Northern Rivers councils and eligible not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for funding to deliver events and activities for young people during the Summer and Autumn 2024/2025 school holidays under the NSW Government’s Holiday Break program.Applications are now open for the popular program, which has funded everything from science exhibitions and song writing classes to virtual reality tournaments and surfing clinics for young people.Funding of up to $10,000 to facilitate activities in the Summer and Autumn school holidays will be available to all 93 regional councils and other eligible organisations to cover the cost of running youth events during the school breaks.The funding can be used to support a wide range of activities, including sport or performing arts activities, movie nights, and DJ workshops.Funding applications for Summer and Autumn 2024/2025 are open now until 22 September 2024.Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Director of Regional Youth Julia Ryan said the Holiday Break program provides young people in regional NSW the opportunity to connect, socialise, learn new skills and have fun during the school holidays.“The breadth of the programs that are delivered during school holidays ensures there’s something to spark the interest of every young person, whether it’s honing skills they already have or exploring an entirely new hobby,” Ms Ryan said.“We’ve seen it deliver everything from workshops teaching Aboriginal culture and connection to country, laser tag and boxing lessons to football clinics, visual arts workshops and STEM challenges.“We’re also removing barriers to entry for eligible organisations applying for funding for both the Summer and Autumn holiday periods with a single application, making it a quicker and smoother process for all applicants.“I encourage anyone who’s got a great idea for a school holiday activity to get in touch with your local council or not-for-profit organisation to see if that idea can be made a reality.”To find out more and for program guidelines, visit www.nsw.gov.au/holidaybreak.

Lismore's two major annual spring events that attract large, enthusiastic crowds should be on your calendar as the are close.The 2024 Rodney Lees Cabinetmaking Lismore Cup is on Friday, September 27, and the 2024 Love Lismore Elders Show is on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 17, 18 and 19.If you ever wanted the bragging rights of being named “Best at the Lismore Show” in one of the many categories in the Fine Arts competitions, this weekend, the Love Lismore Elders Show is hosting a Master Class on what judges in the various categories will be looking for, which may just give your entry the winning edge.“There will be lots of good tips, including how to present your flowers, needle work and photography, as well as what to fill your sponge cake with and how to decorate your cakes,” Show president John Gibson said.“Basically, we will discuss whatever people want to know. There are some very talented people out there and the day is about making sure that those who enter know how to catch the judges’ eye.“The prize money is not huge, but that’s not the point. It’s about doing your best and being part of the community, and bragging rights of course.”The Masterclass will be held in Norma’s Kitchen at the Lismore Showground on Saturday, 31st August from 10.00am to approximately 11.30am. A free morning tea is included.Registration is not required, simply turn up on the day.For a list of categories and submission deadlines, download the Fine Arts Schedule at www.northcoastnational.com.au.The Fine Arts competitions are sponsored by Betta Home Living, Richmond Waste, Thearle Electrical, Lismore App, Hurford Hardwood and Wotherspoon Food Service Design.

According to the latest Core Logic Regional Market Update, Lismore housing values increased by 3.1% in the last quarter.The median value of a house in the 2480 postcode is now $505,182. The annual increase is 12.9%, while the last five years has recorded an increase of 52%.R Gordon and Son principal realtor Andrew Gordon told the Lismore App that growth was coming off a low base."If you look what's going on down the coast, you can go to Skennars Head and buy a block of land for $1.7 million. That's a block of land, not a house. Whereas, in Lismore, we're still very affordable."While people getting into the property market will see $505,000 as an expensive entry point, Ballina's median house price is $977,151, to support Andrew's point.The bulk of the sales in Lismore has been in that $200,000 to $600,000 bracket."The flood plain is the most affordable part of Lismore," Andrew added, "There's an attraction to that, and people are taking it up. We have spoken about this before. To put a roof over the head of your family, people will weigh the odds and the risk against that opportunity. And they're taking that opportunity."As a result, we're seeing the floodplain become a little bit more competitive, and we're seeing some very good renovations. That's why we are probably seeing a little increase, people are jumping into that market.""I think that it's competitive in that bracket at the moment. There's a lot of people that fit into that wage demographic, and if you want to get in, well, then there's a limited opportunity. We've seen 600 homes removed from the flood plain, so the ones that are left have been keenly sought after because they're in the bracket of affordability."Brett McDonald from Raine & Horne Lismore agrees with Andrew that Lismore is viewed as more affordable than our coastal neighbours."We've seen this before in Lismore. People will come to Lismore to buy something because they can afford it. Over the autumn and winter, we saw properties that were under $700 to 800,000 getting a lot of attention from multiple buyers."There's been quite a few first-home buyers, but it's not limited to those. It would be equally represented by people moving locally, having sold one type of home to move to a different type of home to suit their new needs or areas that they want to live in. But equally, people from out of town moving into the area. I've seen a large number of out-of-towners, so we're really returning to that sort of pre-flood levels.The middle to top end of the housing market has been pretty steady according to Andrew and Brett."The mid- to top-end seems to be steady right now. I know our Eastern cousins have seen dramatic decreases (Ballina down 0.3% and Coffs Harbour down 3.8%). I was talking to an agent the other day who said the figure may be as high as 25% that may have come off some of those dearer homes.The story was more subdued for rental prices, with an increase of 0.1% for the quarter, leaving a median rent of $565 per week. The annual change is 9% and 34.2% over the last five years.This still feels expensive for Lismore; however, Ballina is now $745 per week and Coffs Harbour $641 per week."Once again, you take 600 homes out of the flood plain, and you can bet your left arm that half of them were investment properties," Andrew Gordon said."I know our agency lost 140 in the floods out of the rent roll because they were investment opportunities, and they're not coming back. And we're one of many agents. So once again, demand drives competition, and you'll see the price has become a little more competitive.""No one's building rental stock. Tell me the last time we saw a block of units built? When was the last time a home was built specifically for investment? Very rarely. People build homes to live in, and that seems to be the outlook.""Not everyone's going to come to Lismore and buy a house just because they work on the coast. They might be here for a period of time, or they might be working on buying their own home or something like that. We need to replenish our investment stock because there's a lot missing, and in the very near future, I don't see them being replaced."As for the future of Lismore housing?"My dream is that the next generation will see Lismore as a dormitory suburb. They won't be able to buy the house next door to their mum and dad because of pricing in that area, but they'll see Lismore is a very good alternative, a financially good alternative. And I'm hoping, in time, if we can allow a certain level of development to flourish, then we will capture that market, and that will be good for us."We'll create a ratepayer, we'll see some kids go to schools, we'll see people come and shop locally, and once again, that will create a competitive environment. So, I think Lismore has got a lot of good things going for it right now, we just need some time, I guess, to probably nurture that opportunity and present it to the next generation."Brett McDonald echos those thoughts: "People from outside the area will want to live in such a fantastic location, and we've got it. It is so well priced compared to coastal properties. So why not come to Lismore purely based on price?""But then so many people are realising what a wonderful town it is and what a great place it is to live. And that's not rhetoric that's true. There are so many people coming to the area again from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ballina, Byron, Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores. They want a piece of our wonderful town."

