With the third anniversary of the 2022 floods this week, Resilient Lismore is urging people across the Northern Rivers who still need help repairing their homes to apply for help before their funding runs out. “The Repair to Return program, which was previously known as the Two Rooms project, has helped nearly 700 homes across the Northern Rivers over the past three years, providing free or low-cost repairs with tradespeople and volunteers. The program is aimed at people who aren’t eligible for the Resilient Homes buyback program,” said Jonathan Smith, Repair to Return Project Manager. “We are very grateful for funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which has allowed us to provide flexible property repair support to owner-occupiers across the Northern Rivers who are still struggling to rebuild, but that funding is running low, and the program will be coming to an end this year. So, if you or someone you know still has a damaged home, now is the time to get in touch.” “If you’re stuck or if you’re feeling tired and you don’t know what to do next, we can help. We know that it’s been a long journey, many people are low on money, and it can be stressful to keep going with your property repair. If you reach out, we might be able to help you move forward,” said Mr Smith. “We can help with a range of essential repairs, including fixing stairs for safe access, replacing windows, installing kitchens, and restoring essential plumbing. If these issues are holding you back, now is the time to ask for help.”“The first step is to reach out. Pick up the phone or register online, and we will make a time to meet you at your home, talk to you about what’s needed, and then do what we can. But time is running out - so please don’t wait. Many people have also found that a little help from the Repair to Return program has helped them to progress their own repairs.” he said. “We felt good that we could accept some help. I normally don’t ask for help. We never needed help before, really: we’ve always done it ourselves,” said one homeowner after receiving help through Repair to Return. (John, a Repair to Return Program recipient in his kitchen, which was repaired by the program. Photo: supplied) Video stories and testimonials from people who have been supported by Resilient Lismore are available at: https://resilientlismore.org.au/news-updates/videos/.In addition to home repairs, Resilient Lismore provides free furniture and appliances to people recovering from the 2022 disaster and runs a Tool Library that allows people to borrow tools for DIY repairs and rebuilding projects. The library has a wide range of equipment, from power tools like drills and saws to essential hand tools, ladders, and painting gear. They also have a trailer available to loan. How to contact Resilient Lismore:Visit the Resilient Lismore Hub Wednesday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm at 215 Keen St, LismoreCall 0455 218 692Email hello@resilientlismore.org.auLodge a request online: https://resilientlismore.org.au/services/repair-to-return/

Mayor Steve Krieg has called an extraordinary Lismore City Council meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:30 to deal with the four rescission motions from the last ordinary meeting on Tuesday, February 11.According to Local Government NSW, "If the Mayor receives a request in writing signed by at least 2 Councillors, the Mayor must call an extraordinary meeting of the council to be held as soon as practicable but in any event within 14 days after receipt of the request."Mayor Krieg told the Lismore App, "Some councillors chose to put in four rescission motions, and it is within their rights. It is also within other councillors' rights to call an extraordinary meeting to deal with those rescission motions.""Our meetings go long enough without adding four additional items to the agenda."Mayor Krieg is referring to the eight-hour-long council meeting on Tuesday, February 11. If the additional four rescission motions were added to an already full agenda, it may well be a repeated length when council next meets for an ordinary meeting on Tuesday, March 11.The four rescission motions took over three hours to reach a decision, including public access, at the last ordinary meeting.The rescission motions are:11.1 Property StrategyCouncillors Adam Guise, Jasmine Knight-Smith and Virginia Waters are asking councillors to rescind its decision on developing a Property Strategy, which included the Richmond River Historical Society.It was resolved that:the General Manager be requested to develop a Property Strategy, and an implementation model to implement the findings of the Property Strategy.the Strategy to include options for Council office presence in the CBDthe Property Strategy and implementation model be brought back to Councilpriority be given to find a suitable location for the Richmond River Historical Society.All councillors voted for the foreshadowed motion at the time, except for councillor Adam Guise.11.2 Clunes Subdivision Councillors Adam Guise, Jasmine Knight-Smith and Virginia Waters are asking councillors to rescind its decision to refuse a DA to create 2 lots at 7 Booyong Road, Clunes.It was resolved that pursuant to section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A), development application No. 5.2023.312.1, for the subdivision of one lot to create 2 lots and associated driveway, carport, vegetation management works and on-site effluent disposal systems at 7 Booyong Road Clunes, be refused for the following reasons:1. the proposed development does not provide for the orderly development of the site or good design and amenity of the built environment due to undersized lots and unacceptable sewage management arrangements (Section 1.3 of the EP&A Act 1979).2. the proposed development is inconsistent with the following clauses of Lismore Local Environmental Plan 2012 (Section 4.15(1)(a)(i) of the EP&A Act 1979):a. Clause 2.3 – Zone objectivesb. Clause 4.1 – Minimum subdivision lot sizec. Clause 4.6 – Exceptions to development standardsd. Clause 6.4 – Drinking water catchmentse. Clause 6.9 – Essential services3. the proposed development is inconsistent with the following requirements of the Lismore Development Control Plan, Part A, Chapter 1 – Residential Development (Section 4.15(1)(a)(iii) EP&A Act 1979):a. Element 4.10 – On-Site Sewage and Waste Water Management.4. the proposed development is inconsistent with the following requirements of the Part A, Chapter 6 – Village Subdivision of the Lismore Development Control Plan (Section 4.15(1)(a)(iii) EP&A Act):a) Element 4.1 – Lot Sizeb) Element 4.9 – Sewer (non-reticulated areas)5. the site is not suitable for the proposed development (Section 4.15(c) of the EP&A Act 1979)6. the proposed development is not in the public interest (Section 4.15(e) of the EP&A Act 1979)The last vote was 7/4 to refuse the DA.11.3 Code of Meeting Practice ReviewIt was resolved that Council adopt the Code of Meeting Practice as attached to the report, with the inclusion that Public Access be livestreamed. This motion included: Moving Public Access from the start of council meetings at 10am to prior to council meetings at 9am. Public Access will be streamed live and recorded.Change the number of speakers to two for and two against (from four for and four against).There is a maximum of ten (10) speakers. This is necessary because of the one-hour time limit on public access. It allows for change over time of speakers, questions and responses to questions.Each speaker will be allowed three (3) minutes (reduced from four)Limit responses to councillor questions to one (1) minute (currently unlimited)A councillor may submit no more than three (3) notices of motions to be considered at each Ordinary council meeting.A councillor may submit no more than three (3) questions with notice for response at each Ordinary council meeting.The length of a council meeting will be no longer than 5 hours after it begins. It can be extended by 30 minutes by resolution.The last vote was 7/411.4 Definition of Nuclear-Free Peace Zone PolicyCouncillors Adam Guise, Jasmine Knight-Smith and Virginia Waters are asking councillors to rescind its decision to repeal policy number 3.1.1 the Nuclear-Free Peace Zone Policy The last vote was 6/4, with Councillor Jeri Hall out of the chamber.It remains to be seen if the same issues will be rehashed as they were two weeks ago or if a fresh approach with new information will be taken. Whatever the content, it is highly unlikely that any of the rescission motions will be successful.

