As the weather clears to reveal a perfect late winter's day tomorrow (Saturday), the excitement is building for Lismore City Council's LOLA festival in the CBD.LOLA stands for Laneways of Lismore Arts, and the free festival takes place at various places throughout the Lismore CBD block from 1pm and closes at 9pm.You will enjoy everything from creative activities, immersive lighting experiences, displays and unique artistic expressions, along with market stalls, food vendors, an outdoor bar and Lismore’s vibrant and diverse food and dining offerings. The complete details are below:LOLA LIVE STAGE Magellan Street between 1pm – 9pmMC: Mel BamptonThe beating heart of the festival, the LOLA LIVE STAGE brings together bold voices and brilliant sounds. Headlined by the powerful presence of First Nations star Mitch Tambo, alongside Melbourne indie favourites Cool Sounds and Eggy, the stage celebrates both national talent and local legends. A special spotlight shines on Mr Rhodes — Lismore’s own genre-blending storyteller — joined by rising local acts Liminal and Lucy’s House. This is where sound, spirit, and community come alive.1pm – 1.40pm: Lucy’s House2pm – 3pm: Liminal3.30pm – 4.30pm: Eggy5pm – 6pm: Mr Rhodes6.30pm – 7.30pm: Cool Sounds8pm – 9pm: Mitch TamboEMERGING SOUNDS STAGECarrington Street between 1pm – 8 pmMC: Nino HaggithThe Emerging Sounds Stage celebrates the raw, rising talent from Lismore and surrounds — showcasing the voices, beats, and stories of the local music scene. Curated by Planet Music, Howl and Moan Records and Music NSW. From soulful singer-songwriters to genre-bending, bold new bands, the line-up is a living mixtape of creative energy and a launchpad for the next wave of artists who deserve to be heard far beyond our hills. Lismore is a premier precinct for artists and performers, and the Emerging Sounds Stage is proof of that.Come discover the future of music, made right here:1.10pm – 1.40pm: NRC Youth Jazz Orchestra2pm – 2.30pm: The Bones2.50pm – 3.30pm: MK3.30pm – 4pm: Move It Dance4pm – 4.40pm: Casey May and the Lovers5pm – 5.40pm: Media Puzzle6pm – 6.40pm: Shluffy7pm – 8pm: The Deadly GoodLOLA DJ STAGECnr Nesbitt Lane & Eggins Lane between 1pm and 9pmLOLA DJs is the sonic pulse of the LOLA Arts Festival — where curated soundscapes meet visual art, and late-night sets move both bodies and boundaries. Representing a fusion of electronic rhythm, experimental beats, and art-forward curation, LOLA DJs create a space where music isn’t just heard — it’s felt, seen, and lived. This is not just a DJ set. It’s art you can dance to:1pm – 2.45pm: Holiday Maker DJs2.45pm – 4.30pm: Flo Records DJs4.30pm – 6pm: Wax Addicts DJs6pm – 7.30pm: Trusted Friends DJs7.30pm – 9pm: Guy Grey DJsLOLA VISUAL ARTISTSCarrington Street & Eggins Lane between 1pm and 5pmLOLA is an immersive festival – to be seen, felt, and painted across the city walls. Experience the laneways come alive with internationally acclaimed artists Paul McNeil and Marty Baptist as they create a live, portable mural that evolves throughout the day. With each brushstroke unfolding in real time, festival-goers are invited into the process — to watch, to engage with the artist, and to witness ideas come alive in colour and form. Adding to the visual feast, local legends from the Back Alley Gallery will reimagine Lismore’s laneways with freshly curated street art installations. Expect bold lines, rich textures, and powerful stories painted across brick and concrete. At LOLA, art doesn’t hang quietly — it pulses with energy, spilling into the streets and pulling you in. This is more than a festival — it’s a creative takeover:1.30pm – 4pm: Marty Baptist1.30pm – 4pm: Paul McNeil1pm – 5pm: The Back Alley Gallery – Kate Stroud, Kai Gesco & Steep StLOLA BACK STAGEEggins Lane (Back Alley Gallery) between 1pm and 5pmThe Back Stage buzzes with the energy of emerging local youth performers who leapt at the chance to showcase their talent at LOLA. This stage celebrates fresh voices and rising stars—a space where the next generation of artists gets their moment to shine. Swing by to experience the raw creativity, passion, and talent that make our region unique.LOLA FESTIVAL ACTIVITIESEnjoy everything from creative activities, immersive lighting experiences, displays and unique artistic expressions.    Along with market stalls, food vendors, outdoor bar and Lismore’s vibrant and diverse food and dining offerings.  TROPICAL FRUITS SIDE SHOW ALLEY4 Carrington Street between 1pm and 9pmA vibrant, camp, and all-ages celebration of Lismore’s LGBTIQ+ community. Enter under a giant rainbow arch, greeted by a drag usher, and enjoy games, bubbles, music, art, face painting, and surprise performances.Note: Alcohol-free space. Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.IMMERSIVE LIGHT EXPERIENCE Eggins Lane/County Lane between 5pm and 9pmExperience a bold, immersive lighting installation that delights both young and old. Stunning visuals, photo opportunities, and a unique sensory experience make this a highlight of the festival.LANTERN PARADE INSTALLATION Magellan Street and Eggins Lane between 1pm and 9pmMagnificent lanterns illuminate the festival, adding colour, fun, and a sense of wonder to LOLA. Perfect for photos and enjoying a magical, luminous atmosphere.MAKERS MARKET Magellan Street between 1pm and 9pmStroll through the Makers Market and discover local treasures, handmade goods, and unique artworks—perfect for finding something special to take home.COUNTY LANE CREATIVE HUB – CULTIVATE CREATION 10 County Lane between 1pm and 9pm Enjoy a vibrant day of art workshops, live music, dance, theatre games, fire shows, and DJ sets. Celebrate creativity with an amazing community of artists, makers, and performers—fun for all ages!COUNTY LANE CREATIVE HUB – LITTLE LISMORE County Lane between 1pm and 9pm Join Living School teachers to co-create ‘Little Lismore’ in County Lane. Step into a whimsical cardboard village at the heart of the festival. Design and build your own cardboard creations at the tables surrounding the central build area, then watch your creations take their place in the growing miniature city. Fun, hands-on, and perfect for all ages!KIDS CREATIVE ZONE Eggins Lane between 1pm and 9pmChildren will learn block printing techniques, create their own stamps, try block painting, and decorate a zip pouch to take home, thanks to The Artisans Table.As you can see, it is a full day of arts and activities in the Lismore CBD tomorrow (Saturday, August 23) from 1pm. With the weather looking perfect, and sporting fields being closed, head into the CBD and enjoy entertainment with family and friends.

