Lismore Heights Public School will get a new $3 million special education learning unit as part of the NSW Government's $1.08 billion investment in minor works, which includes $600 million dedicated to essential school maintenance.The work will occur during the school holidays, so over 800 public schools across New South Wales will welcome students and teachers back to classrooms when school starts in early February. The projects aimed to ensure schools are safe, functional, and conducive to learning. Over 3.4 million square meters of buildings were painted, and an area equivalent to 46 Sydney Cricket Grounds received new flooring.Some notable projects completed include:* Lismore Heights Public School: $3 million to create a new special education learning unit.* Morisset High School: $730,000 upgrade to science labs.* Kensington Public School: $180,000 in carpet and vinyl flooring upgrades.* Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College: Over $345,000 to upgrade metalwork classrooms.* Terrigal Public School: $655,000 to replace an aging Covered Outdoor Learning Area.Premier Chris Minns emphasised the government's commitment to providing quality public education, "We are committed to ensuring that NSW public schools are quality places to work and learn." He acknowledged that while not the most glamorous upgrades, these projects are crucial for maintaining safe and functional learning environments.Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of well-maintained schools for thriving communities. She reiterated the government's commitment to investing in and rebuilding public education across NSW.

New research from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has unveiled the power of personalised goal setting for achieving sustained weight loss as Australians set health resolutions for the new year.  An analysis of over 22,000 members of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet revealed that while most participants set ambitious weight loss goals (of around 20 kg) for themselves at the start of the program, only three per cent were able to achieve them within 12 weeks. Importantly, the research found members who achieved a personalised weight loss goal generated by an AI tool within the program experienced the greatest success.  These customised goals facilitated early weight loss and also led to better longer-term outcomes, with 47 per cent of members reaching their personalised goals by losing between 7 and 11 kg in 12 weeks.   The My Journey AI tool is designed to help Australians achieve weight loss success by tailoring goals to an individual’s circumstances. CSIRO Research Scientist Dr Gilly Hendrie emphasised the importance of realistic goal setting when starting and maintaining a successful weight loss journey. “We know that early wins create momentum for weight loss, and by setting goals that are personalised and realistic, members gain the motivation to stay the course and reach bigger milestones,” Dr Hendrie said. Stretch goals are best While an unrealistic goal can be disheartening for weight loss, a stretch goal, which is a deliberately challenging target, can help people have greater early success.  Among CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet members, those who achieved a stretch goal, also personalised by the program, lost substantially more weight at 12 weeks and sustained this success over 12 months.  According to the research, nine out of 10 members who met the stretch goal lost a clinically significant 5 per cent or more of their starting body weight at 12 months. The analysis also highlighted that stretch goals were particularly helpful for those with more weight to lose.  Among members who started in the obese weight status category, 20 per cent achieved a stretch goal, and lost 12 kg within the first 12 weeks; 4 kg more than those that met the personalised goal.  “Stretch goals give people that little extra push to see what’s possible. These goals are not just about losing weight fast - they’re about creating a rhythm of achievement,” Dr Hendrie said. “With the right guidance, members can achieve their weight loss goals and build lasting habits, setting them up for successful longer-term weight management.”   CSIRO sets Australians up for goal-setting success in 2025 In response to the findings, the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet has introduced My Journey—a new AI tool designed to help accelerate Australians ability to set, track, and achieve personalised weight loss goals with real-time guidance. “With My Journey, you can trust the program to create goals that are tailored to your unique circumstances, giving you the best chance to succeed,” Dr Hendrie said.  “Whether you’re starting fresh this January or building on past success, the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet offers the tools and confidence needed to achieve lasting health goals.” Find out more about the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet and My Journey.  

With the festive holidays for a lot of families for another year, the school holidays continue throughout January, and parents begin to think about how they can entertain the kids for another four weeks.Far North Coast (FNC) Hockey and NSW Regional Youth Holiday Break Program are putting on a Summer Holiday Hockey & Multi-Sports Camp for one week in January.FNC Hockey's Sharon Maher told the Lismore App children five and over will enjoy five days of sports with morning tea and lunch provided, as well as sporting equipment."They'll go through the whole Hook Into Hockey program. That's been the basic program for beginners for many years. It's very popular amongst schools. So, they'll do that Monday to Friday in the morning."Then, in the afternoon, they'll have a variety of sports, including baseball, table tennis, Taekwondo and tennis. We've also got planned a novelty carnival with buckets of water on one afternoon and a water games activity on another."We have massive sprinklers on the turf, which we use throughout the day just to cool the kids off. The kids really enjoy it.The cost is $75 for the week for kids 5 to 11, and it is free for kids 12+, thanks to funding from the state government under the NSW Regional Youth Holiday Break Program.Sharon would like to have made it free for everyone; however, that is the funding she received and the conditions that were included."It's good because 12 years and older are a very hard group to actually reach and connect with, and to promote things like this to. So, we're quite happy to do that. And it gave us the basis to invite the younger kids as well. It gives them a great introduction into community sport, whereas a lot of kids feel intimidated starting out in sport on their own. So, it sort of covers that gap."It's also great for parents because it's holiday care as well, and it's relatively inexpensive. Morning tea and lunch are included every day."Monday and Friday, we have barbecues, a sausage sizzle and then burger day on Friday, and in between that, we have sandwiches or hot dogs.""It is really good value. The kids have loved it in the past. We've had some great reviews."This is the first time FNC Hockey has held this event at this time of year, but they are still expecting about 60 kids to register and enjoy a week of fun and sport.If you are concerned about the qualification of staff, their team includes lead coaches, trainee coaches, FNCHI parents, volunteers (with appropriate Working with Children Checks), and First-Aid and Child Safety Officers.THE DETAILS:Dates: Monday, 20th January to Friday, 24th January 2025* (9am – 3.30pm)Venue: Hockey fields behind Lismore Workers Sports Club, 214 Oliver Avenue, GoonellabahFree - Children 12 years and older$75 – Children 5 to 11 yearsTo learn more or to book your child/children a spot in the Summer Holiday Hockey & Multi-Sports Camp, click here.

