The Lismore CBD block is still recovering from the 2022 big flood. Different streets are in different states of the flood rebuild.Keen Street and Magellan Street, you could say, are near normal. However, Molesworth and Woodlark Street still have a long way to go, and are definitely quieter parts of the block.In some positive news, walking around the CBD block you can see a lot more SOLD stickers on empty shopfront windows, rather than all being FOR SALE.There are two major players when it comes to Commercial Real Estate: North Coast Commercial and Pidcock's.Chris Harley from North Coast Commercial told the Lismore App that the Lismore CBD has seen some sale action."We're definitely seeing sales transact. The volume picked up in 2024, and 2025 has started fine, too. We've got a few more under contract. "Times moved on. Time seems to take care of everything. We've seen previous floods where the same thing has happened. People get a grasp of reality, but not only that, there's obviously the price that these things are transacting for represents pretty good value for the business owner."If you've got a strong business, you can go out and buy yourself a property now, in some instances, pre-1991 value." As for who makes up the buyers of commercial real estate in the Lismore CBD?"I'd sum it up as a combination of all of the above. We've got investors coming out of capital cities, obviously local owner-operators. It's definitely a combination of all of them."Are there more buyers on Molesworth and Woodlark streets?"I wouldn't say no. I think it's more product-specific, though. If you have a look, it's not just the CBD; we're also seeing transactions in the industrial area in the office sector. You probably don't see them as much because they're above the retail. I know retail is obviously more visual, but we've done another deal recently around in Carrington Street for office use. So, you'll see that sold sign go up in the coming days."It's good to see that it's healthy. It's across the board in all sectors." South Lismore is in a similar position as the CBD, with prices that would have been accepted twenty or thirty years ago."It's probably the same thing. Prices that a guy like me wouldn't think you would hear those numbers. They definitely represent value for the volume and size of the building and structure. When you think of replacement values for these things and what some of them are transacting at, even the investment ones are yields are sort of 8, 9, 10, 11% return on your money, which, if anyone knows anything about investment numbers, that's a pretty good return. Double or triple what you're getting in the bank.It's not all roses, though, as the vacancy rate in Lismore is still extremely high."It is, and, hopefully, we're in a better place now than we were this time last year, and it continues to build."More SOLD stickers lead to new businesses and a more vibrant CBD, so even the most pessimistic person, will have some positive thoughts about the Lismore CBD.

Yesterday was the day that the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) served 'Statements of Claim' that have been filed with the Supreme Court to illegal squatters in RA-owned buyback houses.On the 'House You' Facebook page from an illegal squatter in Murwillumbah, "We've been served by the Supreme Court for living in a vacant public house. Bring it on."Acceptance of the Statement of Claim, and the willingness to fight for their right to housing peacefully was not what was witnessed on Pine Street in North Lismore.The NSWRA had hired a security company to serve the Statement of Claim on their behalf. The first house received no answer, so the notice was taped to the door.The second house received no answer. As the two security men were leaving the property, they were aggressively approached by a squatter yelling, "You have not been to the Supreme Court yet. Please leave."The squatter continued to yell at the two men as they started to walk further down Pine Street to issue more Statement of Claims. They were threatened with claims of intimidation and harassment and a threat to call the police. The man used expletives, such as "Get the f*&k out of here, you f*&^%ing as&^%es."Three Statement of Claims were put on the ground, to which the squatter yelled, "You can throw 'em on the ground, mate, right? No one's gonna touch 'em. I know how it works. We're not accepting nothing. Do you hear me."At this point, a group of five people had gathered around the two men with a further group of four walking up Pine Street towards the group. The two security guards left.As they left, the squatter continued his abuse, "You don't give a f&*k about people. You give a f&^k about the money in your pocket. Now, get the f&^k out of here."(A group of illegal Pine Street squatters after yesterday's altercation)For a peaceful, inclusive community, this illegal squatter does not represent what Lismore and its residents are about. Having visited Pine Street on a number of occasions, this man was not known to me, he appeared to be a new squatter. Every other interaction has been peaceful and respectful until yesterday.As Greens Councillor Adam Guise said during Tuesday's Lismore City Council meeting, "Yes, The Greens are running a political campaign, and we're saying the government's to blame."The Greens political campaign does appear to be heating up, but not in the direction that the majority of Lismore residents wish. Yesterday was an aggressive, intimidatory approach to shut down the legal system and stop people from doing their job.It would appear that a police presence willing to protect people while doing their job is needed. This aspect has been missing when dealing with the illegal squatters on Pine Street, such as the water disconnection exercise on February 11.The NSW Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley and the NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb can no longer stand back and watch the legal process be obstructed.The Lismore App asked the NSWRA for comments on the Statement of Claim process yesterday. A spokesperson for the NSW Reconstruction Authority said, "Today, the Statement of Claim filed by the NSW Reconstruction Authority with the NSW Supreme Court was served on illegal occupants in Pine St and other Government owned properties in North Lismore.  "Illegal occupants now have 28 days to respond. A directions hearing is listed for April 11.   "These homes were bought back by the Government because they pose a serious and ongoing risk to human life. "The most recent operational planning for ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred showed the vulnerability of the bought-back homes and also placed a significant burden on the NSW SES, who had to undertake doorknocking as part of evacuation orders.    "Pine Street, where illegal occupants have been staying, was impacted by the cyclone, with the street flooded and occupants subject to an evacuation order by the SES.   "The NSW Reconstruction Authority will continue working through the Courts and with the Police to resolve this issue."Minister for Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP said, “These homes are not safe for people to live in. That is why they were bought back by the Reconstruction Authority. They are not just on flood-prone land, many of them are also contaminated with asbestos and lead paint.”“We can’t afford to have something that has become a political campaign derail the reconstruction effort in Lismore. That’s why the Government is taking action in the Supreme Court.”“Abusing and threatening people, including members of the media, for just doing their jobs is not on. This won’t stop us from serving those writs because this situation needs to end.”