The view from Conway Street as you drive past the Lismore TAFE campus will be very, very different in 2026.According to the DA (development application) on the Lismore City Council DA Tracking Portal, all remaining TAFE buildings will be demolished, leaving only two restored heritage-listed buildings that front Keen Street.When Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan and Steve Brady, the head of TAFE for NSW, were in Lismore in January 2024, the plan was to renovate the old Ambulance Station (Building C), the old Trades School (Building E), and the former Drill Hall (Building B).The former Drill Hall will now be demolished, along with all other surrounding buildings.The Lismore App understands that large amounts of asbestos were discovered when the buildings were assessed.As for the future use of the land? It is to be a large grassed area with the existing car park remaining open.During rain events, the water will fall towards existing stormwater drains on Conway Street and Hampton Lane.The estimated cost to demolish the buildings and create the new green space is $3.19 million.In January 2024, the Lismore App asked the question about the size of the Lismore TAFE campus. The response from Steve Brady was that it will be slightly smaller than pre-flood.With only two educational buildings remaining, the words 'slightly smaller' appear to be optimistic."We're very keen to make sure we have got a vibrant campus here that supports the local community, but we don't want to be investing in heavy equipment which is then going to be ruined when there's another event. So, we're trying to get that right balance, but what we're probably looking at is a different mix of courses and looking at courses that don't require that heavy machinery investment," Mr Brady said at the time.The Lismore campus opened in Semester One this year with courses which included Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways, Community Pharmacy, Retail and Auslan.Semester Two was expanded to include certificate-level courses in Visual Arts, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts, Hospitality and Business. There are now 23 courses run on campus.There is also the potential for further Arts courses between TAFE and NORPA, which has purchased the former Hampton and Larson site 50 metres away.The TAFE NSW website states that most courses are now held at the main campus at 192 Keen Street, Lismore, and that all Creative courses are run from purpose-built facilities at Southern Cross University, plus there are many courses that are run online and off campus.You can check them out here.

A body has been located during a search for a man missing at Stony Chute, near Nimbin.The 67-year-old man was last seen in Nimbin about 4pm on Friday, 8 August 2025.When he could not be contacted or located, officers from Richmond Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.As part of the investigation, emergency services conducted several searches of bushland at Stony Chute in the days since he was reported missing.About 10.35am yesterday (Wednesday 20 August 2025), police located the body of a man during a search of a property at Stony Chute.While yet to be formally identified, the body is believed to be that of the missing man.A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Today's Extraordinary Lismore City Council meeting lasted less than 10 minutes, as both rescission motions were easily defeated due to the absence of Councillors (Crs) Knight-Smith and Waters, with Cr Guise not in attendance again.Cr Dalton-Earls raised the question of the appropriate time to move an urgency motion.Mayor Krieg said, "It's not on the agenda for an extraordinary meeting. You can't move an urgency motion."Cr Dalton-Earls asked for the code of meeting practice to be checked because he was of the understanding it could be moved. To which Mayor Krieg said it had been checked and on top of that, he determined that the urgency motion put forward could wait until the ordinary September meeting."If you're desperate for an outcome before the 9th of September, that's what makes it urgent at an extraordinary meeting. But I've read your proposal, and I think it can wait until the 9th of September."The first rescission motion was to reverse the decision during the ordinary meeting on August 12 about withdrawing old policies:withdraw policies 1.4.2, 1.5.1, 5.2.1, 5.17.5rewrite policy 8.5.1 as a Sport, Tourism, Culture and Art Policyreview the Biodiversity Strategy with a report to come to Council by March 2026As an example of age, 1.5.1, the Annual Rental Applicable to Non-Profit Organisations with Buildings on Council Land Policy, was last reviewed by council staff in 1996.The vote was a 7/3 defeat, with Cr Guise not in attendance. This was always a long shot that this rescission motion would be successful due to the first vote.Cr Hall asked a question of the General Manager about Council having a policy about making policies. GM Eber Butron said that because the policies are pretty old and he believes council staff have not referred to them in such a long time, he doesn't "Believe it's an urgent item that is required in relation to undertaking business. But I'd have to seek further advice."The three absent councillors were the ones who put forward the rescission motion, and all three were absent, so the motion was defeated unanimously today.The second rescission motion was to reverse councils vote about the Temporary Housing Pods in East Lismore:In August, it was moved that Council:writes to the Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin MP, requesting an update on any current or planned negotiations between State and Federal Ministers, agencies, and relevant stakeholders regarding the future use of the temporary housing pods located in Lismorerequests that these negotiations explore options for retaining some or all pods within the Lismore Local Government Area for purposes including:transitional housing for flood-affected residentstemporary accommodation for individuals and families experiencing homelessnesscrisis accommodation for survivors of domestic and family violenceother identified community housing needs such as key worker housingacknowledges that the pods form part of a joint Federal–State program initiative and that their continued use could provide significant community benefit.states its position that Council supports the retention of some or all of the pods within the Lismore Local Government Area for ongoing transitional, crisis, and community housing purposes, and affirms this position in writing to the Member for Lismore and Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin MP, as well as relevant State and Federal Ministers and agencies as requiredWhen it came time to debate and vote on the rescission motion that Council request an Update and Retention Options on Temporary Housing Pods of the 12 August 2025 Council meeting, Cr Dalton-Earls said he believed that the two supporting councillors (Waters and Knight-Smith) had moved to withdraw the motion. He also wanted the motion withdrawn based on the code of meeting practice because, "I believe if the two supporting councillors also say that they will withdraw, it will be withdrawn."Mayor Krieg told Cr Dalton-Earls this had been researched, and if all three councillors who put in the rescission motion were here to rescind, they had to be here in person. "It can't be done via email or before the actual meeting. Therefore, because you're the only person here, it can't be withdrawn."Cr Dalton-Earls began to talk about the reason for submitting the rescission motion and how close the vote was at the last ordinary meeting, when Cr Rob raised a point of order that Cr Dalton-Earls was trying to debate the original motion rather than the rescission motion.Cr Dalton-Earls reinforced his thoughts that he would have preferred to debate the motion when all councillors were present. "I believe that this is an extremely important motion that would increase housing options, and I believe in the rescission for that reason."The rescission motion was easily defeated 7/1.The two rescission motions can not be brought back to council for three months.What was extraordinary about this council meeting was that it was complete in under 10 minutes.The next ordinary Lismore City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 9 at 10am.