As we begin 2025, the countryside and many lawns and gardens across the Lismore LGA are searching for a bit of rain during our wet season.The Bureau of Meteorology says there is a high chance of rain over the next four days with the possibility of thunderstorms; however, it could be very little or close to 40mm. This weather system will be unpredictable, so the rainfall will vary depending on where a storm hits.The longer-term forecast for January is for above-median rainfall, with a 66% chance of greater than 125.1mm falling between now and the end of the month.To give you some perspective, January 2024 had 142mm, and December 2024 had 147.44mm fall at the Lismore airport. Both of those examples had single-day falls of 65mm.The three months to March 2025 have a 62% chance of above-median rainfall of greater than 510.6mm.The first three months of 2024 recorded 440.4mm, so there is a good chance it could be wetter than last year.As for the chance of potential flooding this year, that cannot be predicted through the potential rainfall. We have had floods during an El Nino year as well as the more predictable La Nina years. The signs for the next three months are positive.It has been three years since a moderate or major flood hit Lismore. There have been four and five-year gaps between the more substantial flooding events. As an example, there were five years between the 2017 and 2022 major floods.As for minor floods, we have experienced one in each of the last five years except for 2023.At this stage, there are no alarms bell ringing.

The Lismore App celebrated the amazing deeds of Lifeblood donors Richard & Beryl Gibson and Narelle Fox on December 12 last year, as well as the Richmond Police District officers a week later. Over 2,500 lives had been saved from some extremely generous people.The New Year is always a difficult time for Lifeblood, both in terms of blood and plasma use and the fewer donors available because of the holidays.More than 6,500 people cancelled their donation appointments last week – the highest number of New Year week cancellations in three years. A further 14,000 people either rescheduled or did not attend their appointment.The donation drop-off at one of the most critical times of year means an extra 12,000 people are now urgently needed to book a donation this week to replenish low blood stocks.(A full house at the Lismore Donor Centre in December last year)Lifeblood Executive Director Donor Experience Cath Stone urged people to book a donation.“We know the festive season is a busy time of year, and everyone looks forward to a well-earned break, but the need for blood has not stopped,” Cath said.“Every day, we are issuing more than 9,500 blood and plasma transfusions and medications to Australian hospitals.“There are still cancer patients, road trauma victims, new mums and newborn babies, and people with immune deficiencies that are relying on the generosity of blood donors.“Now that the holiday season has come to an end and people are returning to their normal routines, we’re hoping more people will find an hour in their schedule to save lives.”The urgent need for more donations comes despite a record 1.66 million donations being given in 2024, an increase of almost 30,000 donations compared to 2023.“Demand for blood and plasma continues to increase at record levels. More donations are needed than ever before, largely due to a growing and aging population,” Cath said. “To keep up with that demand, we need an extra 100,000 people to find their reason to make a blood donation in 2025.“It could be because someone you know has cancer or because you need a new year’s resolution. It could be because it makes you feel good, or it might even be because of the party pies.“For every reason to become a donor, there’s an even bigger reason. Life. So please book your donation today.”  With the nation’s blood supply levels now available to view in real-time online, knowing when blood is needed is now easier than ever.To book a donation, call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App.State breakdown of the additional donors needed in the next week:

The first half of 2025 will see the people of Australia head to the polls once again, this time for a Federal Election.The election needs to occur on or before May 17; more on that later.This morning, Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan announced his endorsement for this year's election."I am humbled to have recently been endorsed as the Nationals candidate for this year’s Federal Election. It is an honour to serve our community, and with their support, I hope to continue to do so."We need to get our country back on track. Labor have been an exceptionally disappointing Government. Cost-of-living pressures, the housing crisis and the complete lack of funding for regional communities all need reversing."Labor promised a $275 cut to power bills - this didn't happen. Instead, prices have increased hurting our families and businesses. Immigration is at record levels and now no one can afford a home. The election is about who is best to help with cost of living, housing and rental pressures. "I always believe that our best days are ahead of us, and this election is an opportunity to achieve that."Mr Hogan won the 2022 federal election with 60.7% on a two-party preferred count to Labor's Patrick Deegan's 39.3% and will be the favourite to retain his seat.The swing towards Mr Hogan was 1.3%; however, his primary vote dropped 4% to 45.6%. He was not the only major party to suffer a primary vote drop.Labor's primary decreased by 7.7% and the Green's Kashmir Miller by 3.2% to 8.5%. That was the election when the Teal Party played a big part in taking seats from the Coalition. Hanabeth Luke was the Page Teal candidate, winning 13.1% of the primary vote, second only to Labor.The unknown is what impact the Teals will have on the 2025 Federal Election.The Coalition will hope the Teals will have less of an effect as they need to gain 19 seats to win a majority government. A tall order.Labor will be hoping for the same result as they cling to a 78-seat majority. The loss of three seats could well see a minority Labor government.Interestingly, the last federal party to lose an election after one term was in 1931. Every federal election since then has at least a two-term party in power.As for when the election will take place? April 12, May 10, and May 17 appear to be the favoured dates.The biggest stumbling block to go earlier is the Western Australian state election to be held on March 8. The federal government can also avoid handing down the federal budget, which is due on March 25.For now, Kevin Hogan is the first declared candidate in the seat of Page for the 2025 Federal Election. We wait for others to nominate in the coming weeks.

Lismore has a new taxi service to rival the long-established Lismore Taxis.Northern Rivers Taxis launched in September 2024. The new driver-led organisation started with Country Cabs Ballina and Country Cabs Byron Bay.December 2024 saw the first appearance of Country Cabs Lismore.Driver and board member Mandeep Singh told the Lismore App Northern Rivers Taxis was born after a disagreement with the board of Lismore Taxis.He wouldn't be drawn into the reasons behind the decision but did say the lack of cars on the road was an issue."We told them so many times, we need more cars, we need to increase our fleet. More taxi people are waiting hours and hours and people are waiting on the taxi ranks at night time." The result of two local taxi companies is more cabs on the road and better service for the people of Lismore."We have more cars so people can get better service and picked up on time. They were waiting for up to an hour. I had a customer yesterday and picked her up in five minutes, and she said, oh, I used to wait 45 minutes." With just one company, Lismore's taxi count was 25. The introduction of Country Cabs Lismore has seen that number increase to 31, that's six more cabs on the road servicing the people of Lismore.There is no less experience, with five of the Country Cabs Lismore team having ten years of driving taxis or more. Service isn't the only winner; more competition has led to lower prices."We are giving a 15 to 20% discount to all of our customers for most of the rides," Mandeep explained.The Fare Fall, the price you pay to jump in a taxi, was $4.10. Country Cabs Lismore has reduced that to $2. So, if you are travelling a short distance, this will lead to a cheaper cab fare."We are cheaper than Uber. Uber's minimum price is $11. If you go on a short trip, they're going to charge you $11, but ours is more like $6, $7 or $8."Country Cabs Lismore has ten (10) taxis now with another to join the team soon. This includes sedans and multi-taxis for large groups and disabled customers. They also have three hire cars."There's no taxi signs. If anybody wants to hire a private car for a trip to the Gold Coast or to go to the airport, we can do that too. We have a Range Rover, a Toyota Fortuner, and we have a Tesla."If you want to buy a car and become a taxi driver, the entry point is now much lower. Mandeep explained Country Cabs Lismore is looking for partners to join them."If somebody wants to join us, they need to have a taxi license plate, which they can get for $200 and a car. That's it. They can join us and start driving with us as a partner.""So, if you buy a $20,000 car, plus a $200 license, put a camera in it and stickers on the car, you can start driving after lessons. $25,000 to $27,000, and you can start your own taxi."To find out more information about buying a taxi license through the NSW Point To Point Transport Commissioner, click here.You can book a Country Cabs Lismore taxi by calling (02) 6625 2113 or check them out on Facebook.

Two males have been charged following an alleged pursuit at Lismore early this morning.About 2.15am (Monday, 6 January 2025), police were patrolling the Bruxner Highway near Lismore when they attempted to stop a vehicle.Police will allege that the vehicle was bearing number plates reported stolen from a Queensland address.When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated, continuing through Goonellabah.The vehicle came to a stop at Tregeagle and two males – aged 15 and 22 – were arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station.The man was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly, and use class A vehicle with unauthorised number plate affixed.A warrant was also executed for alleged weapon and bail offences.He was refused bail to appear before Lismore Local Court today (Monday, 6 January 2025).The boy was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a children's court on Friday, 28 February 2025.

