With all that is going on in Lismore & surrounds, you may be forgiven for not knowing the NSW Dine & Discover vouchers expire in less than two weeks time (Thursday, June 30).

Besides not having many places to use your vouchers to support local businesses, most people have not even given the vouchers a thought since the February devastation.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has asked Treasurer Matt Kean for a 12-month extension to the time period that Dine and Discover NSW vouchers can be spent in flood-affected Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers.

Ms Saffin recently wrote to Treasurer Kean requesting that the NSW Government keep the vouchers going by popular demand, beyond the currently advertised deadline of June 30, 2022.

“Locals have not been able to spend their vouchers in the months since the catastrophic flooding events which decimated our communities and our businesses,” Ms Saffin said.

“It would be fantastic if the NSW Government extended the opportunity for locals to take advantage of the vouchers.

“Many businesses are struggling to get back on their feet and government must do everything it can to support businesses coming back.

“Many local hospitality businesses have approached me asking for Dine NSW and Discover NSW vouchers to be extended to encourage locals to spend in our cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues, pubs and clubs.

“I am backing them in in the strongest possible terms.”

Ms Saffin suggested that this extension should cover the Local Government Areas of Lismore City, Tweed Shire, Kyogle, Tenterfield (all in our Electorate of Lismore), together with Ballina, Byron Shire, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley.

“A time extension would really help drive our recovery as more businesses take steps to reopen and trade during the next financial year,” Ms Saffin said.