The NSW Government has established a new dedicated enforcement unit to strengthen compliance and enforcement of tobacco and vaping laws across NSW.The Centre for Regulation and Enforcement in NSW Health will comprise of a statewide team of 48 full-time equivalent staff.These staff will operate across metropolitan, rural, and remote locations to ensure a consistent, calibrated, and effective compliance approach.The Centre for Regulation and Enforcement will work closely with the Australian Border Force, Police, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration on intelligence sharing, joint operations, and regulatory alignment, ensuring a unified approach to enforcement.The establishment of the Centre aligns with and strengthens the NSW Government’s capacity to enforce tough new tobacco compliance reforms and the commencement of the tobacco licensing scheme, as well as support the work of the cross agency Illicit Tobacco Taskforce.The new tobacco compliance reforms introduced to NSW Parliament will bring in some of the toughest penalties in the country for the sale and commercial possession of illicit tobacco and will grant substantial powers for inspectors to close premises found to be in breach of the new rules.The NSW Government will also commence a targeted consultation on a new offence for landlords who knowingly lease their premises to illicit tobacco and vape suppliers.These new penalties and offences will complement the tobacco licensing scheme, which was commenced on 1 July and will take effect from 1 October following a three-month grace period. The Centre for Regulation and Enforcement will work closely with the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce to continue to develop options and recommendations to strengthen compliance and enforcement activities in NSW to reduce the availability of illegal tobacco in the community.From 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025, NSW Health:conducted more than 700 retailer inspections and seized:more than 90,000 nicotine vapes, e-liquids and pouches with an estimated street value around $2.9 million;more than 6 million cigarettes and 1,100 kg of other illicit tobacco products with an estimated street value of around $6.8 million; andissued around 150 penalty notices, totalling around $316,000.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “This government has introduced some of the toughest illegal tobacco penalties in Australia.“The creation of this new centre will ensure we have the tools and capabilities to back in our tough new illegal tobacco penalties.“This dedicated tobacco enforcement unit will centralise our personnel and resources to facilitate more coordinated and effective compliance operations right across the state.”

Last night's power outage north of Lismore at approximately 6:30pm left 3,380 homes without electricity, wondering how long the blackout would last.The Essential Energy website indicated a fix would be in place by 2am this morning; however, power was restored at 7:35 last night.An Essential Energy spokesperson told the Lismore App there was a fault detected at the Dunoon Zone Substation."Safety equipment automatically operated within the Zone Substation, isolating power to customers across Bexhill, Blue Knob, Clunes, Coffee Camp, The Channon, Dunoon, Rosebank, Federal, North Lismore, Nimbin, Stony Chute, Mount Nardi and surrounding areas, keeping customers safe until crews could investigate," the spokesperson said."Crews were deployed immediately, identifying a fault in an underground cable requiring a transformer to be replaced. Power was safely restored to all impacted customers by approximately 7:35pm last night. "Essential Energy reminds the public to stay at least eight metres away from damaged electricity equipment and report immediately to Essential Energy on 13 20 80, or triple-zero if life-threatening."

Lismore and Northern Rivers residents are encouraged to put in an Expression of Interest to be on a new community panel and help shape the state's first multi-hazard regional Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) to reduce the risk and impact of future disasters.The Northern Rivers region has one of the highest flood risk profiles in the country, identified in the State Disaster Mitigation Plan (SDMP), and its susceptibility to other natural hazards, including bushfires, storms, heatwaves, and coastal erosion, means disaster preparedness and adaptation are critical.The DAP aims to reduce risks from these natural hazards and to help communities adapt where the change or impact is unavoidable.DAPs are a key feature of NSW’s first SDMP. The state-wide plan is a long-term, ambitious plan that aims to shift funding and efforts from disaster response to proactive mitigation and adaptation, with the goal of creating safer and more resilient communities. The creation of a DAP is being led by the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) in collaboration with community members, local councils, Aboriginal landowners, government agencies, industry and experts.It will build on lessons learnt, local knowledge and existing plans.DAPs were a key recommendation of the 2022 Independent Flood Inquiry, which called for effective and cross-government engagement to adapt to disaster risk across the state. RA is keen for people who live or work in the Northern Rivers to share their thoughts, ideas and experience with disasters to help shape the DAP.The community panel will include around 40 people. The RA is looking for people from different backgrounds, communities and life experience. The panel is expected to meet at least 4 times over 12 months. There will also be other ways people can get involved, including a range of online and in-person activities and events across the region. These include workshops, drop-in sessions, arts and education.RA will also work closely with Bundjalung, Yaegl and Northern Gumbaynggirr peoples to make sure cultural knowledge and practices including traditional understandings of climate and resilience, are reflected in the DAP.Residents have until 19 September to register their interest in joining the panel through the NSW Government’s Have Your Say platform.Your contribution to the planning can build disaster-resilient communities into the future. For more information and to apply for the Northern Rivers DAP Community Reference Group, go to https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/northern-rivers-dap.For more information on the State Disaster Mitigation Plan, go to State Disaster Mitigation Plan | NSW Government.Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said, “Through the development of the Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan - we’re not just doing disaster planning, but we are planning to mitigate where we can, adapt where we need to and continue to prosper and thrive.“Our region has had its challenges over the last eight years since the Cyclone Debbie flood, and we have not only survived but thrived. The Disaster Adaptation Planning process will at last support us to do what we know needs doing to be better prepared to respond to whatever disruptions and disasters come our way.“It’s essential that local knowledge and experience informs this work, so I encourage people to put themselves forward for the community reference group.“Together, we can develop strategies and actions so that we’re better prepared for disasters, and that we can recover faster from them.”    NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said, “The risk of future disasters in the Northern Rivers is ever-present and needs to be taken seriously.“Being informed will save lives – there’s no simple solution, but we are making sure people are as prepared as they can be.“The NSW Reconstruction Authority wants to support communities in reducing risk. I encourage everyone across the Northern Rivers to get involved and share what they think their regional DAP should look like.”

