Lismore City Council’s attempts to find somewhere to put Lismore’s green waste while the Recycling and Recovery Centre is out of action are being complicated by measures to limit the spread of yellow crazy ants.The centre has been shut down since a fire - which is believed to have started in piles of compost - ripped through Materials Recovery Facility on Sunday.The council has put interim measures in place for the collection and disposal of waste while the centre is closed and the damage is assessed.However, the council’s executive director of infrastructure services, Gary Murphy, said there had been delays to waste collection, particularly with green organics bins.“We are urging residents to be patient and leave bins out until they are emptied,” Mr Murphy said.“The collection of green waste is complicated by the yellow crazy ant exclusion zones still in place.“Green waste collected in Lismore cannot be disposed of elsewhere without approval from the Department of Primary Industries.“We are currently working with the department to implement a solution but this is causing some delays to our collections.”The exclusion zones are still in place from when the infestation of yellow crazy ants - considered to be one of the top 100 invasive species worldwide - was first discovered in Lismore’s CBD last year.The restrictions prevent the movement of plant matter and soil within a five kilometre radius of the Lismore Central Business District without approval from Local Lands Services.In the short-term while the Materials Recovery Facility is inoperable, the council will transport recycling from Lismore to Chinderah for processing while general waste will continue to go to Ipswich via Richmond Valley.The Brewster Street Drop-off Centre has reopened today and the Nimbin Transfer Station will be open Tuesday to Saturday this week, with additional staff in place. Residents are able to use waste vouchers at this location.The piles of green waste are still smouldering and the waste facility will remain closed until the fire is completely extinguished and damage to the Materials Recovery Facility is assessed.Now that the strong winds have abated, the compost piles are being turned and saturated with water to fully extinguish the fire. This could take several days.Smoke from the fire could potentially be harmful to people with respiratory or lung problems, and warnings remain in place for residents that can smell or see smoke to stay indoors with windows and doors closed until the smoke subsides or use a respirator if venturing outside.People with asthma who can see or smell smoke can collect free respirators at the Bunnings trade desk by showing ID with a residential address within or around Lismore.Animals from the Lismore Pound have been moved to Ballina Pound and the Animal Rights and Rescue Group to ensure they are not harmed should the wind direction change and smoke infiltrate the facility.“The fire has raised a series of complex issues around managing our waste and recycling, and our other operations on site. Council is working through these issues as quickly as we can to ensure the least disruption to residents,” Mr Murphy said.“Our major focus in the short-term is to extinguish the fire. Once this has been done we can focus on assessing damage to the facility and get an idea of what works need to take place immediately in order to reopen the facility to the public.”

Friends of the Koala have issued a plea to motorists to slow down and watch out after a spate of koala deaths on Lismore’s roads coinciding with breeding season.The organisation’s president, Ros Irwin, said following the start of breeding season many more koalas were on the ground, either juvenile males searching for new habitat or males searching for females.Ms Irwin said across the region eight koalas had been killed in recent weeks, with five in Lismore, mostly in Goonellabah along the Bruxner highway.She said a particularly distressing koala strike on Saturday night outside the Goonellabah Tavern, involving a koala called Vincent who had been rehabilitated previously, left a rescuer and vet nurse distressed.“This is the time of year that we at Friends of the Koala dread, as we know that during the breeding season between July and February the rescues will ramp up,” Ms Irwin said.“Whilst disease (and habitat removal) is the primary direct cause of koala deaths, car hits are next, and they’re generally fatal.“The koala hit on Saturday night was Vincent, a koala we had rehabilitated and released in Goonellabah just over two years ago.“His injuries were shocking, with his head virtually smashed and one eye hanging out, struggling to breathe and clearly terrified.“Fortunately one of our Keen Street Veterinary Clinic vets came in and euthanased Vincent as he could not be rehabilitated.”Vet nurse and rescue coordinator Marley Christian, who was upset by the extent of Vincent’s injuries, said FoK was grateful for the members of the public who saw it happen and called the Rescue Hotline 6622 1233.“We can only assume the driver of the vehicle was unaware of hitting the koala, but it was clear the car was travelling very fast to cause the injuries to Vincent,” Ms Christian said.“Whilst it isn’t always possible to avoid a koala crossing a road, at least if the car is travelling at a lower speed the animal might be able to be rehabilitated.“[Another koala] CW lost an eye and we thought he would be euthanased but his injuries were not as severe so CW lives and will go into Species Management at Port Macquarie later this week."Ms Christian reiterated Ms Irwin’s call to slow down and watch out for koalas and called on drivers to make sure they have the Koala Rescue Hotline (6622 1233) in their phones.