NSWNMA (NSW Nurses and Midwives Association) nurses and midwives requests to government for fairer pay have fallen on deaf ears so far, so the nurses have taken the next step in standing up for their demands.A pay rise and better conditions are needed to put NSW nurses on an equal footing with their counterparts in Queensland. This will stop the exodus of nurses moving north and provide NSW nurses and midwives with adequate pay and benefits. 100 hospitals around the state will also be taking the same action this week.In Lismore, around 150 nurses, midwives, and mental health workers stopped work or came in on their days off and shift workers deprived themselves of sleep to attend. Some staff had patients that required attention and were unable to leave their duties, such as one nurse assisting a woman giving birth.“We were just amazingly impressed with the commitment and the passion from these nurses who just love their work, love their patients, but know that it's so important that we get out there and demonstrate what we deserve,” says Penelope Anderson, the NSWNMA Lismore Base Hospital Branch President.The nurses walked off the job for one hour to demonstrate and discuss further measures. However, Penelope wanted to point out that patients were not put at risk.“We nurses and midwives will never leave our patients unsupported. So when we choose this sort of action, it is with the proviso that even if there are members who want to walk off the floor if our patients aren't safe, some of us volunteer to stay behind,” said Penelope. The demonstration was supported by members of the public, and cars driving by honking and expressing support.  “It just warms our heart. We know we've got community support, but when we hear it like that, that just gives us so much support. Beeping their horns and blaring their sirens just really, really gives us a bit more drive to stick with the process.”Emergency vehicles - police and ambulance drove by and let their support be known with sirens wailing and lights flashing.One bystander, Anoud said, “They should ask for 30%! They deserve it; they are the backbone of our nation!”The NSWNMA has not received any indication of a realistic compromise from the government, so the next aspect of their actions was decided on in a unanimous vote at a meeting directly after the demonstration.(The demonstrators walked up Uralba Street brandishing their signs and garnering support)Penelope said nurses, midwives and mental health workers are going to take extra measures, but those measures will be rolled out with consideration to absent members, their employers, as well as the patients in their care. Those measures will be revealed in time. Penelope said, “Patients will always be our number one priority. We're just not going to be taken for granted anymore.”Penelope trains nurses in advanced care techniques on the job, at patients' bedsides. She had just finished training some nurses with advanced dressing techniques and there was one participant who was moving to the Queensland system.  “I had a chat with her and introduced myself. After I said, I'll see you around, and she replied, Oh, no, you won't. I've got a job at the Gold Coast University Hospital. I'm starting next week, but I'll be able to take that lesson with me and take that skill with me now to my new hospital.”This is the problem with such inconsistent conditions with our close neighbour, Queensland. Penelope said, “Why shouldn't any nurse or midwife value themselves enough to get better paying conditions for the same job?”NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said after more than ten negotiation meetings with the state government, there’d been no progress on the union’s pay claim.(In Lismore Base Hospital)“The state government needs to know we are serious and we are fed up. Wages for the state’s largest female workforce have been suppressed for more than a decade. Labor must fix this gender inequity and show that it respects our nurses and midwives and the work they do caring for our communities,” said Ms Candish.“NSW nurses and midwives are the lowest paid in the country. If the state government wants to rebuild the nursing and midwifery workforce and is serious about retaining its hardworking and dedicated staff, it must step up and pay nurses and midwives a wage that reflects their incredible contribution.“It’s time Premier Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey recognised the value and worth of nurses and midwives.”

The NSW Government is today announcing the appointment of an expert panel to lead consultation on a Forestry Industry Action Plan, which will outline the path NSW will take to ensure a sustainable timber industry that aligns with the government’s key environmental priorities.The Independent Forestry Panel will be chaired by Peter Duncan AM who has more than 40 years’ experience in primary industries, infrastructure and regional NSW.Professor Mary O’Kane AC and the Hon. Mick Veitch will also sit on the Panel. The panel has been criticised by The Greens.The Panel will be tasked with consulting with a broad range of stakeholders and report to Government on the best options to achieve the balance between sustainable supplies of timber and our environmental commitments.Stakeholders include representatives from the timber industry, forest growers, environment groups, unions, Aboriginal communities, local government, business, related industries, tourism, scientific experts and the Commonwealth Government.The Plan will address the following key areas:Sustainability of current and future forestry operations in NSW;Environmental and cultural values of forests, including threatened species;Community demand for timber products, particularly as relates to NSW housing, construction, mining, transport and retail;The future of softwood and hardwood plantations and the continuation of Private Native Forestry in helping meet timber supply needs;The role of State Forests in maximising the delivery of a range of environmental, economic and social outcomes;Opportunities to realise carbon and biodiversity benefits and support carbon and biodiversity markets, and mitigate and adapt to climate change risks; andGreenhouse gas emission impacts of different uses of forests and assessment of climate change risks to forests.Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “The NSW Government is consulting on the future of forestry in NSW.“Whether it’s hardwood, softwood or private native forest, our forests and the native species which call them home have faced challenges including bushfires, floods and the ongoing risks due to climate change. “We want your input on what forests and a sustainable forestry industry will look like in the next 30 years.“The expert panel will consult a wide range of stakeholders and we encourage everyone to have their say.”Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said, "We need both trees and wood, and we must strike the right balance for communities and our environment in regional NSW.“Timber is a crucial part of our everyday lives, with timber needed for community and government priorities such as housing, transport infrastructure, electricity distribution, and freight transport.“The families, businesses and communities that make up this industry will be considered for the Action Plan. Their knowledge and experience will be essential for understanding the issues and finding the solutions.“Our timber workers also play a crucial role, when we need it most, to protect our forests and our communities during bushfires. They are part of our frontline in those difficult times, where their skills and equipment are critical in the fight.“The consultative work that is set to go into this Action Plan will ensure all stakeholders are listened to and we arrive at the best future for the timber industry and sustainable state forests.”The new panel has been criticised by Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson.“The Independent Forestry Panel is lacking the expert advice necessary to account for the tremendous destruction that native forest logging has on the environment,”“This new panel and the Forestry Industry Action Plan can not be just another vehicle to justify logging our native forests, or it will be seen as an illegitimate process that will further entrench the growing opposition to the Minns Labor Government in communities across NSW,”“NSW doesn’t need another drawn out investigation into native forest logging, we already have the evidence before us that it is driving the extinction and climate crises, and that it is costing the people of NSW vast sums of money through declining revenue and court costs for illegal logging,”To stay informed on the Independent Forestry Panel’s process, please register your interest at www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/forestry-industry-action-plan.

The NSW Government is launching a groundbreaking platform statewide, called BluLink, that gives police instant access to unfolding emergencies.BluLink allows Triple Zero callers to share video, GPS coordinates and other information to help police assess and respond to emergency situations faster and more effectively than ever before.When a member of the public calls Triple Zero, depending on the situation, the police dispatcher may send a BluLink request to the caller’s phone, or the phone of the person in need of assistanceBy clicking that link, they can share vital information with police dispatchers.Capabilities include instant GPS coordinates to pinpoint the exact location of a caller, livestream footage of an unfolding emergency and capabilities to upload digital media to help police to triage an incident and collect evidence. A text message tool can be used in situations where voice calls are challenging and translates into 150 languages.Police can also gather witness statements and send messages and digital victim cards via the platform.A 12-month trial has been conducted across select Metropolitan and Regional areas which saw:More than 8,300 locations obtained;More than 100 High Risk Missing Person locations obtained;The locations of more than 62 missing bushwalkers obtained;More than 700 videos live streamed;More than 8,000 digital media files uploaded;More than 78,000 Digital Victims Cards sent;More than 1,500 chat messages initiated.BluLink is the first step in the NSW Police Force’s Digital Policing Roadmap that will deliver new, cutting-edge technology capabilities to help officers to fight crime and keep the community safe. It is powered by GoodSAM technology which is already used by emergency services in Australia and the UK.Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said, “BluLink further strengthens the capability of our police and emergency dispatchers by giving them instant, real-time access to unfolding emergencies.“Police rely on members of the community to accurately describe an incident so they know what they’re dealing with and what they need to respond; BluLink gives them unrivalled access to a scene before they’re even arrived.“On average, police receive more than 1,500 emergency calls for assistance every day; this technology will help triage and respond to incidents more effectively than ever before.”Commander of Technology and Communication Services Command, Assistant Commissioner Stacey Maloney, said, “We know that members of the community are our eyes and ears and BluLink is an innovative way in which further information can be provided to us during a Triple Zero call which assists us in enhancing our policing response.“BluLink is expected to better assist the public and save time and resources across every police command for both front line and specialist areas.“You never know when you might be in an emergency, or need to call Triple Zero (000), and BluLink could help if something were to happen.”

