The NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) has been very quiet of late. There has been no information released about the Resilient Homes Program, the Resilient Lands Program, future land use, squatters or the $150 million NRRI Program.If you walk past a buyback property, you may come across a sign that outlines the next ten houses for sale.The auction will take place at the Lismore Heights Sports Club next Wednesday, September 17, with a 6pm start.Wal Murray & Co First National Real Estate is the real estate agent that is managing this round of house auctions.You can view the houses today between 12noon and 2pm at the following addresses and times:17 Frank Street, South Lismore: 12noon to 12:30pm49 Union Street, South Lismore: 12noon to 12:30pm12 Hallam Street, North Lismore: 12noon to 12:30pm8 Cathcart Street, Lismore: 12:30pm to 1pm161 Magellan Street, Lismore: 12:30pm to 1pm31 Orion Street, Lismore: 1pm to 1:30pm108 Laurel Avenue, Lismore: 1pm to 1:30pm106 Laurel Avenue, Lismore: 1pm to 1:30pm316 Molesworth Street, Lismore: 1:30pm to 2pm29 Cathcart Street, Lismore: 1:30pm to 2pmAs you can see, there are examples where three houses are open for inspection at the same time. To prioritise your viewing, click here to check the houses online.As has been the case in previous auctions, there will be no reserve price set for the auction. A deposit of 50% of the purchase price up to $1,000 is payable on auction night.You can view the HAZMAT report and Auction Contract for a home by contacting Wal Murray by clicking on the listed properties.One of the conditions of the purchase is that homes are relocated to sites outside of Priority 1, 2 and 3 areas as mapped by the NSWRA, which you can see below.Today is the final day to inspect the ten houses listed for auction at the advertised times. Enclosed footwear must be worn on site.

The renewal and modernisation of Lismore’s public amenities blocks continues, with two new facilities now open at Lismore Railway Station and Nesbitt Park Playground in South Lismore.  Positioned at the start of the Lismore to Bentley section of the award-winning Northern Rivers Rail Trail, the railway station facility features nine cubicles, including two ambulant and one wheelchair accessible.  An historic photograph of the railway station dating from the early 1900s has been printed on both sides of the building, in an eye-catching nod to the heritage of the location.  Nesbitt Park Playground amenities block is designed for parents and children, located closer to the playground as well as the park’s popular asphalt pump track and mountain bike skills course.  Featuring three cubicles, including two wheelchair-accessible and one ambulant, it’s the second amenity block to open at Nesbitt this year, following the July opening of the toilets and kiosk adjacent to the cricket field. For the Lismore Rail Trail amenities, it is not just about being able to use the toilets; it is about having access to water to fill water bottles."There is no water station until you get about four kilometres down the track," Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said today."Now, there is drinking water here, as well as a toilet facility. It really does highlight the start of the rail trail. You can get yourself organised. You can go to the bathroom, grab a drink of water, and away you go, all the way to Bentley, where there's another beautiful toilet block as well."So, it hopefully encourages people who are using this railway precinct, and there are many thousands a week; I've been given the numbers about how many are coming to use this precinct, but we've also got a very active retail precinct over in South Lismore as well. That's another amenity for the business owners, to be able to attract more business to our South Lismore retailers as well. So, it really does serve a multi-faceted purpose."Completed by Bennett Constructions, the buildings share similar external designs and fixtures as Lismore’s other new amenities, which allows for improved maintenance and accessibility while also meeting current disability and access standards. Both projects were jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, at a combined cost of approximately $800,000.  Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, said these new facilities make a real difference for families, visitors, and local residents.  “Whether you’re taking the kids to the playground at Nesbitt Park or setting out on the Rail Trail, this is about having modern, clean, accessible amenities close by. It’s also a great example of all levels of government working together with Council to deliver practical improvements for our community.” When asked about the plans for the old railway station and why it is taking so long to get a retailer into the building, the mayor said it is an ongoing issue with Transport for NSW about the lease details.."We wouldn't sign the lease until Council could include that building in the lease. We all signed that under the proviso that we are able to generate income, to be able to provide the maintenance for the rail trail. For whatever reason, at the finalisation of those documents, the station didn't get signed over. We're still fighting with Transport to get that."The story goes that they had already signed a tenant to go in there. They've since, I believe, left town, so it's one of those things where we're just fighting through layers and layers of government red tape and bureaucracy to get the answer that we need, which is that council wants to be able to sublet that to very similar to the start of the Murwillumbah Rail Trail. They've got a bike shop and a cafe and a tourist information centre. This building sits perfectly to tie in with that sort of theme as well, and that's our intention."Another concern for the Rail Trail and its users is the homeless camps that have set up at the railway station. There have been reports of families being exposed to people urinating in front of them, plus a South Lismore business owner today said he has had trouble with people causing a disturbance in his shop, and knows of others along Union Street.Mayor Krieg said, "As a councillor, I've made repeated requests. There are laws around being able to move people on, and I respect that. But, we also don't have custody of that building either, so we're very limited. We're not the owner or the lessee of that building, so we're very limited in what we can do as a council about that. Sadly, it is a sign of the times of a growing population, and it's not just Lismore, it seems to be a much broader issue across the region, across the state, and sadly, across the country."

UPDATE from Fire and Rescue Station 316 GoonellabahShortly before 1pm Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Lismore, Goonellabah and Alstonville responded to reports of a unit fire on Ballina Rd, East Lismore. Crews arrived to find the Front Unit fully involved in fire. Quick actions by Firefighters managed to stop the Fire spreading to the rear unit and surrounding houses.The Fire was brought under control after 2 hours of Firefighting operation.ORIGINAL STORYLismore App reader Dylan has told the Lismore App of a house fire on Ballina Road in the Lismore CBD.Live Traffic shows the fire at the Brewster Street crossroad, saying it started at 12:57pm.The westbound lane is closed to traffic, so you will need to take an alternative route to get to South Lismore.Emergency Services and Transport for NSW are in attendance.More to come.