Both Coles and Woolworths supermarkets in Lismore and the Northern Rivers have issued recall notices for their home-branded spinach and stirfry products. Coles is recalling Coles Spinach 60g and 280g, Coles Family Mix Stir Fry 400g, Coles Spinach and Kale 300g, Coles Spinach and Rocket 120g and Coles Beetslaw 320g, sold between Tuesday 18 March and Thursday 27 March at Coles supermarkets, Coles Local stores and Coles Online in Queensland and Northern New South Wales with various use by dates (see breakdown below) due to a potential microbial (STEC) contamination.The recalled products are:Coles Spinach 60g and 280g use by 27/03/2025 and 28/03/2025Coles Family Mix Stir Fry 400g use by 27/03/2025Coles Spinach and Kale 300g use by 27/03/2025Coles Spinach and Rocket 120g use by 28/03/2025Coles Beetslaw 320g use by 27/03/2025Date sold: Between Tuesday, 18 March and Thursday, 27 March 2025 Customers should not eat these products. Food products with microbial contamination may cause illness if consumed. Any customers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. Customers can return the product to any Coles supermarket or Coles Local store for a full refund. Coles Online customers can receive a full refund or credit by contacting Coles Online Customer Care on 1800 455 400. Customers seeking further information can contact Coles Customer Care on 1800 061 562.For Woolworths, the recall is for Mixed Spinach and Stir Fry Kits (Queensland and Northern NSW)As a precaution, Woolworths is recalling the following products from its Metro and Supermarket stores in Queensland and northern NSW stores: Woolworths Mixed Leaf 120g - batch number 827628 - Use by 26 MarchWoolworths Spinach & Rocket 60g - batch number 379518 - Use by 26 MarchWoolworths Spinach &Rocket 120g - batch number 705439 - Use by 26 MarchWoolworths Spinach 60g - batch number 379515 - Use by 26 March and 27 MarchWoolworths Cook Stir Fry Kit with Teriyaki Sauce 400g - batch number 409878 Use by 26 March and 27 MarchWoolworths Cook Stir Fry Mix with Rainbow Vegetables 400g - batch number 185251 - Use by 26 MarchWoolworths Kale & Spinach 300g - batch number 54901 - Use by 26 MarchWoolworths Spinach 280g - batch number 524336 - Use by date 30 March and 31 MarchWoolworths Honey Mustard Salad Kit 285g - batch number - 210686 - Use by date 26 March and 27 MarchThe stores in Northern NSW are Tweed City, Tweed Heads, Ballina Fair, Ballina River Street, Byron Bay, Cabarita, Casino, Goonellabah, Kingscliff, Lennox Head, Lismore Central, Lismore Square, Mullumbimby. Woolworths is recalling the products listed above as a precaution due to potential microbiological contamination. Woolworths encourages customers to check the specific variety of Woolworths spinach and stir fry mixes in their fridge and only respond to the recall if it is one of the specific packets listed above. Customers should avoid consuming the affected product and return it to their nearest Woolworths Supermarket or Metro store for a full refund. No other products or batches are affected by this recall. Other varieties of Woolworths mixed salad and stir fry bags are unaffected and remain safe to consume. Woolworths takes product safety seriously and apologises for any inconvenience caused by this recall. Customers can call the toll-free customer service number for more information on 1800 103 515.

Mayor of Lismore Steve Krieg has issued a statement on the resignation of Lismore City Council General Manager (GM) Jon Gibbons.It reads:I have accepted the resignation of Lismore City Council General Manager Jon Gibbons, who is stepping down due to family reasons. While I am saddened by his departure, I respect his decision and thank him for his dedicated service to our community.Mr Gibbons has been a valuable leader for Lismore City Council during a critical period in our city's recovery. His guidance and steady leadership have been instrumental in navigating the challenges we have faced, and I extend my sincere gratitude for his contributions during his tenure.Throughout his time with Council, Mr Gibbons has played a key role in strengthening the relationship between Councillors and the executive team. He has worked closely with staff to develop and implement new strategies and processes aimed at improving productivity and operational efficiency. Beyond his role within Council, Mr Gibbons has been a dedicated advocate for Lismore and its recovery. On behalf of Lismore City Council and our community, I thank him for his service and wish him all the best for the future.Cr Steve KriegMayor of LismoreThere was no mention of Mr Gibbons's notice period or who will be the interim GM while the process to find a replacement takes place. As we know from the hiring process of previous General Managers, we are talking a minimum six-month timeframe.Mr Gibbons was hired on a five-year agreement that began on February 9 2023, when he replaced acting GM John Walker.The Lismore GM role is somewhat of a poisoned chalice. Mr Gibbons was the sixth GM in six years for Lismore City Council, so when the new GM is appointed, they will be the seventh in eight years, if they are appointed in 2025.

A teenager has been charged over alleged armed robbery and break and enter offences in Keen Street on Tuesday evening.Officers attached to Richmond Police District commenced an investigation following an alleged aggravated break and enter at a house on Little Keen Street, Lismore, between the evening of Sunday, 23 March 2025 and the morning of Monday, 24 March 2025.During the break-and-enter, a Subaru station wagon was allegedly stolen from the property.About 5.30pm on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, police were called to a bottle shop on Keen Street, Lismore, following reports of an armed robbery.Police were told two males allegedly stole several bottles of alcohol from the shop, during which they also threatened an attendant with a knife.The attendant was uninjured.Following inquiries, about 10.30am yesterday (Wednesday, 26 March 2025), police executed a search warrant at a property in Lismore, where a 15-year-old boy was arrested.He was taken to Lismore Police Station and was charged with aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence – armed, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, robbery armed with offensive weapon and face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence.The 15-year-old boy was refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Thursday, 27 March 2025).Investigations under Operation Soteria are ongoing.

Two men have died after a single-vehicle crash at Fairy Hill, near Casino overnight. About 10pm yesterday (Wednesday, 26 March 2025), emergency services were called to Droneys Bridge Road, Fairy Hill, following reports of a single-vehicle crash.Officers attached to the Richmond Police District attended and found a vehicle submerged in the Richmond River.Following initial inquiries, police believe the vehicle was travelling along Droneys Bridge Road, before leaving the roadway.A 22-year-old female occupant of the vehicle was able to self-extricate. She was uninjured.With assistance from Police Rescue and NSW SES crews, the vehicle was retrieved from the water.The bodies of two men believed to be aged in their 20s, were located inside the vehicle.They are yet to be formally identified.Police have established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash.A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.Road closures are in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