The NSW Government today announced 15 learn to swim providers had been appointed to deliver its new State-wide learn to swim program.Under the new program, those most at-risk of drowning will be able to access as many as 10 lessons completely free of charge to ensure they develop basic swimming and anti-drowning skills.The providers will deliver free learn to swim and water safety lessons to all major at-risk demographics including people from low socioeconomic groups, multicultural communities, First Nations people and people in regional areas.Recent drowning statistics have shown that the previous approach was not working, it showed that people born overseas and those living in the most disadvantaged areas of NSW are at the highest risk of drowning. The providers will commence delivery of the learn to swim programs in the coming months. NSW residents can find their local program by visiting: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/learn-to-swim-program. This includes the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia in the Lismore, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Kyogle, Port Macquarie Hastings and Richmond Valley LGAs.Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said, “Being able to swim at your local pool, beach or river is one of the best things about living in NSW.“The NSW Government is supporting communities at the highest risk of drowning by funding the delivery of free learn to swim and water safety lessons by learn to swim providers at swimming pools across NSW.“Critically, it will mean more NSW residents can swim safely next summer and provide cost-of-living relief at a time when those groups need it most.“This was reinforced by the results of the National Drowning Report 2024 that found multicultural communities, disadvantaged communities and people living in regional areas had higher rates of drowning than other parts of the community.“The learn to swim and water safety programs delivered by the providers announced today will provide our most at risk members of the community with vital swimming and water safety skills.”Chief Executive Officer Royal Life Saving Society - Australia (NSW, ACT, Tasmania) Michael Ilinsky said, “Royal Life Saving NSW welcomes this critical investment in water safety education. Taking high-quality programs directly to communities in need will have a lasting impact.“After a challenging summer, this initiative ensures that more individuals—especially those at risk—gain vital water safety skills for life.“Learning to swim is a life skill. This government funding will provide many with their first aquatic experience, preparing them for a lifetime of safe aquatic participation.“Royal Life Saving NSW applauds this activation, which prioritises access to quality water safety programs in the communities that need them most.“This initiative will break down barriers, ensuring participants, regardless of background, have the opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills.”

The stage lights shine for the Lismore Theatre Company's first play for the 2025 season this Friday when 'Life Without Me' debuts in Goonellabah.'Life Without Me', written by Daniel Keene, is a funny, honest and heartwarming story that invites us to question life itself. It is set in a 2-star hotel lobby, which is like living in purgatory, suspended in a state of limbo and excludes characters from where the real action of life is. The characters are searching for happiness, searching for a way out of their ordinary lives.Amie Gray, who is playing Ellen in the production, says 'I think people should come and see the show because it is full of humour and heart. (The full cast of Life Without Me during rehearsal: Tameika Watts, Ruben Garcia, Issac Smith, Amie Gray, John Rado, Anna Ludvik, Junia Wulf. Photo: Daniel Cohen DC Sports Photography)"The author, Daniel Keene, tries to help us look at these disconnected moments within our lives, so that we might either understand them a bit better or at least be able to laugh at ourselves a little bit easier.'John Rado, a NIDA trained actor, plays Roy and says 'If you have ever felt that you are waiting for something to happen to help you discover what on earth is going on, and what all this stuff called life means? If you have ever felt disconnected from your own life? Come and join us for this show. Be careful though, you might discover something exciting in the navigation of your true self!'Ruben Garcia, who plays Tom, says 'The show challenges long-held archetypes that we can all relate to in a fun and surprisingly touching way. It even subverts the absurdist genre with moments of deep compassion amongst the rhythmic chaos.'The first performance is this Friday the 28th of February and the show will finish on Saturday 15th of March.There is also a special Charity performance this Saturday the 1st of March, where part of the ticket price will go to the Winsome Homeless Shelter and Soup Kitchen.Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via LTC's website or https://www.trybooking.com/CSJAW.

To celebrate the role and contributions of older adults in our community aged 55 years and over, Lismore City Council is hosting the Lismore 2025 Seniors Festival from Monday, 3 March to Saturday, 15 March.This year’s theme, ‘Time to Shine, captures the festival's goal of motivating seniors to discover new possibilities and immerse themselves in their community.Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the Lismore Seniors Festival offers several events that connect seniors with their community.“The festival celebrates aging through activities and practical tips to enhance well-being. Most importantly, it’s a chance to ‘Shine’ and get together with friends or go out and meet new people while exploring the range of free events and activities,” he said.“I highly recommend viewing the festival program which includes creative workshops, croquet, lawn bowls, softball, fitness classes, a trivia night and nature walk. Council has aimed to provide something for everyone aged 55 years and over.”Council’s Sport and Recreation Lead, Kristy Lenon, said, "The value of hosting such an event for the Lismore community is that it promotes social ties, education and physical activity which all play a vital role in enhancing the mental health and overall well-being of older residents in our community."“Not only are the events and activities all free, but the festival also offers a broad and welcoming lineup designed to motivate our seniors to extend their boundaries by trying something different and meeting new people,” she said.The NSW State Government Department of Communities and Justice funds Seniors Festival Events through a competitive grants program. The NSW Seniors Festival includes hundreds of events across NSW hosted by councils and community organisations.For more information, including viewing the complete program of events and activities, go to www.lismore.nsw.gov.au and search for Seniors Festival 2025.

