the expansion would significantly strengthen their capacity.“We see up to 350 koalas a year, which is the busiest koala hospital in New South Wales,” she said. “Unfortunately, chlamydia is what we see most often here, primarily due to our lack of habitat in the Northern Rivers. Urbanisation is creating higher levels of stress, and koalas in close proximity are more prone to disease.”Vehicle strikes and dog attacks also remain major threats. Rhonda noted that on roads like the Bruxner Highway and Tatham Road, “we’ve seen up to 12 animals hit by vehicles this year.”For Maria Matthes, the hospital expansion is about more than just space.“The hospital expansion will be just absolutely brilliant for us to be able to do greater diagnostics and research and give us a better opportunity to recover more animals,” she said. “This is the first step in our fundraising for finishing off the hospital.”Lorraine Vass, Vice President, described the project as an investment in the region’s future.“Our 40th anniversary is something to celebrate, and this hospital is our investment into the future,” she said. “We have been the voice for koala survival in the Northern Rivers for 40 years, and we want to continue doing a damn good job into the future.”Team Koala President and co-founder Jenny Hayes said the donation presented on the day was raised through $2 memberships and community fundraising efforts.“I want to thank the public for the way they support Team Koala,” she said. “We feel so honoured to give them some money… so that we can support a wonderful organisation as in Friends of the Koala.”But alongside celebration came a clear message that more help is needed. Friends of the Koala hopes to raise around $350,000 by October to have the hospital operational, with a broader $500,000 goal to complete training rooms, drainage and access works. Volunteer numbers have also dwindled since the peak support seen during fires and floods.“We’re desperate for volunteers to keep up the numbers of animals,” Rhonda said. “We may have the runs, but we can’t take the animals in if we can’t do top-quality care.”For a region known around the world for its wildlife, Lorraine’s words resonated deeply.“We have the privilege of actually living with koalas,” she said. “Every one of us who lives with koalas does have a responsibility to do something for those koalas.”As Friends of the Koala enters its fifth decade, the expansion of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital stands as both a celebration of what Lismore has built, and a call for the community to help protect one of its most treasured neighbours for generations to come.

NSW Teachers Federation President Henry Rajendra will hold a public rally with Northern Rivers region teachers at Lismore South Public School from 8:00am this morning, presenting local evidence from a survey of 565 Northern Rivers teachers who say they simply don't have the time to properly plan or prepare. Data from a comprehensive survey of almost 20,000 NSW teachers shows that the overwhelming majority lack sufficient time to meet growing student needs. In the Northern Rivers region, the results are even more stark. Localised data from 565 teachers in the Lismore, Ballina, and Tweed electorates reveals: Preparation time deficit: Between 98% and 99% of teachers in these electorates report they are not afforded enough preparation time to meet the needs of today's students.Burnout and fatigue: Between 91% and 97% of surveyed teachers in the Northern Rivers reported experiencing emotional and physical fatigue due to a lack of time.Wellbeing concerns: Across all Northern Rivers electorates, between 93% and 96% of teachers stated they lack enough time to address critical student wellbeing matters. "Fewer than one in twenty teachers statewide say they have enough time to do the work required for their students," Rajendra said. "In the Northern Rivers, the message from our members is clear. They are determined to provide the best education possible, but they are being crushed by the sheer complexity and lack of time to plan quality lessons and collaborate with colleagues." Despite increasing classroom complexity, teacher preparation time has remained stagnant for primary teachers since the 1980s and for secondary teachers since the 1950s. This is particularly concerning given that the number of students with disability in NSW public schools has risen by 75% since 2021, with 86% of these students learning in mainstream settings. The Federation is calling on the NSW Government to implement the 2021 Gallop Inquiry recommendation of an additional two hours of preparation time per week. Local data shows that Northern Rivers teachers believe this change would be transformative: Northern Rivers Local Electorate Insights ElectorateNot Enough Release TimeExperience FatigueBelieve 2hrs Extra Would be "Extremely Helpful"Ballina99.34%96.05%89.47%Lismore98.49%91.46%83.42%Tweed98.60%97.20%77.10% "The NSW Government has made meaningful progress on teacher pay," Mr Rajendra said. "Now it's time to finish the job and commit to the additional preparation time teachers—and students—desperately need".