Northern Rivers schools have received a great deal of publicity in the last month.Lismore South Public School's design plans were revealed on August 4, as was the case for the Richmond River High Campus in North Lismore last week.Although not in the Lismore LGA, Broadwater Public School has suffered the same fate with students, parents and teaching staff waiting patiently for the reconstruction of their school.The wait is over as today marks the start of construction on the rebuild of their school, more than two years after it was extensively damaged in the devastating 2022 floods. The start of construction comes one month after the Minns Labor Government used enhanced planning powers under the Reconstruction Authority Act to authorise the school’s redevelopment, responding to community concern, and breaking a planning deadlock. The new Broadwater Public School, set to be completed in early 2025, will be more flood-resilient, with buildings raised approximately 4 metres above the ground, about 700 millimetres higher than earlier school designs. New facilities include three modern classrooms, a new library, canteen, administration area, a large undercroft play space and amenities, a yarning circle, and landscaping to complement the school’s surroundings. The school’s core facilities will all be on a single raised level, maximising play and outdoor space, with buildings supported by an engineered steel gantry. Following the demolition of the flood-damaged school buildings, the next steps include excavation and in-ground services, before the school buildings are delivered and installed, and the school site is landscaped. Relieving Broadwater Public School Principal Bronwyn Cole said, "Today marks a significant and joyous milestone for our school and community. As we break ground, we are not only laying the foundation for a new school but also for a brighter future for our students and staff.“I am proud of the resilience our community has shown, and I am confident that this new school will be a source of pride and strength for generations to come."“We are grateful for the support which has made it possible for us to rebuild a school that truly reflects the spirit and resilience of Broadwater. I’m excited to see our students return to a campus that will inspire them to learn, grow, and achieve their full potential."The Minns Labor Government is committed to rebuilding flood impacted schools in the Northern Rivers region, ensuring affected communities are delivered the high-quality education facilities they need. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, "Ensuring Broadwater Public School is delivered back to the community is a priority for the Minns Labor Government. I am pleased to see construction is finally beginning on the rebuild of this important Northern Rivers school, and I look forward to seeing Broadwater returned to local families and students. “The Broadwater community have campaigned for their school, and I acknowledge the passion they have shown for this wonderful community asset.” Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said, "There is a true sense of excitement in the air as the Broadwater Public School community celebrates this important step forward. “I deeply admire the Broadwater community for their resilience, support, and unwavering commitment to their local school. This project represents our firm commitment to the future of this beautiful community. “We are building a future where our children can thrive in an environment that is safe, modern, and built to withstand whatever comes our way.”

The Lismore CBD has changed its business face in the last two and half years.Pre-February 28 2022 big flood, you would walk past three travel agents if you strolled around the CBD block. There was Hello World on Magellan Street, Summerland Travel on Keen Street and Lismore Cruise & Travel on Woodlark Street.(The old Cruise & Travel agent on Woodlark Street)Now, there are none. You have to go to Lismore Square to find a travel agent, Flight Centre, which expanded its space during the Square rebuild.So, what has taken the place of travel agents? What is the new business trend?NDIS related businesses.You still find long-term retail businesses like Daleys Homeware, Shoppe One, Music Bizarre, R Gordon Real Estate, Brands Pharmacy and George Gooley Menswear. As well as a host of wonderful cafes and restaurants, such as Uncle Lims, The Garden Plate, Dark Horse and Mamamoi.When you walk around the CBD block, you will see:Pillars of Potential on Woodlark StreetMultitask - they have three locations - the new building on Bridge and Molewsorth Street (the old Planet Music), the newly completed building on Keen Street (the old Blooms) and on Woodlark Street (down from the Richmond Hotel).Epic - Disability Employment Services on Keen StreetOCTEC Employment/Disability Services on Magellan StreetAsuria Assured People Services/Disability Employment Services on Molesworth StreetSocial Futures on Molesworth Street (an NDIS component)During last week's Lismore City Council meeting, Councillor Big Rob questioned the number of Disability Service Providers in the CBD and argued they do not attract people into the CBD to spend money as other retail shops do.Mayor Steve Krieg replied that the benefits of having nearly 80% occupancy in the CBD helped building owners and retailers as many of the CBD buildings are owned by local people, so the money stays in Lismore.The Lismore App spoke to Mutlitask's CEO, Jody Cheetham, about their move into Lismore's CBD, their growth and how they contribute to the CBD."Our head office was at 296 Molesworth Street, behind the old Toyota dealership, for 20 years before we got washed away and lost our head office.""We moved into the CBD because there was nowhere else to go," Jody explained, "We have been in Club Lane (off Molesworth Street in the CBD) since 2016 with our day programs."Mutlitask is not a newly established not-for-profit NDIS operation. They have been in Lismore for 72 years as Lismore Challenge and rebranded to Multitask in 2007.In that time, they have grown significantly in owning and operating buildings in the CBD, South Lismore, East Lismore, and soon, Goonellabah.Jody said there are 40 staff in the new head office on Molesworth Street, the old Planet Music, with a further 10 disability support staff around the CBD plus their clients."We moved into the Keen Street building last week. That building will house clinical service staff such as behaviour support, psychology and counselling."There are designated shopping and lunch days for the Day Centre buildings where clients are taken around the CBD.Three more Multitask projects are progressing in other parts of the Lismore LGA."We are renovating another building in Magellan Street into a cafe so people with a disability can work. Hopefully, this will be completed by the end of the year," Jody explained."We are also redeveloping ten units in East Lismore we lost in the 2022 flood. We start construction in November in Harmony Avenue.""We also bought a block of land in Wedgetail Court, Goonellabah to build a disability group home This will take approximately 12 months until it is completed."Multitask is one of the region's largest employers, with over 300 people in Lismore, Ballina, Tamworth, Grafton and Kempsey, with Lismore as the head office.While Multitask is not going to attract people to the CBD, it certainly contributes to the Lismore economy, as do other service offerings like lawyers or accountants.