The latest Core Logic Regional Market Update for February 2025 shows the Lismore real estate market has risen 3.1% in the last quarter and 11.9% in the last 12 months. The Median value of house prices in Lismore is $541,716.In contrast, Ballina's quarterly result was -2.8%, with an annual increase of only 0.9% and a median value of $962,954.There is a theory among real estate agents that the Lismore numbers are still inflated because of the house buybacks in the NSWRAs (Reconstruction Authority) Resilient Homes Program.That is supported by Core Logic's bracket percentage. Lismore's largest bracket is in the $400-600,000 range, which is 32.6%, followed by 28.4% buying the $200-$400,000 range.In Ballina, 39.1% of houses are in the $1m to $2m bracket. The next highest is the $600-$800,000 bracket with 21.4%.Andrew Gordon from R Gordon Real Estate agreed that the house buybacks would cause some market distortion."Yes, there will be a level of distortion because that's an unnatural phenomenon, I guess, on the back of Australia's greatest disaster. But having said that, I still think that people recognise Lismore as affordable and perhaps a great place to live."I think there's the next generation that lives on the eastern seaboard that are probably looking at the block next to the home they grew up in saying I can't afford it and see Lismore as a great alternative."I reckon you'll see, in the next five years, those numbers might even go into double digits because we're seeing land releases like by 1055 Bruxner Highway and Eastwood Estate on Invercauld Road, all of those are starting to come around."Now, that's going to be a great supply, and I bet that when they both come on together, they will be competitive, and people will see that as an alternative to paying twice or three times the rates of our coastal cousins." Brett McDonald from Raine & Horne Lismore told the Lismore App there has certainly been an uplift in the real estate market since the start of 2025."Well, certainly since the beginning of the year, there's been an uplift in sentiment amongst buyers, which means people are actually coming to look at homes, making offers, negotiating deals, and actually going ahead with the purchase. So, it's been a lot more positive since the start of the year than it was late last year."The buyers are almost all locals. There are a few out-of-towners, coming from the cities, as there always is, but mostly we're seeing locals buying and moving locally."There is no pattern to the age of buyers or their reasons for buying."They are upsizing, downsizing or sidewaysing. There's a term I'd like to coin," Brett laughs. "There's every kind of reason for people buying. There's no specific group saying we're all upsizing over we're all downsizing. It's everybody. There are people coming to all the properties for all sorts of different reasons."What is noticeable now compared to last year is that we're seeing investors back in the market, which is really exciting because although that makes it more challenging for owner/occupiers when they are buying, we really do desperately need more rental stock back in this town."So it's good to see a few more investors coming back and looking for investment properties so that we can start to get more of a balance."Andrew Gordon agreed that there has been an uplift in the market."We are seeing results. When a house gets listed, it gets sold. Can I say there are more buyers, probably not because it only takes one to buy a home."I would say you'd have to be way outside of pricing, I guess, to not get a result right now. If you're on the money, you will get a result. So, in my mind, that's positive."It's when you have homes on the market that are incorrectly priced and not selling, then you've got a problem. That's not the case right now."

Lismore and the Northern Rivers is in store for a wet three days as the low-pressure system over northern Queensland moves eastward and further south.The Lismore airport recorded 42.4mm to 7:30 this morning, much more than was previously forecast.As the low continues its path across Queensland, causing major flooding to northern and central parts of the state, there is a 90% chance of rain today with a 3-20mm forecast.(The map at 10am Saturday morning shows the low into NSW)The chance of rain increases to 95% for Friday and Saturday, with a range of 10-35mm and 15-60mm, respectively, from northeasterly winds.The rain has been downgraded to a shower or two for Sunday, when we may see some sunshine amongst 0-10mm of rain.Unfortunately, each day next week we could well see more rain as the 'shower or two' forecast continues.At this stage, there are no warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology, so although we could see up to 100mm in the next three days, it will not lead to a flood warning.