Following last week's Lismore City Council meeting, two rescission motions have been submitted, which has led to an extraordinary council meeting to be held today at 10am.The timing of when the rescission motions will be heard has caused consternation for some councillors, as they thought the motions would be part of the September ordinary meeting. The result has caused one councillor (Cr) to declare she will be unable to attend, while the other went on the attack against the Steve Krieg team, who defended his position.It really is like watching a local soap opera.The recession motions involve Withdrawing Old Council Policies (11.8) and writing a letter to the government regarding the future use of the East Lismore Pod Village (11.3).The motions were lodged by Crs Jasmine Knight-Smith, Virginia Waters and Adam Guise for 11.8 and Crs Harper Dalton-Earls, Virginia Waters and Jasmine Knight-Smith for 11.3.Cr Knight-Smith was the first to declare her absence yesterday afternoon on social media."Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the extraordinary meeting scheduled for this Thursday."There are two items on the agenda, The Removal of Old Policies and Advocacy to the State to retain the East Lismore Pod Village post its December 2026 shut down date."I had been led to believe our rescission motions would be dealt with at the September ordinary meeting. The short-notice change means I’m unable to attend."Cr Waters followed an hour later to express her displeasure at the decision to hold an extraordinary meeting instead of including it in the September meeting, but more directly."Mayor Kreig’s voting bloc on Lismore City Council has forced through an Extraordinary Meeting this Thursday, 21 August, in a move that effectively disenfranchises parts of our community. By scheduling the meeting during daytime work hours, they have ensured that councillors with work commitments and the voices of residents we represent won’t be in the chamber.It is horrifying that such tactics are being used. Our community expects fair and open governance, not manoeuvres that sideline debate and restrict democratic representation.Two rescission motions are on the agenda, of which I support both. One seeks to keep the East Lismore pod village open beyond December 2026 for housing that is desperately needed for people experiencing homelessness, women and children escaping domestic violence, vulnerable residents and essential workers. The other challenges the rushed revocation of council policies, raising questions about governance standards and due diligence.Councillors had been led to believe these items would be heard at the 9 September ordinary meeting. Instead, they have been brought forward, ensuring some elected representatives cannot take part. This is more than bad process, it strips the community of its full voice in the chamber and leaves decisions in the hands of a narrow bloc.I will bring a motion in September to set aside an overflow day and time for unfinished meetings and extraordinary meetings. This would give councillors certainty and protect the democratic process. Whether or not councillors support it, I will keep pushing for transparency, accountability and fairness.For me, this isn’t abstract. When I’m excluded from the chamber, it’s not just me who is shut out it’s the people who put their trust in me to carry their voices. That’s what makes this so alarming. Democracy doesn’t work when it’s controlled by a few at the expense of the many.Update: Unfortunately, I will not be able to make an amendment to the Code of Meeting Practice regarding scheduling Extraordinary Meetings due to the LGA Act giving all authority for scheduling to the Mayor - let’s hope Mayor Kreig in future takes into account Councillors who work daytime hours.Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg, then explained his reasons."Looks like our newest elected officials are a bit upset about the process of council."Fair enough, I understand that it’s a bit overwhelming, I still face many challenges daily."But it looks like they have had the proverbial dummy spit because they don’t get their own way, and because there is an outcry on said pages about wanting to hear the other sideof the story: right of reply following:Two councillors just ‘assumed recission motions would go to September meeting’. Our agendas are full enough. We don’t need to clog them up with recissions as well. The fact is that when there is a recission, that decision of council can’t be acted upon, so deal with it, one way or another, so that it can be finalised and move on.When an extraordinary meeting is called, I have to act within timeframes. I have followed the Code of Meeting Practice and called the meeting within those timeframes. Some councillors seem to think the organisation should revolve around their schedule. I note one who is complaining she has to work, but she met with the GM in the middle of a work day, and lucky her, she had no issues being absent for two months on holiday, missing 2 meetings, many briefings and other council functions, with not a word about scheduling those things to a time that suits."I’m not begrudging anyone having a holiday, but don’t pick and choose what suits you and what doesn’t."The other councillor upset about the timing of the extraordinary meeting regularly shows up to media, or other photo opportunities, only to miss briefings or workshops to get information critical for upcoming reports to council."It is becoming common practice for said councillor to storm out of ordinary meetings or other forums when she perceives an ‘attack on art’"Why is our arts scene a sacred cow, unable to be discussed or debated like every other arm of our council operations?"In conclusion: Being a councillor is not a lifestyle choice. The operation of council does not revolve around individual timetables. To quote one of my fellow councillors Facebook rants ‘The Kreig block’ (for the record, I before e) also work, we all manage our work lives to attend these extraordinary meetings triggered by spiteful rescissions."Where you stand on the war of words more than likely depends on how you voted at the last Lismore City Council elections. Unfortunately, for those in the minority, Steve Krieg returned as Lismore Mayor with 66.24% of the vote after preferences and five councillors on his ticket, giving the independent candidate a majority of six councillors out of eleven. That is a strong vote of confidence from the people of Lismore. The beauty of democracy, though, is that everyone can have their say, even if it may lead to no result.

UPDATE: Power has been restored around 7:45pm.A Tuntable Creek Lismore App reader has reached out to say that 3,380 homes in the north of the Lismore LGA is without power tonight.The power outage started at 6.38pm affecting properties at Bexhill, Clunes, Cornwall, Eltham, Goonengerry, Koonorigan, Modanville, Nimbin, North Lismore, Rosebank, Terania Creek, Tuntable Creek, Tuntable Falls, Whian Whian and Woodlawn, to name a few.Essential Energy does not know the reason for the outage and says they are investigating.The Essential Energy website says the Estimated Time On is tomorrow morning at 2am, at this stage.

Yesterday afternoon, Lismore City Council officially opened the upgraded multi-sport courts at Caniaba, with residents turning out to enjoy the new facilities.The upgraded facility includes a shared basketball and netball half-court, a shared tennis and pickleball court and two new synthetic cricket nets. The upgrade replaces the former tennis court that had reached the end of its life and follows strong community input gathered through an online survey with 108 responses and a community BBQ attended by around 50 people.Mayor Steve Krieg said the upgrades reflect Council’s focus on delivering quality recreational facilities for local communities.“Caniaba now has a modern, multi-use space that will serve residents for years to come,” he said. “It is fantastic to see the community out here enjoying the courts already. These facilities give people more opportunities to connect, stay active and have fun close to home.“Projects like this also support Council’s long-term goals under the Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035, ensuring our recreation spaces remain fit for purpose and accessible to all.”The project was funded through Council’s Capital Works Program and delivered as Phase 1 of the broader Caniaba Recreation Facilities Improvement Plan. Community feedback identified a multipurpose court and cricket nets as the top priorities for sporting facilities, while swings, outdoor fitness equipment and a slide were the most popular ideas for future playground upgrades.Phase 2 of the plan, expected in four to six years, subject to funding, will explore options to replace the playground, with a focus on inclusive, accessible and safe design to give children more space and variety for play.Council also acknowledged the ongoing support of the operators at the Adam Gilchrist Pavilion in Caniaba throughout the upgrade works.