Two Lismore mates and a Wollongbar woman are celebrating million-dollar wins in Saturday Lotto.Each won $2.1 million, as Lismore continued its lucky streak after the weekend's Lotto draw followed the $1.3 million winner on December 28 2024.  The two entries were among the 14 division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 4535 on Saturday, 4 January 2025. Each division one winning entry pocketed $2,142,857.15. “Jesus Christ! You ripper!” one of the Lismore friends exclaimed when the enormity of his win was revealed by an official from The Lott. “I’m here with my mate. We go halves in a Lotto ticket. “Bring on retirement, I say! This will set us both up for retirement. “It’s unbelievable. “We’re sitting here just having coffee and looking at each other in shock. We’re trying to get coffee in our gobs without spilling it. “It should be a good year for us! It will be great!” Their winning System 8 QuickPick entry was purchased at Lismore Square News, Shop 78, Lismore Shopping Square, 95 Diadem Street, Lismore.  The Wollongbar woman is looking at overseas travel following her win. “Bugger me! Is this right?” the woman questioned when her prize was confirmed. “I checked my ticket on my iPad and thought, ‘this can’t be right’. “You know, a thousand things go through your head. “It’s like most things. I’ve been playing for years, but you don’t expect to ever win! “Thank you for making my day so happy. “There’s lots of things I want to do, including helping my family. But I’d also like to go on an overseas holiday and trust me; I’ll be flying at the pointy end of the plane!” Her winning entry was purchased at Alstonville Newsagency, Shop 2, 79-83 Main Street, Alstonville. Alstonville Newsagency owners Ray and Maree Smith said they were thrilled to sell another division one winning entry. “We’ve been sharing the news with all our customers and they’re delighted to hear Alstonville is once again in the winner’s circle,” Ray said. “We don’t like to skite, but Alstonville Newsagency has been extremely lucky over the past 10 years. We’ve now sold four Division One prizes as well as six Lucky Lotteries 1st Prizes. This division one win is our biggest to date. “This is going to be life-changing for our lucky winner and a fantastic way to start 2025.” The winning numbers in Saturday Lotto draw 4535 on 4 January 2025 were 33, 19, 8, 23, 10 and 31, while the supplementary numbers were 42 and 13.

A new year has led to a name change for one of Lismore's young businesses as they approach their first anniversary.Sessle B's Studio opened its doors in the second week of January 2024, offering a variety of pottery workshops in North Lismore. It is now known as Silt Studio.Owners Seth and Lara Bell explained why they decided on a name change after nearly twelve months of business."When we first opened, we chose Seth's ceramic label as our studio name. As our offerings expanded and our community grew, we realised we needed something not only simpler and easier to remember, but that also reflects an idea that everyone can connect with."So, why the name Silt?"Silt is a nutrient-rich substance left behind after a river floods, fostering new life in its wake. This symbolism resonates deeply with us."After the big 2022 flood turned our lives upside down, it also set us on the path to pursue our creative passions."The building that now houses our studio became available at an incredible price because of the flood, though it did require a lot of elbow grease."While the experience was intensely challenging for us and many in our community, it also brought new opportunities, allowing us to build a space that thrives on creativity, connection and growth."Silt Studio represents not just a name but a story of resilience, renewal, and the belief in building something meaningful together.What else is new in 2025?"Kids after-school art program (Tuesdays 4pm) in addition to after-school pottery program (Wednesdays 4pm)"Diverse abilities art program on Tuesday mornings (4 week blocks run by local artisans)"Weeknight Pottery courses including intermediate and advanced options (Wednesdays 6.30pm) and a linocut course"Lara also said that regular open-to-public hours with ceramics for sale and exhibition & drop-in glazing from a selection of pre-made pottery items are coming soon, as is a cafe when then their DA goes through.You can check out the Silt Studio website by clicking here or visit them at 19 Bridge Street, North Lismore.

A shortage of prescribed medical cannabis supply has led to Australian patients being left stranded, according to the Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party (LCQP).The disruption to vital medication for those who rely on it for chronic conditions, pain and other medical issues is doing patient harm, says patient advocate and Secretary of the LCQP Suzette Luyken.“This isn’t just an inconvenience; it is doing harm to patients," said Suzette Luyken, patient advocate and Secretary of the Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party.“Before Christmas, supply chains were closing for extended periods, and those with psychiatric disabilities were badly affected. Depressions deepen over this season, and the results can be devastating for those who suffer from PTSD and depression. Imagine if this were insulin or heart medication—it would be a national scandal.”Medical cannabis was legalised in Australia in 2016, offering hope to patients with conditions often resistant to conventional therapies. However, the reality has been far less promising. Supply chain disruptions, inadequate stock and poor planning have left pharmacies unable to fill prescriptions, forcing patients to endure the consequences.“For many patients, the fallout has been severe. The interruption of care has left many struggling to manage their conditions effectively. Patients must endure debilitating symptoms; go back on to heavy-duty pharmaceuticals, or seek out product from the black market.”The crisis has sparked urgent calls for action from both government agencies and the corporate cannabis industry. Key demands from patients and advocacy groups include:1.          Improved supply chain transparency and planning.2.          Emergency stock reserves to prevent shortages.3.          Greater accountability from manufacturers and distributors.“Australia has excelled in many areas of healthcare, but when it comes to medical cannabis, we are letting our patients down,” said Suzette Luyken. “It’s time for regulators, manufacturers, and distributors to address these issues with the urgency they deserve.”Southside Chempro owner Kyle Wood told the Lismore App he doesn't think there is an inherent problem with the supply of medical cannabis."Medical cannabis has a conservative shelf life, so when it is imported into Australia, it has about six months to be distributed and used."The pharmaceutical companies have to anticipate what the supply will be in advance. With a conservative shelf life, this can leave them losing a lot of money, which they don't want to do."It's fine for the big-name brands who don't have supply problems, but the smaller, boutique growers can have problems with the next grow crop. The bio-equivalence will never be the same, meaning the flower varies from crop to crop."The Australian medical cannabis industry is still too young to cover domestic supply, so overseas companies are needed to fill the gap.Federal Government legislation also prohibits substituting between products, which causes supply chain issues.Kyle said that supply chains can get caught up, and there can be a shortage for a month or two.