The NSW Government introduced a bill to Parliament extending tax cuts to boost new build-to-rent homes yesterday.The legislation means that owners of an eligible new build-to-rent development will be able to access a land tax concession indefinitely, rather than the previous end date of 2039, which was set by the former government.This ongoing program provides:A 50 per cent reduction in the assessable land value of eligible build-to-rent properties. There is no cap on the number of years owners can apply for the concession,Eligibility requirements including that construction have commenced on or after 1 July 2020 and the building has not been used for any other purpose, andA prohibition stopping build-to-rent properties from being subdivided, or otherwise having ownership divided, within the first 15 years of accessing the concession.Removing the program’s end date gives confidence to developers who are making long-term investment decisions now. The changes mean developers can offer longer-term lease options, better security for tenants and more housing choices for people at different life stages.The NSW Government is working to build more homes for more people across NSW, and that includes build-to-rent options approved or underway, including:60 new affordable build-to-rent homes under construction in Bombaderry and due for completion in 2026.Approved plans for 50 new build-to-rent apartments via Landcom in Lismore.Plans are being finalised for 220 new build-to-rent apartments for essential workers in Annandale.This bill also provides for exemptions or refunds for rates of stamp duty and land tax applied to foreign developers who qualify for the program.Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said, “Extending the tax cuts for build-to-rent developers gives industry the certainty to invest now.“That confidence means we can unlock a steady pipeline of build-to-rent developments to build high-quality rental homes across NSW.”Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “In addition to the nine build-to-rent projects in the planning system, Landcom is undertaking build-to-rent projects in Bombaderry, Lismore and Annandale – and this legislation will help unlock many more across the state.“This change removes unnecessary red tape and gives developers the confidence to commit to projects that will deliver homes for decades to come.”

Councillor Jeri Hall will serve as the Lismore City Council Deputy Mayor for the next three years (until August 2028), the month before the next local council elections in September 2028.Traditionally, the Lismore Deputy Mayor is elected every 12 months; however, councillors voted to keep Councillor (Cr) Hall in the Deputy Mayor's role for certainty and consistency, with an 8/3 vote.There were two nominations for Deputy Mayor, Cr Hall and Knight-Smith. Cr Hall won the vote 7/4.The debate among councillors revolved around giving all councillors the chance to become Deputy Mayor, for the experience and leadership opportunities it creates, versus the certainty and continuity that comes with having one person in the role for a sustained period.An amended motion to make the Deputy Mayor vote back to 12 months was defeated, before Cr Hall's appointment was ratified until August 2028.Another annual vote, which was changed to the end of this council's tenure, was the timing of Council meetings.The debate was the same one that had been raised in many previous meetings since meetings started at 10am, and public access was moved to before the meeting proper at 9am.Originally, the motion was to vote on the meeting day and time for 2026; however, Cr Dalton-Earls moved an amendment to change the date to August 2028 after it was confirmed that this was possible by General manager Eber Butron.Cr Guise, Waters and Knight-Smith reiterated their positions that daytime meetings mean workers cannot attend or listen via live-streaming, which leads to less community involvement. While Crs Jensen, Dalton-Earls and Hall mentioned there was more listening during the day, savings in the budget when the meeting is held during the day and health & safety concerns for councillors and staff when meetings are held at night.The vote was an easy 8/3 win for daytime meetings until August 2028.An event the public was not aware of was that Norco unintentionally discharged a non-compliant trade waste stream from the ice cream factory at 120 Union Street, South Lismore, into the South Lismore Treatment Plant, resulting in the contamination of all treatment processes with milk solids between October and December 2023.Council said that the charges imposed on Norco are determined by the discharge quality criteria outlined in Council’s “Wastewater Usage Charging Strategy”. The charge per kilogram is identified in Council’s Fees and Charges under ‘Category 3 Excess Mass Charges: Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)’. Due to a series of accidental non-compliant events, Norco incurred a total bill of $418,183.58 for the three-month period for both volume and excess mass fees. Under normal compliant discharge conditions, Norco would have incurred charges of approximately $30,000 over the same period.Recognising the cost recovery amount and Norco’s proactive collaboration with Council’s Trade Waste Officer to address potential bypass streams, it was proposed not to enforce the full invoice amount, but to base the charges on cost recovery associated with the damage caused.The result was an outstanding balance of $99,590; therefore, council staff require the approval of councillors to write off $318,592.58. As the incident was an accident, they did not want to charge any punitive damages, which it is entitled to do.A council staff member explained that there were exceptional circumstances in this scenario."It was conceded that there were multiple issues that were presented. There was a potential that it was a council blockage in our assets that created the excess trade waste. Once we had removed that, it became apparent that it was not that issue, that's when Norco actually invited our staff on site. We assisted as much as possible."They also were willing to work with us. And it wasn't until that final stage where the trade waste pit was actually discovered, the internally trade wastage, and it was actually underneath, I believe, a large cement cover of some description, which meant they didn't know it was there. They couldn't see that it was filling up with excess trade waste, and also their systems were not reporting any increase at all."Cr Waters put forward another amendment that, in accordance with section 131 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (NSW), Council approve the write-off of $286,703.58 of the liquid trade waste charges owed by Norco for the October to December period 2023, leaving an outstanding balance of $131,480, including GST."While I'm supportive of reducing the debt, of course, I think this amendment just actually gives weight to the second event that happened in December, which they've accepted responsibility to," Cr Waters said.Cr Guise supported Cr Waters. "For that second event, it would be in ratepayers' interest that we don't just rollover and take on that responsibility, and that should be factored into the amount we're going to write off."Other councillors argued that Norco is one of Lismore's biggest employers and that punishing a local business for being honest."They come to us, they told us they rectified it straight away. We really want to encourage that sort of relationship with our residents and with our industrial bodies in Lismore," Cr Hall said.Cr Battista said this was a classic example of missing the forest by looking at one tree."You're missing out on what Norco is. It is a company that has been here for 130 years, and today, they still employ 130 people. So, if you add up all those years by the number of people that have been employed throughout the years, it's a massive, massive income for Lismore."The amendment was defeated 8/3, with Crs Waters, Guise and Dalton-Earls for. When it came to voting on the original staff motion to cover the costs and charge $99,590, the vote was unanimous.The next Lismore City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 14 at 10am.

The Baby & Toddler Clothes Swap, run entirely by volunteers and supported by Lismore Library, is drawing over 100 people each month. Families arrive to find long tables piled with donated clothes from newborn to size 5, along with baby linen and accessories, all freely available to anyone who needs them.Volunteer organiser Katerina Crandon said the swap is about more than clothes.“After the floods, volunteers saw parents struggling to meet the simplest needs, like clothing their babies. That’s when a group of mums came together to start sharing what we had. Four years later, the swap has grown into a tradition that’s about love, resilience and standing together as a community. Every smiling child, every parent who leaves with clothes they needed – that’s what keeps us going.”The swaps currently take place at Lismore Library on the second Saturday of each school term month, alongside the Lismore Toy Library Inc. The next dates are 13 September, 8 November and 13 December, 9:30–11:30am.Lismore Library Manager Michael Lewis said the library was delighted to see such a strong community spirit.“This project is proof that when our community comes together, wonderful things happen. We are so proud to provide a space where families can connect, share resources, and make life a little easier.”The organisers are now calling for new volunteers to help sort donations, set up and pack down, and keep the swap running smoothly.Families are warmly invited to attend – no donation is required to participate. It’s all about sharing, supporting and caring for Lismore’s youngest generation.“This project only works because of volunteers and community spirit,” Ms Crandon said. “If you want to be part of something joyful that makes a real difference, we’d love to welcome you to the team.”The Lismore Library is at 110 Magellan Street, Lismore CBD, and is part of The Quad.