The North Coast Public Health Unit has issued a health warning about smoke in the area coming from bushfires in the region and a fire at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre.The assistant director of Public Health North Coast, Greg Bell, said children, older adults and people with heart and lung conditions are most susceptible to the effects of air pollution and excessive smoke.“If you have asthma you should follow your Asthma Action Plan and take your relieving medication where necessary and if symptoms get worse, seek medical advice,” Mr Bell said.“Smoke may aggravate existing heart and lung conditions and cause irritated eyes, coughing and wheezing.“Stay indoors, close windows and follow your health plan.“To minimise any effects of smoke or air pollution, people should also consider avoiding vigorous exercise, seeking out air-conditioned premises and even consider moving away from the direct path of smoke whilst fires are still active.”“It’s also a good idea for people with known health conditions to check the NSW Rural Fire Service website for regular updates on current fires,” Mr Bell said.In case of emergency always remember to dial triple zero.For more information about bushfire smoke and health, visit the NSW Health website:http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/bushfire-smoke.aspx

UPDATE AT 2:08PMAccording to Live Traffic NSW, the accident scene was cleared by 1:59pm.ORIGINAL STORYDrivers have been urged to exercise caution following a two-vehicle accident on the Bruxner Hwy/Ballina Rd at Goonellabah.According to Live Traffic NSW, the accident occurred just east of Invercauld Rd about 12:30pm and eastbound traffic is being affected.NSW Police officers and NSW Ambulance Service paramedics attended the incident.An Ambulance Service spokesperson said that one person was treated at the scene but refused transport to hospital.No details were available about the person treated or their injuries.The Lismore App has attempted to contact Lismore Police for more details.

A development application has been lodged for a cheerleading dance studio in South Lismore.Lismore City Council received the development application for construction of a shed in Foleys Rd to be utilised as an indoor recreation facility earlier this month.A statement of environmental effects filed with the application said it was anticipated that classes would have up to 12 students with one instructor.Classes would run between 3.30pm and 8pm with private sessions by appointment during business hours and intermittent weekend classes/training session to prepare for competitions.“Only a small stereo will be utilised for the playing of music,” the SEE said.“A cheerleading (dance) studio falls within the definition of a Recreation Facility (indoor) which is a land use permitted with consent within the IN2 Light Industrial zone.”While the land is classified as “high flood risk” the proponent has suggested that instead of building a mezzanine - which would interfere with the cheerleaders’ acrobatics - a flood refuge platform and evacuation plan would mitigate flood concerns.The development application is available for public comment on the council’s website until August 28. 

