Driving around South Lismore, you may have noticed that the Post Office has had a bit of TLC - the roof is now a bright, glossy red!  And just inside, plans for Christmas are brewing, with an exciting makeover for the South Lismore Post Office and some help for area businesses.The South Lismore Post office has been nominated as a tier two business. That means the postmaster, Tracy Ward, has been bestowed the ability to help large and small businesses with a boost to mail-oriented services.“It doesn't matter whether you're packaging tea bags or you're making and selling art. If you've got an online presence or a presence in town and you need to get information out to people, I have been granted the capacity, through Australia Post, to offer businesses significantly reduced rates on postage.“Whether it be parcels, letters, bulk mail outs or unaddressed mail. There's so many cool tools and toys that we've got within this program.”Coming up to Christmas, Tracy is hoping to help all those niche businesses around the area get an advantage. Pop in and ask her how she can help you.Tracy is super excited about another venture that will also help businesses grow, “We've been asked by Australia Post to operate on Saturdays. Saturdays are golden for small business, especially in those last few weeks leading up to Christmas.”(You can send Santa mail from South Lismore Post Office)Tracy and her team have come up with a community solution for the weeks coming up to Christmas.“I was nutting it over with my staff members and thinking, we've got this beautiful, big piece of land behind us that's sitting there vacant. “If I've got to be out of bed and open I may as well open up the backyard and give it to other small businesses that would like a shot at showcasing their wares in the busiest period right up to Christmas.”Tracy is holding a Christmas Market, which she is thinking of calling the “Rainbow Bazaar”. It will start on November 30th and run for at least 3 Saturdays“It is completely free. My land is open. My gate is open. All I'm asking of people is that they drop in store and they see us.”Space is currently limited to around 60 stall holders (each space fits a polytable to show their wares), and there is a process to follow to be included. The post office needs your details to be included, and you will need to come and claim your space at a certain time.  “If you're a face painter, you're an entertainer, if you sell old records, if you make arts and crafts and bags, or if you just read someone's palms, whatever it is that you would like to show the community.“Lots of plans are being hatched. There may be some circus entertainment for children and perhaps a puppet show. We are hoping to have a sausage sizzle, the cafe next door may also be open, and there is the bakery down the road.“It is a Christmas market, so we will be encouraging stall holders to wear something festive, and they'll be given an opportunity to get on board with other campaigns that we're running. “One little campaign is we're going to be adopting families who can't afford to bring Christmas to their children.  “Starting next week, our Christmas stocking fillers will be out on the floor. There'll also be some stockings available. (Stocking stuffer collection)“Customers have got a number of options. One is that they can do nothing at all, and their service will be exactly as it always is. Two is that they can drop a coin in our kid's drive campaign box if they'd like to support it. “And three, they can actually purchase one of the stocking stuffers or toys or gifts in the shop and drop it in those stockings, and they will be distributed. We will be matching item for item in those stockings.”The next part of the Christmas plan involves the first step in the upgrades to the post office.  “I was so excited when the roof turned red. It's not just shiny paint. A large portion of the tin and the valleys had to be removed and replaced, because you could stand beneath it and see straight through to the heavens.“We're very excited because a bright, shiny red roof really raises that profile of South Lismore and helps to remind people that we are rebuilding. We are restoring, and there is that joy and beauty that can be found around this part of town.“There's been a lot of excitement and a lot of inquisition about the next step - the colour of the building. So we're seeing what people will guess it will be. “There's nothing other than the honour of being correct at stake here, but certainly come along, have a look and tell us what you think we are going to paint it.”Tracy is one of those people who weaves a wonderful story about whatever the topic is - magic in the telling - and you feel wiser having spent some time under her spell. The quaint and friendly South Lismore Post Office is becoming a place to visit.She has not been in this position for six months yet, but news of the work she is doing is spreading. One of her projects is “Santa’s List.” By doing good deeds, you add your name to Santa's List and help spread joy in the community.  Many children have signed up and are actively writing letters or painting pictures for elderly people - to show kindness. By these acts, the children are also helping turn “Ettie”, the post office, into a gingerbread house for Christmas!“We have had so many wonderful visitors dropping in, and they're not actually children anymore because once they come and see us, they become honorary elves. “I am excited to say that we had the great privilege of having our first two honorary elves who came all the way down from Queensland to put their name on Santa's nice list at the South Lismore Post Office. “These travellers are doing their good deeds all around Australia, and they took a handful of postcards with them, which they are sending back for us to send on to the older persons in our community to bring them joy. “We also had our very first international travellers who came in to ring the bell and put their name on Santa's good deeds list. (The official stamp that has come from the North Pole - a magnificent gingerbread house)“We have got so many names on our list, but there is heaps of room for more. “So we want to see elves of all shapes and sizes, big elves and little elves, granny elves and children elves and even little bitty baby elves come in store to shake our hand and sign Santa's contract and get out in the community and bring some joy.”Ettie's transformation into a Gingerbread House will be ready on Friday, November 29th, for the official light-up - the night before the Rainbow Bazaar, Christmas markets begin.Check out the work done on the Australia Post Office Roof by the Bearded Roofers at their facebook page.