Happy New Year to all of our Lismore App readers!The first weekend of 2025 looks to be mostly fine, so there is no excuse not to get outdoors and enjoy what's left of the Christmas/NY holidays.The Bureau says there is a 40% chance of a shower on Saturday with a top of 27 degrees, while Sunday is forecast to be a partly cloudy day with a maximum of 29.As you would expect at this time of year, there is very little on in terms of events.The Lismore Farmers Markets get back into action after having last weekend off at the Lismore Showground from 7:30.Fresh fruit and veg, plants, flowers, breakfast, coffee/tea and live music from Phil Bromley is the order of the day.The new Rail Trail is open and ready for families to explore, as is the upgraded Heritage Park with the new Gigadome and the miniature train.For those looking for something more physical, check out the bush walks in the hills Walks.(Minyon Falls looking up from the swimming hole)There is plenty of live music at the Northern Hotel in North Lismore starting tonight at 5pm with Teak Fairfull. Tomorrow night Rokustix hits the stage at 7.The Lismore Workers Club live music returns on February 21 with Forever Olivia - A Tribute to Olivia Newton-John, Reputation - the Ultimate Taylor Swift Tribute Show and The Fab Four - the Ultimate Tribute to The Beatles.Click here to check out the rest of the live music on offer in 2025.Fuel prices have risen again in the last week. Different fuel grades has seen different price increases, with Casino seeing the largest increases, up to 6c a litre.Here are the cheapest fuel options in each town:E10 is 178.9 at the 7-Eleven on Union Street, South Lismore, 176.8 at the NightOwl Puma on Johnston Street in Casino, with The Metro and the Mobil on River Street in Ballina cheapest at 167.5.Unleaded 91 is 179.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, Lismore, 175.9 at North Casino Mini Mart on Queensland Road and the Casino Roadhouse at 86 Johnston Street and 169.5 at the Metro and the new Mobil in Ballina.U95 is 188.5 at Bakers Corner, Terania Street, North Lismore, 195.9 at the Ampol on Dyraaba Street in Casino and 179.9 at The Shell Ballina, 273 River Street.U98 is 196.9 at the Liberty Foodmart on Ballina Road and the Liberty at 113 Union Street, South Lismore, 198.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and 188.9 at The Shell Ballina.Diesel is 174.9 at the Ampol Foodary at 237 Union Street, South Lismore and the Caltex at 2 Leycester Street in the CBD, 186.9 at the Casino Roadhouse at 86 Johnston Street in Casino and 184.5 at The Mobil and Metro in Ballina.Have a great weekend!

Lismore is on a hot streak for winning money. On December 30, a local man won $1 million in Lotto, while yesterday, another Lismore man won $75,000 on Keno while on holiday.The man was enjoying time off at North Haven, just south of Port Macquarie, and shared that when he played his special set of numbers, he’d always play Keno Bonus, with the feeling that a big boosted win was just around the corner. “I’m feeling extra good right now!” he cheered. “I’m on my annual summer holiday with friends, and we’re having a great time. “It’s our holiday ritual to come and put on a game of Keno. “I play from time to time and have had a hunch for the last 12 months that I was going to win something big. “I have my special set of numbers that when I play, I put the Bonus on. “I knew it was only a matter of time. “It’s a great way to wrap up the holiday on a high. “It’s going to come in handy paying some bills and the mortgage. Next year we might sneak in a quick trip to Europe.” His winning entry was purchased at Club North Haven, 1 Woodford Road, North Haven. Club North Haven duty manager Andy Lloyd said he was thrilled to hear his venue had sold a major prize-winning ticket to kick off 2025. “It’s fantastic! We’re so happy to hear one of our patrons has won a major prize to start the year,” he said. “We’ve sold quite a few $10,000 winning entries over the years, but I can’t remember any wins this big. It’s awesome to see our customers rewarded. “Congratulations to the lucky winner, we hope you enjoy your big win!”