The rollout of a new 10-kilometre fibre optic network allowing for the remote activation of Lismore’s vital flood pumps during future weather events is now complete.Designed to improve safety and responsiveness, the network is part of a significant program of flood restoration works that is being undertaken to transform the city’s aging flood infrastructure. These works also include upgrades to the Browns Creek, Magellan Street and Gasworks Creek pump stations, which will happen later in the year. The Browns Creek upgrade includes a building addition, which will house four new submersible pumps with greater capacity than the existing two pumps.Delivered by Australian Fibreoptic Solutions, Fibre Connect is one of 10 major projects managed by Council’s Flood Restoration Portfolio – Resilience program. This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 22-23, administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority.Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain, said, “The completion of Lismore’s Fibre Connect network is a powerful example of how targeted investment in smart infrastructure can build resilience in communities vulnerable to natural disasters. “This project, funded through the Australian Government, delivers real-time capability that will help safeguard lives and property during future flood events. ‘It’s a testament to what can be achieved when all levels of government work together to support regional recovery and long-term preparedness.”NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said, “This is a transformative moment for Lismore. The completion of the Fibre Connect network means our community is now better equipped to respond to future flood events with speed and precision. “Remote activation of our flood pumps will help protect lives and property, and the data-led insights it provides will strengthen our resilience.“I commend everyone involved in delivering this vital infrastructure, which marks a major step forward in modernising our flood response capabilities.”Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg said, “The ‘Fibre Connect’ project is a giant leap for the city, which, thanks to the remote monitoring and surveillance capability it unlocks, gives Lismore a powerful tool to make data-led decisions. “Workers will still be required for onsite checks, but we'll now have the ability to control the pumps from a safe distance, whether it’s from a council office or a remote worker logging on from a laptop at any location.“We’ll also have more flexibility with how they're operating the pump stations, being able to turn them up and down and respond to the stormwater catchment more effectively.”Australian Fibreoptics Solutions Director Paul Asquith, said, “Australian Fibreoptic Solutions has a long and proud history working with Lismore City Council for the past 15 years. We have enjoyed working within the community and are extremely happy to see the town being restored to its vibrant best, post-2022.“Australian Fibreoptic Solutions is pleased to have delivered the project for Lismore City Council to assist in the remote access to the pump station control systems.”

With HSC trial exams underway and some Year 10 students set to leave school permanently at the end of the year, the NSW Government has 85 jobs to fill.Across the state, the search is on for more than 85 apprentices and trainees to work on major projects, marking the commencement of a regional jobs and skills blitz. Transport for NSW’s Apprentice and Trainee Programs give successful applicants paid training on the job while gaining valuable skills, and a nationally recognised qualification at the completion of their program.  Close to 90 per cent of the opportunities will be based in rural and regional NSW.Whether it's project management in Lismore or metalwork in the Hunter, these roles give young people the chance to learn, work and thrive in their hometowns.Programs on offer span eleven specialist areas, including civil construction, business, finance, fitter, project management, bridge construction and maintenance, heavy diesel mechanical, metal fabrication, painting and decorating, engineering mechanical and operational management systems.Transport for NSW is engaging with local high schools across regional NSW and Greater Sydney through a range of career events and six industry days.These days provided students in Years 10, 11 and 12 with hands-on experience in some of the trades Transport for NSW is currently seeking apprentices in.Applications for Transport for NSW’s 2026 Apprentice and Trainee Programs are open now. Sydney-based roles close at midnight on 24 August, with roles across regional NSW closing at midnight on 31 August.For more information about Transport’s 2026 Apprentice and Trainee Program, visit https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/about-us/careers/apprentice-and-trainee-programs.Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said, “The Minns Labor Government is proud to be investing in the next generation of workers cross the state.“These programs generate opportunities for the next generation of skilled workers wherever they live. Nearly 90 per cent of the upcoming roles are based in regional NSW. “I am particularly proud that this year we are aiming for a record high percentage of female and Indigenous representation which will help build a diverse and inclusive workforce. “The new apprentices and trainees will help boost the current workforce and make a real difference across NSW by contributing to the delivery of important infrastructure projects that will support regional communities.”Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, said, "Our state needs skilled workers to build the infrastructure and services our communities rely on, and programs like this are a powerful first step.“These apprenticeships and traineeships provide real, hands-on experience while earning a nationally recognised qualification.Sarah Zemek, First Year Metal Fabricator Apprentice, said, “I'd always been interested in metalwork, but I never thought it would be open to someone like me, because of my age and gender. Then I saw Transport for NSW talking about diversity and inclusion, so I applied and I won the role.“One thing I love about Transport for NSW is that they choose the best people for the role. Gender, race, none of that holds you back here. Passion is what matters most. “I raised my children, and now that they're grown, I asked myself, 'Why shouldn't I go for it?' I want to show my kids that you really can do whatever you set your mind to. “What I love most about working for Transport for NSW is the diversity of the projects I work on and the flexibility in my role as a Metal Fabricator Apprentice. Some days I'm in the workshop, others I'm out on-site. “If someone is considering applying for a role at Transport for NSW, I say if it's truly something you want to do, don't give up. Keep chasing it!”

Regular Lismore App readers may remember the plight of Henry Boothroyd, a happy nearly 3-year-old Coraki boy who suffers from a rare condition called Congenital Femoral Deficiency (CFD), which is a deformity in the ball and socket joint of the hip.The result of the deformity is that one leg is longer than the other, and each year the difference gets larger. In March this year, the difference was 10.5 centimetres. By the time Henry becomes an adult, it will be 23 centimetres.There are no surgical options in Australia at this stage for Henry to correct the deformity. Amputation is offered due to the complexities of CFD.However, Henry's parents, Stephen and Hannah, researched two overseas procedures that are achieving great outcomes for people suffering from CFD.(Henry at two and a half in February this year. Photo: supplied)The first is a SUPERhip procedure in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, in February 2026, while the second is a series of three leg lengthening procedures in Florida, USA, two years later.The SUPERhip surgery is basically a hip reconstruction to correct the deformity and put a stop to the deformity coming back. Essentially, it lays the framework to begin the lengthening procedure.As you can imagine, the cost for these overseas medical procedures is extremely high, namely $570,000.The Boothroyds have been holding various fundraising events and receiving donations from the community to help achieve the ultimate goal.The last fundraiser was in April this year, a concert at the Lismore Workers Club featuring Shannon and Blake Noll and local musician Luke Vasella."We had 390 people attend the concert, and between the ticket sales and the auctions, we raised forty-four grand," Stephen Boothroyd told the Lismore App, "Which got us over the line for the Abu Dhabi surgery, which is going to cost $215,000.""As it stands, we just ticked over the $300,000 mark. So, we're building already towards Henry having his first lengthening surgery in a few years' time in Florida."The Boothroyds' next fundraising activity is for golfers and anyone who would like to help and have some fun.The CFD Foundation Charity Golf Day will take place at the Lismore Golf Club on Sunday, October 26.The format will be the popular four-person ambrose, and the cost is $50 per player."People just register on the day with their team of four, and from 11 o'clock on Sunday, the 26th of October, and we'll do a shotgun tee off at 12. Then we're going to continue at Two Mates Brewery from five o'clock with dinner, drinks and a raffle and prize presentations from six."Hopefully, we'll build on what we did last year. I think we raised about eight grand last year, but this year we're asking for hole sponsors and major sponsors. We've had Haymans Electrical join us with two grand as a major sponsor."With our hole sponsors, we're asking for local businesses to donate $300, and we list them and give them a shout-out as a hole sponsor."Stephen said there is no registration; people rock up to the Lismore Golf Course at 11am for a free barbecue and soft drinks, then tee up from 12pm.Last year, 107 participated, and this year, Stephen is hoping for 150 to 200 participants.With no registration, save the date at this stage; Sunday, October 26 from 11am at the Lismore Golf Club, 1 Barham Street, Lismore.In the meantime, having achieved the first surgery goal in Abu Dhabi, the Boothroyds are organising one more MRI for Henry, passports and a further phone call with the surgeon to lock in an exact date, so flights and hotel can be booked."We'll be in Abu Dhabi for between three and six weeks while Henry recovers. He'll likely need to be in a wheelchair for a little bit. He'll be in a cast, we're not sure for how long, and then we'll have to navigate how we get back to Australia. If he needs to lie down, if we need to book a row of three seats, or something like that. We are pretty keen to get back," Stephen said."It's a really long surgery, but with a relatively quick recovery. So, we're hoping that after six weeks, he can get going again."The Details of the CFD Foundation Charity Golf DayLocations: Lismore Golf Club, 1 Barham St, LismoreTwo Mates Brewery, 7 Engine St, South Lismore from 6pmStart with BBQ Lunch at 11am, ready for midday shotgun tee-offFormat is 4 person Ambrose event (with handicaps)Registration & ticket details - Register on the day, $200 for a Team of 4 OR Individual Registrations $50 eachCart Hire - Golf Carts can be booked through the Golf Club by calling 02 6621 2255. Note, limited numbers, book early.Team & Individual Events - Net team score (1st, 2nd & 3rd), Longest Drive (men and women) and Nearest the PinsDinner and drinks from 5pm at Two Mates Brewery, followed by presentation of golf and raffle prizes from 6pm.For enquiries, please call Stephen Boothroyd on 0450509186 or email cfdfoundation@outlook.comAll proceeds go to The Henry James Fund, which will provide limb-reconstructive surgery overseas for Henry Boothroyd. To learn more, please visit www.cfdfoundation.com.au