Live music venues in NSW will gain extra protection against threats to their survival under new measures introduced by the NSW Government.As part of the second tranche of Vibrancy Reforms, which passed Parliament on Thursday, the Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy is empowered to intervene if a significant music venue is at risk of closing its doors.These are world-first legislative protections designed to ensure the health of the NSW live music scene and prevent closures that took away venues like the Annandale Hotel and The Basement and threatened the survival of venues like the Eltham Hotel.The first ever census of live music in NSW, the State of the Scene report issued by Sound NSW in June, found there were 795 live venues across the state, with 55 considered “dedicated live music venues”.A framework will allow venues to opt-in to a range of supports that can be deployed if a significant venue’s survival is under threat for reasons that can include noise complaints, vexatious neighbours or hostile landlords.A significant live music venue is defined as one which hosts live, predominantly original, music as the key function of its business and is essential to the touring and live, local music scene in NSW.The Minister will be able to deploy co-ordinated support from Sound NSW, the 24 Hour Commissioner, the Hospitality Concierge and the Business Bureau as a response to threatened venues that require assistance. The Vibrancy Reforms legislation also provides for the Minister to request mediation between a venue and another party to resolve a matter before it progresses further. At that point, a venue may agree that the public and its music fans be alerted that it is under threat.The first tranche of the Labor Government’s made it impossible for a single neighbour noise complaint to shut down a pub or licensed venue.It also increased incentives for live music and live performance, with two hours extended trading and an 80% reduction in liquor licence fees for licensed venues offering live music.The second tranche of reforms, which passed Parliament with unanimous support, has torn up baffling restrictions on licensed venues that include “no entertainment” clauses or dictate what genre of music or even how many musicians can play.Property buyers will in future be notified they are moving into an existing entertainment zone to protect the intent of Special Entertainment Precincts and reduce the friction between venues and their neighbours.Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said, “The music-loving community has been forced to say Rest In Peace too many times to the foundational live venues that were the incubators of Australian music. We are not going to sit by and watch another Annandale Hotel unplug the music and dismantle the stage.“In a cost of living crisis, we need a strong local music scene where people can enjoy live music without shelling out the hundreds of dollars it can cost to see the big touring international acts.“Protecting our time-honoured venues is also about supporting the night-time economy. The NSW music census found live music provides 25,000 jobs and contributes $5.5 billion in economic output to NSW. We want to amplify that contribution to the economy.“A state significant music venues framework is part of the rebalance, and it’s long overdue.”

Premier Chris Minns banned mobile phones in public schools a year ago. This week, he and the NSW Labor Party celebrated its success.  However, The Rivers Secondary Colleges saw the need and implemented a system way before the recommendation was handed down, and the results put the students out in front.The state government reported that “The decision to ban mobile phones in all NSW public schools has improved student learning, concentration, and encouraged young people to socialise more," according to a new survey by the NSW Department of Education.95% of schools implemented the ban, which has resulted in a finding that many expected: “Removing the unnecessary distraction has improved students’ focus and reduced social isolation.”Locally, Lismore High Campus led the way by introducing lockable phone pouches in 2019.  Kadina High Campus and Richmond River High Campus adopted phone pouches in 2021. These pouches ensured phone use was a thing of the past during school hours.Bree Harvey-Bice, the Relieving Executive Principal at The Rivers Secondary College, says the results seen were swift and obvious. “As soon as phones were locked away for the day, we saw immediate improvements in student engagement in class, socialisation with each other and in levels of physical activity. “Our playgrounds became much more active places when students were not being drawn back to their screens and students demonstrated greater engagement in their classes.”The ban by the state government added weight to their decision, lending it further legitimacy.“The NSW government ban on phones in schools has been supportive of what we already had in place.“It gave weight to what we had been telling our college community about the detrimental effects of phone use and helped students to feel as if we were all in it together.” Other aspects of tech use and social media, namely age restrictions and mature use, are currently under scrutiny by government departments.“As a principal I particularly look forward to seeing the outcomes from the recent Social Media Summit, as we know this can be a difficult space for many of our young people.”

The NSW Government is injecting $35.3 million into an arsenal of water efficiency programs across NSW, to save billions of litres and aiming to arm regional and metro towns with the tools they need for a sustainable water future.  This funding injection will kickstart water efficiency initiatives that aim to save 5 billion litres of water in regional NSW over the next two years, improving long-term water security and contributing towards the Greater Sydney Water Strategy’s water-saving target of 38 billion litres by 2030. The investment includes funding for the successful Regional Leakage Reduction Program, which has found more than 3,000 leaks across 60 Local Water Utilities since 2022. The program has saved a whopping 7,500 megalitres of water each year, or enough to meet the annual water needs of around 37,500 NSW households.A range of new projects will focus on residential, government, commercial and industrial water savings as well as network leakage, research and innovation, education and capacity building.The funding will deliver:·       A boost to the Regional Leakage Reduction Program – aiming to save an additional 4,500 megalitres of water per year over the next two years·       Another round of the Washing Machine Replacement Program – helping thousands more low-income households upgrade to a more efficient washing machine, saving water and easing cost-of-living pressures·       Continuing the School Water Efficiency Program – launching an online portal to help K-12 students understand the importance of being water-wise and track their school’s water use and identify leaks ·       Expanding the Regional Water Loss Management Hub pilot to other regional areas, leveraging local expertise to save another 500 megalitres of water per year·       A new industry drought preparedness program, helping businesses conduct water audits, access water savings resources and train and upskill workers in the sector·       Further water efficiency research into home water consumption using metering and AI technology, helping local water utilities boost water efficiency and streamline their services·       Continued work to deliver the water savings targets in the Greater Sydney Water Strategy and the Lower Hunter Water Security Plan, which aim to save over 40 billion litres per year·       Finding ways to better integrate water efficiency policy and strategy into planning and development.More details on these programs will become available as projects start to roll out over the next two to five years.For more information on NSW’s water efficiency programs, visit: https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/water-efficiencyMinister for Water Rose Jackson said, “This major investment will help NSW level up on water efficiency, saving billions of litres of water and ensuring our cities, country towns and communities are ready to face any future challenges, including a drying climate.“As NSW grows and thrives, we face increasing demands on our resources, so we are sending the message that it’s more important than ever to be water wise.“While water storages are currently healthy, we know the next drought could be around the corner, so it’s vital that we accelerate action now. “This National Water Week, we’re reminding everyone that using less water saves money while also helping us adapt to climate change and boosting our drought resilience. “That’s why we’re charging forward with this critical work, pulling on every lever at our disposal to reduce water use and become smarter with the water we do have – in homes, schools, businesses and through services provided by local water utilities.” 