The first item on the agenda at yesterday's Lismore City Council meeting was a motion that involved the CSIRO Richmond River Catchment Flood Mitigation modelling.Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg put forward the motion as a Mayoral Minute when he realised that Lismore City Council did not have an official position on the work being done by the CSIRO. This followed a motion put forward by another councillor at a recent Rous County Council meeting.The motion stated that Council:supports the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (NRRI) project and its findingssupports the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and CSIRO, and in particular, Dr Jai Vaze and his team at CSIROrequests CSIRO to investigate and model flood mitigation options 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 as a bundlewrites to The Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government; The Hon Janelle Saffin MP, Minister for Small Business, Recovery and the North Coast; The Hon Kevin Hogan MP, Federal MP for Page; Brendan Moon, CEO NEMA; Dr Jai Vaze, Senior Principal Research Scientist (Hydrologist), Project Leader, NRRI, CSIRO to affirm Council's position and support for this modellingask the CSIRO if they would consider undertaking the Lismore Flood Risk Management Study and Plan after June 30For clarification, points 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 are:6: Water retention in the Wilsons catchment upstream of Lismore (location to be finalised)7: Water retention in the Terania Creek catchments upstream of Lismore (location to be finalised)8: Water retention in the Leycester Creek catchment upstream of Lismore (location to be finalised)12: Tuckean Swamp bypass and drainage and Baggotville barrage upgrade13: Opening of Boundary Creek to the Pacific OceanNeedless to say, the two Green councillors, Guise and Waters, were not 100% on board as the solutions were all 'hard engineering solutions', and did not involve nature-based solutions.Councillor (Cr) Waters put forward an amendment to add Richmond Landcare nature-based solutions modelling to be included when the data is available.Cr Waters said that Richmond Landcare do a lot of work in this area, and it would be a missed opportunity if the data were not used to investigate flood mitigation using nature-based solutions."It's also part of the whole package that we need," Cr Waters said.Cr Guise supported his fellow Green councillor."And so for me, a proposal like this, which looks at what I call hard engineering solutions, which is essentially about mega dams and mega excavations and diverting water flow, will have profound impacts on the landscape."Cr Dalton-Earls asked a question about raising the Lismore Levee, to which the mayor replied that the general consensus is that there is no community appetite to raise the levee.Speaking against the amendment, Cr Rob said that nature-based solutions were included in the $150 million NRRI flood resilience projects, and had already started."Applications were made to get it funded as part of a strategy for river health, to access filtration and helps mitigate such things as black water events, but it also helps with flood mitigation in the sense of the lower end of the range of floods."Now, I don't think anyone who understands flood mitigation or nature-based solutions would ever suggest that nature-based solutions will help in massive floods. It just won't do it because the water level is above the trees, and a lot of it gets washed away in the water, especially if not done well."This point has been made to the Lismore App by Jai Vaze from the CSIRO. Nature-based solutions will have no effect on mitigating a major flood, and the CSIRO remit was to find solutions that can lower the river level during a major flood, which is why they will not be tested in the upcoming flood modelling scenarios.Cr Battista asked councillors to show a united front when it came to the vote, as he is worried about receiving the funding."The last thing we want to do is a divided vote because the government then will be saying they divided 50/50, I'm not going to give you anything. It's happened before. When the community is divided, the pollies tend to sort of retreat and don't fund anything."That statement fell on deaf ears, with the amendment defeated 9/2 and then the mayor's original motion successful 9/2, with Crs Waters and Guise voting against.It does appear that those who are anti-engineering solutions will be the part of the community who will not change their stance, not matter what the result.Jai Vaze will be coming back to Lismore in two weeks' time to present the options to all councils and other stakeholders.

Victim-survivors of domestic violence will soon have greater power to leave unsafe homes and protect their privacy under new rental reforms introduced by the NSW Government in NSW Parliament today.The Residential Tenancies Amendment (Domestic Violence Reform) Bill 2025 introduces changes to the process for leaving a tenancy due to domestic violence to better support victim-survivors.The reforms will:Make it easier for victim-survivors to leave a tenancy by:Removing the need for victim-survivors to notify an alleged perpetrator that they have left their shared lease due to domestic abuse;Expanding the list of approved people who can declare a renter is experiencing domestic violence so they can break a lease without penalty.The expanded list will help vulnerable groups such as people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people from non-English speaking backgrounds better access protections under the Act. Strengthen privacy and security protections by:Allowing locks to be changed without landlord approval if there is a court order or bail or parole conditions that exclude the alleged perpetrator from the property;Requiring permission from renters for images or videos of the exterior of the property that show their belongings to be published in advertising in order to reduce the risk of victim-survivors being tracked down by perpetrators.Improve a ban on listing victims on residential tenancy databases by allowing Fair Trading to order a listing be removed if the victim-survivor can provide evidence of domestic abuse.Make it clear victim-survivors are not liable for property damage caused by a perpetrator by allowing NCAT to decide whether the damage was likely to have been caused during an incident of domestic abuse.  Support victim-survivors to recover their share of the rental bond by giving NCAT the power to break up the bond and ordering partial repayments to a co-tenant. The changes follow extensive consultation with more than 400 individuals and 40 organisations, including frontline services, and deliver on recommendations from the statutory review of the domestic violence provisions in the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.These reforms build on our work to expand the Rentstart Bond Loan scheme, which allows victim-survivors of domestic violence to access a loan of up to 100 per cent of their rental bond to secure accommodation. Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said, “These reforms are about making common-sense changes so women and families can get out of unsafe situations quickly, without unnecessary red tape.”“We’ve listened to victim-survivors and frontline services. The message was clear: the law needed to work better in real-life situations. That’s exactly what these changes deliver.”Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said, “These rental reforms are practical and compassionate changes which make it easier for victim-survivors to leave unsafe situations without facing unnecessary barriers.“Access to safe and affordable housing is a critical issue for victim-survivors of domestic violence. Many victim-survivors are unable to leave abusive relationships because they have nowhere else to live. “For those victim-survivors who manage to leave, the negative consequences of the abusive relationship often reverberate through their lives and increase financial hardship for many years.“We’ve listened to those with lived experience and the services that support them to ensure these changes provide real, meaningful protections.“These critical reforms have been developed in close consultation with victim-survivors and frontline service providers. They will make a real difference to the safety and security of people experiencing domestic violence in NSW.“At the heart of these reforms are safety, dignity and fairness and a desire to ensure rental laws work for those who need them most.”Minister for Women and Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said, “No one should have to choose between their safety and their home, and these changes make it easier for victim survivors to leave their rental home quickly and reduce risk of further financial harm.” “These reforms are about the NSW Government strengthening protections for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, including reducing liability for property damage and supporting them to recover their share of the rental bond. “We’re continuing to work hard to address domestic and family violence in our state, and these changes ensure victim-survivors have clear, practical pathways to safety.”