A fire at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre that started early yesterday morning could smoulder in huge piles of green waste for weeks.Lismore City Council has yet to assess the damage caused by the fire which spread from the compost to the Materials Recovery Facility building where recyclable materials including plastics are processed utilizing extremely expensive plant and equipment.It’s believed that the “combination of the pasteurising compost and strong winds set the compost piles smouldering”.A NSW Fire and Rescue spokesperson said the first call was received at 12:44am yesterday and crews arrived to find the two-level industrial shed “well alight”.“The fire was extinguished on a conveyor belt at 1:36am and firefighters worked to protect the fire from spreading to the office block,” the spokesperson said.The materials recycling facility before the fire. PHOTO: Supplied.NSW Fire and Rescue was supported by the Rural Fire Service and council workers as they worked to extinguish the fire in the plastic and mulch waste.An excavator was used to break up the waste and isolate the burning material from the rest.As toxic smoke from the fire billowed from the fire yesterday, the council issued a warning to residents who could smell it to stay indoors and free respirator masks were made available at Bunnings.With at least nine crews from as far afield as Brunwick Heads working on rotation, the fire was contained by yesterday afternoon.Dozens of firefighters battled a blaze at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre yesterday. PHOTO: Supplied.However, it’s expected to continue to smoulder in the estimated 100 tonnes of green waste."It could take a number of weeks to completely extinguish," the NSW Fire and Rescue spokesperson said."With around 500 square metres of green waste smouldering, the wind is causing the odd flare up but there's no real danger."A statement from the council this morning said residents affected by smoke from the fire are being advised to stay indoors or use a respirator if venturing outside.“The fire occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in the compost piles and the Materials Recovery Facility where recyclable materials including plastics are processed,” the statement said.“It is believed the combination of the pasteurising compost and strong winds set the compost piles smouldering, which later ignited the Materials Recovery Facility building.“No-one was injured in the incident but smoke from the fire could potentially be harmful to people with respiratory or lung problems, and residents that can smell or see smoke are urged to stay indoors with windows and doors closed until the smoke subsides.“People with asthma who can see or smell smoke can collect free respirators at the Bunnings trade desk by showing ID with a residential address within or around Lismore.”Nearby schools such as Wyrallah Primary School were unaffected today.The council statement said the Lismore Pound was unaffected by the fire and the animals in care are unharmed, with staff monitoring their safety and wellbeing.Waste collection will continue as normal however there may be delays to pick-up times and residents are urged to be patient and leave bins out until they are emptied.“The Materials Recovery Facility is currently inoperable and needs to be assessed for damage,” the statement said.“This assessment is unable to take place until the fire is fully extinguished and the site can be safely inspected.”While the facility is out of action, the council will transport waste to other facilities in the Northern Rivers and Queensland.The Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre and the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens will remain closed until further notice.The Brewster Street Drop-off Centre has been temporarily closed as skips are currently full. It will be reopened on Wednesday.

Residents that live near the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre in Wyrallah Road, East Lismore, are being advised to stay indoors today as a fire continues to burn at the waste facility.Lismore City Council added community members that can see or smell smoke should stay indoors with windows and doors closed or use a respirator outside. "Smoke could potentially be harmful to people with respiratory or lung problems, and residents within the area that can smell or see smoke are urged to stay indoors with windows and doors closed or use a respirator if going outside," Lismore City Council said on its Facebook page."People with asthma who can see or smell smoke can collect free respirators at the Bunnings trade desk by showing ID with a residential address within or around Lismore.""Residents should turn off heating and cooling systems if these draw air from outside."The fire at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre was discovered in the early hours of this morning and emergency service personnel are on site containing the blaze.The fire is burning in green waste piles and the Materials Recovery Facility where plastics are processed. Fire crews are working to contain the blaze within the Materials Recovery Facility immediately. Fire crews have advised that the fire could smoulder for up to a week within the green waste piles.The Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre is closed until further notice.Community information:• There is a fire at the Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre at Wyrallah Road, East Lismore.• The fire is under control and emergency service crews are working to extinguish the blaze.• Wind is causing the smoke to be blown in an easterly direction at present.• The Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre is closed until further notice.• Wyrallah Road remains open to traffic.• Community members should avoid the area if possible.• Community members that can see or smell smoke should stay indoors with windows and doors closed or use a respirator outside. Residents should turn off heating and cooling systems if these draw air from outside.If you can smell smoke, please note:• Smoke can affect people's health.• People with pre-existing health problems, heart or lung conditions (including asthma), children, pregnant women and older people are more sensitive to the effects of breathing in smoke.

Retired radio personality Malcolm T Elliot has died in Lismore at the age of 73. Elliot’s career spanned 40 years with stints at 2GB, 2UE and 2UW and he has been credited for bringing a “fun and edgy” style to breakfast radio. He also worked in television.In 1974, he famously faked a 24-hour studio “lock in” after telling listeners he was to be replaced. He was mired in controversy in 2005 when he racially vilified the Indonesian judges on the Schapelle Corby case.Elliot, who lived in Goonellabah, had been suffering ill health in recent years. According to 2GB, Alan Jones said Elliot’s passing was “a sad note in the world of broadcasting”.“He had an impact on a lot of people and made a very significant contribution.”Former colleague Ray Hadley praised Elliot.“I know in latter years his contribution was mired in controversy, but he revolutionised breakfast radio in Australia back in the 1970s.“He turned breakfast radio into a formula of fun and satire, aided by the late Tony Dickinson and Peter Shanahan.“The three of them made radio madcap, cutting edge and fun to listen to.“He was zany, he was crazy but it was successful.”

