Summerland Bank is in negotiations with the Regional Australia Bank to discuss a possible merger.If successful, they will become one of the top ten largest customer owned banks in Australia.John Williams, the CEO of Summerland Bank, is optimistic about the decision for a merger; it's part of their 10-year outlook.“This came about from our strategic plan.” said Mr Williams, “We approached Regional Australia Bank to determine if they were interested in exploring the opportunities and benefits of a merger. We believe that it is in the best interest of our customers if we undertake a merger with the right partner.“For decades we've had a relationship and interaction with Regional Australia Bank in sharing ideas and concepts, ultimately for the unified benefit of the communities and customers.”David Heine is the CEO of the Regional Australia Bank. When he was approached by Summerland Bank, his reaction was positive, “I was very honoured. “We have watched the Summerland Bank team play a critical role within the Northern Rivers region for many years. They have provided us with a great example of how a regionally focused mutual bank can be relevant in today’s modern age. “Their support and care for their customers and the community is a clear contrast to the lip service that the major banks too often pay.”Mr Williams says they know each other's organisations relatively well. The Regional Australia Bank is three times the size of Summerland Bank, so a merger would place them as about the 10th largest customer-owned bank in Australia, which gives customers scale, “And scale gives you pricing efficiency and efficiency in operation. “This is two strong, well respected, financial organisations coming together to create an even better proposition. It's not something that either of us have to do. It's something that both of us want to do.”Both banks are customer-owned and have shared interests. Mr Williams says, “Culturally, we're very aligned in our proposition to customers, although we have slightly different focus areas.“Regional Australia Bank has a very firm commitment to providing banking services to regional Australians, and so does Summerland. We both have a strong commitment to face-to-face banking and actually growing the branch network, as opposed to many other financial institutions, particularly the major banks, who are decreasing their branch network.“Regional has a focus area around social, and we have a focus area around the environment. So we believe that there's, there's a lot of synergies, but then the differences are also powerful to bring together.”This difference plays an important part in a highly sought-after B Corp certification affiliated with Summerland Bank. Mr Heine says, “B Corp certification is quite rightly difficult to obtain and tough to retain. While Regional Australia Bank has not yet achieved this status, we have always been aligned with the principles of B Corp. “The merger gives us the incentive to close out any remaining gaps so that we can preserve this hard-won certification.“Summerland Banks B Corp status is certainly a feature that I know many of our members will highly value.”Other benefits to customers include the extended (47) branch and ATM network, digital offerings and better technology around scams and prevention.Mr Heine says, “Our members are looking forward to being able to access an extended network of branches and the professional, caring staff that are the core of Summerland Bank. The additional scale created by the merger will also help drive prices down and shorten the time required to deliver new and exciting products and services.”There isn’t any overlap of branches, which Mr Williams sees as an important factor, “That means there is no need for any branch closures. And we've made a strong commitment to the staff of both organisations that there will also be no job losses.”Mr Heine sees other benefits to Summerland customers, “Customers will see the same level of high-quality care and commitment built on a common set of values and a belief that regions such as the Northern Rivers deserve a bit of help and support. “When times get tough, the merged organisation will be able to bring even greater resources to the table to support customers in need. Customers will also see better pricing reflecting our increased scale and a product set that will benefit from faster innovation and investment.”But you can’t have two CEO’s… Mr Williams has considered this and it was included in the offer, “David Heine would be the CEO of the merged organisation, and I will be Deputy CEO in charge of strategy. I'll still be based here in Lismore, and we will become a key regional office location.”The head office of the Regional Australia Bank is in Armidale.  Mr Heine is pleased to outline “One feature that I am sure that Summerland Bank customers will receive well is our Community Partnership Program. In 2024, Regional Australia Bank distributed over $2.8m to over 2,000 community organisations. “This annual program is tangible proof of our commitment to invest into our communities. I can’t wait to bring that support to the Northern Rivers region.”The road ahead to a full merger will take well over a year. Mr Williams iterates, “It's not our decision to make; it's our customer's decision because we are customer-owned banks.”The Memorandum of Understanding, or the intention to explore a merger, is the first step in a year of checks and balances before the vote will go to the customers. Risks, opportunities and benefits will be assessed by the banks themselves and third-party consultants to ensure due diligence is maintained.“The two boards need to make a decision independently that the merger is in the best interest of customers,” says Mr Williams, “Once having made that determination, the decision goes to a vote of members of both organisations.”That will take place at each bank's AGM, which is already set for November next year. “We know each other's organisation relatively well, so we're not anticipating any risks to materialise, but we need to go through the process and ensure that's the case for our customers.”Then, a name and branding and all the aspects of rolling two companies into one can begin. “The proposed legal merger date will be 1 July 2026.” For now, it's business as usual.