Yesterday, the Lismore App reported on the NSWRA's (Reconstruction Authority) plans to recycle and reuse building materials from purchased homes through the Resilient Homes Program.It was announced that a timber recycling trial is taking place in two locations in Lismore, led by Associate Professor at the UTS School of Design Berto Pandolfo, to identify any timber that has the potential to be reused.We wanted to find out who Associate Professor (A/Prof) Berto Pandolfo is and what sort of expectations he has for this project and beyond as the removal of buyback houses continues. The latest statistics show that 575 houses have been approved for buyback in the Lismore LGA."I'm an industrial designer, so I design products," Berto said, "Over recent years, I'm an academic. My area of research has evolved into recovering materials for recycling, so finding ways not to let materials get lost either through landfill or incineration."A lot of my work has been with petrochemical-based plastics. We're running a project in the hospital system right now trying to implement a circular system of material recovery around non-woven polypropylene in the hope that we can collect homogeneous material, process it, and make it into products that go back into the hospital. The hospital has significant waste issues, massive waste issues with massive cost, and so this has huge implications for both the function of the hospital, and also, the environment.""This is project is sort of similar. It particularly struck a chord with me because my history is with timber. My grandfather was a cabinet maker. I've worked with timber all my life, so I know the sensibility woodies have. I'm no longer a full-time woody, but I've always been a woody with timber, and I've collected timber off buildings that have been pulled out."So, when I was asked to think about what I would like to do in a post-recovery situation, I proposed a number of projects around material recovery, like white goods, for example, I know that in the post-recovery period, lots of stuff was just bulldozed into piles, put on trucks and buried. And that's fine. There's a time sensitive moment, and also because there are no systems in place to recover any of that material."When the opportunity came for me to think about what I'd like to do, and I knew older houses would be made from timber that is hard to get a hold of, I thought, why don't we try and focus on just that? So again, that homogeneous material focus. Just the timber for now. Let's try and recover it.(Associate Professor Berto Pandolfo is asked a question by Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin on site last week. Photo: supplied)"I'm viewing this as a pilot study where we can establish some systems that we can then look at not just timber when we pull down the building, but also the sheet iron, the tiles, the PVC piping, any metals, you know, all of the materials.""Though, my project is only with timber. I should add, however, that the company contracted to assist in the deconstruction is addressing all of the other materials because we understand they already have some systems in place to recover some of the other materials."Berto is based in Sydney at UTS and has been to Lismore three or four times and visited half a dozen homes listed for demolition. His observations have been extremely positive."The timber was in fantastic condition. Something that I learnt being up there is that the floodplain, being quite damp, the threat of termite damage is far reduced. It's up in the dry, hilly areas where the termites run amok. So, these buildings are just in fantastic condition, in terms of the timbers that I could see. So, the piers, the joists, the bearers, the noggins, roofing, it was just amazing."We want to take the timber off. We want to deconstruct the building with great care. We're testing a process by which the first step is an evaluation of the site where hazardous materials are identified and then removed. We need a clearance certificate before we can go any further."Once the clearance certificate is given, in this pilot study, we are removing all non solid timber material, so tiles, plywood, iron sheeting, plumbing, wiring, that sort of thing. We are then left with the solid timber, after which we will then go in and carefully deconstruct that dwelling to recover as much as possible."The old homes built from rainforest timbers were clad in weatherboard and painted with lead paint. What happens to the weatherboard?"So the weatherboards that have been painted are, in every likelihood, painted with lead-based paints, will be removed, will be stacked and collected as is done in many other locations. Then, it will be made very clear to the person who wishes to purchase the timber that the material that's been painted and potentially hazardous."Because it's timber, we're collecting it, and because it has significant value in a restoration context because a lot of the profiles are difficult to find, we're holding on to it. Our focus will be on the will be on the non-painted solid timbers, like the structural elements of the dwelling."Once the timber is carefully dismantled, it is stored in a recently identified yet secretive place."This is a trial to evaluate the system that we are proposing. After which, we will be able to quantify from the building how much material there actually is and then estimate.....well, if suddenly up to 400 homes that have been identified, 50 come online, then we'll know what we need to do regarding, deconstructing, transporting to a safe site, storage in a safe location and so on and so forth. But at the moment, it's all hypotheticals, and this is a small trial.The process, so far, has been smooth, although behind schedule, with Berto able to view the bare structure and identify those valuable, heritage timbers."We had an expert go in and identify the different types of timbers. We've got a list, there was spotted blackbutt, ironbark, tallowood, teak floorboards, rosewood, bloodwood and some unknowns. So, there's a wonderful variety of timbers there, which is super exciting."It's sort of old-growth timber. It hasn't been plantation grown. So, the plantation grown timber is grown faster and has different qualities. Whereas this is being farmed in sort of native natural forests, and it's just a better quality timber. These timbers have really high value. People who work with timber really seek this material out.When asked where he thought these timbers would end up, Berto surmised that cabinetmakers and furniture builders would be likely options.The next step for this trial is to hold a workshop next week."We have invited local artisans, cabinet makers, furniture makers, builders, architects, landscape architects, and educators from high schools and TAFE to come along. We're going to invite these local creators to come up with ideas of what to do with this material because we know this is culturally important material from the local area. We want local creators to be the ones to transform and give a second life to this material."In this pilot, we are focused on three different scales. A sort of small, medium and large scale. Small being really small artefacts, a wall hook, a spoon. Medium artefacts will be a stool or a bench table, and a large artefact will be a shade structure or a screen."There's different types of timber both in the species, but also in the cross-section, and in the length. There are lots of small bits that we need to find, solutions and ideas to use those small pieces. And there's big long bits that are a little easier to find."Each bit of timber will be identified and marked as a way to log the history and location of the wood."We want to mark each timber from each building so that a sort of legacy of its origin can be maintained, and so that the artisan that gets the timber with the red markings or the blue markings will know where that timber has come from. That will be recognised in any sort of supporting literature around those products, or branding that we might implement, a bit like a label on on products. You know, the origin of this product is Tweed Street.Berto said that at this stage, the workshops are invitation-only. So, if you want to gain entry, contact the NSWRA and state your case.

Winning wasn't the order of the day at this morning's Darrel Chapman Fun Run, although it was celebrated. Large numbers of people turning up and participating in the 4km, 10km or 21km Half Marathon was the reason for record entries and a record fundraising amount.A very happy organiser Our Kids Rebekka Battista crowed about the turnout."Sure, it's a record day, absolutely. Last year, 750, this year, over 1000, easy."There were a lot of on-the-day registrations which caused a few problems for Rebekka and her team, as they ran out of bibs and timing anklets. But rather than disappoint another 50 people who got up early to participate, the decision was made to accept the fee and allow everyone to run or walk in whatever category they chose."We thought we might get maybe 30 people rock up who haven't registered in the 10k, we got over 50 registered. So, that just blew us away, even though pre- registrations were over 200 anyway. It was just extraordinary. Logistically, there was a bit of a juggling act this morning, but all good. It worked out. "Actually, it didn't matter; people just got in and had a go. And I just think that's what's so good about this event. It's not just about the elite runners, it's about people setting a goal, walking, running, and being a part of the community." (The large crowd participating in the 4km Fun Run/Walk. Some participating with their family after running the 10km)This sentiment was supported by Mayor Steve Krieg, who handed out medals to those who completed the 21km Half Marathon."What a turnout, what a great day. We talk about everything that this town's been through over the last couple of years, and one thing that you can't ignore about the Lismore spirit is getting in behind our very own local charity, Our Kids. They do such great work looking after all of our sick kids in our region. It's not just the Lismore-centric organisation, but you know to see thousands of people out here supporting Our Kids just warms the soul. It's such a worthy cause, and we love it. The Krieg family team was well represented today.My 15-year-old daughter, who is a mad fitness freak, did the 10k run with her friends. It was their Samson Challenge team that did the 10k. My wife's suffering a bit of a knee injury at the moment, but she's taking the dog for a walk for the 4k and so the whole family's into it. Our 17 year old's running our business. She does it better than I do. "Not only does the charity have a special place in Lismore's heart, but Chris Ingall, who founded Our Kids, as we all know, put our family up after the flood for close to a year. So the least we can do as a family, is get behind what is a passion of his and support Chris and all the good work that Chris, Beck and Sam do. We would be here regardless of my role in local government. "It's just amazing to see the thousands of people getting out and about and having a go. "The pain on some faces turned into huge smiles as people came across the finish line.As for Our Kids and the money raised?"There have been groups out there that have been doing fundraising for Our Kids, such as the NAB Community Group, the NAB Corporate Competition and the Lismore Workers Club School Competition. I think we've raised over $10,000 there, so on top of that, I think we may hit $20,000, fingers crossed.Once again Lismore, take a bow.