Lismore state MP Janelle Saffin is today hosting a forum on housing affordability, housing supply and homelessness at the Lismore Workers Club, which she says is a first step in advancing one of her electorate priorities.Ms Saffin said the forum was in response to the dire need for affordable housing, housing supply and homeless support in the Lismore electorate and the wider region.More than 40 key stakeholders from the housing sector, not-for-profit sector and local government have been invited to lend their frontline experience and expertise to a two-hour roundtable discussion.“A large number of people contact me seeking support and the many agencies and individuals at the forum are better qualified than me to offer proposals and suggestions on how to tackle this serious issue,” Ms Saffin said.“A number of organisations have clearly articulated what is needed and these resources will assist me to advocate in an informed way.“It is of course up to the government to get the framework in order to deliver more housing stock.”Ms Saffin said that after the forum she would prepare an advocacy plan outlining what was needed to address the issues and work in partnership with the community to try and secure some much-needed resources for the Northern Rivers region.The forum follows Ms Saffin arranging for some housing service providers to brief NSW Opposition Leader Jodi McKay and Shadow Minister for the North Coast Adam Searle MLC during their recent visit to Lismore last month.

A man accused of stealing $76,000 locked himself in his car when spotted by police in Goonellabah yesterday.“Police will allege that on the 27th February a 34-year-old Murwillumbah man broke into a Murwillumbah business and stole over $76,000.00 cash,” a post on the Richmond PD Facebook page said.“Police attempted to speak to him about this matter in early August; he ran from then when he was advised he was under arrest.“At 11:15am yesterday police sighted the 34 year old sitting in a parked vehicle at Somerset Square, Goonellabah.“He locked himself in the vehicle and refused to leave for some time. He eventually surrendered and was found to be in possession of two bags of methamphetamine.“He was taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with Break enter and Steal, Possess Prohibited Drug and Breach Bail.“He was bail refused and will appear in Lismore Local Court today.”

A Goonellabah home was searched and a man charged with serious firearms offences today after Lismore police were tipped off by customs.“Police from the Richmond Target Action Group will allege that 9.30am this morning they served a Firearms Prohibition Order on a 34-year-old Goonellabah man,” crime prevention officer Senior Constable David Henderson said in a post on the Richmond PD Facebook page.“Police then carried out a search of his home for prohibited firearms.“During the search police located a .22 caliber rifle under his bed. The rifle also had a suppressor fitted.“Ninety six rounds of .22 and .410 ammunition were also located. Police then located a part from a Gel Blaster.Senior Constable Henderson said that Immigration and Border Protection on June 22 had intercepted a suppressor part the 34-year-old had purchased from overseas.“The item was seized and NSW police advised,” he said.The accused is now facing a range of charges including: Possess Unauthorised Firearm, Possess Prohibited Weapon Without Permit, Possess Ammunition Without Licence, Possess Unregistered Firearm, Import Prohibited Goods and Unsafe Storage of Firearm.“Further charges may be laid once other items have been forensically examined,” Senior Constable Henderson said. “He has been bail refused and will appear at Lismore Local Court today.”

The Bell Shakespeare company is coming to Lismore next month hosted by NORPA during a national tour of the play Much Ado About Nothing.“As Australia’s national theatre company, our commitment is to make our work available to all Australians, including those outside capital cities,” Bell Shakespeare’s executive director Gill Perkins said.“Our national tour is one of the most important things we do in pursuit of this mission and we are thrilled to present Much Ado About Nothing to Australians in 2019,” she said.James Evans, who directed the company’s national tour of Julius Caesar in 2018, is steering this contemporary production of the Much Ado About Nothing as well.“Much Ado About Nothing is the original ‘from hate to love’ romantic comedy that we’ve seen repeated in films and plays since Shakespeare’s time,” said Evans.“But beneath its sparkling wit and hilarious characters, there is a dark conflict that drives this play to the edge of tragedy.“The story flips from uproarious comedy to utter heartbreak in an instant, and then back again. That is the genius of Shakespeare, and why this play is one of my absolute favourites.”Zindzi Okenyo (Antony and Cleopatra) stars as Beatrice, with Duncan Ragg as Benedick. They will be joined on stage by Vivienne Awosoga, Danny Ball, Marissa Bennett, Mandy Bishop, Will McDonald, Suzanne Pereira, Paul Reichstein and David Whitney.Bell Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is on at the Lismore City Hall presented by NORPA on Wednesday 24 and 25. For tickets, go to www.norpa.org.au or call 1300 066 772.