The Lismore community's generosity knows no bounds as another charity raises a huge amount of money for a very worthwhile cause.The Women Up North Spring Gala was held last Saturday night (October 19) at the Lismore Turf Club with $70,000 raised to support women and children experiencing Domestic and Sexual Violence in the Northern Rivers.Jillian Knight-Smith CEO Women Up North said, "On behalf of Women Up North (WUN), I want to thank the Lismore community for coming together to the Women Up North SPRING GALA on Saturday night 19th October. The Northern Rivers came together to create a highly successful fund-raising evening for women and children experiencing Domestic Family and Sexual Violence in the Northern Rivers.(Jillian Knight- Smith CEO of Women Up North, and Nick Hamilton, CEO of Challenger Major Sponsor Domestic Family and Sexual Violence. Photo: supplied) "It was a memorable evening. Jenny Smith gave us an inspiring and humbling Welcome to Country, followed by a performance by the talented Ninhi Nari Gali Bundjalung dance group."It is such a huge relief for all of us at WUN to know that we are able to support women and children in dire need, to help put food on their tables, fix cars, assist children to go to and participate at school with dignity, support families to find and keep housing and access emergency accommodation and transport, and be safe and leaving violence behind."On Saturday night, our community came out, looked fabulous and danced with us to the amazing Lisa Hunt. Women Up North is giving a huge shoutout to our community, volunteers, students, workers, Board, donors, sponsors, raffle donors, supporters and auction participants … you supported us to engage in our community and business world, it has been a privilege to get to know you and work with you, dance with you and make a difference in the lives of women and children experiencing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence. "Together we make a difference; together we say No to violence."The $70,000 raised from the Spring Gala will be spent on emergency accommodation, rent and bonds, security systems, food and specialist medical needs assisting children to attend and maintain schooling.. and women to return to work and education, household packs, food phone and utility expenses, white goods, linen, furniture and immediate needs. Through the Women Up North Spring Gala, Our Kids Winter Ball, The Met Gala and various charity golf days over the last three months, Lismore has, once again, generously helped those who need it.

The Westpac Helicopter Op Shop is looking around for new premises in the Lismore CBD and needs volunteers.Flying out of Lismore Airport almost every day, the service provides a vital resource for rescue operations on the Far North Coast.Op shops and support groups, such as the one in Tenterfield who recently donated $150,000 through their fundraising efforts, are integral to support the service they provide.Steve Adams is the Volunteers and Retail Manager for the Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service and coordinates the three regions in Newcastle, Tamworth and Lismore.Steve describes what the volunteer's work means to the service: “Right now, you've got the helicopter and staff on standby. “We have pilots and crew members; New South Wales Health provides the doctor and paramedic. “These helicopters contain millions of dollars worth of equipment. They're an ICU unit with helicopter blades that are, quite literally, an hour away from our furthest point.“The staff do a 12-hour shift - 12 hours on, 12 hours off, and they do those a couple of days a week. “They're trained up extensively for the role that they do. So they might do a one month turnaround. And they're based out at our helicopter base. “There's accommodation upstairs, if they're asleep and the alarm goes off within a very short space of time, they are to be kitted up operation ready.”There are seven Op Shops between Coffs Harbour and Ballina and out to Tenterfield.“Op Shops have been our marketing tool here in the northern region for a long, long time."This is along with barbecues like the one held outside Furniture Court on Thursday to help celebrate their opening.“Back in 2022, we lost the Lismore store in the flood. We decided that we would like to come back into Lismore and we were looking high up the hill at Goonellabah.”However, over time, attitudes have changed. “Lismore CBD is growing again. People are moving back into the area. So we're finding we're getting a reasonably good response into coming back into town itself.”The shop's plans are coming together. Steve has looked at a couple of potential locations. Now, it’s about filling positions.“We try to get a very good volunteer base. We need at least 40 people to put their name up for volunteering.”Volunteers can work half or a full day. Training is provided, and there are different roles.  “Sometimes people come from Centrelink, and sometimes we have some of the disabled people through the various agencies come in and work with us as well.“We know sometimes parents and grandparents have to go and pick up the kids and drop them off, and we're very accommodating and work the roster out as best we can. “We appoint a coordinator that is somebody who is responsible for opening the doors and closing the doors, doing the banking of the day, making sure the team's doing what they need to do. “We're very fortunate that four of our previous members have agreed to come back, and all four were coordinators. “We've got very good people with a good heart.”If you are interested, contact Steve Adams on (02) 6623 7300 or email enquiries@rescuehelicopter.com.au. Or you can check out the website for more information