Hundreds of vulnerable children in Lismore and northern NSW are being supported during their most challenging time thanks to an award-winning care initiative.The Smiley Suitcases Project, run by the Rotary Club of Lismore Networking, ensures that no child entering the care system does so empty-handed.Instead, backpacks and mini suitcases are filled with essential clothing, books, and toys and dropped off to leading child welfare charity CASPA, to distribute as needed.The bags are packed with age-appropriate and gender-specific items and provide relief and security to children during tough times.(Project Coordinator Maureen Williams and Co-President of Rotary Club of Lismore Networking Sonja Dorey)Rotary Club of Lismore Networking recently won the Best New Project Award for their work, at the Northern New South Wales and Southeast Queensland Rotary District Awards Ceremony on the Gold Coast.Every year, hundreds of vulnerable children across Australia are placed in either emergency care or foster care.CASPA CEO Naarah Rodwell said often, there is no time for them to pack personal possessions or beloved items.“That means no favourite teddy, no doll, soccer ball or warm jumper during a time when everything is already unfamiliar and scary,” she said.“The work Rotary Lismore Networking does is vital. By donating these bags to us, we can help make this transition into the care system a little bit easier and inject some positivity into difficult circumstances."We deeply appreciate the group’s ongoing commitment to CASPA, children in out-of-home care, and their carers.“Their generosity truly makes a profound difference in these young lives, and the Smiley Suitcases Project is a testament to the power of community support and compassion."Co-President of Rotary Club of Lismore Networking Sonja Dorey said she hoped the award would help highlight the importance of Smiley Suitcases.“Collaborating with CASPA to deliver these backpacks is fantastic,” she said.“It pulls at your heart to know that children go into emergency foster care with absolutely nothing. By giving them a Smiley Suitcase we hope that we make them feel a little bit more positive.“The feedback we’ve had is that the kids are very excited when they open the bags, which is really lovely to hear.”Smiley Suitcases has been running for almost two years and is made possible through fundraising events, which pay for the bags and essential items.The next fundraiser is a ‘Boot Scootin’ at the Bowlo’ event on Saturday 14 September, at Lismore City Bowling Club, 6.30pm.Tickets are $50 at www.trybooking.com/CTULM.

As we enter the first flush of the warmer part of the year, and thoughts of spring cleans, wardrobe changes and freshening the house begin to beckon, give a thought to helping local charities.It may well help you decide whether to keep or upgrade your wardrobe, especially with Father's Day around the corner.Men's clothes and children's toys are always in need but in decent condition. As Peter Milkovic from Vinnies says, “If you wouldn’t buy it, it is not suitable for an op shop.”VinniesPeter surmises men tend to wear their clothes longer, hence their higher demand. Vinnies are always looking for men's jeans, shirts, T-shirts, belts, shoes, jackets and jumpers.Women's accessories are also very welcome in the warmer seasons, including hats and scarves, jewellery, underwear, shoes and dresses.Kids clothes are also needed for all agesAlso accepted are books, interior decorations and collectibles, DVD’s and CDs, computer games and toys, camping equipment, blankets, linen and kitchenware.  Please note that Vinnies does not accept furniture, electrical or safety gear like helmets and baby seats or bicycles.  Donations are accepted in all Vinnies retail shops during opening hours and at the distribution centre at 18 Centenary Drive, Goonellabah.LifelineLifeline gladly accepts pre-loved apparel for women, men and children, books, toys and games, homewares and kitchenware, as well as furniture items. Michael Were of Supporter Engagement says, “With the weather warming up, there is no need to have the winter clothing clutter your wardrobes and house. Lifeline would be very grateful for the donations now and we will store ready for next autumn. “We have free-of-charge pickup available for furniture and other bulky good items. Please call (02) 6621 8516 to discuss your bulky goods donations and organise a pickup time. “Our preference is for donations to be delivered to 29 Lancaster Drive, Goonellabah, but smaller quantity donations can be dropped off to our Magellan St shop as well as Ballina, Casino and Byron Bay shops. All our Northern Rivers stores are open seven days for donation drop off and shopping.”Donations can be made at organisations that would like to support Lifeline. Michael says, “Businesses can support Lifeline by organising a spring-cleaning clothing drive for staff.  “We will deliver a blue bin or two (just like your residential rubbish bin) to your business to be placed in your team’s common area. Your team fill the bin, and we’ll come back and collect it the following week! Call us on 02 6621 8516 to organise a time that suits you.” All these charities provide services to the community, as do Lifeline, “All the proceeds from our stores directly support Lifeline’s suicide prevention and crisis support services in the Northern Rivers, including 13 11 14 crisis line phone support.”Community GatewaySome charities, such as Community Gateway, have been operating in Lismore for nearly fifty years and are focused on the cost of living. If you are able to support with groceries or fuel vouchers, they are very welcome.Community Gateway CEO, Jenni Beetson-Mortimer says “As a consequence of rolling disasters in our region, the pandemic, the flood and now a cost of living crisis our clients need more support than ever before. We are seeing an increase in people struggling to pay for the basic costs of living such as food and electricity. Homelessness has increased significantly in our region.”Jenni says that many of the government funded welfare services have not had an increase in core funding for decades, so it is difficult for us to meet the real need.“Our emergency relief services provide assistance with food donated by Secondbite and Foodbank. We distribute vouchers for food, medical bills, fuel and energy costs to people in need.”If you are already thinking about the upcoming festive season, Jenni says there is another way to support families that are struggling coming up to Christmas, “We run an annual Adopt-a-Family-for-Christmas campaign which identifies families in need and relies on the community to donate Christmas hampers and presents for those families to share on Christmas Day.  “Community members can call our office on (02) 66217397 and ask for the profile of a family in need and drop off their donations to 76 Carrington Street in Lismore.”It is important to have these vital support networks for those who find themselves struggling. These resources also provide a treasure trove of goods to be found and re-homed, adding to the sustainability of our region.