Southern Cross University is proud to host the final session of an exciting pilot project that brings together science, sustainability, and student innovation.In partnership with The Rivers Secondary College and The Rivers Academy of STEM Excellence, Year 10 students from Lismore High School have spent the past month immersed in a hands-on scientific investigation into the lifecycle of plastics and the potential of recycled materials.The project, which began in August, combines university-level lectures with practical lab work, allowing students to explore plastic properties, waste management strategies, and granulation processes."This project offers our Year 10 students a unique opportunity to actively contribute to addressing the critical issue of plastic waste, helping them feel hopeful about making a meaningful difference. “Working alongside industry and academic experts at Southern Cross University, they gain valuable insight into post-school pathways within the rapidly expanding STEM sector," said Rivers Academy of STEM Excellence Project Officer Zane van den Berg.Throughout the program, students have audited and sorted plastic waste from the university by type, then shredded and extruded the materials for testing.In the final lesson on September 8, students will conduct tensile strength tests on plastic blends containing varying percentages of recycled content.This session marks the culmination of their scientific inquiry, demonstrating their understanding of material properties and showcasing the potential of recycled plastics in sustainable innovation."It’s an inspiring experience that not only raises their awareness about environmental challenges but also opens doors to future pathways," said Mr van den Berg.This initiative supports the NSW Department of Education’s Plan for NSW Public Education by delivering high-quality learning experiences and preparing students for future careers in science and technology.The pilot is expected to serve as a model for future collaborations, with plans to expand across The Rivers Secondary College and include additional year groups and research themes.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is urgently appealing for people to donate blood and help boost critical supplies.The urgent call follows record high demand for blood during winter, coupled with peak appointment cancellations and seasonally lower bookings.Lifeblood needs 12,500 additional donors to give blood and plasma over the next week to ease the strain on its blood and plasma reserves. The Lismore Donor Centre on Country Street needs 70 blood and plasma donations this week.Data shows demand for blood reached record levels in June, July and August. This demand surge coincided with the highest appointment cancellation rates since the COVID-19 pandemic, severely impacting the supply of multiple blood types.Lifeblood’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Cornelissen AM, said a perfect storm of record high winter blood demand, peak cancellations, and seasonally lower appointment bookings means donors are urgently needed in spring to stabilise low blood stocks.“We’re used to seeing a spike in cancellations and lower appointment bookings during the winter months due to cold, flu and COVID-19, but this winter hit particularly hard,” Stephen said.“At the same time, we experienced our highest ever winter demand for blood, which has significantly impacted Lifeblood supplies.“We’re urging anyone who is eligible and feeling healthy and well to book a donation immediately and help restore our blood stocks.“Right now, we need donors of all blood types. If you’ve never donated before, now is the time to start. Don’t wait for someone else to do it. Every donation counts,” he said.A blood donor is needed every 18 seconds in Australia to help patients undergoing cancer treatment, major surgery, trauma, pregnancy and childbirth, and a range of other conditions.Just one blood donation can save up to three lives, and all it takes is an hour of time.To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Lifeblood App.

Lismore has a history of supporting its own, most recently during tough times. This week, our beloved city has the opportunity to get behind and support one of its iconic sporting teams, the Marist Brothers Rams First Grade team, as they play for glory in the 2025 NRRRL Grand Final.The coach of the side that last played in a Grand Final in 2004, Owen King, has called for the town to get behind the 2025 Marist Brothers Rams by painting the town blue and gold."Back in the days when we were in the Grand Final in 2004 and before that, the town would get decorated. You know, a lot of shops had put blue and gold stuff in their windows. So hopefully that happens a bit this week," Owen told the Lismore App."The crowd support has always been good. I remember in 2004 the Mullumbimby ground was packed with Marist Brothers supporters. They all travelled up there. We had some tremendous support over the years."The Rams have not only secured their first Grand Final in 21 years, but they are hosting it this Sunday afternoon (September 14) at Oakes Oval after top-of-the-ladder Cudgen lost to Murwillumbah on Sunday.On Saturday afternoon, the Rams scored a convincing win over Bilambil, 20-6, to put them into the 2025 NRRRL Grand Final and have a chance at hosting the ultimate game at home as the Rams look to break a 22-year drought.It is not just one Lismore Rams side into Sunday's Grand Final, the Ladies League Tag defeated Cudgen 12-10 to also secure a Grand Final birth.It has been a long time between drinks for the first-grade male Rams side. In 2004, they lost to Mullumbimby 14-12, a year after climbing the summit in 2003, having defeated South Grafton 42-41 to hoist the premiership trophy.The 2003 winning side was filled with some famous names:Mark SivwrightBrett SpearsPaul LattaScott McKinnonNiko VakararawaDavid KrauseBrent PetersonShaun CoeAdam MayesTim TredigoDes MaherShannon CameronLuke CampbellPaul RobinsonSimon AndrewsJames AubussonNick Henry(The 2003 Marist Brothers Rams Premiership side. The last time the club held the premiership cup aloft. Photo: supplied)If the Rams can get over the line on Sunday, it would be a highlight for the Krause family.David Krause captained the 2003 premiership side, and his son, Mitchell, is the captain of the 2025 Marist Brothers Rams. History beckons on Sunday.While the Rams players hit the training track on Crozier Field this week, Lismore can give the side a lift by decorating shops and homes in the famous blue and gold colours and turn up on Sunday afternoon. There is nothing like a home-ground advantage.