Business NSW Northern Rivers will get a helping hand to develop a strategy that will support the economic recovery, wellbeing and revitalisation of the Northern Rivers, thanks to a $250,000 NSW Government election commitment.The funding will be used to develop the ProspER Northern Rivers Regional Economic and Environment Plan, which will help identify opportunities and reduce barriers for long-term sustainable economic development across eight Local Government areas in the region, including the Tenterfield Shire.The initiative dovetails nicely with the regional master plan, which will also guide flood mitigation scenarios later in the year.Announcing the initiative in the Lismore CBD yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said, “I advocated strongly for this initiative because I could see early on that there can’t be community flood recovery without economic recovery and that demands a coordinated strategy.“I wanted the business chamber to drive this, and I have been working closely with Jane Laverty from Business NSW Northern Rivers."Business has done their part to say we're back in business, as tough as it is, and we need, as community leaders, to walk with them. And after a big event like the catastrophe 2022 we all have a pining for the past and to be put back where we were."I've never seen that quite possible after any major catastrophe or disaster, and we just have to keep building, recognising our strengths, our opportunities, and sort of driving forward our challenges. So this ProspER plan will focus a lot on our challenges, our strengths and opportunities, and that's the narrative that we have going forward. No one's forgotten, nobody's forgotten, but we go forward as the vibrant, wonderful, beautiful region that we are."The ProspER Northern Rivers Regional Economic and Environment Plan will provide strategic advice on economic and environmental risks facing the region to help future-proof economic development, create new opportunities for different types of jobs and industries, and support entrepreneurship.The initiative will be guided by a Regional Project Steering Group made up of local representatives, including First Nations and youth participants, who will work with community, business and local Councils to develop the plan.The plan will identify opportunities to help local businesses and industry thrive, with a focus on innovative projects that create opportunities for economic development in other industries and communities.It will also help develop a method to identify both risks to existing businesses and potential growth opportunities in industries such as eco-tourism, creative industries, value-add manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, health care innovation and renewable energy. Such projects could include the development of a health precinct to attract Allied Health businesses and Food Connect Precincts housing for-rent commercial kitchens and office spaces to support micro-enterprises.The plan also aims to build capacity, attract investment, act as an advocacy tool for future funding opportunities, and help grow regional branding and identity.(Janelle Saffin, Jane Laverty, Simon Stahl and Donna Kildea discuss the new ProspER plan yesterday)Business NSW Northern Rivers Regional Director Jane Laverty said, "It's a whole of-region approach to sustainable economic development and well-being for our community."This region's been through so much over the last few years, this is a really wonderful opportunity for us to engage across the whole of the Northern Rivers and the Tenterfield Shire as part of this program, and understanding the wants and needs of business and industry. Where there are constraints and where there are opportunities and catalyst projects so that we could be taking a 2040 view of what our region needs and how we can help our business community and our broader community to achieve success."We will be doing a huge amount of engagement. We're asking people to be quite aspirational, as well as really pinpointing the challenges that they're having in terms of skills development, workforce development, that will be a big part of this project, as well as enabling infrastructure, technology and anything that can enable us to create a business environment that helps businesses that are here already to thrive and grow."But also encourage new investment, new businesses to come into the Northern Rivers region and create that diversity of employment that will make a huge difference to the young people, maybe sitting in primary school in our region today, wondering what their future career may be if they choose to stay and live in the Northern Rivers, as we know many of them would like to do. We want to ensure that there's a job for them to do so here."Ms Laverty said the first step for the new ProspER plan will start with a 'business retention expansion survey' in early March."That will do a deep dive into where businesses are today and what their challenges or what their opportunities are today, but also have them looking ahead two, five and 10 years for what they might need to help their businesses to grow. This will enable us to understand the current business environment to ensure that the future business environment is one that will attract investment and will help those businesses to make the decisions they need to grow in the region."We would like to be showing our business and industry a first view of what some of that data is telling us at the ProspER Northern Rivers Forum, which we will be hosting in Lismore on the 10th of April."Traditionally, economic development strategies tend to be very LGA (local government area) focused, as it has been with local councils. It is rare that a group looks at opportunities for the entire Northern Rivers."It's about the sum of the parts; we will be stronger as a whole of region. This will enable us to see where certain LGAs can actually collaborate and partner together to strengthen the opportunities that we have here to attract investment. They're very excited about this chance to show a very consolidated and collaborative approach to sustainable economic development."And there is that environmental aspect that we take into consideration here as well. This project will work seamlessly with the Disaster Adaptation Planning and the broader masterplan project for the Northern Rivers, which we're really excited about. I think this is the first plan that I've seen that is business and industry-led and whole of region and is backed by all levels of government. That should shore us up for success.Ms Laverty wouldn't be drawn into which urban centre's emerging business headquarters will be located at this early stage.It may have taken Australia's most costly natural disaster for the Northern Rivers to come together on vital issues such as mitigation and housing, now, business will also benefit to drive growth for the entire region.

A Lismore resident or visitor has stepped into the work week as a newly-minted multi-millionaire after scoring $3.3 million in the weekend’s Saturday Lotto draw, but first, they need to check their ticket and discover the life-changing news. The mystery ticketholder held one of the three division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Lotto draw 4549, drawn Saturday 22 February 2025 and looks forward to a total prize of $3,333,333.34. This division one win follows a $2.1 million Saturday Lotto prize claimed by two Lismore mates in January, making it the second major lottery win for the Northern Rivers region in 2025. The winning entry was purchased at Lismore Square News, Shop 78, Lismore Shopping Square, 95 Diadem Street, Lismore. Lismore Square News owners David and Kristin said they were over the moon to have sold their second division one winning ticket in less than two months. “We can’t believe our store has done it again! This is our second division one winning ticket in two months, and we can imagine the winning streak will continue,” David said. “The store will be buzzing with excitement, and we can just imagine all our customers will be so happy for us and the mystery winner. “It’s a wonderful time for our mystery winner and the Northern Rivers region, which has seen quite a few big wins as of late!“Congratulations to the mystery winner! We couldn’t be happier for you and can’t wait for you to find out about your multi-million-dollar prize.” The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said she hoped the region’s latest division one winner checked their ticket and came forward soon.  “Our elusive winner is likely oblivious to the fact they’ve won more than $3.3 million in the weekend’s Saturday Lotto draw,” she said. “We’re encouraging anyone who purchased a Saturday Lotto ticket from Lismore Square News to check their tickets today! “Just imagine how exhilarating it would be to discover you were $3.3 million richer! Your plans for the rest of the year and into the future would change in a heartbeat. “Make sure you check your tickets, Lismore, and if you discover you are holding the winning ticket, contact The Lott on 131 868 to begin the prize claim process.” The winning numbers in Saturday Lotto draw 4549 on 22 February 2025 were 5, 39, 26, 2, 28 and 31, while the supplementary numbers were 7 and 8. Across Australia, there were three division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 4549 – two in New South Wales and one in Western Australia.

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions on the Pacific Motorway at Ewingsdale to carry out essential maintenance at the St Helena Tunnel.To reduce the impact to motorists, work will be carried out at night. The tunnel will be closed to all traffic from 7pm to 5am from Monday, 24 to Wednesday, 26 February, reopening at 5am Thursday, 27 February 2025, weather permitting.Northbound traffic will be diverted onto Hinterland Way at Byron Bay Road (Bangalow exit), rejoining the highway at Ewingsdale, and southbound traffic will be diverted onto Hinterland Way at Ewingsdale Road (Byron Bay exit), rejoining the highway at Bangalow. Motorists are advised to allow up to five minutes of additional travel time for the diversions, which are suitable for all vehicles. Drive to the conditions and follow the direction of signs and traffic control.Routine maintenance of the St Helena Tunnel is carried out every three months and involves a range of measures such as inspecting the various operating and safety systems.Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time.For more information visit Live Traffic | Incident Details.To receive updates direct to your phone, search for “St Helena tunnel – Ewingsdale” in your Live Traffic app, select the incident and click “Follow”.