Earthworks have begun for a big new property development in Goonellabah with the first lots set to go on the market in the next couple of months.“Eastwood is a fresh boutique community that will offer 133 homesites across the 21 hectare parcel of land including embellished parklands, landscape and open space areas,” McCloy Group spokesperson Lahnee O'Brien said.Ms O’Brien said Stage 1 of the development, which is located at the southern end of Invercauld Rd, would have homesites from 620m2 to over 2700m2 .The sites include a number of benched (flat) blocks using natural site stone retaining walls.Construction works are expected to be complete in November with lots likely to be released to the market in October/November 2019 and registered by the end of January next year.“Stage 1 will be released to market post construction so that potential purchasers can view the unique natural landscape and diversity of homesites that Eastwood has to offer, along with the highest level of quality that will be brought to the estate including planting of mature street trees, statement entry feature and public art instalments,” Ms O’Brien said.The first of the art instalments will be a 2m tall bronze koala called “Cuddles”.“Significant investment in infrastructure is necessary to bring the first stage of lots to the market including a new access road, sewer pump station, stormwater detention and commencement of vegetation management/bush regeneration works,” Ms O’Brien said.“When complete, future residents will be able to take the new access road to reveal the sites key landscape and orientation attributes.“Significant vegetation management and landscape improvement works are being undertaken along Gundurimba Creek and other areas of the site as part of the development.“Stage 2 of the development will include further open space embellishments including a park/children’s playground and the incorporation of further public art instalments.”Ms O’Brien said the timing of Stage 2 and subsequent stages would be dictated by market demand.She said the lots would suit a range of buyers including first home buyers, upsizing families and those looking to downsize.“The masterpanned community is being delivered by the award-winning McCloy Group who are recognised for creating exceptional living environments in which people love to live and Eastwood will no doubt be another tribute to this,” she said.According to the McCloy Group's website, the name Eastwood is a tribute to its location in Goonellabah, to the east of Lismore, and the timber mill history of the region.For more information check the website eastwoodliving.com.au or call LJ Hooker Lismore’s Clint McCarthy on 6621 2387.

An off-duty police officer was allegedly assaulted last night after attempting to detain a Goonellabah man who had crashed his car while drunk."Lismore police will allege that at 11.50pm last night a 39-year-old Goonellabah man was driving along Hillview Drive, Goonellabah, at high speed," a post on the Richmond PD Facebook page said."He has crashed his car into a power pole; the impact was large enough to snap the power pole, causing power lines to fall onto the ground."An off-duty Casino police officer has seen the 39-year-old leave his car and try to walk away.The 39-year-old was told to stay where he was and wait for police to attend; he responded by grabbing the off-duty police officer by the throat and tried to push him away."The police officer punched the 39-year-old to the face in self-defence then restrained him until police arrived."At Lismore police station the 39-year-old recorded a breath analysis almost five times higher than the .05 limit."The 39-year-old will face Lismore Local Court on charges of Assault and High Range PCA - 2nd + Offence in September.

The Richmond Police District has doubled the number of Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers working in the area. “Richmond Police District is happy to announce that we have two new Gay and Lesbian Liasion Officers (GLLO/LGBTIQ) trained up and working out of Lismore,” a post on the Richmond PD Facebook page said. NSW Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers wear a special badge. PHOTO: Supplied.“That brings our GLLO number to four, and they will cover the entire Richmond Police District. “This is part of the NSW Police Force's dedication to promoting inclusiveness for all people.“Our GLLO's will wear the attached badge on their uniform. “If you want to speak to any of our GLLO's about any issue please feel free to call Lismore Police on 6626 0599.”