Service NSW is looking to relocate to The Village Shopping Centre in Goonellabah with the development application (DA) submitted to Lismore City Council.The plans to relocate to Goonellabah were revealed at the opening of the new Molesworth Street opening on July 5 this year.Once Council approval has been confirmed, building should take between 12 and 18 months, weather permitting.The $2.56 million building will be located behind Rivers and The Reject Shop. The entrance will face Simeoni Drive.There are 16 proposed parking spaces, which will be accessed by turning left off Simeoni Drive. Two spaces will be for PWD parking.The number of parking spaces for the entire Village Shopping complex is 262, 230 are for customers and 32 for staff.The current building site has the capacity for 30 car parking spaces, so with 16 being allocated, there is a net loss of 14 car parking spaces.TTM Consulting conducted a parking usage survey over seven days during different months over a two-year period (July 2022 to July 2024) and found that 29 out of the 30 car parking spaces to the north (the existing site) were not used, while 65 to 100 car parking spaces were available in the southern (or main) car park.The conclusion was the development would not have an adverse effect on car parking in the overall Village Shopping complex.When customers are leaving the new Service NSW Customer Service Centre, they will be turning left on to Simeoni Drive.The roundabout upgrade at Simeoni Drive takes on more importance with this DA, especially with the proposed 130 placement Childcare Centre for the vacant block between The Village and Aldi.It is anticipated that the new Service NSW Customer Service Centre will experience an additional 5 vehicles per hour for Simeoni Drive North and 4 per hour for Simeoni Drive South post development.The conclusion is the development is not expected to have a significant impact on Simeoni Drive and its nearest intersections.It is planned that the new Service NSW Customer Service Centre will accommodate driver testing and the full suite of government services and transactions. Currently, driver testing is being undertaken at the Lismore Golf Club in East Lismore.

It is difficult to believe, but a bus hit the Union Street Rail Bridge in South Lismore this morning, blocking the road for some time. The Sunstate Charters bus is a Train Link bus that operates between Brisbane and Casino and Tweed Heads and Casino for the NSW Government.The Lismore App understands the bus was not in service at the time it hit the bridge and, therefore, was not carrying any passengers.The Richmond Police District Duty Officer said there were no injuries, and the enquiries are continuing.It is highly likely the bus driver will be charged with traffic offences that will include a hefty fine as different rules apply for heavy vehicles.Sunstate Charters, also called Sunstate Coaches, has been in operation for over 30 years. The office is closed today, so no one was available for comment.Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said what all of Lismore was thinking, "I cannot believe why drivers don't know the height of their vehicles.....seriously."Another valid question is what the bus driver was doing driving on Union Street and heading towards North Lismore? As for the future removal of the remaining four rail bridges, Ms Saffin said, "There are a lot of people and agencies that want these rail bridges gone. I am waiting for a written response from Lismore City Council and the SES, and then I will follow up. "I want them looked at like Transport for NSW did for Terania Street."On a positive note, the rail bridge suffered no damage, so Transport for NSW do not have to close it for inspection. Union Street will remain open.