The Salvation Army has released its second National Social Justice Stocktake Report (NSJSR), with 16,000 people interviewed throughout Australia on what they see as the most important social issues facing our country.With a large sample size, you can break down the data into particular federal seats. We spoke to the Capt. Philip Sutcliffe from the Northern Rivers Salvos about the findings as we head into a federal election before May 17.It is not surprising to see housing as the number one issue, given the housing crisis in Lismore and the Northern Rivers and all over Australia.78.4% of people in the survey identified housing affordability and homelessness as the issues with the most concern. 42.2% identified that as an issue for themselves."The data is really good at actually just quantifying for us what we have seen in reality on a day-to-day basis. People in our community, in particular post floods, are struggling with housing all around. This is a conversation that we have had with so many people that housing affordability and availability are some of the biggest stresses that they have in their everyday life.(Captain Philip Sutcliffe outside of the Salvation Army building in Goonellabah)"That in itself, then obviously leads to the other side, which is causing a huge issue with people's mental health. They never have the time to rest and relax. They're always worried about how they are going to pay the next bill. Are they going to be evicted soon? If I am going to be evicted, how am I going to find another house?"And then we've still got, obviously, the concerns in our community about people who haven't been eligible for a buyback. I'm trying to rebuild and move back into my house that was flooded. Are we going to flood again? All these kinds of questions. It's just this big pot of feelings and emotions for our community."In Page, the Salvos said the best estimates indicate that it is short 6,000 dwellings. An issue that will not be solved within the next three years."In the last 12 months in our service here at the Salvation Army, we've seen more and more people come in each week, where a husband and wife, or two partners who are both working full time, by the time they've paid their bills and they've paid all the outgoings for the essential things in their life, not the things that they want to add on, but just the essentials, they go; How do I feed my family?"So things like our food pantry that we operate here has become more and more of a staple for people in our community because they need a little bit of relief somewhere," Capt. Sutcliffe said.The other issues that made the Top 5 in Page could correlate to the lack of housing:Alcohol and drug misuseFinancial hardship and inclusionMental healthAccess to Healthcare"Absolutely, they correlate. A lot of people just want some relief from the stresses of life, and unfortunately, a lot of people do turn to alcohol and drug misuse. We've seen a lot of that in our community again post floods, and it does tie into that mental health aspect as well."We've been journeying with different people that, because of the stress, have gone out and tried different stuff, and then we've had to journey with them as they go through how that affects their life. That is particularly true for drugs in this area as they come in waves throughout our community. We see firsthand some of the devastating effects that it does have on people, their lives, their families and on everything else that it then affects when they get addicted."Financial hardship and inclusion increased its importance as a social issue in the last three years. The 2022 survey showed 26% of people identified themselves as being in financial hardship, which increased to 37.3% in 2025."Here in Page, we see that financial hardship and inclusion and the mental health aspect for a lot of people. They're being stretched in so many different areas. We're often providing financial assistance for people just to get the medication they need or access to the health services they need."And even though our community has come forward in a lot of ways in terms of access to things like mental health support, post floods, so many people are still having to travel up to the Gold Coast or Brisbane to actually access the specialist services that they need."And we all know about the cost of living prices. Look at the cost of fuel, particularly here in Lismore; we're always more expensive than all the other towns around us. So, for so many people to be able to fill up their car and then get up to the Gold Coast to visit their specialist and then come back again, that can take their entire week's income, whether it's through Centrelink benefits or if they are working, it's an expensive exercise to get up there to access the things that should be readily available for all people in our communities."With the third anniversary of the 2022 big flood days away, the Top 5 social issues have seen changes in this survey. The 2022 survey was completed before floods devastated our community, so the effect on results and rankings has been exacerbated.Not only that, the survey revealed an overwhelming sense of urgency in response to perceived government inaction. Many respondents left messages calling on decision-makers to put politics aside and prioritise action."We certainly see a lot of that around here," Capt Sutcliffe said, "And there's certainly lots of chatter around about the bureaucratic response and the amount of red tape and the time it takes for government to respond for us in our community."We're three years on from the flood now, and you can drive around town see that we've come a long way, but there's always a constant reminder about how far we still have to go. And so, sitting in both areas where I am in regular conversations with state and federal politicians, you see that stuff is happening behind the scenes, and it does take time to happen, but then for the people who have to live through this every single day, that just adds to the burden and the stress and the mental anxiety that they face."

Lismore and the Northern Rivers are four days away from the third anniversary of the February 28 2022 big flood.NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) CEO Mal Lanyon spent a great deal of time in our region soon after the event was declared a natural disaster. He was appointed as the Northern Rivers Region Recovery Coordinator, working the recovery headquarters at Southern Cross University with Superintendent of Richmond Police District Scott Tanner.Mal Lanyon joined the Talking Lismore podcast to discuss our flood recovery in terms of the Resilience Homes Program and the Resilience Lands Program, outlining progress on infrastructure, buybacks and addressing illegal squatting.Mr Lanyon emphasised the importance of visible community progress, highlighting ongoing infrastructure programs aimed at enhancing resilience. Key projects include a $145 million investment in waste and wastewater repairs, focusing on strengthening water security, particularly in East Lismore where the wastewater treatment plant was devastated by the floods. This program also includes a $150 million Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program that encompasses 36 projects, including the repair of the Dorothy Street flood pumps, drainage improvements in Woodburn and Coraki, and upgrades to the Ballina and Tatham bridges. These upgrades aim to improve evacuation routes, including upgrading the Ballina Bridge to a dual carriageway and replacing wooden bridges at Tatham with all-weather bridges.Addressing the pace of infrastructure delivery, Mr Lanyon acknowledged the need for thorough planning to ensure effective outcomes. He emphasised the collaborative process involved, working with designers, architects, and councils to achieve the best solutions. He also explained that securing funding, announcing funding, and working with designers and architects takes time, but they are working as quickly as possible."I would like to be able to say that we could deliver these infrastructure programs within weeks. But as you know, significant planning goes into them to make sure that they are actually going to achieve what we're looking to do. Securing funding, announcing funding, is a very important part of that process, working with designers, working with architects, to make sure that what we actually deliver, achieves. And that's been the important thing. They do take time. We are working as quickly as we can. We certainly understand for the confidence of the community, we need to keep making and showing progress to the community," said Mr Lanyon.Regarding the Resilient Homes Program, Mr Lanyon provided an update on the buyback offers made to homeowners. "So, we've made over 850 offers to homeowners we're seeking to buy back those homes, of which over 630 people have accepted, and we've now settled on those properties, which is a really significant workload. Again, it is a very complex program. It's a program that has never been delivered at the scale and scope that we are looking to do here, and it's very much a voluntary program. "We listen to the community in terms of the design of the program. We continue to work with the community, but really, it's up to those homeowners to make a decision on whether they wish to accept those offers. So we'll continue to work with it. We project that we can go up to about 1300 homes for a buyback, but again, that's dependent on risk, so obviously, the priority has been given to making sure that those homes that we believe have the greatest risk to flood, both now and in the future, are prioritised for that scheme."Work is progressing on the Resilient Lands program, with four homes relocated to Mt Pleasant Estate in Goonellabah undergoing renovations. Mr Lanyon said the homes are being renovated and landscaped to blend in with the existing community. The homes are "beautiful" and will be "very desirable" once complete, according to Mr Lanyon, who has visited the site. Once complete, the homes will be available for viewing and eventually put on the market."We're working very closely with the community to make sure that what we do in that master plan is consistent with the community's wishes," Mr Lanyon said. "We've already reduced the number of lots that we're looking to put on that estate based on feedback from the community, so we're working very closely and very keen to make that progress."Mr Lanyon emphasised the NSWRA's commitment to community engagement, stating that the master plan for Mt Pleasant Estate is being developed based on community feedback. The reduction in the number of planned lots on the estate is a direct response to community input."Coming back into town yesterday, it's lovely to see how vibrant it is around the city centre. It is great to see it moving around. I want to see the whole of Lismore and the Northern Rivers moving forward, and that's why we've made a number of announcements. You've already seen things that we're doing here, the demonstrated work that we've already undertaken. So, buying back over 600 homes so far has taken time, but it's a significant commitment as well. We really want to make sure that people are able to move from what can be flood-prone land to flood-free land. "We want people to be able to live safely in the Northern Rivers," Mr Lanyon said.You can listen to the complete podcast by clicking Talking Lismore podcast through the Lismore App or by clicking https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2356456/episodes to listen through the Lismore App website.