The Development Application (DA) for the Eastwood Estate in Goonellabah was given the clear thumbs up from Lismore City Councillors during yesterday's extraordinary council meeting.The McCloy Group first commenced the development of Eastwood 18 months ago, in mid-2019, seeking to create a new lifestyle offering in the Goonellabah and Lismore areas.The initial development, Precinct 1, was approved for 136 homesites on 21 hectares. McCloy then purchased Precinct 2, 37 hectares adjacent to the first development.Initially, the proposal consisted of 203 residential lots, which was refused by councillors in 2022, this was upheld in the Land and Environment Court in 2023.The McCloy Group came back to council with a revised DA addressing staff concerns. Council staff were satisfied the DA met guidelines and recommended councillors approve the DA. Yesterday, the DA was approved for 176 new lots, 9/2.Councillor (Cr) Andrew Gordon acknowledged the adjusted DA, saying, "I think they've done a really, really good job"."We keep on talking about providing relief for our residents through home ownership or other. Diluting the pool is always a good way to start if you want more ratepayers, it lessens the burden upon those in the pool, gives you more resources for community services and the other ideals and all the expectations the community have upon you to perform a role as council."176 lots off the bat. Wouldn't that be fantastic. As you walk through the existing subdivision they've done, it's fabulous. It really is. There's a lot of young families that are coming in, and it's my hope that Lismore will become the dormitory suburb for the Eastern Seaboard."You can't buy a block down there next to Mum and Dad; that doesn't exist anymore unless you've got a million or two, and I'm hoping people come to Lisbmore and live because if they do, then we will be resourced, things will improve for us."We have a population growth dilemma. We're going backwards. Have been for a number of years. You don't get more services when you're going backwards, you get less. You don't get more resources when you're going backwards, you get less. So if we start growing our population, we'll attract different services, more funding, we'll have better facilities, we'll have things for kids and others to do. That's what we want."And I think we have an obligation in this chamber to ensure that the growth of this city is maintained, so that we do have the resourcing for public facility and amenity."Cr Jasmine Knight-Smith said she thought the DA, "was an improtant part of the mix of flood-free housing moving forward, and with Landcom for social and affordable housing, it is really important for this area".Cr Virginia Waters felt there was still some aspects missing in the DA."I think, in this development, firstly, there's a lack of clear affordable housing component, and it does not align with our affordable and diverse housing strategy. The development misses a vital opportunity to deliver on this strategy, which is diverse, affordable housing that meets the long-term community needs."We've been wanting this for over 15 years; even with the reduction from 203 to 176 lots, this proposal is still over-developed, and some medium-density housing could have addressed this by using a smaller footprint while delivering more green space and also adding diversity to it."It does not include the necessary green space or village centre that would make this livable, which we did see in the Bruxner development, which I thought was really a great development.Cr Waters was also concerned about the C3 conservation area."I would have liked to have seen something put in there about a Landcare group being developed, which I think is something we can look towards in the future, and asking some of our developers to also do so that we can actually have ensurance that we're looking after that."And although they've retained the koala trees, they are also on private property. So I think that is a little bit dubious in terms of, like, how protected are they? So I had some concerns around that as well, and also because the habitat is fragmented and there's roads and it's 50 kilometres, it's not a great opportunity for the koalas."Cr Waters also mentioned there is no place for flood-affected homes to be relocated."We know there are homes on the flame plane that need to be moved to safer grounds, yet developments like this offer no relocation opportunities for our beautiful, big scrub hardwood homes. And in good conscience, I cannot vote for this."Unfortunately, this is a high-end car-dependent estate, while our flood-affected community members have nowhere to go. Our community deserves quality, diverse housing, but we must also preserve the balance between development and nature as nature is not an endless resource, and I think that this could do better in terms of the nature and the habitat for the koalas.Cr Waters' fellow Green's councillor, Cr Adam Guise, said he will be singing from the same hymn book. " I do still object to this development"."I still have grave concerns that it's just window dressing for a very unsustainable development, and the scale is still hugely impactful. You're talking about 176 residential lots, smack bang amongst koala feed tree habitat next to bushland, which is a koala corridor. It requires extensive internal roading and hundreds, if not thousands, over its lifetime, of car movements to and from the estate to places that people work and play.Cr Guise also questioned Cr Gordon's 'dormitory suburb' vision."That, to me, is the worst possible thing that Lismore could be. We do not want dormitory suburbs where people just commute to and from Lismore to sleep here. We want active, vibrant members of our community living and working in Lismore, and we need to create a town and a city that enables that, and so just to create a suburb for the Eastern workers or players or entertainers who drive to and from Lismore is not in our best interest, is not in the roads best interests, and is not in the wildlife best interests.The way they've done this to retain the, I think it was 50 or 60 or more core koala feed trees is simply to integrate them into private lots. And if I've seen in this chamber time and time again when there's a tree on a block, it somehow disappears over time. It might be six months, it might be a year, but we will incrementally, by the death of a thousand cuts, see those core koala feed trees disappear."Cr Harper Dalton-Earls spoke for the DA. He believes that Lismore desperately needs more housing."It's a simple economic measure in terms of supply and demand. You need more supply to bring down demand, which brings down the prices. That's like economics 101, whilst it might be slightly imperfect in the issues raised by both Cr Waters and Cr Guise that I thank you for raising at the same time, if we keep knocking back developments, people have no avenues, we get less ratepayers, the burden becomes greater on those that remain, and people continue to leave."I am fundamentally against campaigns that wish to support people to stay in high-risk buyback homes, and I think that this is a good solution in terms of helping to open up more development. Yes, I would like to see developments in the future allow for relocated homes, but that's an issue New South Wales wide. It's not just subject to Lismore, and I think that's something that we can continue to work on as a longer-term strategy, but we must encourage housing development."Cr Dalton-Earls also questioned Cr Guise's statement that koala feed trees would be knocked down."And just my own personal experience, I had a gum tree out the front of my house. It was one lone gum tree in South Lismore. I couldn't get anyone to maintain the thing. I tried for years because it's a risk; wherever it falls, it's going to fall on a house. Now, if I wanted to try and get rid of that gum tree, it was like pulling teeth. So, I don't actually think it's that easy to remove trees. It's an extremely arduous process that goes for a lot of checks and balances, and I think that that same due diligence would be in place if anyone was to try and remove these gum trees."Precinct 2 of the Eastwood Estate was easily passed 9/2, with Crs Guise and Waters opposed.

Lismore City Council has put together a dynamic and engaging program for Youth Week 2025, running from Wednesday, 9 April to Thursday, 17 April. This year’s theme, ‘We are the future, and the future is now!’, highlights the contributions, talents and aspirations of young people in our community.Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said Youth Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the energy, creativity and contributions of young people in our community.“This week is all about empowering young people and recognising their influence on our community’s future,” he said.“Council has worked closely with local young people to design an exciting program with a diverse range of activities.”The program has been developed with the help of young trainees employed through Council’s Lismore Employment Acceleration Pathways (LEAP) program. This initiative not only provides trainees with real-world experience in community engagement but also ensures that young people's ideas are reflected throughout the event planning.Lismore’s Youth Week program features a mix of sporting, artistic and educational activities, ensuring there is something for everyone.Lismore Youth Week events include:ARTEXPRESS Exhibition – On now until Sunday, 20 April – Lismore Regional Gallery - features selected artworks from local HSC students. This exhibition showcases the creative talents and achievements of students in the Lismore region.Rollerworld Regional Skating Event - Thursday, 10 April from 4pm to 7pm – Rollerworld Lismore - a skating event at Lismore Rollerworld offering young people a fun, safe space to skate, socialise and connect.  Goonellabah Skate Jam - Saturday, 12 April from 2pm to 5pm – Goonellabah Skatepark – a high-energy day featuring skateboarding, demonstrations and activities at the Goonellabah Skate Park.Splash and Dash Obstacle Course and Pool Party - Sunday, 13 April from 8am – Lismore Memorial Baths - the Splash and Dash is an exciting event at Lismore Memorial Baths and Riverside Park for ages 8+. Featuring a mini obstacle course, a 1km riverside run, water inflatables and swimming!Thready Set Go – Clothing Mending Session - Tuesday, 15 April from 2pm to 4pm – Lismore Library - a sustainable fashion workshop at Lismore Library, teaching young people how to mend and upcycle their clothing.For more information and to register for events, visit www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/youthweek.Lismore Youth Week is made possible thanks to funding from the Department of Communities and Justice and the Office of Regional Youth.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said Labor’s Budget has failed to deal with the economic challenges our country is facing. Mr Hogan highlighted five (5) key points that affect our local communities:Australians are poorer after three years of the Albanese Labor Government. The typical Australian household is $35,000 worse off. We are paying more for food, mortgages, rent, power, and gas.Labor’s tax cuts are 70c a day, and don’t start for over a year. This is not going to help address the financial stress families are under.Labor is bringing in 1.8 million new migrants over 5 years, whilst the housing crisis escalates. The dream of home ownership is slipping away.29,000 small businesses have closed under Labor’s watch, while they have brought on 41,000 new public servants in Canberra.There is nothing in this Budget for regional Australia, other than more cuts. There is no new funding for the Stronger Communities program, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, and other programs critical to building community infrastructure.A Coalition Government will always better manage the economy so we can pay for essential services and keep our country safe and secure. Australians deserve better than this weak and incompetent Labor government.Ask yourself: are you better off than you were three years ago? The answer is no.

