Every phone buzzed in Nimbin Town Hall at the same time as the automated NSW RFS emergency bushfire warning to evacuate the Tuntable area was delivered to a crowd of hundreds this afternoon.In the hall, concerned Nimbin residents were attending a community meeting to receive updated information about the bushfire on Mount Nardi and the Nightcap National Park.Some were wearing face masks to protect them from the smoke and ashes in the air, and some had already evacuated from Tuntable Creek in the previous days.Read stories from Tuntable community residents Sarah Lonie, Nerelle Draisma, Drew Aird and Maggie Bourne as they evacuated; what the options are for where to go with your family and animals if you evacuate; what's needed in the way of supplies; and the link to the webcam on upper Tuntable Falls Road. Nimbin residents flee as "the wettest rainforest in Northern NSW is burning"NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) superintendent Brian Daley addressed the crowd and said the fire had escalated to a ‘Watch and Act’ level. “We are in uncharted territory here.” Supt Daley said. “Fires across NSW have already taken hundreds of homes and people have lost their lives”.Supt Daley said he believed the fire could have started from a lightning strike in the area on October 8, which may have reignited. “It’s now out of control,” he said. “We are on emergency warning level five now. “Over 2200 hectares are on fire.“It’s burning in wet forest areas where fire normally doesn’t go.”Infrastructure concerns Supt Daley said fire crews were currently fighting to protect telecommunications and power infrastructure in the Tuntable and Terania Creek areas. “We have significant infrastructure concerns about the tower on Mount Nardi,” he said.“We have tankers with pumps doing protective work around the tower.“If the infrastructure is affected by fire we could lose power and communications to a lot of areas.“Then we would have no pressure pumps to fight fires under those conditions.“We can’t have the fire trucks at every house - we don’t have enough appliances. If your property is not able to be protected, you need to decide to stay or leave.“We’ve seen what happened in Black Friday – if people leave it too late to get out and get trapped in their cars.“Heat and ember attack will be a problem too.”He urged people to leave the area and find emergency accommodation with friends and family, or go to the designated evacuation area at Nimbin showgrounds."As bad as it gets"Supt Daley gave a projected weather forecast and said next Tuesday “will be as bad as it gets”.“The temperature will be 35 degrees with a wind blowing N/NW at 27-30km/hr which will push the fire to the east towards the coastal areas. “Next Saturday, the temperature is expected to be 36.“We have no respite, no cool overnight temperature, no rain and the humidity is low.“The fires will burn overnight. Normally we would have containment lines already in place, but that is not the case here.“If the wind picks up, it will blow the fire over the containment lines.He said the fire had already travelled down the western side of the mountain, against RFS predictions.“Coming back under an easterly wind, it could easily wind into Terania Creek.”SES says 'register'State Emergency Service (SES) unit commander John Ludlow said the SES were on site to work together with the RFS to deliver logistics through the evacuations. “If you leave your home to stay somewhere else, register with the evacuation centre before you leave Nimbin town, so we know where everyone is,” he said.“We are getting phone calls from people who are concerned about the location of their loved ones.”Fire retardants Local MP Janelle Saffin addressed the crowd and said she had been approached by locals concerned about the use of fire retardants which had been dropped from the sky into the area.“The fire retardants are safe and contain no nasties,” she said.“People have also been asking me why the army isn’t here. “They are not trained firefighters, but I have brought it up for consideration with the State and Federal Government.”What to do Nimbin Rural Fire Brigade deputy captain Marcus Montscheff said people who had the opportunity to be billeted out at someone else’s house should do so.“Get your basics, your pets, your passport and photos and get out to a safe place,” he said.One of the residents asked if Gungas Road would be safe from the fire and Dep Capt Montscheff said that while it was not an immediate threat, “you can’t tell how soon until it might get there”.“It’s unpredictable,” he said. “If the fire is on a road below your place, your chance to escape may be gone.“Leave early and be safe.”“I know you look out at the urban bush interface around you and you see a big pile of kindling.“Embers can fly hundreds of metres or even kilometres in the wind.He said the fire was changing its path constantly due to wind changes, and that everyone should keep up to date with what was happening though the RFS Fires near me app or website.Help availableLocals asked if there would be any change in the amount of help available to contain the fire.NSW RFS Supt Daley said when it came to fire fighting resources, the areas in greatest threat, such as in the Sydney area would potentially get the use of the appliances.“We might lose some of our planes and tanker assets to the Sydney basin, but we have bulldozers and fire crews here.“We are also getting 29 volunteer fire fighters from the Sydney area tomorrow who will fight on our crews.”Ellie McWilliam, from Lismore City Council led the community meeting and said she had been working in disaster recovery preparedness.“Each person in a bushfire needed to be autonomous, independent and manage themselves, to have a survival plan, talk to family members and leave early,” she said.“I live on Wallace Road. I felt relief when I left yesterday. “When the warning comes to evacuate – do it.”Accommodation, evacuation and registeringEvacuees can register in person at Nimbin Showgrounds, or via the Red Cross website Register.Find.Reunite https://register.redcross.org.au/Camping accommodation is available at Nimbin and Lismore Showgrounds.Lismore showgrounds are available to shelter people’s animals, including livestock.Nimbin showgrounds have places for cats, dogs and people.If you want to keep up with the latest information about the bushfire emergency, the Facebook page Nimbin Hook Ups will be one of the ways information will be given to the community.Schools closedLocal schools are closed for the next two days. Parents are urged to keep their children at home as there will be no supervision at the schools. Schools include: Nimbin Central, Coffee Camp, Tuntable Falls, Tuntable Creek, Whian Whian, Terania Creek, Barkersvale, Rainbow Ridge, Steiner School and The Channon Public School.