Registering your pet, reporting a missing pet, and keeping track of key events in your pet’s life is now as easy as a few clicks, thanks to the new and improved digital NSW Pet Registry.Owners of microchipped cats and dogs can access the new Pet Registry with their Service NSW login and pay the registration fee online without having to visit their local council to lodge paperwork, cutting the registration time from days to just minutes.The registry also provides instant online transfer of ownership and real-time email or SMS reminders for desexing, as well as making it easier to update information like a change of address. Users can also create a profile for their pet with information that could help if they go missing, including the ability to add photos and contact details.The updates support the NSW Government’s commitment to promoting responsible pet ownership and strengthen animal welfare standards.  More than 81,245 pet owners and 6,131 breeders have already registered and benefitted from the new and improved digital platform.Microchipping and registration are compulsory in NSW for cats and dogs. If you have adopted a cat or dog from a council pound or designated rehoming organisation they should already be microchipped and are eligible for free registration. It’s important for owners to make sure their information is up to date in the Pet Registry as it simplifies the process of reuniting lost pets with their owners and provides councils with accurate data about the number of animals in their area.The fees collected from pet registrations also help councils provide services for their community, such as pound facilities.The new Pet Registry was developed by the Office of Local Government and the Department of Customer Service and is a major upgrade from the previous registry, which is more than 20 years old.    The NSW Government will continue to add further functionality to the Pet Registry as the development of the platform continues, including providing dedicated access for councils, rehoming organisations and vets.Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “We know dogs and cats are much-loved members of the family in many NSW homes, and it can be devastating if they ever go missing.“Ensuring your dog or cat is microchipped and registered on the Pet Registry is not only part of being a responsible pet owner, it’s the law.“We encourage anyone who hasn’t registered their pet or if they’re unsure if their pet is registered to log on and check.“Moving to an easy-to-use digital platform we hope will boost registration rates in NSW.”Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said, “This project will deliver an enhanced and mobile-friendly experience for pet owners to have all pet-related information in one place. “Having information that is easily accessible supports owners in caring for their pets and at the same time, keeps animal welfare front of mind.“The shift to an all-digital platform helps bring the process of pet registration in line with other digital government services in NSW.”For more information about the NSW Pet Registry visit: https://www.petregistry.olg.nsw.gov.au/.

The Lismore Red Cross Tea Room on Keen Street, just down from the AZA Motel, is the last surviving Tea Room in NSW, according to Manager Lynn Felsch.Given the role the Red Cross has played in Lismore's rich history, it is an aspect she wants to continue well into the future.To achieve that goal, Lynn needs volunteers. Volunteers are a critical part of the Tea Room operations and an area that is proving more difficult to fill."Recruiting volunteers has always been an issue because of the way things are today. I put a lot of that down to the fact that it takes two couples to go to work today. It is the way it is in this economy. We used to get people who had to work for the dole, so to speak, but they don't have to do that anymore. We used to have them on our roster.(Norma, Lynn and Marilyn volunteering at the Lismore Tear Room on Keen Street)"They used to have to do 15 hours a week of community work or volunteering, and that would help everybody. But since COVID, that stopped because they had nowhere to volunteer, and it's never sort of come back.Ideally, Lynn is after older volunteers, male or female, who can give a few hours a week."I think we're working now with about 17 volunteers, and some of them are not well at the moment. That's how we describe it. Normally, we used to have around 28."That works well because as a volunteer, you commit to a roster, but you're entitled to have time off if you need to go on holidays, your doctor's appointments or what have you, and that person's got to be replaced. So you got to have enough people to cover it all. You need at least about 28."You can volunteer on a day that suits you, and the hours are 9am to 2:30pm. Shop hours are from 10am to 2pm, so they normally start at nine, prepare and go home after the place is clean."There is no cooking in the Lismore Red Cross Tea Room, it is sandwiches, toasted sandwiches and other food items that are put together."It's pretty low-key, but we're popular with the customers. We have quite a few regulars that come in."Our menu is pretty regular too. We have a Tea Room special, or a Tray Special, is its nickname that has been on the menu ever since we opened in 1959. It is sandwiches, a sponge and cup of tea. It's still popular to all who come in."We always seem to have a lot of older people like us come in. It's quiet, and they can sit down and have a cuppa and something to eat. And, it's affordable. The Tray Special is only $7.50. We can sell things a bit cheaper because we don't have overheads. We don't pay wages, Red Cross own the building so we don't pay insurance and rates and those sort of costs."The Red Cross building on Keen Street was purchased with money that was raised by the Lismore community. It was going to be sold in about 2011; however, through advocacy from politicians at the time, the building remained in Lismore instead of being part of a regional centre elsewhere."So, we still have the building because we feel the community did buy it," Lynn said.If you have a day a week to help vounteer in the Red Cross Tea Room (132 Keen Street, Lismore CBD), please give Lynn a call on 0490 147 363 or pop into the shop.The shop is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm, shifts can be three or six hours.                                         You would cetainly be helping a long standing Lismore charity and helping keep the only Tea Room in NSW.