A bridge in the Nimbin street where a woman was killed in an alleged hit-and-run earlier this year will be reduced to one lane until a dedicated pedestrian bridge is built.A group of Nimbin residents concerned about pedestrian safety in Cecil St in June asked Lismore City Council’s Traffic Advisory Committee to install a concrete divider on the bridge with one side for pedestrians and a single lane for traffic on the other.A council notice said the work was due to take place at the end of August.The council has applied to Roads and Maritime Services for funding to build a pedestrian bridge across the creek and is currently finalising the design for this bridge.“Further consultation with the community will take place in three to four months’ time regarding this longer term bridge proposal and a review of the interim one way measure will also be conducted later in the year,” the council notice said.“Council has also resolved to consult more broadly with the Nimbin community regarding Pedestrian Management options in Nimbin, as part of its consultation for the development of a new Community Strategic Plan (CSP) – further details will follow.”Despite resident concerns that Cecil St is a thoroughfare for pedestrians who are forced to walk on the road due to the lack of a footpath, the council says there are no plans or budget to build a footpath the length of the street.“The pedestrian bridge will have some length of footpath installed either side to connect to existing facilities but the detailed design has not been completed as yet,” the council said.Nimbin grandmother Tonia Jansen, 62, was killed and her partner Kobya Panguana, 63, seriously injured when they were allegedly struck by a Subaru Forester while walking along Cecil St on April 15.A 31-year-old Nimbin man has since been arrested and charged in relation to the incident.The council said the changes in Cecil St were in response to concerns raised by residents about safety both before and after the fatal alleged hit-and-run.

The EPA has ordered Lismore City Council to investigate possible further toxic contamination around where a landslip occurred in Beardow St, Lismore Heights, in 2017.The council is currently remediating the road after removing an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 cubic metres of contaminated material which ended up on a neighbouring property during the landslip.An EPA spokesperson said in a statement that the Preliminary Investigation Order issued on Monday required the council to carry out contamination investigations on the Beardow Street road reserve.“The EPA wants to determine if waste material extends beyond the area of the landslip to other areas of the road reserve,” the spokesperson said in a statement.“Council will have 90 days to provide a contamination report to the EPA to help understand the extent of the contamination and what next steps may be required.“There are no known health issues for residents near the road reserve.”Based on the hazardous materials found in the landslip, the EPA suspects the road reserve may also be contaminated with unsafe levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, asbestos and total petroleum hydrocarbons.The landslip initially occurred in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie in 2017, which caused major flooding in Lismore.According to the EPA’s Preliminary Investigation Order - which was provided to the Lismore App by the council - the council’s excavation works at the landslip site uncovered the historical industrial waste materials.“Council were not previously aware of the presence of contamination at the specified land,” the EPA’s document says.“The materials encountered have been described as fill materials containing a high percentage of anthropogenic inclusions such as wire, plastic, glass, industrial waste materials (coke/slag), bitumen and bonded ACM [asbestos containing materials] (in selected places).”The order says the EPA was notified about the contaminated material in October last year and while the land subject to the landslip had been investigated, there remained areas of the road reserve that had not.“The presence and extent of historical industrial waste materials to the specified land is therefore unknown,” it says.The order requires the council to engage a qualified contaminated land consultant to report on:The nature and extent of the contamination in soil at the specified land;The origins of the waste materials at the specified land; andIdentify any human or environmental health risks from the presence of contamination at the specified land.The consultant’s report must be submitted back to the EPA by November 4.The owner of the neighbouring land, Ken Allport, has previously said he planned to sell it for residential development.However, the according to the NSW Department of Planning website it is considered “Landslide Risk Land”."Any future landslides could therefore expose any further historical industrial waste materials that may be present within the specified land," the order says.A statement from the council said the matter would be investigated in accordance with the EPA’s order.“Council cannot comment further at this stage until the contamination report is completed,” the council said.