The percentage of people who can’t afford to visit a GP in the Richmond - Tweed region has increased more than 175% over the past four years, according to damning new research.The report titled Access Denied: Australians Locked Out of Quality Healthcare was commissioned by peak social services body NCOSS and conducted by the University of Canberra.NCOSS chief executive Cara Varian said the report found that patient experiences with vital health services including GPs, specialists and dentists in NSW had gone backwards since its 2020 report and that regional areas were more heavily impacted than metropolitan areas.“This report illustrates that the health system is broken,” Ms Varian said. “When people can’t afford the most fundamental medical care it leads to bad health outcomes and puts pressure on hospitals,” she said.“These statistics are particularly alarming in regional areas and are a wake-up call for the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to improve affordability and out-of-pocket costs for all Australians.” The key statistics for the Richmond - Tweed region include:The number of people who feel their dentist did not spend enough time with them increased almost 350% since 2020, the highest increase across all NSW regionsOne in three (33%) visit the ED because their GP was unavailable, significantly higher than NSW overall (23%)More than a quarter (26%) feel their GP could have provided care for their most recent GP visit, significantly higher than NSW overall (16%)Significantly lower ownership of private health insurance compared to NSW overall (45% v 58%)“This report shows that people in regional NSW are copping the brunt of a stretched health system and that financial pressures have put healthcare out of reach for too many people,” Ms Varian said.“Whether it’s visiting your doctor or your dentist, we need to make healthcare more accessible for people outside of metropolitan areas.”  NCOSS’s research reveals that NSW and Commonwealth Governments should take the following steps:Improve affordability and reduce out-of-pocket costs, particularly for vulnerable populationsEnhance healthcare access and availability in regional areasProvide targeted support to groups experiencing the most significant declines in healthcare experiencesAddress the growing pressure on health services, including wait times and time spent with patientsThe report draws on the 2023 patient experience survey (PES) component of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Multipurpose Household Survey (MPHS) and original data estimations produced by the University of Canberra for NCOSS.NCOSS has developed an Online Mapping Tool which provides a geographic breakdown of the report data by SA2 level. To use the Online Mapping Tool and to read the report, click here.

Last night's thunderstorm, and the one in the early hours of the morning, caused 17.8mm to fall at the Lismore Airport.The good news is the weather forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology is a shower or two for both Saturday and Sunday, a 50-60% chance of rain and only 0-2mm expected.The Lismore Farmers Markets is back on tomorrow (Saturday) morning from 7:30 at the Lismore Showgrounds following a week off because of another successful Lismore Show.Homegrown fruit and veg, coffee/tea & breakfast options, plus meats, plants, seedlings and much more. John Trapp is providing the live music between 8am and 11am.It is the fourth Sunday of the month, which means the Nimbin Markets will be happening between 9am and 3pm on Cullen Street next to the school. It's always a good day out in the hills.The Wilson Park School (230 Wyrallah Road, East Lismore) for specific purposes is having a big market day, with trash and treasure, plants, books, bakes and craft stalls tomorrow (Saturday October 26) between 9am and 2pm.There will be bacon and egg rolls, the Coffee Addictions Van and a sausage sizzle.The P&C are holding this exciting inaugural event to raise money for the refurbishing of the food technology room. The food technology rooms are an integral part of our children’s education, teaching future job skills and daily living independence.There are three (3) places left in the Lords Taverner's Golf Day on Sunday. It's a four-person ambrose with a 12pm shotgun start.The cost is $40 per person with money helping the young and disadvantaged in their sporting field.Call Warren to book your team before 4pm tomorrow (Saturday) on 0414 607 404.There is some fantastic live music to get along to over the weekend.At the Northern Rivers Hotel, Hello Ray Duo is tonight between 7pm and 10pm, tomorrow (Saturday) Dan Hannaford is on stage from 6:30pm and the Sunday Session between 4pm and 7pm is the record launch of Soul Fish.We are two weeks away from the Boney M Experience rocking the Lismore Workers Club on Saturday, November 9.That is followed by Marina Prior and Michael Cormick's 'Centrestage' on Saturday, November 16 and The Italian Tenors singing 'The Classics' on Friday November 22.You can book your tickets here.Lismore retains its reputation as the most expensive fuel in the Northern Rivers by 13 to 17 cents a litre, with the exception of diesel, where it is the cheapest.Some fuels had price drops in Casino and Ballina, but Lismore remained steady.Here are the cheapest fuel prices in each town:E10 is 178.9 across those that serve E10 across Lismore, 165.5 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, with The Metro and the Mobil on River Street in Ballina cheapest at 161.9.Unleaded 91 is 179.9 at the new Astron on Ballina Road in the CBD and the Shell on Ballina Road in Goonellabah, 167.5 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino and 163.9 at the Metro and the new Mobil in Ballina.U95 is 188.9 at the Independent on Wyrallah Road, East Lismore, Northside Liberty and Bakers Corner at North Lismore and the Liberty on Ballina Road, 183.9 at the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street in Casino and 174.9 at The Metro and the Mobil in Ballina.U98 is 196.9 at the Liberty on Ballina Road and at 113 Union Street, South Lismore, 187.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and 183.9 at The Metro and the Mobil on River Street, Ballina.Diesel is 173.9 at the new Astron on Ballina Road and the Ampol on Union Street, South Lismore, 176.9 at the NightOwl Puma and The United on Johnston Street and the Liberty's on Hare and Centre Street in Casino and 182.5 at The Metro and the Mobil in Ballina.Have a great weekend!