Popular local builder Joel Jensen is Lismore through and through. It is hard to find someone more passionate about the Marist Brothers Rams or Lismore's future growth.The family company, Joel Jensen Constructions (JJC), is co-owned by Joel and his wife, Brittany. They started in 2015 and, until recently, were operating out of a rented premises on Elliot Road, South Lismore.Joel loves South Lismore, so he and Brittany bought a block of land a few hundred metres towards town, still on Elliot Road, so they could build a purpose-built office and operating complex. That was about five years ago."We love the South Lismore business community over here, it's just top shelf, filled with great people, and it's sort of central for our crew and all that sort of thing. We actually had another plan designed, and it got approved by council the day before the 2022 flood. So, everything happens for a reason.Like everyone in the Lismore basin, the Jensens lost a fair amount of money down the Wilsons River. They spent the first two years helping Lismore rebuild and getting people and businesses back on their feet before thinking about finally building their new premises. The fact was that now, the design and the build had to change thanks to the size of the 2022 flood."After rebuilding everyone's places and seeing what worked and what didn't work, after 2017 and doing it again, in 2022, we just thought we'd probably do this a bit smarter, and try and build something that hasn't been done before, which was a bit exciting, actually."We worked with Scott Davis, a local draftsman designer, and then Anthony at Alderson and Associates in Clunes. We put our heads together to come up with something different. We wanted a space for us to grow as a company and as a family. We want to show people that we're here for the long haul, I suppose, and to show a bit of positivity. But then also, I wanted to try and teach our kids a bit of resilience too, that we don't always have to tuck the tail and run. Let's try to use our melon a bit and try to figure out a way to build back smarter, build back better.In determining how they were going to build the JJC building, the architects and Joel had to deal with the famous Lismore pug soil."We've got pretty ordinary ground conditions over here. When we've done some soil testing, there's no bearing capacity for a fair way. So, we needed to design something that would float. We sort of went back to old-school building methods a bit and designed a raft slab that basically floated."From that, we used a lightweight structural steel design. So when we've done a lot of our flood loading and flood mapping, we basically have to make sure that one, it stays here, but two, it can withstand a flow of water. We know it's going to flood again, so we had to work with that. We sort of designed it so it can cop that flow of water."And then we wanted to use some products that we don't have to rip out after every flood that comes into the building. I demolished that much stuff from the flood, it was devastating. It really didn't need to happen."So, from all this, all the times working with the hygienists, I thought, right, what's all the stuff they're pulling us up on and all the stuff that they've been telling everyone to pull out? We'll use none of that. We basically went with structural steel, aluminium, glass, concrete, hardwood timber, and then we found this product called SipForm, which is now getting manufactured locally, out of Murwillumbah."When I reached out to them about using it here, they had never done anything with their products like I was proposing here. So rather than have your traditional structure, you know, your wall frame, the insulation inside it, like your insulated batts, your wall lining both sides, even if it is a water-resistant wall lining, if the water goes in and fills your cavity, from working with all the hygienists, you've got to strip the wall off, pull all the insulation out, clean it out, let it air out, put it all back on. You've got waste, you've got rebuild costs, you've got downtime.(This is what SipForm looks like inside and out)"This new product is specially designed foam. It's actually water-resistant, mould-resistant, and fire-retardant. And then it's got an FC (fibre cement cladding) wall lining on the inside and outside. We've actually chosen to go a different cladding on the outside, being colourbond in some spots, and then use, like a feature cement cladding, just to show different ways you can present it."So, basically, the way we've built this, when the water comes through, we'll open up the doors, open up the roller doors at the back, lift out our tables and chairs that we've got. Other than that, everything else is pretty flood-resistant. We'll just let the water go through, have a couple of stubbies, let it go down, hose it out, and play on.Joel mentioned that there will still be downtime as they clean up following a flood, but it will be up to a week, not four weeks plus, and involve two to three people, not twenty."It's still going to be a pain in the ass, like, we're still going to have mud and stuff, but we're not stripping stuff out. We're not throwing stuff on the skip again. We're not throwing money away."As you would expect, all the main electrical boards, water heaters and air conditioners are on the second level, well out of reach from most floods. The second floor of the new JJC building has been built in a more conventional way. The floor level is around 13.8 metres, so it will take another February 28 2022, for the floodwaters to enter that level.(The offices in JJC are on the second floor, out of reach of most floods)One of the main reasons for the conventional build was to demonstrate that there is no visual difference in the look between the flood-resilient lower floor and the conventional build."We wanted to show that you don't have to go flood resilient and go ugly. We can still make it presentable, we can still make it feel homely, because whether it's a business or a home, you still want your building to have a bit of life and a bit of character. I'm pretty excited about it, to be honest. We love it. It's been a long time coming. It has been a hard slog, but we're really proud of what we've created.When most of the buildings in South Lismore are being demolished or relocated, it's refreshing to see a brand new building in that landscape. It is a sign of what Lismore's future will be, and in particular South Lismore, which is likely to be more light industrial. Joel has had some local feedback already."A lady pulled in, and wasn't even asking about work, but just pulled in and said it's so nice to see something new going up, when everything else around here is getting pulled down. I'd never thought about it like that. It was nice to hear that we are leading the charge for the area."We've gone through that hard stage of the flood, and this is like a new beginning. It might sound silly, but it's sort of how it feels. We can put the flood behind us, throw the revision mirror in with it, and let's kick on."When you drive by JJC on a Friday afternoon and the team are on the deck having a few beers, give them a toot and a wave. And if you are interested in the SipForm flood-resilient product, pop in and have a look. JJC is at 52 Elliot Road, South Lismore. It provides another example of how a flood-affected city like Lismore can, and is, building back better.(Joel Jensen at the front doors to the new JJC building in South Lismore)

Anyone who drives along Tweed Street, Dunoon Road and Alexandra Parade in North Lismore would know it is in diabolical condition, especially Alexandra Parade near the viaduct around the showgrounds.It is not only a necessary road for our villages in the north, such as The Channon, Dunoon and Modanville, it is well used for people using the Lismore Showgrounds for annual events, like Gemfest, the Lismore Show and now Primex in 2026, plus the weekly Farmers Market, speedway and go-kart club.We can add the cattle sale yard trade each week, the pending construction of the new Richmond River High School, and the 85 lots to be built at the North Lismore Plateau as part of the Resilient Lands Program.There is no doubt it needs a permanent fix, as patch jobs only help in the short term before further rainfall and traffic bring it back to a dangerous condition.Lismore City Council are preparing a grant application for the Federal Government for up to $5 million to implement a concept plan they have developed for the three road corridors.To give the application more chance of success, Council want the community to get behind it and complete a short online survey. If Council can present an application with over 1,000 signatures, it may just tip the approval scales in its favour, and ahead of the many other council's looking for road funding.“There is no sugar-coating this. These are among the worst two roads in our local government area, and the disaster funding we received after the 2022 flood, doesn’t go far enough for the work that is needed,” Mayor Steve Krieg said.“Dunoon Road connects the communities at The Channon, Dunoon and Modenville with Lismore. In 2023, there were an average of 3,038 daily traffic movements, with 7.7% of them heavy traffic.“This will only increase when Richmond River High is opened and the North Lismore Plateau adds hundreds of new housing lots to the area.“I know that the community just wants our roads fixed. So do I, and that’s why we are asking the community to tell the Government how bad these roads are. Our rate base is simply not enough for Council to pay for the additional work.“We will be completing some works around the Showground ahead of the Primex Field Days in May, but simply fixing the potholes is no longer a sustainable option.”The proposed project will upgrade Tweed Street from Terania Street intersection through to the second roundabout as part of the North Lismore Plateau development.Specifically, Tweed Street and Terania Street intersection to be upgraded; new shared path along Tweed Street; Tweed Street to be widened and upgraded; Lake Street entrance to be upgraded and sealed; Alexandra Parade/Tweed Street/Dunoon Road intersection to be upgraded with a roundabout; provisions for a future carpark on the south-west corner of Tweed Street / Alexandra Parade to be designed; Alexandra Parade to the viaduct upgrade – eastern side; Alexandra Parade to end of cattle sale yards to be upgraded and sealed; Dunoon Road to the second roundabout to be upgraded; Dunoon Road third roundabout and shared path along Dunoon Road.Council's Manager of Road Planning, Lyla Nolan, talked about the lack of lane delineation, lack of parking, the lack of a road verge, and the lack of a footpath for people who park on Tweed Street and walk along the road to the showgrounds. Dunoon Road is also designated as the last road exit in the event of an emergency."This is marked as the last road out at the northern end, where the third roundabout is at this stage, we're looking to see whether we can raise the road there. There would be flood modelling that would have to be undertaken as well, but it could just be some upsizing of some culverts up that end again, having the shared path that goes from the top end of the project all the way down."Locals know only too well that the social and economic impact of fixing the roads at the Tweed Street/Dunoon Road corridor would be huge. Everyone can increase the chance of success for the Federal Government grant application by taking the short 5-minute survey by clicking here.