Southern Cross University has invited 25 high profile arts graduates to exhibit location-specific pieces across its Lismore and Gold Coast campuses in celebration of the university’s 25th anniversary.The public exhibition entitled ‘25 Artists, 25 Years’ begins today and runs until September 1.Among the artists is Annique Goldenberg who is bringing the magic and mystery of the Arctic to the halls of Southern Cross University Lismore campus.Ms Goldenberg’s powerful multimedia installation ‘LIVING WATER: Venetian Arctic integration’ is on display in the Lismore Campus Visual Arts Building, where she undertook her own studies and exploration.Goldenberg graduated in 2012, with what is now known as the Bachelor of Art and Design, and went on to complete her honours in 2016 awarded the University’s prestigious John and Sheilagh Kaske Memorial Fellowship.“The fellowship gave me an amazing opportunity to undertake a residency in the High Arctic, north of Norway, on a tall ship with 29 other creative and environmentally-focused people including artists, photographers and historians,” Goldenberg said.“This piece is a photo of golden sunlight reflecting on the landscape of a glacier, with digital images that have been overlayed and manipulated. One of the mediums I like to use is melted ice, so while on tour in Italy, UK and Israel I collected water samples, froze them with added ink and melted them on glass to visualise the memory of each place. The orange colour represents melted Venetian water.“The other element I have translated into a pattern is a microscopic image of a pathogen, a virus released from permafrost melting in the Arctic, layered into the story.”Southern Cross University has been a hub for artistic development and creativity since it began 25 years ago, supporting the development of artistic culture regionally, nationally and internationally including the individual art practices of 700 students and 50 staff.Other featured artists in the exhibition at the Lismore campus include Karlee Rawkins, Chico Monks and Frances Belle Parker, while Gold Coast campus includes 3D works by Daniel Clemmett and Mic Eales, the iconic permanent 10-storey mural by Guido van Helten and Library exhibition including works from Valentina Palonen and Leah Thiessen.Senior Art and Design lecturer Dr Stephen Garrett said the curatorial team looked for artists who had sustained their art practice over time and who are continuing to achieve a high level of competency through single or diverse mediums and contexts.“The depth of the selected artists’ practices was considered not only for technical competence but also in terms of innovation and originality,” said Dr Garrett.“The exhibition aims to showcase a variety of artistic expression including painting, sculpture, installation, video and mixed media, with a range of gender and age represented.”Southern Cross University will host public Artist in Conversation sessions from 11am-12.30pm on Saturday 17 August at Lismore Campus Learning Centre with Melissa Harvey, Susan Gourley and Fiona Fell, facilitated by Peter Wood, CEO of Arts Northern Rivers.The 25 Years 25 Artists exhibition is open to the public until 1 September with details at scu.edu.au/25years

The supposedly sleepy koala is more active than previously thought, according to new research led by Lismore Southern Cross University senior research fellow Dr Janette Norman.The research shows almost a quarter of the koalas in Northern NSW travel up to 16.6km in search of new habitats ­- a surprising result with long-distance movements previously thought to be uncommon.The research, published this month in Conservation Genetics shows that larger areas of habitat need to be managed to ensure the survival of the species. Long-distance dispersal may also facilitate range shifts in response to climate change and enable natural colonisation of new or rehabilitated sites for koalas.The research team, including Southern Cross University co-authors Caroline Blackmore, associate professor Ross Goldingay and Professor Les Christidis, and Biolink Ecological Consultants’ Stephen Phillips, used the koalas’ unique DNA profiles to identify parent-offspring pairs and map their locations within the landscape.“From this we were able to determine if young koalas had settled in areas close to where they were born, or dispersed into other habitats,” Ms Norman said.“We found long-distance dispersal of up to 16.6 km in around 20 per cent of the population, and also found the average dispersal distance, at 5.6 km, was much longer than the 3 km previously estimated for this population using mark-recapture techniques.“Koalas are generally considered to be sedentary animals but our research shows that long-distance movements are common and are essential in maintaining connectivity in fragmented landscapes, which have been impacted through human development.”Dr Norman said current management plans for the koala are based on limited knowledge of dispersal and how it varies across populations and landscapes. Using scaling relationships, they estimated that koalas in inland areas are likely to undertake long-distance movements in excess of 40km.“Conservation planning and management need to be done at larger spatial scales to be effective, as failure to do so may miss opportunities to maintain, or restore, connectivity,” Dr Norman said.“This will require co-ordination between Local Government Areas who have responsibility for implementing Koala Management Plans – koalas don’t recognise political boundaries and are moving between management areas.”The research team said the next step would be to gain a better understanding of the factors responsible for initiating these long-distance movements.Similar research would benefit the conservation and management of other endangered species and populations in Australia.