Lismore City Council has officially begun its move back into the heart of the city, with the first staff now settling into the historic Municipal Building in the CBD.The relocation follows a Council resolution last year to bring employees back into the city centre by utilising buildings it owns, manages or leases, a move designed to reinvigorate the CBD and improve coordination across teams.Mayor Steve Krieg walked the Lismore App through the century-old building today, the day after Council held its first Councillor Briefing in the restored chambers. From now on, all Council Meetings will also be held there.This is a staged transition, and for now, customer service remains at Oliver Avenue in Goonellabah.“We don’t have customer service facilities here,” Mayor Krieg explained. “Oliver Avenue still has our call centre and our customer service there, but there are other options and opportunities. At the moment it was about getting a pretty sizable footprint back down into the CBD.”That footprint includes finance staff, payroll, People and Culture teams, IT staff, and Council’s executive team. The large ground-floor hall now houses rows of desks, while smaller offices accommodate payroll and other teams. There is still space for a few additional teams in coming months.The move has provided more than just a new location, it’s also managed better coordination.“We have six executive members and they will be spending at least two days a week down here,” the Mayor said. “It’s really important that we run a coordinated program… our roads team is talking to our finance team, who’s talking to our Open Spaces team.”Previously, those departments were spread across different sites including Oliver Avenue, the Brunswick Street Depot and the depot on Wyrallah Road.“To get them all in the same room was a real challenge at the best of times,” he said. “Now they’ve all got desk space here and it enables that communication in a much better manner. It’s not only going to make people’s lives easier, but it’s going to save a lot of money if you’re running a coordinated program.”Flood resilience was clearly front of mind in the decision to return to the CBD. The building underwent restoration using disaster recovery funding and has been fitted out with minimalistic, easily movable furniture, raised electrical systems and a backup generator.“In 2017 the flood came about 50 centimetres into the bottom floor,” Mayor Krieg said. “Even if we got another 2017 scale flood, we’re looking at very minimal damage… it would literally be a washout, let it dry for a few days and we’d be back in less than a week.”He added that the 2022 flood did not reach the upper level where key operations are now based. “We can be out of this building in two hours,” he said. “All of the control, power, everything is well above the 2022 flood height.”Security and staff safety have also been considered, with office areas able to be closed off during public meetings.As we walked past marble honour boards and original architectural features, the Mayor spoke about the importance of recognising Lismore’s history while positioning the city for the future.“We are one of the oldest regional centres in New South Wales,” he said. “Recognising where we come from, but not only that, where we want to get to, is really important.”The Mayor has also brought his original mayoral desk down from Goonellabah, and the Jacqueline Wagner flood photo collection is being installed in executive offices, a reminder, he said, of why the work matters.“It keeps me very grounded about why we do what we do. It’s not about myself as a person, it’s about the position and the people that we serve.”For CBD businesses, the return of Council staff is expected to bring welcome foot traffic.“What a great opportunity to explore our CBD,” Mayor Krieg said he told staff. “You don’t have to settle for a pre-packed lunch… you can literally just go for a walk, buy your Christmas presents, get a coffee.”While customer service operations remain in Goonellabah for now, the long-term vision includes exploring additional forward-facing services in the CBD, potentially in the Terania building in a future budget.For now, though, the message is clear: Council is coming back home, carefully, strategically, and with one eye on both the city’s history and its future.