8:30pmAs you can imagine, some schools in the area will be closed tomorrow, those listed by the NSW Department of Education are;Coffee Camp Public SchoolTuntable Creek Public SchoolTuntable Falls Community SchoolNimbin Central SchoolThe Channon Public SchoolPlease check with your local school if you are near bush fire affected areas.6pmThe fires at Tuntable Falls have intensified. The Richmond District Police have asked ALL residents of Tuntable Falls and Terania Creek to leave now.More details as they come to hand.1:12pmThere will be a community meeting at Nimbin Town Hall at 4pm today. Representatives from police, RFS, SES and other agencies will be there to talk about planning and contingencies for the next few days.A lot of forward planning is going into preparing for Tuesday, which has the potential to be a very bad day for fires. RFS firefighters continue to fight fires all over our region.This is from the Nimbin Rural Fire Brigade Facebook site......Given the Nimbin A&I Showground Evacuation area has no accommodation infrastructure and community members are privately offering accommodation and such to the brigade directly... there is a clear need for someone other than Nimbin RFB to coordinate accommodation for possible evacuees. Unfortunately the brigade simply does not have the time or Human Resources to drive this. Please someone establish a visible access point through existing local social networks to direct inquires and offers.As soon as we hear who or what organisation os coordinating emergency accommodation we will let you know.Nimbin Rural Fire Brigade said that 44 local firefighters and eight appliances are working to suppress the spread of fire in Terania Creek Valley and along Wallace Rd."Despite a long day and overnight efforts, the fire has spotted across Wallace Rd, north of Tuntable Falls Trail. Crews have fallen back to this line and are working hard to exclude fire from the Tuntable Falls CoOp side ahead of an E/SE afternoon wind change," Nimbin Rural Fire Brigade said on its Facebook page."We have learned that people are returning to their homes in Tuntable Falls CoOp and Newton Drive. While the Watch and Act advice level remains in place, residents need to be aware that this remains an extremely dynamic situation. The Evacuation advice remains in place. If your plan is to leave... Leave."The bush fires may mean that some areas may experience electricity outages. This could be well in advance of a fire actually threatening someones home. These outages is not to panic the community but is for managing and protecting the electricity network. People that rely on this power and who are considering staying and defending their homes should rethink their plans.More to come following the 4pm meeting at the Nimbin Town Hall.10amAs at 7:49 this morning, the Mt Nardi National Park bush fire continues to burn on multiple fronts towards Tuntable Falls Road in the South and Hounbrook in the east. The fire covers 2,200 hectares and is still considered out of control but is considered "Watch and Act" at this point.According to the RFS NSW fire activity has eased and firefighters are continuing to work on slowing the spread of the fireThe advice for residents at Tuntable Falls and Terania Creek is to leave their homes with Tuntable Falls residents to go to the evacuation centre at the Nimbin Showground while Terania Creek residents are to go to The Channon.A reminder that The Channon Markets have been cancelled today.Paul Gibbons, who is the gatekeeper at the Nimbin Showground, told the Lismore App "there are about 60-100 people at the Nimbin Showground"."Quite a few of those are families who have brought their dogs and cats"."It is a little quiet now as people have left this morning to check on their properties", he said.Gibbons also said there are no specific horse stable or cattle holding areas available but they can accommodate them. People should call him on 0458 872 228 before bringing any animals to the Nimbin Showground.The Lismore Showgrounds has offered their facilities to anyone needing emergency accommodation including horse stables, holding pens and chicken pens. You can call 6621 5916 for more information.Fire has devastated some homes very close to the 2480 postcode. The Wood family lost their property yesterday at Bora Ridge in Coraki.Photo: ABC North Coast Facebook page.Despite the downgrade to "Watch and Act" for the Mt Nardi bushfire, temperatures set to soar to the high 30's on Tuesday.Residents in Tuntable Falls and Terania Creek and their properties are a long way from returning home.Richmond Police District also released the following details this morning:* Myall Creek - fire is over 790 hectares and is being controlled. Still burning on multiple fronts.* Bora Ridge – 790 hectares lost and is out of control. The Coraki evacuation centre is closed but will reopen if necessary.* Woodenbong - fire is 400 hectares and is out of control. It is a long away from the Woodenbong township.* Jacksons Flat – out of control* Captains Creek – 647 hectares, under control.* Rivertree – 647 hectares, being controlled.* Long Gully Road, Busbys Flat Road, Jacksons Flat Road – under control* National parks are closed, please no not attend Minyon Falls. If you have any plans to go bushwalking for the next few days I would strongly suggest for your own safety that you don’t.* New England highway is open. Gwider and Oxley are closed. Pacific Highway between Taree and Nabiac is closed to heavy vehicles. Consult the Live Traffic app before making any driving plans.Mount Nardi on Saturday evening. Photo: Nimbin Rural Fire BrigadeLismore City Council said deteriorating weather conditions over the next two to three days will increase the risk for residents and communities in Mount Nardi and potentially in other areas nearby."Residents in those areas need to be ready to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan," Lismore City Council said."The fire situation means that electricity supply to homes is likely to be cut off, and well in advance of a fire actually threatening someone’s home. This is a function of managing and protecting the electricity network. People who would rely on power to stay and defend their homes should rethink their plans."If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation changes. Leaving early is your safest option.