The first stage of nation-leading product safety standards and an Australia-first information standard for e-micromobility vehicles are now in effect, cementing NSW as Australia’s leading jurisdiction for the regulation of lithium-ion powered e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar products. The NSW Government has introduced two separate standards to reduce the risks posed by the products, which are increasingly being linked to fires if they are built with low quality components or are used or charged incorrectly.According to the latest Fire and Rescue NSW data, e-micromobility vehicles caused 193 fires between 2022 and 2025, with the rate of fires caused by these devices continuing to rise each year.E-micromobility Safety Standards: Stage One in effect from 1 February 2025The prescribed safety standards ensure e-micromobility vehicles, their associated batteries and chargers are built with safe and compliant components, so consumers are better protected from fire risk.Since 1 February this year, all retailers and manufacturers can only sell e-micromobility devices in NSW with components that comply with the newly prescribed safety standards.In 2025, NSW Fair Trading will be conducting education-focused compliance activities for the first stage of safety standards to ensure traders know their responsibilities under the new rules.Compliance officers will start the first phase of education-focused compliance activities from 24 February 2025.Further standards for e-micromobility vehicles on mandatory testing and certification, as well as mandatory labelling requirements, come into effect in August 2025 and February 2026 respectively.When these standards come into effect, businesses selling non-compliant e-micromobility vehicles will be subject to penalties of up to $825,000.For more information on the e-micromobility product safety standards, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/safety-home/electrical-safety/lithium-ion-battery-safety/new-standards-for-lithium-ion-batteries-e-micromobility-devicesE-micromobility Information Standard: In effect from 19 February 2025To complement the safety standards the Minns Labor Government has also introduced a new Australian-first information standard for e-micromobility vehicles.Information Standards regulate what guidance and warnings are provided to consumers about goods and services, keeping them informed of products’ risks and how they can be avoided.The new information standard will cover product safety information, fire safety and emergency procedures, product end of life and storage, as well as electrical safety and advice on road rules*.To provide businesses time to comply with the new information standard, NSW Fair Trading will focus on educating retailers about their responsibilities in the first six months of compliance activities.From 1 August 2025, if the new e-micromobility information standard is not provided at point of sale, retailers could be subject to penalties of up to $5,500 for each breach.For more information on the e-micromobility information standards please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/safety-home/electrical-safety/lithium-ion-battery-safetyNational Approach to E-micromobility StandardsThe formal introduction of both standards by the Minns Labor Government puts NSW at the forefront of regulating lithium-ion battery powered e-micromobility devices in Australia.In recognition of the state’s nation-leading efforts, in December 2024 the Consumer Affairs Minister Network charged NSW with leading a cross-jurisdictional working group to pursue a national approach on the safe use of lithium-ion battery e-micromobility vehicles.Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Anoulack Chanthivong said, “E-micromobility products will keep growing in popularity, but as they become more widespread, we need to do more to make sure they are safe.“That’s why we’ve moved quickly to introduce this raft of regulatory changes, which have been put in place to protect lives and property from the devastating damage they can cause if the products are unsafe or used incorrectly.“NSW now has the strongest regulatory framework in Australia when dealing with the risks posed by e-micromobility vehicles, setting a best-practice example for jurisdictions around the country.“We will bring the lessons NSW has learnt during this process while exploring a national approach to regulations for these types of products with other jurisdictions around Australia.”NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann said, "We know poorly designed and built lithium-ion batteries present a real and potentially life-threatening risk to consumers, contributing to more than one fire per week across NSW.“This is unacceptable and the new product safety and information standards now in effect will help drive up the quality of these products and better protect consumers, their homes, and their property.“NSW Fair Trading will enforce compliance through educating businesses about their requirements, but in the case of serious or multiple breaches there will be warnings and potentially penalties.”FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said, “Fire and Rescue NSW welcomes the new e-micromobility information standards which will ensure people are protected from dangerous, poor-quality lithium-ion products.“Three people have died within the last 12 months in NSW from fires involving lithium-ion battery-powered bikes.“These measures will provide retailers, manufacturers and consumers with critical compliance guidelines to protect lives and property.”

The NSW Government has launched the latest round of the NSW Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government designed to enhance councils’ ability to prevent and respond to hate. The program strengthens local government capability to foster connection and belonging within and between communities, as well as build trust in local institutions.Applications for the latest round of grants are now open, with local councils across NSW to share in $500,000 for projects that strengthen social cohesion and deliver stronger and more resilient communities. Councils may apply for between $50,000 and $150,000 to address a social cohesion challenge in their community, with the current round focused on preventing and responding to the prevalence of hate.Projects should aim to address the impacts of hate, polarisation and the localised impacts from global crises and events that councils are experiencing.In previous rounds, the NSW Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government program has funded projects to build community cohesion in high-density residential neighbourhoods, support community centre activations in areas impacted by bushfires, and intercultural community leadership programs.Applications are open until 11:59pm on Friday, 28 March, and can be made at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/nsw-social-cohesion-grants-for-local-government-round-4-bolstering-local-government-response-to-hate-nswMinister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “The impact of recent hateful events has been felt across the state.“Local governments are at the heart of their communities, and these grants will help councils create meaningful initiatives that foster inclusion and support communities to feel connected. “Our strength lies in our unity, our respect for one another and our shared commitment to making NSW a safe and welcoming place for all.”Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said, “This funding will assist with projects to help build community cohesion.“By supporting Social Cohesion Grants for Local Government, we are investing in the future of our state.“These grants will contribute towards protecting our society and supporting the true spirit of our multicultural state.”