Arguably, North Lismore was the hardest area hit by the 2022 big flood. It has been deemed a high-risk suburb of Lismore, receiving a high number of house buybacks from the Resilient Homes Program.In what may be a test case for Lismore City Council, a development application (DA) has been lodged to build a commercial business at 53 Terania Street, opposite the old laundrette.The applicant will spend $698,000 on the proposed development, demolishing the existing house and building a new indoor recreational facility (gymnasium).The obvious question around future flooding has been addressed in the DA.Lismore City Council released a visual representation of flood events for the property. Image below.The proposed DA is for the new building's floor height to be 13.88m AHD, with a maximum roof height of 16.88m-1814m AHD. There will be undercover car parking at a level of 9.6m AHD.When you build a structure that has a floor height of 13.88m, you need to build easy access for patrons. A lift is proposed in the plans.Along with the lift, the gym will have a weight and gym room, a sauna and ice bath room, red light therapy room, four showers and three toilets, one a disabled toilet.The decision for council planners to make is that the area has been classified as H5, and a small part, at the rear of the block, is H6 in the Hazard Vulnerability Classification at 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (or 1 in 100), which is about 12.9m.H5 means Unsafe for vehicles and people. All buildings vulnerable to structural damages. Some less robust building types subject to failureH6 means Unsafe for vehicles and people. All building types considered vulnerable to failure.According to the company that was used to write the Flood Risk Impact or Management Plan, the design and building at the proposed address complies with Council's DCP and LEP.There was a pre-lodgement meeting in March 2025.Now we wait for Council Planners to deliver a verdict.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan says the mental health and crime issue in Lismore’s CBD is getting worse. There are frequent reports of assaults, abuse, and antisocial behaviour, which is leaving businesses and shoppers feeling unsafe.Mr Hogan is calling on the NSW Government to reinstate a proven program to address the problem.The Government’s Police, Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER) program places a mental health professional alongside police when responding to certain crimes. This provides officers with support, and ensures people experiencing mental health are managed appropriately.“PACER works. It helps police deal with situations more effectively, and it means people with mental health issues can get the care they need,” Mr Hogan said.“Until recently, Lismore had this position based at the Police Station. Currently, the role is vacant, and I am calling on the Government to fix this immediately.”“Our police need this program. Our community deserves this program. We need the PACER role in Lismore filled and operating again without delay.”“Local families and businesses deserve to feel safe in our CBD. Right now, too many people are telling me they don’t feel safe. That is unacceptable.”

Relationships Australia NSW has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of its low-cost Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) services, offering separating couples a more affordable alternative to the legal route.At a time when more separating families are staying under the same roof due to cost-of-living pressures, the financial and emotional strain of separation is becoming even harder to manage. The centrepiece of the campaign is an emotive new video depicting the chaos and uncertainty of modern co-parenting – from miscommunication to mounting pressure – before cutting to a calm, neutral setting with a mediator. Produced by Home Prod Co, the video was filmed in suburban Sydney and draws on raw, relatable moments from everyday life. “Separation can feel overwhelming and emotionally charged – especially when parenting and financial decisions are left unresolved,” said Relationships Australia NSW CEO Elisabeth Shaw. “This campaign is about showing that support is available, and that we can be a steady, trusted presence through that process.”The not-for-profit organisation says the need for accessible mediation has never been greater. While lawyer-led mediation can cost between $300–$600 per hour, Relationships Australia NSW offers government-subsidised sessions starting from around $30.The campaign is rolling out across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Google, backed by a $30,000 digital media spend. A complementary out-of-home transit campaign is running across metropolitan Sydney bus depots, targeting commuters in high-density areas.“We wanted to show the often-unseen mental load of separation – the confusion, the conflicting advice, the overwhelm,” said Marina Pliatsikas, Digital Marketing Lead at Relationships Australia NSW. “We contrasted that chaos with the calmer and more collaborative environment of our mediation room to demonstrate that there’s another way.”Family Dispute Resolution – also known as family mediation – is a process that helps separating couples resolve parenting and financial matters with the help of a neutral, expert facilitator. In most cases involving children, attempting mediation is now required before families can apply to court.Last financial year, the organisation delivered more than 12,200 mediation sessions with funding support from the Australian Government, alongside over 12,700 counselling sessions and hundreds of group programs across NSW.Relationships Australia is a community-based, not-for-profit Australian organisation with no religious affiliations. Their services are for all members of the community, regardless of religious belief, age, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, cultural background or economic circumstances.