UPDATE on the Mt Nardi Fire...8:09pmThe Mt Nardi fire is still burning out of control but has been downgraded to 'Watch and Act'.As previously advised residents from Tuntable have been advised to evacuate to the Nimbin Showground where an evacuation centre has been established. This is for residents and their stock. Residents from Terania Creek are to move to The Channon.The Nimbin Rural Fire Brigade has asked people to help those in need with tents and sleeping gear for those heading to the Nimbin Showground. North Coast National Secretary , Mark Bailey has said that residents have an option to go to the Lismore Showgrounds if needed. Their is free camping for anyone who needs emergency accomodation and has their own tent or vehicle. There is plenty of powered sites with water plus toilets and hot showers. Mark has said "we also have stables for horses and other animals including poultry pens. You can call Mark on 6621 5916 for 24 hour access.The Channon Markets that were scheduled for tomorrow have been cancelled.We will have further updates tomorrow morning.2:11pmWARNING: the NSWRFS has told Tuntable residents to leave now to the Nimbin Showground, you can take stock while Terania Creek residents are to make their way to The Channon.The bush fire at Mt Nardi in the Nightcap National Park is out of control and heading in a south-westerly direction towards Tuntable Falls Road.To keep up to date with the latest bushfire news stay in touch with the RFS website www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or the Nimbin RFS facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NimbinFireBrigade/.You can help by making sure family and friends in the area are aware of the latest bush fire news.12:20pmResidents of Terania Creek have been asked to consider self-evacuation by the Richmond District Police due to the present fire danger.An evacuation centre is being established at the Nimbin Showgrounds for residents and stock. You can bring your own camping equipment if you wish.According to recent reports from the Nimbin Rural Fire Brigade the fire has progressed slowly westward but no immediate threat to Tuntable Valley, however the fire is within upper Terania Creek valley. Brigades are in attendance there.Where there is access, Brigades are working the southeastern edges preparing hand tool lines and supporting a NPWS dozer to consolidate Nicholson’s Trail and Tuntable Falls Trail. The immediate priorities are to protect homes in the Terania Creek valley, stop fire moving west and southeast of Wallace Rd/ Nicholson’s Trail and provide tanker access to the southern fire flank.The north and western edge of the fire has thankfully moved slowly yet remains inaccessible, as is the northeastern edge. A smaller (but not insignificant) fire north of Bat Cave Creek/ east of Protester Falls also remains inaccessible.Aviation support has commenced firefighting and mapping operations across the fireground.Volunteers are standing up at Nimbin station. Please feel free to visit there for more information.Residents are advised to review and activate their Bushfire Survival Plans and remain vigilant.This fire remains at ADVICE Level, so please keep an ear out for mobile and landline telephone alerts. No need to panic. No need to evacuate at this time.Stay safe.Read more: Bushfire puts ABC transmitter at risk