The NSW Government is issuing a call to the 6.9 million drivers across the state to make the safest decisions on the road in 2025 and help reduce the annual road toll.NSW recorded a total of 340 road deaths in 2024 – the same number of people lost in 2023.Data suggests there was a slight moderation in the second half of the year. However, the number of people lost on our roads remains too high, and the Government is focused on building on measures, such as seatbelt cameras, to increase safety and reduce the trauma impacting our community.Overall, fatalities remain below the pre-COVID era.Speed remains the biggest killer on NSW roads. In 2024, 136 people died in crashes where speed was a factor.The NSW Government is doubling the number of locations where mobile speed cameras can be positioned on state roads and has also announced the upcoming trial of average speed cameras for private vehicles in two regional areas.Similar to recent years, far too many deaths are happening in regional NSW. In 2024, 234 people died on regional roads, which was down 2% from the previous year.Fatigue remains a stubborn problem, with 77 fatalities attributed to driver tiredness last year.Alcohol and drugs are also preventable issues that factor in too many deaths. However, in the first nine months of last year, the preliminary figures show a decrease from 2023 of 12% for alcohol and 20% for drugs.As the NSW Government continues to invest in life-saving initiatives for all road users and the number of licence holders on the road continues to grow, there have been a number of areas of improvement in road trauma this year. Deaths of bicycle riders have hit the equal lowest level in the state’s history since detailed records began in 1960, with five cyclists dying in 2024, and pedestrian deaths are lower than in previous years.Sadly, there has been a concerning rise in deaths of motorcyclists, with 67 deaths, an increase of 34% when compared to 2023 figures.In response, the NSW Government is changing the Graduated Licensing Scheme for motorcyclists to improve novice rider training, testing standards, and licence requirements. Also, legislation will be introduced in 2025 to enable mandatory drug and alcohol testing for drivers involved in a crash which results in grievous bodily harm.The NSW Government will also continue to roll out around $1 billion in lifesaving infrastructure upgrades on regional and metropolitan roads through its Towards Zero Safer Roads Program and the joint federal/state-funded Road Safety Program.The NSW Government introduced a number of measures in 2024, which will continue or expand in 2025. They include:The trial of average speed cameras for light vehicles in 2025Doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with an additional 2,700 new sites where a camera can be deployed. Total enforcement hours will remain the same Seatbelt enforcement via the state’s existing mobile phone camerasThe demerit point return trial that encourages safe drivingReleasing more ratings for bicycle helmets as part of its star rating systemRemoving a loophole to force all motorists driving on a foreign licence to convert to a NSW licence within six monthsImplementing recommendations from the Demerit Point Integrity Taskforce to stamp out rorting of the system by mainly visiting foreign nationalsSigning the National Road Safety Data Agreement with the CommonwealthFor further details on road death data visit https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/statisticsMinister for Roads John Graham said, “Too many lives were lost on NSW roads in 2024.“We should never become desensitised to the annual figure or accept that it should be as high as 340 as it has been for the last two years running. Every one of these 340 represents a family and network of loved ones and friends who will never be the same for having lost someone.“If there is a bright spot in the data in 2024, it is that the sharply higher trend of fatalities recorded in 2023 has not continued, and we did not see another increase in the total.“The NSW Government is committed to building on measures already introduced like switching mobile phone detection cameras on to seatbelt detection, conducting a trial of average speed cameras for light vehicles and a range of measures to ensure drivers on foreign licences or visiting visas are playing by the same rules as everyone else.“I want to urge all drivers who qualify to remain offence-free from January 16 to receive a demerit point removed from their licence. The more people who succeed, the more overall road safety is enhanced.”Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said, “Today we remember the 340 people who we have lost in road crashes in 2024.“More than two-thirds of those people died on regional roads, despite only a third of our population living in the regional areas of NSW.“As we remember the people who died this year as well as those who suffered serious injuries and trauma on our regional roads during 2024, the NSW Government is investing the majority of nearly $1 billion in road infrastructure through the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program and the jointly funded Australian-NSW Road Safety Program on regional roads. These initiatives are improving road safety, particularly in high-risk areas, and help reduce fatal crashes across the state. “Speeding remains the number one issue in NSW when it comes to road trauma and the NSW Government is doing everything it can to educate and enforce the rules around speeding. We are rolling out more sites for camera enforcement, trialling the use of average speed cameras for light vehicles, reviewing speed zones, delivering public education campaigns and working with NSW Police.“Again, I urge everyone to obey the speed limits – they are there for a reason and could save your life.“Fatigue related crashes have increased significantly this year with 77 fatalities (up by 24 compared with 2023). There is also a significant increase in fatalities where drivers are travelling on their own in fatigue related crashes (up from 18 to 29). “This highlights the need for people driving on their own to ensure they don’t drive when they are tired.“It’s heartening to see preliminary information showing a reduction in the involvement of drugs and alcohol in fatal crashes and I continue to remind all road users it is vital they take personal responsibility when behind the wheel—whether it’s obeying speed limits and driving to the conditions, taking regular breaks, never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not being distracted by mobile phones and always, always wearing a seat belt.”Tom Daher, Founding Member of the Road Trauma Support Group NSW said, “Road trauma leaves a lasting scar on families and communities. Losing my father, Tannous, to a preventable crash caused by a driver on drugs was a heartbreak that will stay with me forever.“Every day, families in NSW face the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one on our roads—almost one life lost daily. These are parents, children, siblings, and friends whose absence is felt every moment. Over 1.5 million adults in NSW have been affected by road trauma, leaving emotional and psychological wounds that never fully heal.“No one should have to bury a loved one because of an avoidable fatal crash. We hope 2025 will bring a significant reduction in the number of people killed and injured on our roads, but it requires all of us to commit to safer choices, stronger accountability, and greater awareness of the lifelong impacts of road trauma.”