The illegal Pine Street squatters played a big part in yesterday's Lismore City Council meeting as a motion to write to the Richmond Police District Commander Grant Errickson, State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin and Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan was put forward to ask for explanations as to why the squatters have not been arrested or to seek out assistance in removing the squatters from the NSWRA (Reconstruction Authority) owned buyback houses.The motion saw two distinct differences of opinion and an admission that The Greens are using the situation for political gain.After an amendment that removed council's involvement, the motion said that Council:Write to the Richmond Police District Commander to seek a formal explanation relating to why individuals who have broken into, damaged, stolen from, and continue to remain on inclosed lands, have not been arrested and charged with any offences or forcibly removed from the inclosed lands even though the owners have asked for police assistanceWrite to Janelle Saffin, our State Member of Parliament, asking her to seek out any assistance available to help with the removal of the Pine Street alleged criminals, including seeking out an explanation relating to why police are failing to act to prevent ongoing criminal activity in our area, which is resulting in increasing criminal activity and anti-social behaviourWrite to Kevin Hogan, our Federal Member of Parliament, asking him to seek out any assistance available to help with the removal of the Pine Street alleged criminals, including possible action relating to the cancellation of visas where appropriate on character grounds under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958.(Lismore City Councillors (without Big Rob, who refused to participate) were clearly divided on the topic of the illegal Pine Street squatters)Cr Dalton-Earls said that he fundamentally disagrees with the Pine Street squatters. He explained how he was approached by the local group Reclaim Our Recovery and proponents to support the relocation of buyback homes by squatting homes, which would force the government to relocate them." This is not a homelessness issue. This is a violent political campaign mostly being endorsed by The Greens. The only people that are actively speaking out in the public space to keep squatters in high-risk buyback homes are The Greens," Cr Dalton-Earls said."For Sue Higginson to say that the Premier's declared war seems like they're trying to instigate a domestic war. Exactly what (Cr) Rob was saying, where the riot police come in and pull out people. These are young people, mostly backpackers, some young locals that heard about free rent and came to Lismore and decided to squat. "And in someone's words, it was very kind to share with us in an email that was circulated, "dancing on the graves of tragedy". And that is how I also feel as a person who was flood-impacted."Our community has been through hell, and for people to come here and try and make a political campaign, on one hand, saying climate change is getting so bad we all need to make drastic action, while on the other hand saying, let's go and put people, vulnerable people, in flood homes. It defies any logic. It's hypocrisy, and it's an extremely dangerous political stance to be taking when it puts people's lives at risk."Cr Dalton-Earls went on to explain his personal situation because he voiced his objection. "Now, to speak to my own personal experience of this and the violent nature of it, I've been personally attacked, ridiculed, I've had people leak information within my job that's led to me resigning, that could only come from one person within the court system that's also a member of that political party. "I've had people send me horrible memes. I've had violent threats. I've had threats against my dog. I've had people stop talking to me that I've known for years because of this. And I have screenshots that proponents of this political campaign are messaging others in a character assassination attempt to change people's opinions of me because I stand against staying in high-risk homes in the buyback areas." Cr Rob explained how he drove down Pine Street after the evacuation orders for North Lismore had been issued under the impression that the illegal squatters had left the street for safety."There was two people standing in the street talking. One was on a push bike, no one talking. I went down the end of the street and did my multi-point turn because it's a dead end there; you can't turn around quickly. I went there to get a photo of the empty street, to do a report on it. Those people came towards me. I pulled up on the street and finished the call I was on, and within a minute, I was surrounded. Car loads were coming, surrounded by people, two, three deep at my door. "I said, What are you doing? You're intimidating a councillor. Are you serious? You're making it worse for yourselves. I've got out, confronted them, recorded it. They were filming me, and not one bit of their footage has been shown that I've seen anywhere, not one. And this has happened to me many, many times."Cr Rob went on to say that the result the squatters want is bloodshed. "When the police come, that's what's wanted, the media attention and the clash, it's going to be bloodshed. We don't fix it. We need to get the police to act."Cr Gordon shared his hater's opinions as well. "People call me a disaster capitalist. I love it. They call me a disaster capitalist. I pay for things we bought. Linda and I pay for those things. These guys turn up, and they just want to occupy. It's just not right. "There's plenty of people who went through this disaster, popped out the other side, the very worst for it, the very worst who have had to relocate, and they go and buy or remortgage or rent, go and pay their way. This is what it's all about. You've got to pay your own way. "And this whole idea of evacuating the floodplain because it's putting people in dangers way, and all that sort of conversation after one event, but here you are putting them back in again. I don't get it.""It's not about occupation or being homeless and stuff. That's not what it's about. That's the sheep's clothing that you present. This is activism at its worst, at its absolute worst. It's capitalising on a disaster to sell a political message. It's feeble. The people are weak. When it came to The Greens, Adam Guise's turn to speak, he started by saying there doesn't seem to be much love in the chamber. "There seems to be a lot of anger, resentment, envy. And there seems to be a thing about people paying their way and not liking others, and that's a really sad thing for Lismore because Lismoore is meant to be an inclusive, loving, caring community, and this, unfortunately, seems to have brought out the worst in people." Cr Guise then admits to The Greens running a political campaign."I feel it's very much a case of victim blaming. We're wanting to find someone to blame for the situation we're in. And yes, The Greens are running a political campaign, and we're saying the government's to blame. The government is to blame. We're three years on with significant government funding, and this process has been a divisive, damaging process for our community, it has divided our community. "Those who do and don't get buybacks, those who might or might not get any retrofits or house raising. Just the way we went about buybacks, we did not get a choice. We did not get a choice. People were divided and conquered and played off a one against one another."Cr Guise then mentioned the upcoming release of the CSIRO report that will lead to mitigation options for Lismore."We thought we'd leave it to experts in the CSIRO that we still wait for years on, and we hold hopes that grand, hard engineering solutions will be our saviour when clearly they will not. We can't hard engineer our way out of this, folks. The solution is a human solution. "We could live on the floodplain. Many people live on the flood plain, but we can't live it with lives full of stuff and things and put people in harm's way. If we want to live on the flood plain, if we want to have business on the flood plain, we need to do it differently. We need to do it sustainably, and we need to do it in a minimalist way, and that's a very hard thing for us to grapple with." The vote to put the motion to the floor was 7/3, with Cr Hall out of the room.When the vote for the motion was held soon after, the vote shifted to 7/4 (Cr Hall was back in the room). The strange vote was that of Cr Dalton-Earls, who doesn't support the illegal squatters; however he voted against the motion along with Crs Guise, Waters and Knight-Smith.Fifteen days ago, Premier Chris Minns said he was going to remove the illegal squatters and demolish the houses. It is certainly hard to see that happening until the Writ of Possession court order is received by the NSWRA from the Supreme Court at a cost of an estimated $350,000 and unless Police Commissioner Karen Webb gives the okay for police to support the court order.It is difficult to see this ending without a battle. Will it be before May's Federal Election?