A fire burning in the Nightcap National Park has the potential to put at risk the ABC's transmitter at Mount Nardi.That could mean if you’re on the north coast, you might lose your TV and radio.So, here’s your options:For ABC Local Radio:The next strongest transmitter in the ABC North Coast region is - Grafton (Lawrence tower) 738 AMAlso ABC Murwillumbah 720AMOr if you have a smart phone or web connection, google ABC North Coast, and choose ‘listen live’.If you’re in other listening areas and you want to know what your most reliable transmitter is, here you go.ABC Mid North Coast Port Macquarie Taree (Taree MF) 756 AMABC Mid North Coast Port Macquarie Kempsey (Smithton MF) 684AMABC New England North West - Glen Innes (Glen Innes MF) 819 AMRead More: North Coast State forests closed until further notice

All State forests from the north of Nabiac to the Queensland border and the northern tablelands will remain closed to the public until further notice due to the ongoing fire risk.Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Senior Manager Forest Stewardship Kathy Lyons said State forests on the north coast and northern tablelands may remain closed for extended periods. “There are many large dangerous fires moving across the landscape and we expect the high fire danger to continue for the foreseeable future,” Ms Lyons said. “State forests that have been recently burnt will remain closed for some time due to the high risk of trees falling after fire.“There is a very high risk to public safety, so do not enter these forests until further notice.” State forests in the Hunter region and Central Coast are now open, but visitors are urged to take extra care and adhere to the ongoing solid fuel fire bans and pay close attention to new fire warnings. Sealy Lookout in Orara East State Forest near Coffs Harbour will remain open while safe from fire. “State forests in the Hunter, Central Coast and Sealy Lookout near Coffs Harbour are open to visitors, but we do encourage people to carefully consider and plan their travel and be prepared to leave if the conditions change,” Ms Lyons said.“The landscape is incredibly dry and there are already extensive fires across the north coast, so conditions can change rapidly and there remains a continued heightened fire risk until we have substantial rain.“We encourage anyone planning to visit a State forest to check current fire danger and fire bans via the Rural Fire Service website and keep an eye on our website or Facebook page for information about closures.“Solid Fuel Fire Bans, which have been in place since 1 September and prohibit campfires and barbecues using wood, charcoal or other solid fuels, continue to apply every day. "Campers are permitted to use gas stoves for cooking unless a total fire ban is declared.”For the latest information about fires, visit the Rural Fire Service website http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

We've enhanced some functions in the Lismore App and cleared out a couple of minor bugs, so it's time to update your app.New FeatureOne of the functions requested in user feedback is the ability to swipe to the next story rather than hit the back arrow at the top and then push on the next news or sport story. With this new update you now have this feature. Try it; open a story and swipe your finger from right to left on the screen to go to the next story.The new version of the Lismore App is 3.3.0.You can check your version number easily by going to the Contact The App button. Once there, click on the 'About' tab and scroll to the bottom of the page where you will see the version number.If it does not say 3.3.0 go t your App Store or Play store and update the Lismore App.For iPhone users click here.For Android users click here.If you have any more suggestions for us to improve the Lismore App, please let me know through the same Contact The App button. Our aim is to keep making your experience as simple as can be.If you do experience some problems from time to time, the simple fix is to turn your mobile phone off then turn it back on. It is like your PC or Laptop, sometimes it needs a re-boot.