The last weekend of summer is looking warm and a little bit wet, with a shower or two, the forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology.We have had virtually no rain given the potential for rain during the week, with 9mm falling early Thursday morning the highest for the week.The winds will become southeasterly this afternoon, and the potential for rain is 60% with a range of 0-4mm on Saturday and 0-5mm on Sunday.The weather forecast is certainly good news for Scott and Daniel at the Lismore Turf Club.2024 was the first time the club had been awarded the prestigious Country Championships race; it was washed out. It is Lismore's richest race with $150,000 prize money and entry for the first two horses into the Country Championships Final in Sydney with $1 million prize money.A large crowd is expected to enjoy a full eight-race program. Gates open at 11am, with the first at 1:25pm and the last, the Country Championships, at 5:40pm.Following the last race, pub rock covers band The Funny Goats will entertain the crowd.ARTEXPRESS has its opening tonight at 6 o'clock at the Lismore Regional Gallery at The Quad (Rural Street, Lismore).This is a selection of outstanding bodies of work submitted for the HSC examination for Visual Art by NSW students.The exhibition runs until 20th of April.The Lismore Farmers Markets open the gates at 7:30 tomorrow morning at the Lismore Showgrounds in North Lismore.Get in early and get the best of the fresh produce, coffee/tea, breakfast, and homemade goods. You can enjoy the live music of Phil Bromley "Brommers" from 8am.On Sunday, the Nimbin Markets are on from 9am on Cullen Street. Head to the hills for multicultural food, coffee, unique artisan wares, recycled inventions, spiritual concepts and more until 3pm.Sunday also sees a guided walk at the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens.Tim will guide you through the beautiful young forest in the Wilson's Park Species Garden.It is an easy hour walk on unpaved paths, so wear sturdy shoes and bring a hat and water.Meet at the Visitor's Centre by 9:15am for a 9:30 start. The cost is $5 for adults, with children free. Cash only.Live music lovers have Reputation - the Ultimate Taylor Swift Tribute Show tonight at the Lismore Workers Club from 8pm. Last-minute ticket sales here.Coming up in two weeks is The Fab Four - The Ultimate Beatles on Friday March 7 at 8pm.Wester Sound Sessions is on tonight at the Northern Hotel (Bridge Street, North Lismore) from 6:30pm.Short Fuse play Saturday night from 7pm, and Sabotage play their rock covers for the Sunday session from 3pm.Fuel prices have been stable in last seven days. Here are the cheapest fuel options in each town:E10 is 178.9 across the board in Lismore, 175.5 at the United on Johnston Street (136) in Casino, with The Metro and the Mobil on River Street in Ballina cheapest at 170.5.Unleaded 91 is 179.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, Lismore, 177.5 at The United in Casino, and 172.5 at the Metro and the new Mobil in Ballina.U95 is 188.5 at Bakers Corner, Terania Street, North Lismore, 194.9 at the Ampol on Dyraaba Street in Casino and 183.9 at the Shell on River Street (273), Ballina.U98 is 196.9 at the Liberty Foodmart on Ballina Road and the Liberty at 113 Union Street, South Lismore, 197.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and The United on Johnston Street, and 191.9 at the Shell on River Street (273).Diesel is 188.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, 189.5 at The United in Casino and 192.5 at The Mobil (485 River Street) in Ballina.Have a great weekend!Have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

From today, taxi drivers in NSW who have broken the rules will not be able to escape offences by switching taxi companies, thanks to the NSW Government’s major improvements to the Driver Vehicle Dashboard.These improvements to the Driver Vehicle Dashboard will allow all point-to-point service providers, including rideshare and taxi companies, to see any driver who has been caught committing fare-related offences while providing driving services, including overcharging, not using the meter or refusing a fare. This means all taxi and rideshare companies can check if drivers have previously been fined or prosecuted for ripping off a passenger, regardless of which company they were working for. Companies that operate taxi, rideshare or any other point to point transport vehicle's can access to the centralised dashboard, which is already checked by industry more than 70 million times a year.These improvements support the NSW Government’s strong stance on stamping out illegal driver behaviour.In December 2024, the NSW Government introduced new ‘two strikes and you’re out’ laws which sees rogue taxi drivers disqualified from the point-to-point industry if caught ripping off passengers on two separate occasions.The Point-to-Point Commissioner has also put drivers with existing breaches on notice that they are now at risk of being disqualified from the industry.The Government also increased the fine for drivers caught overcharging, not using the meter or refusing fares to $1000 from $300 in July 2023, with 1000 fines issued since November 2022.The Commissions inspectors continue to conduct both plain clothes and highly visible operations across NSW, with more inspectors on the road carrying out more compliance operations than ever before.Minister for Transport John Graham said, “We know the vast majority of NSW’s 15,000 drivers are doing the right thing, but these improvements send a strong message to the minority of rogue drivers that you will be caught, fined and possibly removed from the industry altogether.“These upgrades to the driver vehicle dashboard support our strong stance on ‘two strikes and you’re out’ laws by making it even easier for the industry to stop the minority of drivers who are caught doing the wrong thing from working as a taxi or rideshare driver in NSW. “If you feel you’ve been ripped off while catching a taxi, don’t hesitate to call the Taxi Fare Hotline on 1800 500 410, which should be clearly displayed on all NSW Taxis.Point to Point Transport Commissioner Anthony Wing said, “Drivers know that my team of Inspectors is frequently out conducting plain clothes operations along with highly visible compliance activities. If drivers are caught and fined, they now will also be visible to all operators through the Driver Vehicle Dashboard and face being disqualified if found guilty in court on two separate occasions.“The point to point transport industry has widely applauded the new Dashboard enhancements as an important part of the crackdown on rogue drivers.”

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed the NSW Government’s strengthened commitment to tackling pest and weed infestations between neighbouring public and private lands across her electorate.The $10-million Good Neighbours Program, led by Local Land Services and involving other agencies, Landcare and local councils, will undertake 21 initial biosecurity projects in priority areas, benefiting local farmers and communities, Ms Saffin says.“I fully backed in this major election commitment to support public and private land managers working together to better manage invasive species to protect the profitability of our agricultural sector and our rich biodiversity.“It’s good to see a number of local projects getting immediate attention but there is scope for additional projects to be funded as the Good Neighbours Program runs until mid-2026.”Visit nsw.gov.au/good-neighbours to learn more.Good Neighbours local projects:Chinese Violet Program (North Coast) – This program is based in the Tweed Shire, where Rous County Council is targeting Chinese violet on the fringes of the Heritage Wollumbin National Park and Jerusalem National Park.Job’s Tears Eradication Program (North Coast) - Led by Rous County Council, Landcare and landholders, this program aims to eradicate Job’s tears from creek lines in the Kyogle and Lismore local government areas.Tropical Soda Apple Eradication (TSA) Program (North Coast) - This program targets Tropical soda apple across the Lismore, Kyogle, Tweed Shire, Byron Shire, Ballina, and Richmond Valley local government areas, led by Rous County Council, community groups and landholders.North Coast Branch Pig Control Program (North Coast and Northern Tablelands) - Feral pig control led by the North Coast branch of the National Parks and Wildlife Service across 12 reserves from western Richmond River to the coast, from Ballina in the north to Hat Head in the south.Cane Toad Program (North Coast) - Joint efforts between the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Local Land Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Corporation of NSW, Landcare and private landholders to control cane toads on the North Coast