Animal lovers and pet owners will applaud the Bill introduced to Parliament yesterday by the Labor Government. The aim is to strengthen puppy and dog welfare across the state by establishing clear guardrails and standards for dog breeders.Committed to during the election, this legislation has been developed through close consultation with experts, industry and animal welfare advocates to ensure community expectations are reflected in New South Wales laws. The Bill targets key risks to animal health and welfare associated with dog breeding practices that have been of concern for some time. Changes under this Bill include:Mandating that breeders must, for the first time, obtain a Breeder Identification Number through the NSW pet registry, enabling transparency of the sector and assisting people acquiring a puppy. Setting a lifetime litter limit for fertile female adult dogs (those over 6 months old) to five natural litters or up to three caesarean litters, whichever occurs first.Establishing a care standard of one staff carer for every 20 adult dogs, ensuring sufficient care, food and water are provided.Establishing a maximum cap of 20 fertile female dogs (over the age of six months) at any breeding premise.A maximum penalty for individuals of $110,000, two years imprisonment or both and $550,000 for organisations will apply for breaches of this cap.This bill seeks to stop puppy farming by providing a robust and modernised regulatory system for all breeders to deliver good animal welfare without imposing undue regulatory burden on legitimate breeders.The Government is therefore enabling within the Bill that breeders with more than 20 fertile dogs will be able to apply for a limited exemption from this cap. This exemption will apply for ten years, giving breeders significant time to appropriately scale down their operations.Currently in New South Wales there has been no compulsory registration scheme for breeders and no restrictions on the number of breeding female dogs that a person or business can have, or the number of litters a female dog can produce in their lifetimes. Without these safeguards, animal welfare has been jeopardised by unethical breeders, in some instances, establishing facilities of dozens or hundreds of dogs without providing essential care. The majority of the changes will come into effect from December 2025, allowing time for the Government to rollout an education campaign for breeders, dog owners and those considering acquiring a puppy.NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said, “With half of all households having a dog at home, there is significant community concern about the welfare of these dogs as puppies and about the practice of puppy farms.“Most breeders do the right thing, but there is a clear message from the community that large-scale, unregulated breeding practices are not acceptable, and breeders should be registered.“We came to Government with a commitment to clean up the sector and to enhance animal welfare because it means a lot to everyone in our community and for our dogs.“Our Bill ensures transparency, accountability, and appropriate animal welfare standards in all breeding operations across NSW.“This Bill is about stopping the bad apples of this industry while supporting good and professional people who prioritise the health and welfare of their animals.“These changes will be easy to understand for industry and will allow people to distinguish ethical breeders who promote responsible breeding practices from dodgy puppy farmers.Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “People expect that any dog purchased from a breeder has been treated well and has not been exploited by dishonest puppy farmers to turn a profit.  “This Bill applies a strict regulatory framework to provide the government with greater oversight to ensure all breeders are complying with animal welfare standards and community expectations.“All industry and animal welfare stakeholders agree that there is a need to clean out the bad actors and for better animal and customer protection against those few unethical breeders. That is what this Bill delivers.” Animal Welfare League NSW CEO Stephen Albin said, “The Animal Welfare League NSW strongly supports the Bill as it will crack down on breeders who are doing the wrong thing and improve animal welfare.“It also sets a new regulatory framework that will deliver higher standards in the breeding industry and give established breeders time to meet those standards.“We have seen a huge spike in breeding since COVID-19, with a big increase in dogs coming into the shelter, blowing out our waiting lists and making it extremely challenging to find new, loving homes for dogs, who are often just puppies.“Sadly, too many dogs are not finding a new home.“This Bill will help ease the pressure on our shelters and allow us to rehome dogs that have been surrendered or abandoned.”

The annual North Coast Road Riders Christmas Toy Run is asking the community to put the date in your calendar to get as many people involved as possible, and is asking for any motorcycle owners to be part of the annual ride from Ballina to Lismore.The 2024 Toy Run will be held on Sunday, December 1st. Riders will leave the Ballina Maritime Museum at 9:15am and arrive at Browns car park in Lismore between 10am and 10:15am with a detour through Alstonville.Approximately 55 to 80 motorcycle riders will hit the streets of Ballina, the Bruxner Highway, Alstonville and the Lismore CBD decked out in Christmas decorations and carrying toys Our Kids."We are trying to encourage loads of attendance this year from the community, especially at the end stop at Lismore, said member and organiser Jillian Challinor."Times are tough, and our greatest desire is to spread a little joy.""Riders are encouraged to check out each other's decorated rides and have a laugh. Gold coin donations go to a local children's charity of choice, which will be decided by Knights SMC (Social Motorcycle Club). If you know of a worthy CHILDREN'S charity deserving of funds, please contact Jace Rea from Knights SMC on 0432 601 638 to nominate a charity."All toys donated to 'Our Kids' for children in local hospitals, and will be delivered to Rebekka Battista at the Lismore stop."Please- if you bring along some treats to share with children along the way- remember to pull over to the kids, as we don't want kids running onto the road."Have fun, make lots of noise, and be proud knowing you are adding something to a community Christmas! "Summerland Sunrise Rotary Club will be holding a sausage sizzle at Browns car park Lismore from 10:45am. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the sizzle and check out the bikes. There will also be balloons and face painting for children.

A new shop with a vibrant mix of clothes, antiques and handcrafted wares is the passion of a newcomer to the city, embracing the opportunity that Lismore has provided.As you walk into Cedar and Lime Studios, the fabrics and decorations are reminiscent of the mystic Orient, with carpets and statues and décor that beckons.The proprietor, Lisa Souter, moved to Lismore and opened up her shop a couple of months ago on Woodlark Street.An artistic maker whose works include clothing made from antique fabrics, blending Mish Mash soaps and felted millinery, she has been living in the Tweed for 20 years and selling her wares at markets. Lisa’s soaps are a delight to the senses, “The base is cacao, mango and shea butter, and I've tried to go as environmentally friendly which includes biodegradable cellophane wrapping.“The colours are all-natural, so the green is Indigo and saffron mixed together. No two soaps ever look alike.”Lisa’s works change with the seasons. Felting is done in winter. But for now, “It's summer. I have to concentrate on soap. It is time for soap; no one picks up soap in winter.”There is a range of hand-picked second-hand clothes and a range of new ones made by Lisa, “My mum and two aunties passed away, and I inherited a lot of beautiful, incredible cotton and a lot of Japanese fabrics.”Lisa’s eclectic blend of wares comes from a history of travel that includes spending 6 years in Japan, where an appreciation for the Kimono and the East developed.Rain that has cancelled markets and the rising costs of living in the Tweed have seen her relocate to Lismore to be able to have her very own shop and studio that she can work from.Moving to Lismore came with the knowledge of potential flood risk. Lisa speaks of her plan, “I know it was a bit risky in the flood zone, but my plan is just to take everything out if I need to.”Lisa still operates at markets and is very adept at packing up her shop quickly to relocate her stock on market days. The warning of flood will see her using those packing skills for an alternative motive.Lisa understands she is on a street with less walk-past traffic. She says, “Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly. I know this is a quieter spot, but I love the space I have here; it suits my needs really well.”You will find Lisa at 40 Woodlark Street. Google may tell you it’s on the corner, but Cedar and Lime Studios is on the other side of the alleyway beside the Richmond Hotel. Lisa has yet to get a street frontage sign up, so look for the sign on the shop door.Pop in and welcome Lisa to Lismore.