A fire which has has broken out at Nightcap National Park has sparked Rous County Council to close the nearby Rocky Creek Dam park to the public this weekend.The closure of Rocky Creek Dam - which is one of the main water supplies to the Lismore area - is as a safety precaution.Rous County Council, which manages the water supply for the area, urges people to check its website for further information and updates: http://www.rous.nsw.gov.auRead more about the Nightcap National Park fire: BREAKING NEWS: Bushfire breaks out at Mount Nardi Read more: Smoky conditions trigger health warning

Fine smoke particles in the air have triggered a health warning from the North Coast Public Health Unit.Residents in the Far North Coast are advised to take precautions while bushfire smoke affects local air quality and hot weather is forecast. Fine smoke particles affect the human cardiovascular and respiratory systems and can aggravate existing chronic health conditions by penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the blood system. North Coast Public Health Unit acting director Greg Bell, said the particles can cause health problems such as itchy or burning eyes, throat and nose irritation and illnesses such as bronchitis. “We urge people with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions to be aware of the effects of exposure to bushfire smoke and to take steps to protect their health,” Mr Bell said. “Smoke exposure can lead people with lung disease or chronic bronchitis to develop shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing, many days after smoke is inhaled. “We recommend these people closely monitor their symptoms and follow their asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) action plan.” Mr Bell advised residents, particularly those sensitive to smoke, to stay indoors until the air clears and avoid strenuous exercise or heavy outdoor work where possible. “Symptoms can occur for several days after smoke is inhaled, so people with chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions need to be vigilant with their medication or treatment programs,” Mr Bell said. “If symptoms do not settle, contact your doctor.” Mr Bell also advised residents to take precautions during the predicted hot weather. “Remember to drink plenty of water, stay in cool areas or visit air conditioned locations, and look out for neighbours and family members who may be vulnerable,” he said. Healthy adults may also feel the effects of fine smoke particles that can irritate the lungs, but generally any symptoms will clear after the smoke disappears. In the event of an emergency, always remember to dial Triple Zero (000). For tips on dealing with hot weather, visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/default.aspx More information about bushfire smoke is available at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/air/Pages/air-factsheets.aspx

Bexhill resident Merrilee Pettinato is doing everything she can to support people affected by recent bush fires in the Tenterfield region.Tomorrow, Saturday, November 9, she’s holding a storage shed sale in Goonellabah to raise money for the non-profit organisation Make It Tenterfield.Merillee works at Daleys Homewares and Monogramming and said she felt for the hardships the people in the Tenterfield region were going though after the fires.  “I have a house in Tenterfield that nearly burnt down on October 6,” she said.“I was actually buying the house on that day. “At 10am in morning after the final inspection of the house, I was waiting around for the transfer settlement to come through and I went for a wander and asked the local agent to ring me when it was done.“Later, my own agent rang said me and said she was at my house fighting a fire in her high heels along with the current who were fire fighting volunteers – and they stayed there to fight the fire too.“It was extraordinary the way things came together for me.”Merillee regularly travels to Tenterfield and loves the community there.She’s joined the collective art and craft collective Make It Tenterfield which she says has evolved into a hub of people who support each other and people in neighbouring towns like Stanthorpe and Drake. “They are fundraising for the community doing raffles and a Buy a Bale fundraiser so farmers can feed their remaining cattle and horses,” she said.“Since February this year, three fires have ringed the town on three occasions, with only one house lost - but many outbuildings, fences and live stock are affected and thousandsof acres of farms and surrounding National and State Forests and Parks are burnt.“Today there’s another fire broken out down the road again and the devastation is ongoing - especially as the drought is also impacting them.“Many people are now without an income and that impacts the whole town.“Tenterfiled is a tourist town with many people either passing through or coming to the National Parks or State Forests, many of which are now closed due to the fire. “Bald Rock has had all the infrastructure destroyed.”Merillee said all the money raised from the storage locker sale tomorrow will be given to Make It Tenterfield to distribute to different organisations.“Money will go to buying bottled water for the school kids as the town water supply is undrinkable without boiling first, or to buy bales of hay for cattle.“We’ve also got donations going to organisations like Blaze Aid - an initiative that started in the Black Saturday fires in Victoria - where volunteers from all over the world come to the assistance of farmers with fence building or other tasks.The storage shed sale will offer a wide range of donated goods, including quad bike and motorbike gear and garden tools. “Six months ago my friend had a storage shed full of abandoned stuff which has been donated to me for the cause.The sale will be held at Caravan Plus Storage, Unit 100, 4 Holland Road, Goonellabah from 8am until 2pm.Merillee also intends to hold a Lismore Car Boot market stall on November 17.