Business owners in the Lismore CBD have expressed their concern about crime and antisocial behaviour disrupting businesses and causing public safety issues. Councillor (Cr) Gianpierro Battista brought an urgency motion at yesterday's Lismore City Council's extraordinary meeting to ask NSW and local police, Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin and Member for Page Kevin Hogan to advocate for short and longer-term options to reduce the amount of unsavoury incidents in the CBD.Cr Battista's motion asked for council to: Write to the NSW Police Commissioner and Richmond Police District highlighting safety concerns from CBD businesses and requesting a blitzSend a copy of the correspondence to Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin and Federal Member for Page Kevin HoganInclude in the next budget an agreed amount of funding exclusively designed to increase safety in the CBD.There was debate between councillors on the right way to approach finding a solution.Cr Battista said a police blitz was needed for a number of days or weeks to provide "a very strong deterrent". Cr Knight-Smith said she felt it was just as unsafe now as it was when she was a young woman walking in the CBD. "I don't know that more police is the answer. I mean, tough on crime has been shown time and time and time and time again to not work," she said.Cr Guise agreed, saying he didn't want to see a "law and order sledgehammer cracking the nut sort of approach focusing solely on police task forces."Another point of Crs Knight-Smith and Guise was the increased number of mental health, alcohol and drug cases being observed would only lead to more people in custody and not solve the long-term problem.Mayor Krieg joined the debate by saying that sometimes you have to treat the symptoms before you go to the cause. "I agree is having a taskforce up here for two weeks the best case situation. No, it's not, but our community is asking for it, and it's up to us to lobby for that support as a matter of urgency."Cr Gordon said he had been working in the CBD for 35 and that it is the worst it has ever been. He has resorted to walking his staff to their car for safety reasons. "In the short term, we need police," he said.Cr Dalton-Earls agreed that council should be looking for a long-term solution; however, in the short term, "I think that this is an appropriate action moving forward".Cr Waters then asked Cr Battista if he would consider adding a point four to his motion, which Cr Battista accepted:4. Ask NSW Police to consider a community policing strategy be established for the CBDCr Battista concluded by saying he is doing this for the businesses of Lismore. "We have businesses here that are struggling already. They are struggling. We've gone through two floods, a cyclone where people had to move everything."Although councillors may not have all agreed on the way forward at the time, they did merge two ideas with short—and long-term solutions.The motion was passed 10/1, with Cr Guise voting against.In a small win for business owners, councillors voted to schedule a workshop in the next month to explore options that would freeze CBD rates in another attempt to help our struggling local businesses after both levels of government chose not to help them financially following the loss of trade from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The NSW Government’s extension of a strict bail test for young people accused of repeat car theft and break-and-enter offences will strengthen community safety. The extension of the additional bail test under section 22C of the Bail Act 2013 is crucial to reduce youth crime and minimise young people’s long-term contact with the justice system. The law restricts bail for young people aged between 14 and 18 if they are charged with certain car theft or serious break-and-enter offences while already on bail for the same type of offence. It requires a judicial officer to refuse bail unless they have a “high degree of confidence the young person will not commit a serious indictable offence while on bail”. Early data shows 22C is working. The bail refusal rate for young people dealt with under 22C is more than double the rate for youth offences generally. 22C was originally introduced in April 2024 and without this extension, would have sunset next month. The NSW Government sought a three-year extension and opposed an amendment by the Coalition and supported by the Greens in the Legislative Council to shorten the sunset period to October 2026. The Coalition admitted during debate they wanted a shorter sunset period, ending ahead of the next election, for political reasons. The NSW Government will continue to closely monitor the effects of the law and last month announced more than $6 million to support community safety across Bourke, Moree and Kempsey. This followed a $26.2 million community safety package announced last year. It included the expansion of NSW Police-run Youth Action Meetings, the Youth Justice NSW Safe Aboriginal Youth Patrol Program, and additional funding for a targeted response in Moree and surrounds. NSW Police’s Operation Regional Mongoose targeting property-related crime has so far charged 827 alleged offenders, more than half of them aged under 18. Attorney General Michael Daley said, “We can see this law is working, and that’s why we’ve extended it – to make sure we break the cycle of youth offending and strengthen community safety. “The bail test requires judicial officers to refuse bail unless they have a high degree of confidence the young person will not commit further similar offences. “The NSW Government remains laser-focused on finding ways to reduce youth crime, unlike the Coalition and the Greens who teamed up to water down protections for the community. “22C is a tough test and it needs to be because we cannot tolerate serious offending from young people while they’re already on bail.”