During last week's Talking Lismore podcast with Mayor Steve Krieg, he mentioned a new funding agreement between Lismore City Council and the NSW Government so council can lead its own flood recovery projects. Dealing with multiple government agencies and dealing with so much red tape has slowed the recovery process substantially.At that stage, there was no real detail about what was involved or what that meant for Lismore's flood recovery. This week, the Lismore App interviewed Council's Chief Operating Officer Brendan Logan to get the answers.It turns out that the funding agreement has been in the pipeline since May/June last year."When Simon Draper was leading the Reconstruction Authority, he gave Lismore a genuine commitment that this will be a locally led delivery, as in, Lismore will rebuild its own assets. Obviously, something of this scale can take a long time to get that in place, but I'm certainly pleased to say that last week, through my team's work, collaborative work with the New South Wales Reconstruction Authority and other agencies, that we've been given a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to recruit the team."The Asset Delivery team are going to rebuild our road and bridges assets, our water assets, our waste assets, finish off the rest of our buildings, and also focus on those flood resilience initiatives that have come through recently."We can now run hard because we've been given the confidence from the state that the staff and the funding will be there for those things. So, where we might have been measured in the past, in the best interest of council, we can now really push on. Whether it's fast-tracked or not, let's wait and see. But I think our destiny is in our own hands a little bit now because the state government has backed local delivery properly. We can start to push and prod and ensure that the things that we think need the level of focus can get that focus.One plus for Lismore is the employment of 60-80 extra staff to deliver these projects. As Mr Logan said, conversations started in 2023 with positive undertones, so council took a calculated risk and hired 40 staff."We took some calculated risk there, and we had a lot of confidence that eventually this would fall into place. The team at the moment, the forty I mentioned, most of those are local, or have become local in recent times, so it hasn't been too big a shift. However, some of the executive-level staff we've brought in are coming off projects like the Coffs Harbour Bypass or other large transport projects around the state, aren't from the area."Our Executive Director for Flood Recovery, Josh Hartcher, who reports to me, he's been flying from Newcastle for the past 12 months, and I did have a chat to him and say, look, part-time is probably not sustainable for such a large program. What do you want to do? He's actually moved his family to the area because he loves the challenge. The family saw it as a bit of an adventure."We've got a few examples like that where there's not just genuine commitment day to day. You've got people looking at this as a very unique opportunity with more of a social element to it than the average sort of construction project from their point of view. So, a great commitment. I think a lot of the people we've got in the teams, probably wouldn't look at Lismore ordinarily. Now, they want to be here, and they want to help us because of the opportunity. So it does benefit not only Lismore, but the Northern Rivers."We've got people in Tweed, we've got people in Lennox and Ballina, we have people in Lismore. They come from various places when you could argue with what's to come over the next three to five years in terms of disaster recovery funding; it's a form of stimulus. When you've probably got state and federal governments out there getting serious about fiscal repair, one area where a lot of money is going to flow into that will attract people is Lismore."The Flood Recovery staff are located on Carrington Street in the CBD, so more good news for local businesses.(Inside the Carrington Street Flood Recovery Office)There are some major council assets that need rebuilding or to be completed, including the Lismore Airport and the Lismore City Hall.Lismore Airport"We've spent the last two years, for example, putting a fair bit of capital in just getting our airport back to a state where we can actually operate an airport. And we've spoken to the likes of Qantas and others about coming back, and they say, well, what's the future of Lismore? I think in the next 12 months, we'll be able to sell it. It's actually quite bright."I'd say it would be ready to reopen soon if we had the level of carrier coming in, which we don't. It's been a two-year program of genuine capital investment that's probably got a month or two to run. The terminal will be rebuilt, the pavement will be rebuilt, fences, security, all our compliance projects will be largely ticked off. I understand from the the airport guys that we probably have a level of investment running up to about February next year to ensure full compliance with CASA and those types of things."We're at the point now we can start to have conversations with those carriers like Qantas that we do want to bring to the region to help with our recovery. I'd say they're open-minded, but they're tough. For a national carrier to come to Lismore, they have to essentially make a decision, potentially not to do something else."We met with them a couple of times, and we got a really good hearing. But I'd say the questions they ask aren't simple ones to answer. The onus is definitely on us to demonstrate to a Qantas that the opportunity is there rather than them bringing it straight to you. And that's something we'll take on.The Lismore City HallThe fencing is down around the City Hall, indicating the work is done. However, when you look inside, it is far from complete."You may remember, I think it might have been a public briefing when we talked about prioritising the rebuild of our assets. We went to our elected members and suggested City Hall and a couple of the bigger, more complex things be put down the list. Not because they're not important, but we could deliver 30 other smaller assets while we were working out what to do with those bigger ones."There have been some delays in securing the right level of funding from the rebuild for City Hall. It isn't like the pool, for example, which basically had one funding source, you know, a couple of million dollars from one source to rebuild a pool. City Hall has multiple (funding sources) and getting them all to work together so that you spend that money correctly has taken longer than we would like. But, just last week, we were sitting down with our state government colleagues about securing the last level of funding required to get that asset up and running again."I expect in the next couple of weeks we'll have confirmation of that, and then we can talk to the public about what's next for City Hall."Lismore Art Gallery "I'm quite excited about about those ones opening."I remember standing with Ashleigh Ralph, our head of the art gallery in May 2023, in the art gallery and just looking at the mess. And Ashley was quite emotional. Do you think we'll, we'll get this back? And I said, we'll get it back, mate, we'll get it back."I walked in there last week. It's not just back, it's back, and it's better. It looks incredible. People will be very impressed with what's happened under that Bennett's contract with the art gallery. I certainly know Ashley's very happy with what's happened.The government funding to rebuild our assets was on a 'Like for like' basis, but Mr Logan thinks we have built back 'Like for right', which means the buildings will be more flood resilient than pre-flood."We've got different circumstances now, and what we've been able to establish with the state government, even though it's been a very difficult journey, is you're restoring something to pre-disaster function, not necessarily pre-disaster condition. So that you can, there are some betterment angles and some resilient angles you can build in with that."The art gallery would be a really good example, even if it's just the way the windows are set up and where the footpaths are on the outside, they are better. Whereas, if you were to go back to the pre-disaster condition, it's actually quite hard to replicate. So there have been bits and pieces of that across our entire rebuild."I think where we'll really see that over the next three to five years is in the northern part of the catchment when we deal with landslips and roads and bridges. When you look at the Nimbin road project we opened before Christmas, a $14 million project delivered for 11, really well delivered. But 80% of the spend is under the ground. You don't see it. It's dealing with that geotechnical complexity. But that is future-proofed. That road that we may have had issues with over the next 50 years has now got that long design life, and we've spent that money."So, if you look at all the assets in that context, sure they're going to get rebuilt to pre-disaster function, but maybe they get rebuilt in a stronger way."Last Friday, Mr Logan, along with Mayor Steve Krieg, travelled to Sydney to lodge a submission to the Select Committee on the Response to Major Flooding across New South Wales in 2022.Eighty-seven (87) people, organisations and council's lodged submissions so the state government can understand the mistakes that have been made in the last two and a half years and put processes and legislation in place so the next time it occurs, whoever the council is, will have modelled processes for flood recovery in place, including funding."This was of a scale that no one's had to deal with before. In New South Wales, no one knew how to do it. So, yeah, there's been some challenges. And look, we made a submission. It's publicly available if people want to read it (click here). And, you know, it reads quite sobering. It reads quite hard. It could certainly be interpreted as critical. It is honest, but it's got to be honest in context."If we look at the last six months, I mentioned the people in the state government, the Mal's, the Amanda's, James, Matt, how much help they've given us in the last six months. You read the submission, and then that's what you've got to take it into context. You look at where we are now to where we were 12 months ago; we've come such a long way. But from our perspective, if we didn't tell the truth about some of those experiences, the next council might suffer. So, that's what I mean by taking it in context."We're in a good place now. Look at the commitments we're being given, look at the people we're working with that we know actually care. But I think, from our perspective, it is important to identify that baseline. To identify a lot of those challenges we've had to go through, not because we want people to get in trouble or we want to go backwards, but because we just want to make sure it doesn't happen again. That's the context we want it to be seen in.Now, Lismore City Council is approaching a new phase, a building phase on key assets that will impact our city and it's budget. Mr Logan said he is willing to discuss the progress being made more regularly."I think the community's waited long enough to hear about these things. We've certainly felt like we've waited long enough so in the coming months, let's talk again, and let's talk specifically. I can tell you what's approved, I can tell you where you can expect to see activity, and I'm comfortable showing the public that three to five-year outlook."We've tried to ensure this entire program is delivered no later than quarter two 2029. So there are 400 separate assets that need to be built in that time. To some that might be unreasonable, but it is what it is at the moment. So, in the coming months, once it's all locked away, let's talk again and let's show the public what's ahead of us."This is an edited version of Brendan Logan's Talking Lismore podcast. To listen to the full podcast, click Podcasts through the Lismore App or https://talkinglismore.buzzsprout.com/ to listen via the Lismore App website.