Renee Daniels has always loved doing make-up. “It’s my specialty,” she said. “Before I did a diploma qualification, I taught myself.  “Now it’s my life – so much actually goes into it and I love seeing the customers so happy.” Renee and her sister Jade Stevens have opened a new business in Lismore - Pretty Please Hair and Beauty. The salon, with its jade green walls and clean stylish décor has been opened for about two months.Pictured: Renee Daniels from Pretty Please Hair and Beauty loves vibrant colours.Renee said it’s “tucked away” down a laneway off Carrington Street, next to Dragonfly Coffee Shop. “We’re located near PlayQuest and The Essential Movement Pilates,” she said.  “But we’d love people to come in and say hello.” Renee is offering facials, waxing, glam makeup and hair wash and blow dry. Jade will be cutting hair on Saturdays and her speciality is hair colouring. “I’m studying hairdressing at TAFE at the moment and when I’m qualified I’ll be cutting hair too,” Renee said.  “I already have a beauty therapist qualification and a Certifcate 2 in salon assisting. “Make up is my specialty, Jade’s is colouring.”  Renee said Jade has been a hairdresser for 16 years and came to her one day and said they should open a business together. “Jade is my inspiration,” Renee said. “She’s a full-time working mum and she she’s always doing her best to help people.” “When we opened, we wanted to be available for people by appointment for special occasions. “We thought there’s a lot of working mums and we wanted to make ourselves available outside of normal opening times - so we are there when we they need us.” Renee and Jade have been getting customers who want to be pampered before weddings. School formals are also coming up and the salon is already getting bookings from customers keen to look their best for the end of year celebrations. “When people have special events on, like weddings, we know they want to look fresh with their hair and make up,” Renee said. “No-one wants to look dull and deflated for their special day. “We can schedule them in at a time that best suits them before it starts.” Pretty Please Hair and Beauty also stock a range of hair and beauty products which are all cruelty free, vegan and Australian made. “That’s always been very important to both of us,” Renee said. Pretty Please Hair and Beauty is located at Shop 2/38 Carrington Street, Lismore. You can contact them on 0421 312 623. Pretty Please Hair and Beauty shop hours are:Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9am-5pmTuesday 9am-8pm and Saturday 8am-2pmClosed on Sunday and Monday

A total fire ban has been declared for Friday, November 8 in the Northern Rivers.The ban includes: no fires out in the open on Friday, including open fire barbeques, hot coal barbeques and general purpose hot works in the open, such as welding, grinding or gas cutting.The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has reported that the current forecast weather and fire danger is worse than the on October 8 when the Busby’s Flat fire in Richmond Valley caused so much damage.RFS fire crews have brought under control fires which began near Lismore yesterday.These fires include a bush fire at Wardell Road at Wardell, grass fires burning at Myall Creek Road at Bora Ridge and at Wyrallah Road at Tuckarimba, and a pine needle fire at Carwon State Forest in Richmond Valley. Yesterday, there were 66 bush and grass fires burning across NSW, with 19 still to be contained. All State forests from Sydney to the Queensland border are closed. Read more: All State forests to the border closed from todayWith seven total fire bans and increased fire danger across the state, The RFS strongly suggests people review their bush fire survival plans and know what you will do if fire threatens.“If a fire starts in your area it will not be controllable in these weather conditions”, the RFS reported.“If you are not prepared or would not be completely safe if you are in a bush fire prone area, you should leave early.”Read more about the severe weather and the dust plume over the region: Severe weather brings brown skies to Lismore

Brown skies in Lismore and poor visibility today in the region is a result of an incoming dust plume, along with major fires burning in the far northeast corner of NSW.Northern NSW Severe Weather has reported that the large plume of dust has been kicked up by strong winds associated with a vigorous cold front and weather trough moving across the country.Severe fire dangers are now in place across the Far North Coast, North Coast, New England, Greater Hunter and Northern Slopes.The Rural Fire Service has reported a bush fire burning at Wardell Road at Wardell; grass fires burning at Myall Creek Road at Bora Ridge and at Wyrallah Road at Tuckarimba; and a pine needle fire at Carwon State Forest in Richmond Valley. There is also a fire burning near Tenterfield.All state forests from Sydney to the Queensland border are closed for the next three days due to increased fire risks. Read more: All State forests to the border closed from todayThe following image from Northern NSW Severe Weather is taken from EWN satellite and lightning tracker and show the dust plumes moving across the State:Northern NSW Severe Weather have created a graphic showing dust plumes from fires, which are causing poor visibility: The Rural Fire Service's Fires Near Me map shows fires burning near Lismore:

Sports players at Hepburn Park in Goonellabah will now be able to see the ball better at night.New state-of-the-art lighting has been installed at the park, which will allow more use of the grounds at night. The park is growing in popularity as more people take up sport to stay fit and healthy. It is currently the home of the Lismore Touch Association, Oztag and for a number of one-off events like the Samson Challenge. Lismore City Council has invested $218,000 in bringing the lighting up to Australian Standards, which means players can better see the ball at night. It also reduces the park’s lighting affecting neighbouring residents in the new Waterford Park Estate. The new lights will also cut power consumption by half. This is great for both the environment and for clubs and associations who use the sports facility. The project was funded under the NSW Stronger Country Communities Fund (SCCF) with the Lismore Touch Football Association also contributing.  New grandstands have also been installed at the North Coast Regional Hockey Centre in Goonellabah. The $154,000 project has provided an additional 360 seats in the shade for spectators. It was funded under the SCCF.

All State forests from the north of Sydney to the Queensland border, including the Far North Coast, will be closed to the public for three days from today.The forests are closed from Thursday, November 7 until Saturday, November 9 due to the very high to extreme fire danger over the coming days. The closure applies to all State forests in the Rural Fire Service zones in the Greater Sydney Region, Far North Coast, North Coast, Greater Hunter, New England and the Northern Slopes.The only exceptions are Cumberland State Forest, Treetops Adventure Park at Ourimbah State Forest and Sealy Lookout at Orara East State Forest. Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Senior Manager Forest Stewardship Kathy Lyons asked the community to stay out of these State forests due to the very high risk to public safety. “We are expecting very high to severe and extreme fire weather over the next three days and there are already extensive fires across the north coast and tablelands. Fires are likely to be uncontrollable in these conditions,” Ms Lyons said. “All State forests from the north of Sydney to the Queensland border and the northern tablelands will be closed for the next three days due to the high fire danger. “This closure will affect popular camp grounds and picnic areas throughout the region including Olney, Heaton and Strickland State forests, Swans Crossing near Kendall, Coopernook Headquarters and recreation areas along the Allyn River and Telegherry River in the Chichester State forest. “Please do not enter these forests over the next three days.” For the latest information about fires, visit the Rural Fire Service website www.rfs.nsw.gov.au 

Farmers and landcare groups are encouraged to apply for funding of up to $50,000 under round three of the Australian Government’s Smart Farms Small Grants program. Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the grants would help farmers turn innovative ideas into on-ground projects to improve the quality of their natural resources while increasing on-farm productivity. “Farmers are the custodians of more than half of Australia’s land and they’re wanting to pass it on in a better state,” Mr Hogan said. “Projects previously funded under include innovative methods to manage soil acidity; virtual fencing to protect riparian habitat; improving orchard pollination and bee health using drone technology, as well as mentoring activities connecting farmers and students. “Smart Farms Small Grants supports projects that increase the knowledge, skills and capacity of farming, forestry and fishing communities to adopt best practice sustainable agriculture.” A total of $43.5 million is available for Smart Farms Small Grants across an anticipated six annual rounds (2017–18 to 2022–23). Under Round one, 77 projects valued at $4.75 million were approved, with another 110 projects valued at $9.25 million approved under Round two. Round three Smart Farms Small Grants applications are open until 19 December 2019. For more information and to apply visit the Community Grants Hub website http://www.communitygrants.gov.au

A man has been arrested in Lismore and charged over the alleged online exploitation of a child and possession of child abuse material.Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from the Far North Coast.Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished to perform on the child.Following extensive inquiries, a 33-year-old man was arrested by Strike Force Trawler detectives at a business at Lismore about 9.30am today (Wednesday November 6).Strike Force Trawler detectives also executed a search warrant at a home near Casino, where they seized electronic devices.The man was taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with use carriage service to send indecent material to person under 16, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, possess child abuse material, and fail to comply with reporting obligations.He was refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court today.Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. 

