On the eve of impending stand-downs, 170 employees at Norco’s Lismore ice cream factory have been informed that a bespoke financial support package from the federal government will keep them employed by the dairy cooperative for another 10 weeks, enabling time for the completion and assessment of a grant application under the Anchor Business Support Program.

Michael Hampson, Norco CEO today stood and delivered the news saying "it really came at the final hour, and within 15 minutes of us knowing, our staff was informed via email."

"We are grateful that the Federal Government has offered this assistance and we have every intention through the Anchor Grant application process in trying to retain 100% of our staff, though we understand some of our staff have opted to take work elsewhere due to the uncertainty, we do feel we are prepared for when the factory is back up and running to be able to run again, fully staffed".

The announcement follows consistent lobbying by the 100% farmer-owned cooperative and other major Lismore businesses, calling on both the state and federal governments to do more and commit more funding to help Lismore businesses recover from the floods and in turn, safeguard jobs and support the wider community.

Mr Hampson also said "we have increased our prices to support farmers who have been massively affected by the floods and thank our customers for supporting our community. We have been informed by those suppliers who buy our product that they do wish to continue to support us when we are back up and running."

"This funding will go on to support the whole community with our staff going to work in other organisations and businesses as well, which will lift Lismore in this important time of recovery".

"While we wanted to bring everyone with us, unfortunately, we were unable to retain all our staff with this new funding, approximately 70 staff were unable to be funded, but we are still aiming to have them back with us in the future".

Nicholas Meyers, a Norco employee said of the news "it's one of the best things that have happened. I have a family at home to support and now have another 10 weeks."

Today a Norco employee told the Lismore App, "There are multi-generational employees who work here, some of whom have never had a job elsewhere, this is an incredibly important cooperative to the community of Lismore". It was clear to see the relief across the faces of many employees who had today turned up to what had been planned as a final BBQ, but was instead a celebration of things to come.

Mr Hampson and his colleague even had a friendly "Brisket-Off" competition, for the best-smoked Brisket in Lismore, with staff being the judge.

The Lismore App was shown through the factory where workers had "been working tirelessly, to the point where we are almost ready to just flick a switch and go back to work" said Mr Hampson, clearly proud of their efforts to date.

Images below show some footage of early on during the Feb 28th/March 1st floods caught on security camera, and how the factory is looking today, a testament to the dedication and hard work of employees such as Nicholas Meyers who have worked to clean and restore the factory.

Image: Huge bins floated past and the waters continued to rise

Image: A staff member desperately trying to save what they could as equipment floats around the factory

image: An image taped onto the machinery shows the mud and silt left behind after the flood waters subsided