As part of National Threatened Species Day, Southern Cross University (SCU) announced it has successfully made the first-ever release of captively reared mountain frogs in a remote area of Gondwana Rainforest near the NSW/Qld border.The species - the Red and Yellow Mountain Frog (Philoria kundagungan) – were successfully reared as part of the University’s Project GRASP (Gondwana Rainforest Amphibian Survival Program) before being returned to a secret location yesterday in the Tooloom National Park and released into a predator-free field enclosure.“The day marks a significant milestone in a decade-long research program to save the Mountain Frogs from extinction,” said SCU’s Project GRASP lead, Associate Professor David Newell. Together with Research Fellow Dr Liam Bolitho, the pair collected eggs and adults from the field and have been raising these in captivity since December 2021 and, in a world first, have managed to get them to successfully breed.(Associate Professor David Newell in the GRASP laboratory. Photo: Elise Derwin)“These frogs have a very specialised breeding biology, laying a small number of eggs in a burrow where the tadpoles develop from fertilised eggs without ever having a free-swimming tadpole stage,” said Professor Newell. “The tadpoles feed entirely from the yolk of the egg sack and then metamorphose into baby frogs about 2-3 mm in length. They are incredibly vulnerable. These ones took about four years to reach maturity.”The Threatened Species Commissioner, Dr Fiona Fraser, praised the efforts of SCU’s Project GRASP team.“The Mountain Frog is one of the 110 priority species in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032. This project is a great example of applied research being put into on-ground conservation action to save one of Australia’s most endangered frogs,” Dr Fraser said.“We are proud to support the team through the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species program, and delighted to see the ongoing partnerships and engagement to protect this species. The ability to establish new populations and supplement existing populations from individuals bred in captivity is a significant milestone for the Mountain Frog.”The Red and Yellow Mountain Frog (Philoria kundagungan) occurs in small patches of mountain top rainforests around NSW’s Tooloom and Koreelah National Parks and across the border into Queensland’s Main Range National Park.(Assoc Prof Newell releasing the frog)It burrows in the mud within headwater streams and permanent soaks found in upland rainforest. The only way to detect this frog is when the male calls.The Mountain Frog requires continually high moisture levels provided by a process called ‘cloud stripping’ and cool temperatures. Because these frogs cannot move far and are restricted to small areas of mountain top cloud forests, their populations have been hit particularly hard by climate change.“We have witnessed localised extinctions in this species in recent decades as a result of climate change,” said Dr Bolitho.Dr Bolitho has been using automated acoustic recorders to undertake long-term monitoring of Mountain Frogs in an effort to help inform their conservation management.“The Black Summer fires of 2019/2020 impacted 30 per cent of their habitat and our field monitoring revealed declines and disappearances at fire-affected sites,” said Dr Bolitho.At the same time, an emerging threat to the frogs has been the proliferation of feral pigs within northern NSW rainforests. Pigs can destroy an entire population of mountain frogs within a matter of days. In response, NSW NPWS staff have been conducting targeted trapping in several rainforest reserves and have also protected some important frog sites with fencing under the Assets of Intergenerational Significance Program. Landholders can help by reporting new sightings of pigs in adjoining properties to Local Land Services or National Parks staff. To commemorate the release of the Mountain Frog, Southern Cross University’s team of researchers, in conjunction with Githabul Elders, WWF Australia, NPWS staff and Threatened Species Commissioner Dr Fiona Fraser, gathered at Tooloom National Park on Saturday, September 6.With funding support from the NSW Government via the Saving Our Species program, WWF Australia and the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species Program, the Mountain Frogs were reared in a specially designed captive husbandry facility at SCU’s Northern Rivers campus in Lismore.

Free mental health and wellbeing services are now available to the community at Southern Cross University Health Clinics until the 5th of December, offering support to those in need. With no fee or referral required, community members can bypass lengthy waitlists and access mental health and wellbeing services delivered by student practitioners, all under the supervision of senior, highly experienced health professionals. Dr Carrie Thomson-Casey, Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist, and Academic Lead of the Mental Health and Wellbeing services at Southern Cross University Health Clinic, said the program addresses a critical need, with many people waiting months to see a mental health professional. “We’re committed to offering free, accessible, and multidisciplinary support services to our community,” Carrie said. “With no wait times and a compassionate team of supervised student practitioners, we’re here to help people take the first step toward better mental health and wellbeing.” The launch of this free service couldn’t come at a better time, with figures showing 20.4% of Australians put off mental health care in 2024 because of the cost (National Mental Health Commission, 2025). Open to adults aged 18 and over, the clinic is designed to support people navigating challenges, from the cost-of-living crisis and extreme weather to the everyday stresses of life. Operating in person at the Gold Coast and Lismore campuses, and online via Telehealth from Coffs Harbour, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Clinic offers appointments for up to four months of regular sessions, providing reliable, ongoing care. In addition to mental health and wellbeing services, the University’s on-campus Health Clinics offer a wide range of other low-cost allied health disciplines, including exercise physiology, osteopathy, speech pathology, occupational therapy and naturopathy. Please note services vary between campuses. Bookings can be made by contacting the Gold Coast clinic on (07) 5589 3252, the Lismore clinic on (02) 6626 9131, or the Coffs Harbour clinic on (02) 6626 9131, or by emailing clinic@scu.edu.au. Note: This service is not suitable for acute mental health disorders, people in acute crisis, or those requiring intensive drug and alcohol support. In accordance with the Code of Conduct, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Clinic is not available to current Southern Cross University staff or students. Current SCU students can access free 24/7 mental health support by calling 1300 782 676 and current SCU staff can access assistance through the EAP Assure program on 1800 808 374.