Lismore Theatre Company is launching its 2026 season with a production that promises to surprise audiences and spark conversation. From 6 to 21 March, the Rochdale Theatre will host The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, but this will be far from a traditional drawing-room rendition.Directed by Sharon Brodie and John Rado, the production revisits Wilde’s classic comedy through a contemporary lens, exploring the idea of “The Art of Appearances: Australia’s Upper Class Examined.” While the play famously satirised the hypocrisy of 19th-century British high society, the creative team believes its themes remain sharply relevant today.When The Importance of Being Earnest first premiered in 1895, it caused outrage, with protesters gathering outside the theatre and members of the upper classes bristling at Wilde’s biting commentary. More than a century later, Lismore Theatre Company is leaning into that original edge, presenting a version that is funny, fast-paced and unafraid to challenge expectations.Sharon Brodie brings a strong track record with the company, having previously directed sold-out productions including Black Adder 2, David Williamson’s Dead White Males, Daniel Keene’s Life Without Me and Susan Spunner’s Running Up A Dress. She is joined by Artistic Director John Rado, a NIDA-trained director with professional experience across three continents, now bringing his skills to the Lismore stage.The cast features a mix of well-known Rochdale performers and fresh faces. Familiar names include Jenni Law, Junia Wulf, Vilma Giacomini, Audrey O’Donnell-Parr and Tim Bennett. Newcomers Jason Wallace and Michael Sharmon step into the central roles of Jack (Earnest) and Algernon.Vilma Giacomini, who has been part of the LTC family for 20 years, says audiences can expect something visually striking and full of energy.“It is a fabulous production,” she said. “The set and clothing is so unexpected it will be enticing for audiences and they can discover the characters and the real meaning of this story. The actors are amazing and the production team, fantastic, it is a must see!”For Jason Wallace, this marks his first production with Lismore Theatre Company.“I would encourage people to come see this show as it is incredibly funny and a great play to see for theatre goers even if it’s your first show,” he said.As Lismore continues to rebuild and strengthen its cultural life, community theatre remains a vital part of the city’s creative identity. With a bold vision, experienced direction and a passionate local cast, the 2026 season opener is set to remind audiences why live theatre still has the power to provoke, entertain and bring people together.Performances run from 6 to 21 March at the Rochdale Theatre. Tickets are available now via TryBooking, and locals are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

Roof repairs and broader maintenance issues at several Northern Rivers hospitals have been flagged in a state-wide review of NSW’s public health system.Five non-routine issues have been identified within the Northern NSW Local Health District, including roof rectification works at four facilities across the region. Mitigations are in place, with planning underway for upgrades.The local health district has confirmed that some older facilities require significant repairs or replacement works, including ceiling, roof, window and façade repairs at Casino and District Memorial Hospital, Murwillumbah District Hospital, Lismore Base Hospital and Grafton Base Hospital. A spokesperson for Northern NSW Local Health District said monitoring and maintenance is ongoing.“The safety and wellbeing of patients and staff is our highest priority,” the spokesperson said.“Monitoring of facilities for signs of mould, water and pest infestation is continually undertaken across Northern NSW Local Health District, as part of routine asset maintenance practice.” “Mould can occur in any complex building, including hospitals. When mould is detected, it should be reported, promptly assessed and safely treated, based on rigorous procedures, to ensure patient and staff safety.” Where issues are identified, affected areas are isolated and repairs undertaken in consultation with SafeWork NSW and consulting engineers. The District also stated there is no indication that ongoing mould management has caused illness to patients or staff. The local findings form part of a broader “snap review” ordered this week by NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, examining serious or non-routine maintenance matters across the state’s 220 hospitals.Statewide, 112 issues have been identified over the past year - 74 resolved, 32 being rectified and six under closer investigation. The review remains ongoing.Mr Park said the size and age of the health system makes it unrealistic to promise there will never be maintenance challenges.“With over 4,000 buildings under NSW Health, including 220 hospitals, of varying ages… it is unrealistic to pledge that there will never be maintenance issues,” he said.“I’ve got to be upfront, I can never pledge that there will not be maintenance issues. Any government that does is not being realistic or truthful.“But I can pledge that the health system will work as quickly as possible to rectify them.” However, the announcement has drawn criticism from the Opposition. Shadow Health Minister Sarah Mitchell said the review was a reaction to pressure.“The NSW public health system is literally falling apart on Ryan Park’s watch,” she said.“Ryan Park called a snap review into the health system only after widespread maintenance and cleanliness issues were brought to light by the NSW Opposition.“This review is entirely reactive, and quite frankly, outlines failings and issues that should’ve been dealt with already.” “Patients go to hospital for treatment and care, not to be put in further danger due to toxic mould, or conditions caused by bird droppings and dead pigeons in roof cavities and air-conditioning units.“Hygiene in hospitals is paramount and my heart breaks for the families who have lost loved ones to these illnesses.“My genuine fear is this is the tip of the iceberg and there is more to be uncovered. I sincerely hope not.”For communities across Lismore and the wider Northern Rivers, the review places local hospital infrastructure under renewed scrutiny. With roof works and broader repairs now formally acknowledged, attention will turn to how quickly upgrades are delivered, and to ensuring facilities remain safe and reliable for patients and staff.

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.