While hundreds of people are participating in the Darrel Chapman Fun Run today, running 10km is not for everyone. Research into a 15 Minute Challenge for workplaces is showing improvements in fitness, energy, sleep quality and overall health. Anyone can participate in the challenge.The 15 Minute Challenge is a 6-week online workplace physical activity competition that encourages participants to do at least 15 min of daily exercise. Employees from workplace teams record their activities via an online app which has gamification features like team competitions and activity tracking to keep members motivated.Corporate Cup, lunchtime yoga, or even ‘walk and talks’, organisations come up with all sorts of wellness initiatives to encourage people to be more active in the workplace. But before you duck and hide, new research shows that all it takes is 15 minutes and a touch of gamification to put you on the path to success.Assessing results from 11,575 participants, across 73 Australian, New Zealand, and UK companies, University of South Australia researchers found that a gamified workplace wellness program – the 15 Minute Challenge* -leads to substantial increases in physical activity levels, with 95% of participants meeting (36%) or exceeding (59%) physical activity guidelines. In addition, participants’ average daily physical activity levels increased by 12 minutes per day (85 minutes per week) throughout the six-week challenge, with the median daily exercise duration being 45 minutes. Participants also reported improvements in fitness (14%), energy (12%), overall health (8%), sleep quality (8%), and mood (7.1%). The WHO recommends that adults (aged 18-64) should do at least 150– 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or at least 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity over a week. In Australia, 37% of adults and 83% of teenagers do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity. Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Ben Singh, says the 15 Minute Challenge presents an effective mechanism to help boost employee health and wellbeing in the workplace. “Regular physical activity provides significant physical and mental health benefits. It plays a key role in preventing and managing chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, and it also reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety,” Dr Singh says. “Yet around half of Australian adults do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity. “With the majority of adults spending much of their waking time working, workplaces present ideal settings for promoting physical activity. “In this study we showed that as little as 15 minutes of physical activity per day, can make a big difference when it comes to people’s health and wellbeing. And while the program only required 15 minutes of activity, most people tended to do more. “The 15-minute goal essentially serves as an accessible starting point – especially for people who are particularly sedentary. So, it reduces barriers to entry and helps build the habit of regular exercise. “Ultimately, the 15-minutes is a catalyst for increased physical activity, with many participants ending up exceeding the minimum goal and moving closer to or surpassing national recommendations.” Co-researcher, UniSA’s Professor Carol Maher says that part of the program’s success is in the gamification and the social aspects of the app. “Encouraging and keeping your team-mates accountable through friendly competition is central to the 15 Minute Challenge app, and a key part of what motivates participants to stay committed and connected,” Prof Maher says. “The program encourages team collaboration, to track rankings, and display cumulative exercise. Achievements are clearly noted, and successes are celebrated. So, it’s certainly a tool that engages people to work together and have fun. “What we need to remember, however, is that addressing inactivity is everyone’s responsibility. So, if an employer can initiate an effective, enjoyable, and cost-effective option to support their employees, it’s a win-win. “Physically active employees are happier and healthier; they are more productive, more satisfied, less stressed and less likely to get sick. Sustainable, scalable initiatives – like the 15 Minute Challenge - that can support employees to change their health and well-being for the better, should be on every employer’s agenda.”

Police from the Richmond Police District are seeking information from the public that will lead to locating these three men, wanted on outstanding warrants for Domestic Violence offences.Warren BoydJake McWirterDavid HoneycombAnyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.All information is treated with strict confidence.

Select students from Lismore High have been working on a special project - a tiny home they are building to sell.In a joint initiative between RIEP (Regional Industry Education Partnerships), the Rivers Secondary College, Lismore High Campus and several businesses in the area, the students are given an opportunity to be involved. Thirteen year 9 and 10 students applied for the privilege of being admitted to the project.“We couldn't have done this without the startup support of REIP and we're really fortunate that we've got passionate staff,” said Chris Williams, the school principal.“It's given the students something to look forward to, that they've got ownership of, and they can see a tangible result at the end of each week, and they're really proud of what they're doing.”The students work on the tiny home on Fridays. As part of their application to work on the tiny home, they signed an agreement to catch up on classes they missed due to the work on the build.“They've really taken on foreman roles within the crew. The kids rotate who the site manager is for the day and allocate tasks within. They've really stepped up,” Chris says, “They're so engaged that they treat it like a real work site and take it in turns every week to work out who's going to bring the sausages for lunch and fry them up.”(The sun's rays shining down on the work that they have done)Jill McCall, a Senior Project Officer from RIEP explains the opportunity, “The Regional Industry Education Partnership program is about developing events and activities that link or connect students directly with industry. “This is one of two tiny house projects in the state, and the idea is that the students will get lots of hands-on experience and also make direct connections with the industry that are participating and supporting the project.”The crew is at the halfway point - week 15 of a 30-week schedule.  Dean French, the Tiny Homes Coordinator, said the students have completed a white card course as part of the build and a few excursions to see first-hand how trade businesses operate. The kids have had 12 days on the build so far, “which is pretty impressive - what we've been able to achieve in that time. Next week, the roofers are coming to finish off, and the plumbers so it'll be fully finished outside.”There is a bit to do on the inside, “The flooring will take a considerable amount of time because they're actually making parquetry panels to go on the floor and the kids are all going to make their own panel.”(The internal cladding going up with full effort from the team)Speaking to the young adults working on the build, Jesse said, “I'm loving it. Just really having a go, getting into the trades. It's a really good opportunity for everyone, especially if you are looking at a trade as a career option.“You get to try it out without going through the qualifications. So, if you do this and find out it's not for you, you can make the decision earlier. “I'm thinking this might be for me, yeah. I’m looking at being a sparky, an electrician.”Jesse goes on to describe the specs for the Tiny House, “It's six metres long and about two and a half metres wide. To the peak of the roof, it's about three metres. So it's decent sized for a tiny home, and it's still small enough to be quite mobile. “The way it is designed, we have a bedroom, and then we've got a loft upstairs that is big enough for kids, or they can use it for storage. “And then we're thinking about having a fully equipped kitchen, oven, fridge, sink, everything. “Then we've also got the bathroom at the end, which has got a toilet, shower, sink, it'll have a couple of power outlets as well for hair dryers, things like that.”Laura also loves working on the project, particularly the design. She said it has inspired her to consider pursuing that career.(Laura working on preparing the wall panels that were a big part of today's work)Dean said the external shell came as a kit, and “the kids have really gone into the design element with the interior and customised it so that it's one of a kind.”Tom, another student, explained the back wall and other features, “It's old hardwood from a flood house.” The timber is from 100 year old houses in Melbourne that were flooded, their timbers salvaged and refinished for a new purpose.“We're going to have sensor lights that go across the top of the ceiling, and we're going to build a deck with lights at the front.”The school has been really pleased with the industry response and assistance they have been provided in the community.Chris says, “We've been very fortunate in that we've had a lot of people come in and work with the kids every week. We've had electricians come in and help them do the wiring and the fit-out. “We've been really lucky with a flooring mob who've come in and got some really beautiful feature walls that are quite unique. We've had a roofing crew come in and spend a lot of time working with the kids to actually screw off the iron and get it all looking like it is.(Jill McCall standing out the front of the tiny home, and the sponsors helping with the project.)The tradies working with the team are looking at their future as well. Chris says, “They're interested in putting on apprentices, and they’ve said they're really interested in keeping an eye on particular kids. So it's feeding directly into getting kids into local trades, where there's a massive need at the moment.“The tiny home really is a great project because, as we know, there's a massive shortage of affordable housing in the area. This will be affordable housing.“It'll be auctioned off, and the proceeds will be used to fund next year's project. “I know it's going well because I've already got kids in Year 8 coming up an asking, how do they apply? How can they be part of it next year? “We've had really strong positive feedback from the parents. When they collect their kids, they want to bring them down and show them what they've worked on for the day.”The million-dollar question - are the students keeping up with their agreement and doing their other schoolwork? “Absolutely. I've not had to have a conversation with any of them about falling behind.”If you are in the market for an affordable home in the next couple of months, keep an eye out for a unique tiny home with specialised features and a great local back story.