Private Health Funds are furious that the NSW Government is trying to rush a new tax through parliament, which will cost families 4.1% more each year. Private Healthcare Australia said that health insurance will become more expensive in NSW than any other state under the health tax, which will hit families with a new $156 bill from next year.  Health funds are calling on the NSW Legislative Council to vote against the Minns Government’s HealthInsurance Levies Amendment Bill 2024, which will almost double a little-known tax on health insurance for people in NSW.  The massive tax hike was rushed through the Legislative Assembly in NSW Parliament on Tuesday with very little scrutiny. Debate about the tax will continue in the Legislative Council. The legislation increases the tax from $1.77 per week to $3.27 per week per person to raise $229 million each year to fix the NSW Government’s budget deficit. This will cost individuals $78 more for their health cover next year and families an extra $156. NSW is the only state in Australia that taxes people contributing to their own healthcare via health insurance in this way.  The tax hike equates to a premium increase of 4.1% for people in NSW with health insurance. This is on top of increases required to account for growing costs faced by private health insurers including rising claims from an older, sicker population.  Modelling commissioned by Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for health funds, shows the tax will prompt at least 75,000 people to drop their health cover in NSW next year, forcing more people to rely on overwhelmed public hospitals across NSW. This will increase pressure on emergency departments and blow out waiting lists for surgery by about 7%.  PHA CEO Dr Rachel David, said 4 million people with health insurance in NSW will get nothing in return for this tax, which will apply to every health insurer, not just the large funds. “This tax will hurt every single person paying for health insurance in NSW during the worst cost-of-living crisis most of us have ever experienced, but it will hurt people on lower incomes the most,” Dr David said.  “The tax will be applied at the same rate for everybody, regardless of income and level of health insurance. So, if you’re paying for bronze health cover, you will pay the same tax as someone paying for gold cover.”  Dr David said the tax will hit people in rural and regional areas of NSW particularly hard, and those living west of Sydney where many people have signed up for health cover in recent years. This includes areas like Blacktown-Parramatta and Penrith.  Sixty-five per cent of people with health insurance have a taxable income of $90,000 or less and 38% have an income of $50,000 or less.   “This is an extremely unfair policy for NSW residents who are already paying their taxes for public hospitals and health insurance premiums for private healthcare in case they need it. Why should these people pay a third time for absolutely nothing in return?”  “It is a senseless policy that will hurt your hip pocket and our health system, and we urge Members of the NSW Legislative Council to protect the people of NSW from this reckless tax, and vote against this dangerous legislation.” Key facts about the Minns Government’s health insurance levyIf passed, this tax would apply to 4 million people in NSW as early as 1 January 2025. A 4.1% premium rise is well above the average 3.03% premium rise approved by the Commonwealth Government in April 2024 for all health fund members.  About 46% of people in NSW have health cover for hospital treatment. If 75,000 people drop their health cover, it will cost Australian taxpayers at least $49 million in 2025. This includes $12 million from shifting demand from the private to the public system and $37 million from higher payments for Private Health Insurance rebates.This tax will apply to every health insurer, not just the bigger health funds. This is not being applied to health funds that do not pay the NSW preferred rate for single rooms in public hospitals.The NSW Government will likely only see 73% of expected revenue after a year as the gains disappear due to behavioural adjustments as people drop out or downgrade their cover.