Three teens faced children's court yesterday over alleged traffic offences in Lismore.Operation Regional Mongoose is a high-visibility police operation aimed at curbing serious property-related crime, committed predominately by young offenders.About 1:30am yesterday (Wednesday, 1 January 2025), police were told three teenagers on board an alleged stolen vehicle, failed to pay for fuel on Ballina Road, Lismore.A short time later, officers attached to Richmond Police District sighted the vehicle on Woodburn-Evans Head Road, Doonbah.Police attempted to stop the vehicle; however, it failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated.The pursuit continued onto the M1 Motorway before heading westbound on the Bruxner Highway, where the vehicle allegedly reached speeds of 170-180kmph in a 110kmph area.Road spikes were successfully deployed, and the vehicle came to a stop at the intersection of Alphadale Road and the Bruxner Highway, Lindendale.The occupants ran from the scene; however, they were located and arrested a short time later.Three teens, aged 14, were taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with a range of offences including:Police pursuit,Drive conveyance taken w/o consent of owner,Use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, Dishonestly obtain property by deception,Be carried in conveyance taken w/o consent of ownerAll were refused bail and appeared before a children’s court yesterday (Wednesday, 1 January 2025).

On January 31st, a Goonellabah local, Thelma Riordan turns 100.Not born to Lismore, she chose it as the place to bring up her family and watch it grow at the hands of those around her, including her husband Frank, who was a builder with quite an impact on the area.Thelma has spent a lot of her life moving from place to place, initially for her fathers work, and then around the Northern Rivers from the mountains to the beaches, with Lismore a recurring theme.Family has been the main focus in her life, marrying Frank at 21, bearing five children and bringing them up in a fast changing world.“When I was younger, things, they were just different,” said Thelma.“If the kids of today could see what I used to do when I was young, I think they'd laugh. It’s a different world all together.”As a young adult, Thelma met Frank through a cousins ex partner when they were walking down the street in Sydney. Thelma and her party were off to a dance. The fellows they met tempted them in another direction - Luna Park.  That night there was a spark that lasted the distance.Thelma was engaged to Frank, before he was stationed in Papua New Guinea in the war. There were close encounters, but he arrived home safely to marry Thelma in 1946.At that time, Thelma worked at the only job she was employed at as a seamstress making overalls for the Army.After marrying, they moved to Casino, where Frank was originally from, where, as a carpenter, he built them their first house.  Thelma was not a complete stranger to the area, she was born in Repton (south of Coffs Harbour) but had spent time in Woodenbong as a child. The couple had their first child, John, soon after they arrived in the area, followed by Narelle, Jeffrey, Kelvin and Peter.  They built two houses in Casino, lived on two farms, had four houses by the beach and lived in a few areas of Lismore in their time together in the Northern Rivers. That included purchasing “The Castle,” Harry Nielson's house (prominent developer of Lismore), which had the first swimming pool in Lismore.Thelma admits at one point, empty of water, it was full of oyster shells and beer bottles!Thelma's eldest son, John and his wife Barbara. Thelma holds a photo of her mother, Gertrude Latham, who passed away in 1999 at the age of 105!Playing tennis was something she loved as a young lady and was quite good at. She used to play with Ces Penny, a Lismore businessman and tennis champion. However, family commitments did not enable her to continue in the sport. Later in life, Thelma took up fishing and enjoyed the leisure time with Frank and sometimes with her sister.Thelma lost Frank in 2015, and although it was hard, life continued on.“Life has just been special,” said Thelma, reflecting on her many adventures. She is very pragmatic about life and has been very accepting of its twists and turns.  Thelma’s family are putting on a special celebration for her 100th birthday, “I am looking forward to my 100th. I will get to see all my family and nieces and nephews and friends.”When asked if there were anything particular she would like to celebrate her birthday, she said, “I’d like it to be a nice day!”Thelma's children have not moved too far from home, with houses in Tregeagle and Girards Hill. One lives in Avoca on the Central Coast.From her 5 children, Thelma has 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren and looks forward to spending time with them all!