As forecast, the short run of clear blue skies ends today as an East Coast weather system shifts into overdrive throughout Wednesday and Thursday.The worst of the weather looks to hit the mid-north coast again, with a number of Stay Informed flood warnings issued for Coffs Creek, Thora, Coutts Crossing, Glenreagh and Bellingen. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is forecasting up to 185mm for Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie over the next four days.For Lismore and the Northern Rivers, the situation is slightly lower than our southern neighbours. At 6 o'clock last night, the BoM was forecasting up to 120mm throughout Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, by 10pm that had increased to 150mm. The lower end of that scale is 18mm. However, Angus Hines, Senior Meteorologist with the BoM, warns us that the situation could change as the weather event gets closer. Usually, the further away the weather event is, the hazier the forecast.(The potential cumulative rainfall along the NSW east coast 6pm Monday from the BoM)"I wouldn't take these numbers and lock them in stone just yet," Angus said, "they might shift up, they might shift down."When speaking about the current flood watches around the mid-north coast, he said, "I would like to reiterate once again that we could see changes to this flood watch, potentially new rivers throughout northern NSW and even southern Queensland could be added into the flood watch as our information changes."The message for Lismore and the Northern Rivers is to stay up to date with the weather forecast and the warnings. The Lismore App will keep you informed of any developments.

Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, took the extraordinary step of temporarily closing her Carrington Street Electorate Office yesterday because of homeless protestors camped outside.Ms Saffin told the Lismore App that the main reason for the closure was for the well-being of her constituents and her staff."It's disturbing and it's intimidatory to people coming to the office and even to my team in the office. I'm not saying anyone's deliberately intimidating, but it's that presence. People coming in and out of the office feel that, and I have an obligation to my community, to my constituents, and also to my wonderful electorate office staff.There have been social media posts where protestors are asking Ms Saffin for a 15-minute meeting to discuss the homeless situation as she is walking to her car. However, Ms Saffin has met with the protesters on many previous occasions."I've spent time with them. I've spent time with a whole lot of people, and there's no further reason to meet. Now, if anyone's genuinely homeless, we know who they are. I help them. We help them. There's no reason to meet at all."Asked if she could see an end to the disruption, Ms Saffin replied, "Yes, I do. I'm fine with disruption. I'm fine with protests. I support that with my background."Disruption with no outcome other than some political sort of agenda and no outcome in housing people is just pointless. It's pointless."I'm cracking on with looking after people who are genuinely homeless, and doing my best to get crisis accommodation, social housing and long-term housing solutions here. I'm engaged with people who work in that area, who are very committed and working to make sure that we do everything we can to end homelessness here. We say we can do it."While Ms Saffin's office is closed, you can contact her by calling 02 66213624 to talk to a staff member, or email lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au.The other big news story of the day was the declaration that Janelle Saffin will be seeking a further four-year term at the next NSW election in 2027."I was asked the question on radio (Richmond Valley Radio). So I said, Yes, I am. I'm definitely running."I gave a commitment that I would see us through recovery and beyond, and we've got a lot of work underway. We've turned the corner where I said, not only surviving, we thrived, and now how do we prosper? And how do we make sure that we are so ready for anything that comes our way, whether it be COVID, whether it be bushfire, whether it be flood, whether it be anything else, that we're ready for it and that we are building a safer, stronger community, and that's what I'm committed to.If Ms Saffin wins a third term as Member for Lismore, where would she like to see Lismore and the Northern Rivers in six years?"What I'd like to see, and what I know I will see, is this very vibrant, strong, prosperous community. We will be a model for how you come back from the biggest, most costly disaster in recent times, and how you thrive during that. That's what I will see."I see stronger economic development. I said, early on, let's use what happened to us as a great tourist hook as well. We've done this, we can do this. Yes, it's challenging, but you know, we can do it. It's the Northern Rivers. People still want to live here. People are still moving here. People are still moving to Lismore. They're moving to the Northern Rivers. They're moving to Tenterfield. I can remember what the cost was of a house in Tenterfield, and they've gone up there as well. There's some beautiful communities here.""Some of my National Party friends, and I have a lot in the National Party, and a few Green friends as well, they're the ones saying I'm not running again. That was wishful thinking."