Hot on the heels of the suspected ram raid of a Ballina tobacconist building on River Street yesterday, the NSW Government wants to roll out reforms to better protect the community from the harms of illegal tobacco, including tougher penalties, more enforcement officers, and a new tobacco licensing scheme for retailers.A new licensing schemeRecent enforcement activities have observed a rise in illicit tobacco retailing, including amongst rural communities in NSW, which adversely affects businesses that operate within the law. Illicit retailers undercut legitimate small businesses by selling illicit tobacco at lower prices, and some have been found to be located in close proximity to schools.A new tobacco licensing scheme will also be introduced, to better protect those businesses doing the right thing and ensure greater oversight of the tobacco retail industry in NSW. Under these changes, retailers and wholesalers of tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products will be required to hold a tobacco licence and pay an annual fee. A licence will be able to be refused, or revoked, if the applicant has been convicted of a tobacco or vaping product-related offence.The scheme will support comprehensive and targeted enforcement to identify and penalise those retailers and wholesalers doing the wrong thing.The proposed legislation includes penalties of up to $220,000 for corporations and $44,000 for individuals for selling tobacco without a licence under the new scheme. To ensure that applying for a tobacco licence is not burdensome for small businesses, a technical support phoneline will be available to everyone submitting an application.A tobacco licensing scheme will complement the NSW Government’s broader approach to tobacco compliance and enforcement.Tougher penaltiesThe government will double maximum penalties for a range of tobacco retailing offences, including:Individuals selling tobacco products to minors will be fined up to $22,000 for a first offence and $110,000 for a subsequent offence, with corporations liable for up to $110,000 for a first offence and $220,000 for subsequent offences;Individuals selling tobacco products not in the required packaging or with the mandatory health warnings will be fined up to $22,000, and corporations up to $110,000; andPeople impersonating or obstructing an inspector can be fined up to $1,100, up from $550.Enforcement & seizuresNSW Health will also recruit an additional 14 enforcement officers to strengthen compliance efforts across the state. This doubles the number of authorised inspectors employed by the Ministry of Health. Ahead of these reforms, NSW Health boosted regional enforcement capacity by supporting the employment of four additional enforcement officers. This compliance workforce complements authorised staff who undertake inspections across local health districtsFrom 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024, NSW Health inspectors conducted 565 targeted retail inspections, seizing more than 3.2 million cigarettes and over 600kg of other illicit tobacco products, with an estimated value of over $3.7 million.NSW Health collaborates with NSW Police and other state and national regulatory agencies on enforcement related to illicit tobacco sales, including sharing intelligence, working on joint targets and joint operations.Information on NSW tobacco retailing laws can be found on the NSW Health website here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/.Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected breaches of tobacco and e-cigarette retailing laws on the NSW Health website here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/let-us-know-reports-complaints.aspxMinister for Health, Ryan Park MP said, “I am very concerned by the prevalence of illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes in our community, and their proximity to our schools and children. “These new laws are the most significant tobacco retailing reforms in NSW in the last decade and will help us combat the scourge of illicit tobacco sales across the state. “We are introducing tougher penalties for retailers doing the wrong thing, and boosting our team of enforcement officers to strengthen our compliance efforts. “The increased tobacco penalties reflect the seriousness of these offences. Retailers should be put on notice that if they are caught breaking tobacco retailing laws they will be penalised.” “A tobacco licensing scheme in NSW will also further enhance our state’s strong approach to enforcement of tobacco retailing laws. It will allow us to have better oversight over the tobacco industry and will support our comprehensive approach to help reduce the use, impact and associated costs of tobacco in NSW.”NSW Health Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said, “NSW Health supports a holistic approach to tobacco control, recognising reducing supply and access to illicit products is one component.“Operating a tobacco licensing scheme will ensure NSW Health has accurate, up-to-date information on tobacco retailing and wholesaling activities in NSW, facilitating more efficient and effective enforcement activity.“If you think a tobacco or e-cigarette retailing law has been broken by a retailer in NSW, you can report this via the NSW Health website.”

Tweed Valley remains closed following a serious crash at Condong near Murwillumbah earlier today.About 12.45pm (Thursday 24 October 2024), emergency services were called to Tweed Valley Way, Condong, following reports of a crash.At the scene, police were told that a Volkswagen Passat and Subaru Forester had collided near Clothiers Creek Road.The male driver of the Passat was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being airlifted to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition.The female driver of the Forester was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken by road to the same hospital.Police attached to Tweed/Byron Police District have established a crime scene and the Crash Investigation Unit are conducting inquiries into the incident.Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Diversions are in place, with Tweed Valley Way expected to remain closed for several hours.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.

Leading child welfare and care services provider CASPA is set to sprinkle festive cheer over Lismore with its first-ever Christmas Carnival extravaganza.Hundreds of people are expected to attend the special family event, which aims to bring the community together to embrace the magic of the season and spread hope during the current cost-of-living crisis.Sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank, with additional sponsorship welcome, the carnival will be held on November 30, 12pm to 7pm, at Lismore Turf Club, and will feature:Festive market stalls from local businesses selling unique and affordable Christmas giftsLive performances from local schools and musiciansRides and activities for children, including an inflatable obstacle course, slide and jumping castle, and face paintingFood trucks and yummy treatsCarnival gamesSanta is also expected to put in a special appearance, riding high on the Lismore Rural Fire Service truck.CASPA CEO Naarah Rodwell said the carnival promised to create lasting memories for families in Lismore.“When CASPA talks about Christmas, we use it as an all-encompassing term that captures the many ways our community comes together over the summer months,” she said.“With our inaugural Christmas Carnival, we want to provide our community with an event that centralises joy and optimism as a source of resilience and connection. We want to bring our whole community together, regardless of background or culture, and provide hope at a time of year that can sometimes be challenging.“In addition to community celebration and connection, this carnival provides a wonderful platform for local businesses to increase their visibility and maximise their sales in the lead up to the giving season.“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Commonwealth Bank for their generous support and look forward to bringing this magical event to life.”CASPA is keen to attract additional sponsorship for the Christmas Carnival. Any businesses interested in showing support should contact: jessica.fraser@caspa.org.auTo buy a carnival ride pass or register a stall, please visit Lismore Christmas Carnival via this link.About CASPA As a leading child welfare and care services provider, CASPA is committed to ensuring a brighter future for children, young people, families, and individuals with disabilities in our care. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live a full and fulfilling life. CASPA provides a range of services including; child and youth support services, foster and kinship care, emergency support, disability support and services, families support and services, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander support and services. 