The mystery Lismore Lotto winner has confessed he broke out into a little jig after discovering late yesterday that he had scored more than $1.3 million in the weekend’s Saturday Lotto draw. The local resident held one of the four division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Lotto draw 4533, drawn Saturday 28 December 2024. Each division one winning entry scored $1,352,707.86. “I’m happy, jumping and dancing!” the man exclaimed when speaking to an official from The Lott. “I’m a weekly player – I grab a Saturday Lotto ticket each week and then check it on the Monday. It’s just one of those rituals you have. “Sometimes I win $7... and sometimes I win $1.3 million! “You have those idle dreams about winning big, but you don’t think it will ever happen to you. “I’m so overwhelmed. I want to dance around and shout it out. “Anytime is a good time to win, but at this time of year, it’s especially good! “I’m going to pay off the mortgage and then an early retirement. “I can’t believe it. I might just wander around in a daze for the next day or so.” His winning entry was purchased at Lismore Central Newspro, Shop T10, Lismore Shopping Centre, 44 Carrington Street, Lismore. Lismore Central Newspro outlet representative Nicole Renshaw said she was celebrating another big win landing at her outlet. “Our last big division one winning ticket was in February 2023, so it’s great to have another one!” she said. “It’s always exciting to sell a big winning ticket. We are telling everyone about our lucky win. “We wish our winner all the very best with their prize.” The winning numbers in Saturday Lotto draw 4533 on 28 December 2024 were 26, 41, 4, 12, 29 and 40, while the supplementary numbers were 34 and 31. Across Australia, there were four division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 4533 – two in New South Wales and one each in Victoria and South Australia.

On the last day of 2024, the Lismore App looks back on the year's top news stories.The weather alerts for severe thunderstorms and the potential of hail and flash flooding were extremely well-read and always among the leading news stories. That aside, we look at the Top 5 News Stories of the year.TOP 5 NEWS STORIES 2024Number 5: An attempted robbery and alleged axe attack in Elizabeth Street, East Lismore, back in February. Initially, two men approached a 25-year-old man demanding his car keys. They were unsuccessful, and the man fled to a home where he was assaulted by one of the men with an axe.Number 4: The head-on Bruxner Highway crash on September 15 closed traffic in both directions. Three people were trapped in the wreckage of both vehicles in critical condition.Number 3: The large power outage that unexpectedly hit Lismore in July leaving 11,440 households without electricity. Number 2: The September Flood Watch for the Wilsons and Richmond Rivers. 202mm was dumped at the Lismore Airport in three days, which resulted in a Minor Flood of 5.97 metres.Number 1: Tragedy was involved in the number one news story for 2024. A 15-year-old girl was hit by a trailer on the Bruxner Highway, East Lismore, on September 11. She later died at Lismore Base Hospital.The local council elections in September were also popular proving that there is an interest in local politics. Not only did the story about Steve Krieg, likely to be returned as Lismore's mayor, come in at number six, but the Meet Your Candidates button had nearly 9,500 views.September was the most-read month of 2024. As you can see above, there were three major local incidents, plus the local council elections. Over 60,800 people read the Lismore App in September, recording an incredible 1.39 million views (Google Analytics). When the Lismore City News stopped printing physical newspapers and closed its doors at the end of June, the Lismore App's readership has steadily increased.From an average of 32,000 readers a month in June, to 37,000 in July, 40,000 in August, and 60,811 in September, it is clear that the residents of not only Lismore but our neighbours in Ballina, Casino and Kyogle, who work in Lismore, are now reading their news on a convenient digital platform. The days of reading a physical newspaper look to be unnecessary and over.As we head into 2025, you may have noticed a Northern Rivers news tab to the left of Local news. This is to cover more news from the Northern Rivers from Grafton to Tweed, especially those readers who may live outside of the Lismore LGA but work in Lismore and who have not got access to news.On behalf of the small team here at the Lismore App, thank you for making us your number one news source. We began this journey in November 2017, when we wanted to be truly part of the Lismore community. We hope we have achieved this and will continue to pursue local news in 2025.If you see or hear a news story you believe will interest our community, please email simon@lismoreapp.com.au.Have a happy and safe New Year and a brilliant 2025.

A Lismore resident or a visitor to Lismore had a huge winning weekend after scoring more than $1.3 million in the latest Saturday Lotto draw, though they may not yet know it.   The elusive ticketholder held one of the four division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Lotto draw 4533, drawn Saturday, 28 December 2024. Each division one winning entry scored $1,352,707.86. The winning entry was purchased at Lismore Central Newspro, Shop T10, Lismore Shopping Centre, 44 Carrington Street, Lismore. The Lott spokesperson Matt Hart said he hoped Lismore’s latest division one winner checked their ticket and came forward soon. “Our elusive winner is likely oblivious to the fact they became a millionaire in the weekend’s Saturday Lotto draw,” he said. “We’re encouraging anyone who purchased a Saturday Lotto ticket from Lismore Central Newspro to check their tickets today! “Just imagine how exhilarating it would be to discover you won division one in the final days of 2024! Your plans for the New Year and beyond could be upgraded! “Make sure you check your tickets, and if you discover you are holding the winning ticket, contact The Lott on 131 868 to begin the prize claim process.” The winning numbers in Saturday Lotto draw 4533 on 28 December 2024 were 26, 41, 4, 12, 29 and 40, while the supplementary numbers were 34 and 31.