Last Tuesday's Lismore City Council meeting revealed a number of discussion points that the Lismore App wanted to discuss with Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg.CBD safety, Council staff restructure, car park plan near Oakes Oval, the East Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant, and the new skatepark facility in the CBD were all on the list when the Lismore App recorded a Talking Lismore podcast.LISMORE SKATEPARKThe new Lismore Skatepark has been in use for the last two weeks. It has seen people of all ages riding skateboards, scooters and pushbikes on the world-standard facility that will host national competitive events in the years to come.Mayor Krieg puts the new skatepark in the excellence basket, and admitted to never being a skater, but has had discussions with those who are as to how to improve the facility and make it more attractive in the future."It'll be an evolution around that area as to how we can activate that a little bit more to cater for a broader range of people. But I couldn't be more happy for our skate community, who really haven't had a good skate park for a long time. To be honest, the old metal half pipe over behind Heritage Park was not much fun.(A large crowd gathered at the new Lismore Skatepark on Saturday to watch demonstrations and enjoy the new facility. Photo: Lismore City Council)"Number one, that was raised was a beginner's area for a start, like those just learning the very basics. Somewhere where they can go exclusively, where they're not going to get hit by a more experienced skater and the like."The other idea was a pump track for bikes. As much as bike riders love doing the half pipes or whatever the case may be, or the scooters, having a dedicated pump track for those two-wheel options is something that was discussed today."We can't commit to anything. It's something that we'd have to look for some grant funding to do. But how good would that be?"Mayor Krieg said the CONVIC team, the company that specialises in building adventure parks around Australia, felt you could build a very exciting pump track in the space that is available.Skatepark rules leading to community safety were also spoken about."Everyone's entitled to use it, but it is designed to be used in a particular way. And we were talking today about maybe putting some signs up about the rules and how to use the skate park properly to minimise the accidents."And again, that's something that as a council, we will be speaking to the skate community about how best to do it and what message is best to promote there, so that you do minimise harm for everyone. But it is a public facility."I want it to be well looked after, well maintained and utilised, and by all accounts, that's exactly what the skater community wants as well. We'll just hopefully keep growing that precinct and keep making it a world-class venue."CBD SAFETYCBD safety has been the talk of the town on social media pages in the last two weeks. How does council, along with police and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, make the CBD safer for shoppers and shop owners?"It saddens me greatly to understand the needs that are not being provided to certain elements of our community, and a lot of the problems that are arising are due to mental health issues, and we need to be better as a community to be able to provide for these people."I mentioned today to someone, we have rehab facilities for people who break their legs or have spinal injuries or whatever the case may be, because they're physical injuries and you can actually see them, and they're tangible. Mental health is so much more difficult because you can't actually see the illness, other than the increased aggression or the unsociable behaviour."As I said, as a community, we actually need to be better at tackling this. And what does that look like? Because everyone deserves the right to feel safe, no matter where they are, whether it's walking around the CBD, whether it's running their business in the CBD. But we also need to provide the adequate care and medical support that these patients need, and quite clearly, we're not achieving that at the moment, so we do need to come together and find a solution."The complaints the mayor receives are not limited to the CBD."It's not, sadly, confined to the CBD as well. There are several complaints about our Rail Trail and the little tent city that's popped up over there as well. So it's not just a CBD problem, sadly, but I will make the point that it's not just a Lismore problem either, and this is something that is a state issue, but probably broader than that, a national issue."We need to look at how we manage and facilitate the treatment of drug and alcohol rehabilitation and mental health issues, because it is a real disease and a real problem, and it's not fair to the patients who aren't getting the treatment that they deserve. It's not fair on the people who have to deal with the symptoms that surface in and around the shopping precinct, for example."EAST LISMORE POD VILLAGEOur pod village was discussed during last week's council meeting. There were comments that it didn't have many residents and was a waste of a resource. What do you know?"I know that there's a hell of a lot more people utilising that resource than what was suggested during the council meeting. The pod village in Lismore, for me, is something that will need to be looked at for its future use at some point. But the reality is that the Lismore and probably the Coraki pod villages will still be used to house our flood victims for a little while yet."And I think trying to expedite the future use of that particular site is premature. There's a lot of groundwork to be put in. It's also on the site that the state government has just bought off Southern Cross University to create the Resilient Lands Program, the 400 or so blocks up there."It's not just as simple as some would like, or some would suggest. It's more of a complex problem, but it's something also that Lismore City Council has been dealing with the state government for, and I don't think it's necessarily for the forum of Council at the moment to start advocating one way or another, because we're just not there yet. It has been extended till 2027 at the moment."EAST LISMORE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTDoes the East Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant still have a shortfall in government funding to rebuild it?"It's been highlighted at the highest level of state government, with the premier. Again, we were able to have a couple of meetings only last week in Parliament House and raise that issue again. It's certainly the gift that keeps on giving, there's no doubt about that."There's no easy solution to it, but Lismore City Council is currently negotiating perhaps an alternative solution, which I don't really want to expand upon at the moment, but we've come up with a different or an alternative way of funding this project, which is not exactly as one would intend."I've copped a fair bit of flack over some of my outlandish comments, or as some would see them, but the reality is, we're dealing with a middle management type scenario, and we want to cut that level out and just deal direct with the funding source, so that council can actually get on and design and build exactly what we want and and we think by doing that, we'll be able to save the tens of millions of dollars that we might need to build it back."We've got some amazing people in this space who are chomping at the bit to have a crack at it. So, for me, it makes sense to back our own people in, but there's always got to be an element of control. It seems that signing over a check to the tune of $60, 70 or $80 million is not in the state government's mantra without knowing where it's going to be spent."LISMORE CITY COUNCIL STAFF RESTRUCTUREMayor Krieg mentioned that new General Manager Eber Butron has been with Lismore City Council for nearly five years, so he understands the machinations of council."He's seen what works and he's seen what doesn't work, and so Eber's now tasked with finding efficiencies in our organisation asl part of our long-term financial plan to be more sustainable. And I think the people of Lismore want to see more people out and about, doing the parks and gardens, doing the road patching, doing all of those tangible things that council should be doing, rather than having a lot of people drafting and developing things that are probably not seen so much."The preliminary procedures are underway to consult with the staff, to consult with the unions, as to what that looks like. I can't say too much about it because these are people in our community who might, in some way, be impacted by these things. But I'm exceptionally proud of the work that our council does, but we all know we can do better."Mayor Krieg mentioned how the Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Road A-League pre-season clash at Oakes Oval recently came together with only three and a half weeks' notice. Council staff worked hard to make it happen. This has led to the possibility of future games."I've spoken to both the Jets and the Roar about what they want to see in the future. And again, I wish I could say more about what that looks like, but we'll be developing a bit of a prospectus for both those clubs as to what it looks like in the future. But I think this time next year, Lismore might be pleasantly surprised about what the potential is coming to the city through the A-League. We've got a lot of work to do, but both teams expressed their desire to return, which is great."CAR PARKING IN THE CBDIn 2025, Lismore has hosted the Legends of Cricket and now the A-League press season game at Oakes Oval with large crowds. There is the potential for the AFL and NRL to play a part in future pre-season matches too. Does it make sense to creat more parking around the house buyback area of Cathcart Street?"Everything is on the table at the moment. There's nothing in writing, but already we're thinking about future use of the flood-prone lands from the buybacks. Clearly, part of the buyback principle is not to return residential accommodation to those properties. So then what do you do with the land? And it's either light industrial or commercial type setups, which we need to grow. There's no doubt we need more industry and more jobs in Lismore. So that's an option."But also, as you say, in and around oaks and Crozier oval, we do need more car parking for those bigger events like the A-League soccer, like the blues when they come to town, like the rugby union Grand Finals, when you could have eight teams from eight different towns all descending on Lismore to use Oakes and Crozier for the Rugby Union grand final day."We need to be able to accommodate larger crowds. And we all know public transport is not an option here, so to be able to be within close walking distance to our facilities would be great. But as I said, that's not a decision that's locked away or even really been planned, but it is in the thought bubble of what to do with those lands into the future, that's for sure."FUTURE DEVELOPMENTIn previous podcasts, we have asked the mayor about residential and commercial investment and developments. When will we see graders on the ground or cranes in the air?"We're definitely closer now than we were during the last podcast. There are elements of confidentiality around a lot of the stuff that myself and the other councillors are aware of. I wish I could say more, but let me just say that through the private sector investment that are interested in coming to Lismore, I think the lead up to Christmas, and even a little bit further through to Easter, I would be very surprised if we don't see some form of movement in and around residential, commercial, sorts of and other types of investment as well."For me, it's not just about recovery, it's about rebirth and actually seeing tangible growth. We don't want to hover around the 40 to 45,000 mark for population. We want to see that growth hitting 50,000 and gradually climbing as we can accommodate those people and and bringing the young professional families into the town."There are good jobs here, whether they're nurses or specialists at the hospital or whatever their chosen profession or how they make a living, we want to be able to accommodate them."Everyone complains about their rates notice, well, one way to keep rates low is to get a bigger rate base. So, I'm excited about the potential of the growth of our region, but in particular in and around Lismore. I go to bed every night, hoping and praying that one of these proposals will get grow legs and we'll we'll see some action.There is one thing for sure: by the next podcast, we'll be a step closer.To listen to the full Talking Lismore Podcast, click Talking Lismore podcast for the App or here for the website podcast.