The Darrel Chapman Fun Run, a beloved and well-supported event held in Lismore for the past 30 years, is happening this Sunday, 25 August, starting at Woodlark Street.Sponsored by NAB, this event attracts keen runners, walkers and families who come together to raise funds for Our Kids and celebrate the Lismore community.With over 800 participants already registered and more expected on the day, this year’s run promises to be the biggest yet.If you haven't booked your spot, don't worry, you can register on the day. The registration desk opens from 6:15am Sunday morning.The day kicks off at 7am with the Lord's Taverners 10km run and the Lismore Masters Half Marathon.The family friendly Terania Consulting 4k walk and run will begin at 9am.Funds raised from the event will go towards purchasing breast milk warmers for the Special Care Nursery and Children’s Ward in Lismore, as well as a humidicrib.For more details or any questions, please contact Our Kids on 0438 417 085.

Another cracking weekend ahead, more like spring than the end of winter, with 25 degrees tomorrow and a hot 29 degrees on Sunday.As you can see above, the maximum temperature is 30 degrees on Monday, and that is the guide for the rest of next week. The forecast from The Bureau is between 27 and 29 degrees all week, with little chance of rain.Conditions will be perfect for the Darrel Chapman Fun Run on Sunday morning.(An aerial view of the Darrel Chapman Fun Run in 2019)Competitors will start at 7am from Woodlark Street in the CBD for the 10km and Half Marathon runs, while people doing the 4kms will start at 9am.Registrations will be accepted on the day from 6:15am for those who wish to run or walk spontaneously and support Our Kids.There are two markets this weekend, starting with the Lismore Farmers Markets tomorrow morning from 7:30.Along with locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables, you can buy meat, cheese, flowers, eggs, donuts, and hot breakfast, including tea and coffee.The Nimbin Markets are in action on Sunday morning from 9am to 3pm on Cullen Street selling everything that only Nimbin can provide, such as unique artisan wares, spiritual concepts, clothes, furniture and more.Lismore's Community Radio Station River FM are holding a community fundraiser on Sunday at the South Lismore Bowling Club to raise $10,000 to upgrade their transmission system, which is a necessity after the February 2022 flood.Enjoy the music of Tex Perkins and Matt Walker, Aine Tyrrell, The Linelockers, Stomp Doctors and more between 2 and 5pm. Tickets are $30 or $25 for concession holders, click here to book.Other live music this weekend, includes Dan Grace at the Northern Rivers Hotel tonight between 6 and 9pm.The Hillbilly Skank will be at the Northern tomorrow (Saturday) from 6pm and Katie Brooke will be performing for the Sunday Session between 1 and 4pm.Bookings are also open for the Lismore Workers Club live music acts. The Workers Club is still due to open on Monday, September 23.The Boney M Experience are performing on Saturday, November 9, Marina Prior and Michael Cormick on Saturday, November 16 and the Italian Tenors on Friday, November 22. Book your tickets here.Rhoda Roberts' My Cousin Frank storytelling performance is on tomorrow (Saturday), with two shows at 2pm and 7:30pm at the Star Court Theatre.Rhoda Roberts AO shares stories about her first cousin Francis "Frank" Roberts, who spent his entire life fighting. Frank was a boxing champion and the first Aboriginal Olympian. You can book tickets here.September is all about the 2024 Rodney Lees Cabinetmaking Lismore Cup. It will be the first time the Lismore Cup has been run on a Friday, so put Friday, September 27 in your calendar, and if you're working, ask the boss for a half day.The NRRRL is into the semi-finals this weekend, unfortunately, without both Lismore sides, who bowed out in last weekend's elimination finals.Evans Head will host Bilambil on Saturday at 3:10pm in this week's elimination final, while Ballina will host Cudgen on Sunday at 3:10pm to determine who goes straight into this year's grand final.There are two rounds to go in Football Far North Coasts Men's Premier League. There is a close fight between five teams to see who will be this year's minor premiers: Goonellabah, Bangalow, South Lismore, Richmond Rovers, and Alstonville.Tonight Richmond Rovers are at home to Lennox Head from 8pm. Saturday's games will see Alstonville at home to Goonellabah, Ballina host Mullumbimby Brunswick heads and Maclean host Bangalow. All games at 3pm.Sunday's game is Byron Bay v South Lismore with kick-off at 2:30pm.The Women's Premier League will see Alstonville play Lennox Heads and Ballina host Richmond Rovers tonight with an 8pm kick-off. Then on Sunday, it is Byron Bay hosting Bangalow.There was a 2 cent a litre price drop on most fuel this week. In Lismore, that occurred when the new Astron Service Station was selling that type of fuel, but E10 and U95, is the fuel they do not sell, saw no price drop.Ballina is easily the cheapest place to fill your tank. Lismore keeps the 'most expensive' crown for fuel, with Ballina up to a whopping 24 cents a litre cheaper.Here are the latest prices in each town:E10 is 193.9 across the board in Lismore and Goonellabah, 177.9 at the United on Johnston Street, the Ampol Foodary on Centre Street, and the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street in Casino, with The Metro and new Mobile in Ballina cheapest at 169.5.Unleaded 91 is 191.9 at the new Astron on Ballina Road, 179.9 at The United, the two Liberty's on Hare Street and the Ampol Foodary on Centre Street in Casino and 171.5 at the Metro in Ballina.U95 is 203.9 at the Independent on Wyrallah Road, East Lismore, Northside Liberty and Bakers Corner at North Lismore, 194.9 at the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street, Casino and 182.5 at The Metro in Ballina.U98 is 208.9 at the new Astron on Ballina Road, 199.9 at the Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and 191.5 at The Metro on River Street, Ballina.Diesel is 183.9 at the new Astron on Ballina Road and the Caltex Lismore on Leycester Street in Lismore, 187.9 at the United Johnston Street in Casino and 185.5 at the new Mobil and The Metro in Ballina.Have a great weekend!

UPDATE 7:11pmThe M1 is open as vehicle salvage crews are removing the truck.There is a reduced speed limit (40km/h), Exercise caution, Allow extra travel time.ORIGINAL STORYLive Traffic is reporting a Truck Crash on the M1 at West Ballina just past the Bruxner Highway.The accident happened at 2:09 this afternoon, and is blocking southbound traffic, with 1 of 2 northbound lanes closed.Emergency services, Transport for NSW and a heavy vehicle tow truck are in attendance.DiversionsLight vehicles only can use Pimlico Rd, East Whytes Lane, Signata Rd and Coolgardie Rd.All other vehicles can use the Bruxner Hwy or consider parking up in a convenient location.