Finally, all the work associated with the new Furniture Court shop on Molesworth Street is complete.While the interior of the shop was open for trade on June 24 this year, there were a lot of problems associated with completing work on the awning of the shop. This was only revealed as the building renovation progressed, so up went scaffolding and more submissions to council.The result is an asbestos-free building that is now as flood-resilient as you can make.The power points are up high, the air conditioning is up high, the meter boxes, communication boxes and security boxes are up way above 2022 flood heights, Owner Elton Cummings told the Lismore App."The windows are extra thick, the automatic doors are high, so we don't get to worry about motors if we have to do it again; we've got a massive new lift that's been put in, and the storage upstairs has been completely renovated."The storage is now above the 2022 level. However, it should be noted that Elton had never lost any item in the two buildings (including Bi-Rite out the back) until February 28 2022."And I've gone through 15-20 floods," Elton said, "We've packed five times, and I didn't even need to pack."After spending a great deal of money on flood resilience, asbestos removal and sprucing up the awning, Elton would have loved to complete the entire renovation by renovating the facade. That was a step too far and too long."I would have done the facade up top (of the building), but that became another $60 or $80,000. That will come later. We're running out of time, and I didn't want the front to be locked down for more delays with all the compliance. We would have had our shop covered up for ages, so I thought, no, we'll come back to that later, at a more appropriate time.""Now most of it's done, it should last another 100 years. I won't be around then," Elton laughed.What has been a difficult and costly time for Elton is good news for the community because Elton has taken 20% Off everything in Furniture Court, except the Lazy Boy range, they are 25% Off."We are so proud that we are part of the Furniture Court membership. We won the number one new store already for the largest dollar increases in Australia. They have just increased their warehousing, and we've got exclusive brands like Lazy Boy and Zoletti, and we've teamed up with Slumber Corp, an Australian-made mattress. They're number one in Western Australia and have now built a factory in Brisbane.Furniture Court was officially opened last night at a Lismore Chamber of Commerce function attended by quite a few local business owners.In his speech, Mayor Steve Krieg said, "Without people like Elton in this town, Lismore would be a lot worse off."The Cummings family continuously reinvests in Lismore and has done so for over 70 years."We're pretty proud of where we are. Dad started the business in 1948, and I joined the company in 1971. It feels good to be able to be still here in Lismore today. Some of our staff have been with me 41 years, and another couple have been 24 and 25 years. So, we've got longevity with our staff members."From a very small company to what we've got today, feels really good. In the 1970s, we couldn't find a shop to buy or rent in the CBD. I walked around the streets and found something on the corner of Keen and Magellan Street, a tiny little shop, and started out there. That was the only shop available as well, which is a bit different today. I remember when we took over Brown & Jolly in the '80s, the electrical shop."I keep telling everybody, anyone who wants to have a go at it, this is the time to do it because there's the availability of shops at the right price. Landlords are keen to get people in. There's no opportunity better than it is currently."If you pop into Furniture Court (Molesworth Street, the Woodlark Street end) today, not only can you buy anything at a 20% discount, you can enjoy a free sausage sizzle between 11am and 2pm.

Farmers have cheered as a state government inquiry has backed calls for virtual fencing technology to be legalised for use in NSW. NSW Farmers Dairy Committee member Robert McIntosh said the extensive benefits of virtual fences were evident in the state government’s findings handed down on Tuesday. “With virtual fences, farmers can protect sensitive areas of the environment, reduce their fencing costs and even move livestock to safe areas in natural disasters without putting humans or animals at risk,” Mr McIntosh said. “Fencing off noxious weeds to be controlled and adjusting grazing spaces to make the best possible use of available pasture are all other possibilities for boosting farm productivity and sustainability using virtual fencing.“There’s no end to the advantages of this tool, and so there’s no reason we shouldn’t be out there using it.”With other states already taking advantage of the technology, Mr McIntosh said it was imperative the NSW Government acted quickly with industry to ensure farmers could make use of the fences in the state.“Legalising virtual fences and working with industry to develop a code of conduct guiding the use of this technology are the next two key steps we must see the NSW Government take action on now, so we can start reaping the rewards of these fences sooner rather than later,” Mr McIntosh.“Virtual fences are the way of the future for many farmers, and so we stand ready to help get this technology rolled out and in action across the state.“Technology has so many benefits to offer farmers, and we need to be making use of it if we want to feed the future.”About Virtual FencingThe CSIRO are considered world leaders in virtual fencing. Since commencing in this area in 2005, CSIRO R&D has led to highlights such as:demonstrating that we could 'control' livestock using effective and ethical delivery of cues and controlsdeveloping an autonomous control system based on understanding and adjusting to the animals' behaviourquantifying the stress responses of livestock to demonstrate the ethical nature of the systemdemonstrating benefits of the technology such as keeping animals out of environmentally sensitive areas, constraining them to desired areas within a paddock and keeping bulls apart.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan says today’s suspected arson attack on a tobacconist in Ballina is exactly why we need a regulated vaping model. Mr Hogan said The Nationals’ introduced a policy more than a year ago to protect our children and reduce organised crime.“Labor’s prohibition model continues to expose children to organised crime and continues to see harmful unregulated vapes across our communities,” Mr Hogan said.“In contrast, our model will stop criminals from exploiting our children, protect our children from vapes, and ensure we know what is in vapes.”“Illegal activity involving vapes and tobacco is continuing to rise, and people are also inhaling ingredients they have no information about.”“The Coalition’s strictly regulated model under the TGA will ensure there is controlled licencing to over 18s, whilst keeping it illegal to under 18s, similar to cigarettes. We would also invest $250 million for the policing and law enforcement of vapes.”“Importantly, by regulating this product, the Government would receive excise revenue which could also be put back into health and education.”“Prohibition hasn’t worked. Less than 10 per cent of Australians who vape have a prescription and Labor’s announcement will only help the black market continue to grow.”

An investigation is underway following a fire at business in Ballina earlier this morning.About 3.30am (Wednesday 23 October 2024), emergency services were called to River Street, Ballina, following reports of a building fire.On arrival, officers attached to Richmond Police District located a silver Mercedes sedan inside a shopfront, well alight.Police were told the sedan drove into the business before the vehicle caught fire, with the occupants of the vehicle leaving the scene prior to police arrival.FRNSW firefighters attended and extinguished the blaze; however, the building was extensively damaged.Surrounding units were evacuated, and two other vehicles were damaged by the blaze.No injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.A crime scene has been established, and an investigation into the incident has commenced.Live Traffic has River Street closed in both directions east of Kerr Street.As inquiries continue, anyone with information or footage in relation to the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.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.