The Conservatorium of Music, better known as 'The Con', on Keen Street is going through a major refurbishment.Scaffolding surrounds the building as a new roof is erected and solar panels are installed as part of a $4.8 million program of capital works. The process of replacing the roof uncovered a ventilation turret that dates back to 1902 when the building was constructed.Anita Bellman, Executive Director at The Con, said the turret had some signatures and initials on some degrading items."It was made in separate sections, and those sections had started to come apart, and at some point, a piece had fallen, so it was dangerous, and it wasn't looking as gorgeous anymore. It was always going to be part of the work to have that replaced."(The old ventilation turret. Photo: supplied by The Con)The team from Bennett Construction are in charge of the restoration. They discovered the turret needed replacing after 123 years withstanding Lismore's elements. When it came to who should build the new ventilation turret, Sidney & Hacking were called to get the job done.The thinking was that Sidney & Hacking was the company that built the original in 1902, without any concrete proof.Peter Marychurch recently purchased Sidney & Hacking with Taylor Sidney, a great-great-grandson of Norman Sidney, who established the business on Keen Street with Charlie Hacking in 1903, down the road from The Con.Peter has been at Sidney & Hacking for 22 years, starting as an apprentice sweeping the floors."I spoke to Andrew about this this morning," Peter explained. "He did say there's a very high chance that we did build the turret. Obviously, there are no records, but it was built exactly the way we built things. And we were the only tin Smiths in town at the time."The brief to Peter and Taylor was to build something very similar to the old turret."It's very similar, obviously a completely different method of fabrication. Back in the day, the galvanised (gal) steel was very soft and very malleable, so you could shape it. It was soft, so you could bash it around and shape it."These days, if you try to do a normal gal, would crease because it's higher tensile. So, they used to make it basically in flat strips and do a heap of joins like a football. Whereas these days, I created a whole sphere, and we blew it up with water pressure and turned it into a nice circle, then we polished it, cut it in half, and then I made the top bit."Is Peter confident it will last another 120 years?"This one will last a very long time because it's stainless steel, it's thick, it could handle hail or anything you can throw at it. It's very durable, and it's going to last a long time, for sure. The only bit that won't last will be the paint because they painted it."Back to The Con and its $4.8 million refit through Create NSW’s Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package and Creative Capital funding programs.Anita Bellman, Executive Director at The Con, said they were able to get the first floor refurbished within seven months after February 28 2022, using their insurance money."Of course, then we've had to wait for these additional works, which are around looking to the future and ongoing sustainability. So, aspects of them are definitely restoration and post-flood reclamation. And then there's also another element that's looking towards sustainability, things like the solar panels that are being installed on the roof."They will make a difference. We do have a battery installed as well in the building. So, this is not just a financial decision; it's also looking at reducing our carbon footprint as well into the future."The site is currently a construction zone; however, it will be back to normal in the next two to three weeks when the scaffolding comes down.(The Con from Keen Street)"As well as the roof, solar panels and the turret, we're also having a goods lift installed. That's going to be external to the building, and that's almost complete. We're having a complete redo of our car park and grounds as well and the ground floor. There's going to be reclamation happening to the ground floor. In addition to that, we've already had a complete upgrade to the fire system, which is really, really good."The Con own the building; it was previously owned by the Department of Education. The floor height is just over 12 metres, so only the biggest flood will enter the building. There was never a thought for The Con to move out of the CBD."The board were very committed to staying in the CBD. One of those reasons was to show the commitment to the Lismore community, who has supported our organisation for such a long time."When we did the refit, front and foremost in our minds was flood resilience, minimising any waste, all that kind of thing. All throughout the first floor, there's only one cavity wall, which we just can't do anything about. But, all of the walls that you see here are some kind of marine grade foam that has been cement rendered."Everything on the first floor will go into our goods lift up to the top floor. And then, if we had a chance to pull the carpet tiles up, we would do that as well. And then it's really just clean it and repaint, and maybe a bit of electrical work. And that's what we're aiming for with the ground floor as well."We're also upgrading our concert room on the top floor to really bring it back to life. It's such a beautiful space. It's really not going to need a huge amount done to it, but it's really just to, I guess, elevate that space, and also to be looking at some acoustic treatments and updating our audio-visual capacity in that space because we do have a recording studio."We're reinstating the connection between the concert room and the recording studio, which means that we'll be able to have live recording in the concert room while we've got a sound Engineer in the studio, which is the console room."The completion date for the project is June 30.The Conservatorium of Music will then be not only returned to its former glory but built in a more resilient way for future floods.

The 2025 Federal election has not been called by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to date; however, we know it must be held by May 17.At this time, two candidates have declared they will run for the seat of Page: sitting National Party Member Kevin Hogan and The Greens Luke Robinson.A community-driven push is underway to find an outstanding independent candidate to represent the people of Page. Voices Of Page, a newly formed community group working to improve integrity in local politics, is holding a candidate finding event. The event has three objectives. The first is to clearly define the attributes the local community is seeking in an independent candidate. The event will ask participants to identify what their vision is for their community independent candidate and what characteristics they would like in their candidate.The second is to launch the candidate identification and selection process. The group hopes of find a candidate who is willing to run at the 2025, as well as the following election likely to be held in 2028.The final objective of the event is to invite more community members to get involved in Voices Of Page community group, particularly people who want to take a leading role in the process of selecting an outstanding independent candidate for Page and getting them elected.Tim Williams, a member of Voices Of Page who lives in Goonellabah, said, “Our group is passionate about integrity in politics, and we want to find a candidate who really knows our community, can champion its people, and can make Page a marginal seat at the upcoming election.”“The event will open our candidate nominations process. It’s a process we would like to complete comprehensively, but also quickly, so we can find a candidate well before the election is held.”“It’s vital that we get the input of a broad cross-section of the community during this process, as we want to find a candidate who can genuinely represent the communities’ diverse needs.”“Our group wants an independent MP elected who will always vote with the best interest of the Page community at heart.” “Unfortunately, when you have a party politician representing you in Canberra, they have to follow the party line. I think we deserve better.”The group is keen to hear from people of all walks of life.Mr Williams said, “We are keen to hear what farmers, truckies, tradies, small business owners, teachers, nurses, school students and retired people want from their political representative.” “We are happy to have people who see themselves as potential candidates join the meeting, and we’d also love attendees to nominate other community members they think would make great candidates, The group has been inspired by Voices For Indi, and other community groups across Australia who are running candidates at the upcoming election. Over 30 Voices Groups  are in the process of announcing candidates. Tim says, “The most successful of these groups to do this at past elections have taken the time to listen to the community, found strong candidates and electoral success followed.”Currently, there is no announced independent candidate for the Page Electorate. Hanabeth Luke, the independent candidate who stood for Page at the last election, recently moved interstate. Taking an academic role in WA. She wouldn’t be a candidate in Page at the upcoming election. Tim said, “This is a fairly new community group, that formed after a gathering at Blue Fattoria at Bentley last year. We are basically starting from the ground up, after Hanabeth Luke announced late last year that she would be leaving the area. She was keen for a new group to form and a new candidate to be found and we are taking on that mantle.”“If this process is to be a success, then we’ll need more people to get involved in the group.”“If you’re passionate about seeing more independents elected, then you really need to get off the couch and join the movement now. Change won’t happen unless people make it happen and the election is getting close”.People wishing to attend the meeting can register on the groups website: www.voicesofpage.orgThe event is to be held on Sunday 23rd February from 2pm to 4pm at Blue Fattoria, 1014 Kyogle Rd Fernside NSW 2480. All Page residents are welcome.