Police are seeking community assistance with locating Thomas King Thomas King, who has an outstanding warrant. Mr King is 27 years old and may be in Goonellabah.If you can help police locate Mr King, contact your local police or call Crimestoppers on 1800333000  

A new residential community in Goonellabah is ready to be inspected by potential home owners.The Eastwood development on Invercauld Road, Goonellabah will offer 133 homesites across a 21 hectare parcel of land.Managed by developers the McCloy Group, Stage 1 of Eastwood will be open to the public on November 16, from 10am-12pm.On offer in Stage 1 will be 16 to 20 blocks of land for sale to the public.McCloy Group Project Director Sam Rowe said the development will incorporate incorporate public art, children’s playgrounds and over 200 mature street trees. “We seek to create communities which families can be proud to call home” Mr Rowe said.When complete Eastwood will be home to around 135 new homes and over 300 residents. Pictured: Artist's impression of stage 1 of the Eastwood development.Fast progressMr Rowe said the development has been able to go ahead quickly because his company purchased the land 18 months ago with a Development Approval already in place.“The previous developer never started the project because of the big upfront costs for infrastructure, on top of standard civil construction costs,” Mr Rowe said.“We realised we needed to take a hit on stage one to get it off the ground.Mr Rowe said some changes to the development plan were necessary to get the development to the construction certificate stage with Lismore Council.“We had to make some changes to the roading because it was too close to residents’ properties,” Mr Rowe said. “And we took out the retaining wall on the side of the access road and instead made it a landscaped development."We purposely collected a civil contractor with a good reputation and it was a quick 6-7 month program to get the works done – and we’ve been lucky with the weather.”Pictured: Artist's impression of stage 2 of the Eastwood development.Six StagesThere will be six stages overall in the development, with 20-25 lots being made available in each stage.Mr Rowe said if stage 1 sold quickly, the company would begin work on stage 2 immediately.“McCloy Group want to offer something different to what you would normally see in a subdivision,” Mr Rowe said.“We are offering an open park, natural landscape, utilising the natural rock features on the site and have replaced trees we’ve had to remove with mature trees.”A Vegetation Management Plan has been put in place which will see substantial revegetation of open space areas (including Gundurmba Creek corridor) undertaken, with over 7,000 thousand active tree and plant species to be planted within the community. Open dayPeople interested in purchasing land can come and look at the development on November 16.Mr Rowe said representatives from real estate agent LJ Hooker would be on site on the day to walk people through the sites.“People can secure land on the day with a $1000 holding deposit,” he said. “Block prices range from $149,000 to $257,000.“The streets will be well presented, with roads, curbs, gutters and grass and lot sizes vary from 629 – 2700 square metres.”Some of the land has a steep gradient and Mr Rowe said different options would be available for home builders who wanted a flat area, or a split level construction.“As part of the stage 1 development, natural stone from the site has been resourced to create a statement entry feature to welcome future residents along with reuse in homesite benching,” he said.“Local residents will also notice the new public art commissioned with the launch of Eastwood, a three meter high bronze koala and its baby, titled Cuddles, by artists Gillies & Marc.“We look forward to welcoming the community at the launch event, there will be brekkie wraps and coffee on us along with free children’s activities and local builders onsite.”For more information about Eastwood, visit https://eastwoodliving.com.au/ or see Facebook for information about the open day on November 16 https://www.facebook.com/events/406920133538399/  

There’s a new face in pharmacy in town. Discount Drug Stores has a opened a new chemist store on Rous Road in Goonellabah. The purpose-built pharmacy is attached to the GP Super Clinic in the shopping complex on the corner of Pleasant Street and Rous Road. Pharmacist and managing owner Steven Defrenne said today is the second day of trading. “We knew there was a need for a pharmacy here,” Steven said. Pharmacist Steven Defrenne has settled in Lismore.“People in this area have limited transport to get into town and we wanted to make sure that we could optimise health care here.”Steven said the pharmacy will be open seven days a week and at the moment is in a “soft opening” stage as he sets up the pharmacy and keeps and eye on what the most suitable times are to be open for customers.At the moment, the store is open Monday to Thursday 8am - 7.30pm, Friday 8am – 6.30pm, Saturday 9am – 4.30pm and Sunday 9am – 3.30pm.“We’ll gauge when we are going to be busy and then set opening hours based on what is best for the community,” Steven said.“We will hold a grand opening in a few weeks and invite people along.” Steven moved to Lismore from Brisbane and is now happily settled here. “We are part of a franchise, but I’m the owner of this business,” he said. “We will be offering multiple services as we set up over the coming months, including services to help with sleep apnoea and home medication management.”