Matthew Dunn is the new owner of the iconic Mecca Cafe on Magellan Street. Little is known of the man who has taken over the business, so the Lismore App had a chat with Matthew last week.Matthew moved to the Northern Rivers 11 years ago, buying a property on the river at Wyrallah. When he came to Lismore and walked past the Mecca, and on subsequent visits, he noticed it was packed before work, and he started to meet people. From then, he built an affinity with the Mecca Cafe.How it came to be in Matthew's hands involves the 2022 flood."I was in the flood, and I did two years of no electricity, broken windows, all of that, but I wanted to stay, and I thought I could fix it. The government said, 'No, you're on the river; we want you to buy back.' I haggled with the price. Eventually, I took it."Then I met the owners, Jeff and Bev, and they're like 80. Their kids are overseas, and they're trying to renovate this themselves; they just couldn't do it anymore. I became friends, went and got a crazy commercial loan, which is near impossible for a flood, but because the people knew the Mecca and the owners, they all knew each other, and it happened.Matthew said his buyback money was not enough to complete the transaction, so he had to borrow "off some randoms" to get the deal done."I moved upstairs, and now I've got to fix it," Matthew said.By trade, Matthew is a plumber, so he is pretty handy on the tools. On top of those skills, he has experience in rebuilding cafes overseas.I hitchhiked around the world for 12 years. Heaps of mates built restaurants and did things, and I just always helped, so in Balmain, in 2000, I slept on the floor of a mate's cafe called Mojo, because they stuffed it up, for four months and rebuilt it for free. My friends run restaurants and build restaurants."For those customers worried about Matthew changing the retro feel of the Mecca, worry no longer; he is embracing its history."Everything stays the same. Everything's retro. It's 100 years old in two years, and I'm obliged to keep it the same. And it's so good anyway, you wouldn't want it any different."Look at the tiles. A lady came in the other day who does mosaics. She said it cost 50,000 at least to do the floor, so every tile is coloured right through and hand-laid. I love it."It's surreal. It feels like I've broken into a pub on Friday night because I'm upstairs and security are going to kick me out. I'm just waiting for the knock on the door, and when I walk past the tenants, because there's two flats and that got me in the loan, without that, I wouldn't have got it, but I tiptoe past their doors and sort of say sorry, because I feel like they're going to kick me out."It's only been a week since Mathew opened the doors and started serving coffee, but the community feedback has been strong."One guy, nailed it. He said, I haven't recovered from the flood until the Mecca is open, and he just had his hands up going 'Yes', and walked out again. And I think half the town it's the same. The Mecca is so iconic. Everyone's grandmother had a birthday here. Until the Mecca's open, we're not recovered. And I believe that too."At the moment, Matthew is serving coffee to generate some cash flow. The dishwasher was hoping to be in and ready by last Friday. This week, the stove will hopefully be ready for action."I reckon next week tasted sangers, at a minimum, and probably cereals and milkshakes, hopefully, and cups. This is a big step from this week, which is just coffee in paper cups."So, I reckon in about two weeks, there'll be some egg and bacon rolls, cereals, and I reckon in a month, it's the proper chef pumping out a menu, if I go hard for a monthMatthew knows the Mecca is not where he would like it to be, but he is happy with where he is at in terms of the rebuild, and the patronage."This feels good. Look at it now. It's buzzing. I'm smiling.""My ultimate goal, and this sounds crazy, is to see the street full of people and happy. I lived in Europe for 12 year, hitchhiking my round, including Greece. All the shop owners were friends, the kids are out the front, it was such a good energy."I'll do the cafe seven days a week, how it is, probably Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Another chef does four nights a week with a different menu. Out the back, on the alleyway, I'm going to build a small area so people can have birthday parties and small gigs. That alleyway gets the winter sun.Matthew gave Lismore City Council a big wrap for his vision and the fact he needs to fix the Mecca bit by bit because he is out of money."They're so happy. I'm actually a plumber, so I know what you need to do, but I don't have the money. They're like, as you fix it, you can do it, instead of fixing everything at once. They're going, what a good idea, what a good idea. So, they're happy for everything, but I have to go through them."Matthew Dunn has already had quite a journey to get to the Mecca to this point in time, and there is a lot of work to go. In typical Lismore fashion, he has rolled his sleeves up and is having a crack.