Lismore City Council is building a skilled local workforce through its Lismore Employment Acceleration Pathways (LEAP) program, which is supported by the NSW Government’s A Fresh Start for Local Government Apprentices, Trainees and Cadets initiative.LEAP is an annual program designed to create employment opportunities for those looking to start or change careers. The initiative provides funded traineeships and apprenticeships, allowing participants to gain hands-on experience in Council roles while earning formal qualifications.The program has already started strongly this year, with Council securing six funded positions in Round One of the Fresh Start initiative to bolster the eight trainees/apprentices we currently have.Five apprentices and trainees have already commenced, with another set to join in the coming weeks. This intake includes roles in water operations, civil construction, business administration, parks and gardens and electrical trades—key areas that will strengthen Council’s workforce for the future.Lismore City Council General Manager Jon Gibbons said the LEAP program, supported by Fresh Start funding, is an investment in the future of Council and the community.“By bringing in enthusiastic apprentices and trainees, we’re not only creating career pathways for local people but also ensuring Lismore City Council has the skilled workforce it needs for years to come,” he said.“This initiative strengthens our capability, supports local jobs and helps us continue delivering essential services to our LGA.”After posting an advertisement online via the Council's website and SEEK, more than 100 Expressions of Interest were received, demonstrating the strong demand for local career pathways.Kamron Thurgood, one of Lismore City Council’s new Business Support Officer Trainees, has found her experience smooth and rewarding.“The onboarding process was smooth and organised, and the team has been so patient and supportive—I’ve learned a lot really quickly without feeling rushed,” she said.“With Youth Week approaching, I have been assisting in developing the program, which includes a fantastic range of events and activities.“I want to gain as many experiences and skills as I can. I don’t want to be limited in what I can do, so I’m taking on as much as possible while I have the chance.”During the recruitment process, more than 30 candidates, parents and caregivers attended an information session in December to learn about the opportunities available and hear directly from Council teams.Following a competitive application process, Council was awarded six funded roles: Apprentice Electrician – Water & Wastewater Trades Team Water Operations Trainee – Wastewater Team Civil Construction Trainee – Water Capital Team Parks & Gardens Apprentice – Open Spaces Team Business Administration Trainee – Stakeholder Engagement Team Business Administration Trainee – Rates/Finance Team Each successful applicant is now gaining real-world experience under the guidance of experienced mentors while working towards a nationally recognised qualification.Lismore City Council’s Acting Manager of People and Culture, Dianne Parker, said the Fresh Start funding has been instrumental in supporting the LEAP program.“The aim is to create talent pipelines in difficult-to-fill roles to ensure local government workforces can meet the community's needs,” she said.“This funding allows Council to attract and support a broader range of candidates and promote Lismore City Council as an exciting place to kick-start their careers.”The Fresh Start program is part of a NSW Government initiative, with $252.2 million allocated over six years to help councils develop sustainable workforces.Across four funding rounds, up to 1300 positions will be supported state-wide.LEAP is an annual program, with applications opening at the end of each year. It is open to people of all ages looking to start or change careers. The Council thanks the local schools participating in the program and Training NSW for their assistance.For more information regarding careers at Lismore City Council, visit www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Council/Careers-at-Council.

In August last year, a select number of Lismore High Campus students started work on building a tiny home that they could sell.The Lismore App can report that the tiny home has been completed, and the auction date is set for Thursday, April 3.This beautifully crafted and designed house is a testament to the talent and hard work of Lismore High School’s students, who were guided by Northern Rivers industry professionals. You can view it today at 4:30 p.m. at the Lismore High Campus in East Lismore.The auction is not just a chance to purchase a one-of-a-kind dwelling; it’s an opportunity to help build futures, construct careers and support an educational project that is building foundations for students in the wider Lismore community that is not often built in the classroom.The Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program has provided funding for this seed project, with the proceeds from the auction going back into the Tiny Homes at Lismore High Project. As the project heads into year two, it needs to be self-funded.Thirteen Year 9 and 10 students have been working on the project for the last seven months.In August, principal Chris Williams said, “It's given the students something to look forward to, that they've got ownership of, and they can see a tangible result at the end of each week, and they're really proud of what they're doing.”The students worked on the tiny home on Fridays and signed an agreement to catch up on classes they missed due to the work on the build. As well as learning building skills, the students took turns being the foreman for the day allocating tasks to the rest of the team.All students completed a white card course, had site visits to trade businesses, and worked on the build to decide if a career in the construction industry was for them, whether that be a builder, an electrician or a plumber.The tiny house itself is 6 metres long and 2.5 metres wide, and the roof peak is 3 metres high. A generous deck comes off the front entrance.There is a bedroom on one end, a fully equipped kitchen, with oven, fridge and sink. There is also a bathroom at the other end, with a toilet, shower and sink plus a couple of power outlets.You can be assured of the quality of the build as the Lismore High Campus students had expert trade supervision.The tiny home is definitely worth a walk-through, which you can do this afternoon (Tuesday, 25 March) between 4:30pm and 5:30pm at Lismore High Campus at 118 Dalley Street, East Lismore.The auction will be held on Thursday, April 3 at 4:30pm.The sale of Lismore High's first tiny home will be put towards the 2025/2026 tiny home build, and there is no shortage of participants, with a number of Year 8 students already expressing their interest.

The ordinary Lismore City Council meeting was to be held on Tuesday, March 11; however, due to the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred it was postponed to today (Tuesday, March 25).The top item on the agenda is the Eastwood Estate Development Application (DA) for Precinct 2.Eastwood Estate is a popular residential estate running off Invercauld Road, Goonellabah, near Invercauld House.The McCloy Group began developing land for 136 homesites in mid-2019 when it purchased a 21-hectare parcel of land. Precinct 1 first went on the market in early 2023.In January 2021, the McCloy Group purchased a further 37 hectares that adjoined Precinct 1, then lodged a DA with Lismore City Council for another 203 new residential lots later that same year.Council refused the DA on the grounds relating to environmental impacts, the suitability of the site for the development and the public interest.The McCloy Group appealed the decision to the Land and Environment Court and lost the appeal on two primary grounds:Practical retention of certain koala food trees (KFT’s) during the development of the site was unlikely, due to works in the vicinity of those trees, and so certain KFTs should have been considered removed by proxy; andStormwater management goals and measures were not satisfactorily achieved.Two additional potential issues existed, they were:Potential geotechnical and groundwater impacts associated with infiltration pits, that were proposed in an attempt to resolve the stormwater contention (above); andInsufficient provision of parklands and amenity for future residents.The McCloy Group has gone back to the drawing board and redesigned Precinct 2 to include a reduction in the number of residential sites from 203 to 176, plus three parks/reserves.Council staff provided a summary of the primary design changes made to resolve previous issues, they are:Arborist Report investigates every retained tree individually and provides bespoke measures for each tree to ensure their protection and long-term retention.Stormwater detention has been split across three (3) basins to decentralise flows and minimise downstream impacts. Stormwater infrastructure has been relocated upslope, entirely out of the C3 Environmental Management Zone. Further water sensitive urban design measures have been incorporated (see ‘Stormwater’ for details).The revised stormwater design negates the need for the any infiltration pits, and so the pits were deleted from the proposal. Additionally, groundwater analysis has been prepared that ensures maintenance of groundwater flows; suitable permeability; and appropriate diversion (see ‘Groundwater and Geotechnical’ for details).Suitable parks and reserves have been included in the amended design, sufficient to meet the needs of the local communityAll residential lots exceed the minimum lot size of 400 sqm. Lot sizes are medium-to-large, in the context of contemporary residential subdivision. The proposed residential lots range from 400 sqm to over 1,000 sqm in area. Approximately 40% of the proposed lots are within the 600sqm to 900sqm range.The insufficient parklands have been addressed, so now include two distinct parks/reserves. The first is the Local Park, located on the lower side of a new road. It will include children’s play equipment, covered picnic table seating, and level grassed areas for ball games, picnics, etc. This park will also be appropriately landscaped and will include a sculpture (as delivered in Eastwood Precent 1). The Local Park is on the fringe of the C3 Environmental Management area and will enjoy a natural environmental setting.The second is the Local Reserve. The primary purpose of the Local Reserve is for the protection of threatened species. However, it is also designed as a short nature walk through the estate. A raised timber walkway will be provided over the protected groundcover species, along with signage identifying the purpose of the reserve and the species within.The Biodiversity Report addressed the removal of koala food trees (KFT's). It said the development would retain all KFT's across the site, and limit ree removal to 18 native trees and 3 hollows-bearing trees.It also said that mitigation measures have been proposed to ensure long-term protection of the retained KFTs, and to compensate for the reduced accessibility of those KFTs that will be located within the new urban area. The proposal has demonstrated compliance with the Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management.Council’s Ecologist reviewed the application and is supportive of the proposal on biodiversity grounds. The proposal is compliant with the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016; the Biodiversity & Conservation SEPP; the CKPoM; and LDCP 2012, Chapter 14 - Vegetation Protection.In summary, council staff said, "The proposal will have positive social and economic outcomes, delivering flood-free residential lots that will allow for additional housing in the greater Lismore urban area. This is especially important in context of Lismore’s current post-flood housing shortage, providing opportunity for replacement of necessary housing-stock that was lost in the 2022 disaster. It is recommended that this Development Application be determined as Approved, subject to appropriate conditions of consent."One would expect this DA not to be approved as a unanimous vote from all councillors, given its proximity to Gundurimba Creek and the presence of KFT's, even if Lismore has a severe housing problem.The Lismore City Council meeting will get underway at 10am today (Tuesday), with Public Speakers to address councillors from 9am. This can be viewed through council's Facebook page.

With only three more weeks until the Easter school holidays, young people across Lismore and the Northern Rivers can look forward to an exciting lineup of more than 300 free activities during the upcoming autumn school holidays, thanks to the NSW Government’s Holiday Break program. Designed to provide enriching, educational and enjoyable experiences, the program ensures that young people in regional areas have opportunities to stay engaged and make the most of their school holidays, regardless of financial barriers.  Young people can stay active with rugby and basketball, mountain biking or by joining a colour fun run. Kids with a creative flair will find plenty of ways to express themselves through art workshops, craft sessions and even a unique ‘Paint a Skateboard’ workshop. For social and outdoor fun, there are silent discos, music festivals, skate events and barefoot bowls to enjoy, while movie screenings offer a chance to relax and unwind. In Lismore and the Northern Rivers, which includes Far North Coast Hockey in Goonellabah, a roller skating event at Rollerworld, a soccer skills program in Goonellabah, Ballina and Casino, plus 3x3 basketball in Ballina. To make it easier for families to plan, the program offers an interactive map that makes it easy to find activities nearby. For more details, go to: https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/holiday-fun-for-regional-youth.NSW Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said, “This holiday program is providing a fantastic range of activities available to young people in regional areas this autumn school holidays.“We want to ensure young people in our regions can access engaging and meaningful experiences, no matter where they live.“By helping to bridge the gap created by distance and financial barriers, we’re making it easier for young people to stay connected to their local communities, explore new interests, and have fun while they do it.”NSW Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said, “The Holiday Break program is a great way to engage and support young people across regional NSW, helping them to stay active, explore new interests and connect with friends.“With over 300 free activities available this autumn school holidays, we’re making sure that kids and teens have the chance to try something new, build valuable skills and create meaningful relationships. “We know access to these sorts of activities and programs can be more challenging for young people in our regions. We believe growing up in the regions shouldn’t mean fewer opportunities to learn, get involved and have fun. “This program is all about making school holidays in regional areas more enjoyable and accessible for everyone – without costing parents and families a cent.”CEO and Founder of KYUP! Project and Holiday Break grantee Mel Thomas said, “As part of the Holiday Break program, we run half-day self-defence workshops for teens and young adults, focusing on key skills like setting boundaries, handling conflict and de-escalation techniques.  “We’ve been part of the Holiday Break programs since 2022, delivering workshops across the Northern Rivers, South Coast, Central Tablelands and Riverina regions. The program has been a huge success, with growing engagement and incredibly positive feedback from participants. “These free KYUP! workshops are important for young people in regional NSW as they provide essential self-worth and self-defence skills. They equip participants with tools to recognise unsafe situations, trust their intuition and develop the confidence to protect themselves from physical, emotional and cyber-based harm. “Offering these workshops at no cost ensures accessibility for all youth, regardless of their background or financial situation.”

Regional care services provider CASPA and The Northern Rivers Autism Association have joined forces to create a community event in recognition of World Autism Understanding Day on Wednesday, 2 April 2025. A variety of local groups and organisations will come together to help celebrate this year’s theme 'My Positive Autistic Identity'. The family-friendly event aims to support, empower and celebrate people with autism while broadening community understanding and acceptance.The free event will be held in the Lismore CBD at The Quad and will feature:Informative and interactive stallsSensory-friendly activitiesLive music with performances from the Little Tucki Creek Band, The Bones, Living School student bands and the RedINC Performance ChoirDelicious lunch options, including The Ugly Dumpling and JunkYard BBQGuest speakersOpportunities to learn and ask questionsCASPA Employee and Community Experience Officer Jessica Fraser said the event is an excellent opportunity to bring the community together again after the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.“Our community is so good at coming together in times of crisis, so it’s nice to give them more opportunities to connect for a celebratory reason, particularly after recent weather events and the resulting stress and damage. While they were less devastating than initially predicted, it was still anxiety-provoking, especially for those affected by the 2022 floods.“There’s power in community showing up and supporting events like these. Sharing in music, food, creativity and lifting each other up. Embracing our community’s diversity makes us stronger.“If you’re working in the Lismore CBD on Wednesday, 2 April, come down, grab something to eat, support people with autism, and celebrate our vibrant community.”