The NSW Government today announced the proposed boundary for the Great Koala National Park, alongside a comprehensive plan to support workers, industry and local communities.The move was welcomed by the WWF-Australia, the Nature Conservation of Council of NSW, Forest Alliance NSW and The Greens.WWF-Australia’s CEO, Dermot O’Gorman, said the new national park would help reverse the rapid decline of east coast koalas. “Koala numbers in NSW crashed by more than half between 2000 and 2020 thanks to deforestation, drought, disease and devastating bushfires,” said Mr O’Gorman. “This park is a chance to turn this tragedy around and eventually lift koalas off the threatened species list by 2050. “It will safeguard some of our most important koala habitat and ensure future generations can still experience forests full of koalas. “These tall eucalypt forests are a climate refuge for koalas. Australia needs landscape-scale protected area networks like this to prepare for the possibility of 2.5 to 3 degrees of warming by the end of this century.”On National Threatened Species Day, the NSW Government is announcing:The proposed boundary for the Great Koala National ParkAn immediate temporary moratorium on timber harvesting within this proposed boundaryA comprehensive worker and industry support package$6m in community and small business supports for the mid-north coast regionAn additional $60 million to establish the park.The state government states that, without action, koalas are on track to become extinct in the wild in NSW by 2050.Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe, said, “The Great Koala National Park has been a dream for more than a decade. It will ensure koalas survive into the future so our grandchildren will still be able to see them in the wild.“These amazing old-growth forests are among the world’s top biodiversity hotspots – home to more than 100 threatened species including greater gliders, the powerful owl and yellow-bellied gliders.”The park will reserve 176,000 hectares of state forest and connect with existing national parks to create a 476,000-hectare reserve – one of the largest in NSW.(The Bongil Bongil National Park. Photo: supplied)This park will protect more than 12,000 koalas, 36,000 Greater Gliders and habitat for over 100 other threatened species. The Government has imposed a temporary moratorium, effective Monday, 8 September 2025, on timber harvesting within the proposed park boundary. It says it has planned carefully and will stand with affected workers, businesses and communities every step of the way, which is why it announced comprehensive assistance for impacted businesses and workers.The immediate temporary moratorium will have an impact on 6 out of more than 25 timber mills in the region and approximately 300 jobs.Assistance includes JobKeeper-style payments to support workers by covering salaries, and also financial assistance towards business operating costs.As well as financial payments to cover salaries, workers and their families will have immediate free access to mental health, financial and legal counselling services and training support.The Government has contacted every impacted mill and will now commence discussions with them about their long-term options and ensure appropriate support for workers.The Government recognises there will be challenges as the transition begins and is committed to working with local communities every step of the way.The NSW Government has also committed $6 million to support new opportunities for tourism and small businesses on the Mid North Coast, with the package to be developed in consultation with local communities to grow jobs and investment as the Great Koala National Park is established.Premier of NSW, Chris Minns, said, “Koalas are at risk of extinction in the wild in NSW – that’s unthinkable. The Great Koala National Park is about turning that around.“We’ve listened carefully and we’re making sure workers, businesses and communities are supported every step of the way.”(Inside the Bindarri National Park. Photo:supplied)An additional $60 million in funding is being announced for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to support the establishment of the park. This is in addition to the $80 million announced in 2023.The final creation of the park is dependent on the successful registration of a carbon project under the Improved Native Forest Management Method, which is currently moving through the Federal Government assessment processes.Today's announcement follows extensive consultation with industry and community stakeholders, as well as a comprehensive expert assessment process.The Great Koala National Park will not end forestry on the North Coast. The Independent Forestry Panel is continuing to provide advice to the Government to inform the Forestry Industry Action Plan. Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty said, “Our government’s priority is to fully support impacted workers with payments and services during this major change.“That is why we will provide financial assistance to businesses we know will be impacted, so they can continue to pay their staff’s salaries and cover costs.“We are committed to a sustainable forestry industry in NSW.”Minister for the North Coast and Minister for Small Business, Janelle Saffin said, “We are delivering on our election promise to deliver the Great Koala National Park for the North Coast.“This will deliver the protection of our most precious and loved species, our koalas, that everyone in NSW wants to see protected; and the Greater Koala National Park will also provide an economic boon for locals and businesses alike. “It is important to work together to ensure no one is left behind. We will be supporting impacted workers, businesses, communities and industry to maximise opportunities as we deliver the Great Koala National Park.“I am committed to ensure that our forest workers and small business forest operators are supported economically and emotionally through this change.”Information is available online, via www.nsw.gov.au/greatkoalanationalpark.

The highly anticipated Season Two launch of Fizzy and Suds takes place next week on ABC Kids, with local service provider REDinc’s talented art program participants playing a starring role behind the scenes.Produced by Byron Bay–based production company TILT Media, the show brings a fresh wave of creativity, fun, and imagination to screens across Australia. When TILT Media set out to work within the neurodivergent space, a quick Google search led them to REDinc – and from there, a remarkable collaboration was born.Each week, REDinc participants were tasked with drawing a different subject, ranging from elephants to diggers. These creations were then carefully animated by the team at Post 11, transforming the artwork into lively and colourful characters for the show.For many of our artists, seeing their own work spring to life on screen was nothing short of magical. Finn Andrew, one of 16 artists from REDinc’s supported Arts Studio summed up the experience perfectly:“The project was really fun; I had a great time.”When asked what it was like to see his art brought to life, Finn added:“It was shocking; it was nothing like I expected. They did a really great job.”For more than 30 years, REDinc’s mission has been to support people in achieving their dreams. The organisation itself began as a dream shared by parents three decades ago, and this project is a powerful example of that vision continuing to grow. Collaborations like Fizzy and Suds highlight what’s possible when people have the opportunity to work with skilled creatives who can support and nurture their passions and creativity.The joy and pride on the faces of all involved at the launch preview today highlighted why projects like this matter so deeply. They open doors, spark confidence, and showcase the unique talents of neurodivergent artists in ways that inspire the broader community.You can catch all the creativity and heart of Fizzy and Suds by tuning in to ABC Kids at 3.40pm starting Monday, September 8th and on iView.

The Nimbin Roots Festival takes place next month, celebrating its 10th birthday and its final edition. Founder and festival director Lou Bradley recently announced she is winding up the much-admired and lovingly curated event, which has held its rightful place on the Australian regional music festival circuit.Taking over Nimbin on the weekend of October 24–26, the vibrant celebration of original music and artistic expression will be headlined by festival favourites Dog Trumpet along with Hussy Hicks, The Audreys, Paul Greene and around 40 other national and local acts.The full lineup and program across all venues is available, and a new release of tickets has been made available at www.nimbinrootsfest.com.Nimbin Roots Festival has always been a self-funded event. On announcing the final festival, Lou Bradley said,  “After 10 years and tens of thousands of attendees who have found their way to the beautiful, alluring, family-friendly and endlessly fascinating village of Nimbin for our festival, it’s a bittersweet decision to end the annual event.  The story of how she put down her roots, quite literally, in Nimbin and created Nimbin Roots Festival is explained in her Festival Director’s Statement.“We started Nimbin Roots Festival in 2016 when we were struggling to find a festival that wasn’t too big and wasn’t too small to play at, to perform my original music.”An ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter and musician whose greatest joy is communing with like-minded musicians, Lou Bradley also founded and premiered the inaugural Mullum Roots Festival in July of this year. After the new festival’s critical and ticket sales success, she decided to focus her festival programming efforts solely on Mullumbimby from 2026.But for now, all energies are directed to bringing the 10th and final Nimbin Roots Festival to its loyal audiences in the NSW Northern Rivers and the many visitors who travel to the festival especially for the unique ambience only Nimbin can offer. As Lou describes it, the village offers a unique blend of “peace, love and pitchforks”. If you know, you know.Three-day festival passes, individual one-day passes and separate camping passes are available and include access to all venues and shows. The Festival includes a Peace and Love Parade that’s as musical as it is colourful, and the town overflows with art, poetry, workshops, markets and food – as all great festivals must!The lineup also features Kingfisha, Wild Marmalade, Emily Lubitz, Allison Forbes, Joshua Lee Wright, Thirst Trap, The Golden Gaytimes and many more. Lou Bradley will also take the stage at her final Nimbin Roots Festival, with mixed feelings but no regrets. “I’m really proud of what we have steadfastly achieved over these ten years,” Lou said.More info and tickets: www.nimbinrootsfest.com.You can read Lou Bradley's Sunday Profile on the Lismore App by clicking SUNDAY PROFILE: Lou Bradley has deep roots in Nimbin for the app version, or by clicking https://lismoreapp.com.au/sunday-profile-blogs/sunday-profile/page-1/67035cf98a6313002e23a9ae for the website version.