Capacity at venues that provide outdoor dining could be increased under proposed reforms that continue the Minns Labor Government’s crusade to unshackle entertainment and nightlife.Under proposed changes, unlicensed venues would also be free to trade later during special events, and relaxed rules around music performed outdoors introduced through a new Cultural State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP). To achieve this, some outdated planning rules will be reformed to enhance the state’s 24-hour economy and creative industries.·       Outdoor dining and capacity – Currently, exempt development standards do not allow increases to the venue’s patron capacity if they offer outdoor dining. The NSW Government will explore standards to allow for increased capacity as exempt development. ·       Outdoor music – Currently, occasional low impact performances of live music or arts is considered exempt development but only if it is indoors. The proposal enables this to happen outdoors as well and would support businesses to host performances or live music in their outdoor spaces such as beer gardens or bowling greens. ·       Major events – Sites such as White Bay Power Station, the Sydney Opera House and Centennial Parklands could benefit from streamlined approval pathways for events, including making it easier to put up larger stages and temporary structures for major and local community events.·       Extended trading hours for unlicensed premises during special events – Streamlined pathways will be implemented to allow unlicensed premises to temporarily trade later during special events, making sure that premises such as cafes and bookshops can join in on the fun when special events occur.Communities, councils and industry are now invited to have their say on the Minns Government’s newest vibrancy reforms. The exhibition, which will run until 13 December 2024, is an opportunity to provide feedback on plans to support our state’s creative, cultural and hospitality sectors by removing unnecessary restrictions on trade and events. More information available here https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/eie-cultural-seppMinister for Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham said, “We’re continuing to free up venues and events from over-reaching restrictions and raising the capacity at venues that utilise outdoor dining is another example of this commonsense approach.“The system has often been difficult for venue operators, event organisers and the general public. The Cultural SEPP is about making the planning system supportive of culture and community, rather than stifling it. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “The NSW Government is committed to making NSW a more vibrant place to be. We want NSW to offer a choice of going out destinations for visitors, locals and workers alike.“These reforms are the next step to reinvigorating our cities, creating more jobs for young people and supporting our economy.“This Minns Government’s planning reforms are focussed on building vibrant communities and more homes.”

Rous County Council (Rous) has completed works to improve drainage systems in the villages of Coraki and Woodburn in the Northern Rivers. The purpose of the project is to enhance the drain’s flow and function and allow for a quicker recovery after flood events – benefitting local residents, businesses and communities. Delivered by Rous, the $150,000 project was funded by the Australian Government’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP). It is one of 36 projects being delivered under the $150 million NRRRP, which aims to drive long-term resilience and ensure communities are better equipped to withstand and recover from future disasters. Coraki and Woodburn have ‘town drains’ which are one of the main pathways that floodwaters drain from the villages. These drains do not prevent flooding but rather reduce the length of time of inundation. Rous surveyed both drains to better understand how they function and what works would be required to improve their operation. The systems were mechanically cleaned using an excavator, removing vegetation and silt from the drains and debris from previous flood events. Woody weeds, including Coral Trees and Camphor Laurels, have also been removed from the banks to provide a clearer channel for greater flow. (Woodburn Town Drain before and after improvement– “A section of Woodburn Town Drain, to the south of the village, showing the improvements made to the system. Photo: supplied)Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said these works are an important step to better-protecting communities in the Northern Rivers. “Improving drainage systems and removing debris is an easy and practical way to help reduce the risk of any future floods,” she said. “The Albanese Government is working with all levels of government to help ensure communities in the North Coast are better prepared for the next flood.” Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said clearing the drainage systems in the villages of Coraki and Woodburn would help build resilience for a future flood event. “This is a really practical example of a project that will positively impact these communities and lead to less flood inundation time following floods,” she said. (Coraki Town Drain before and after improvement– “A section of Coraki Town Drain, close to the Coraki temporary housing village, showing the improvements made to the system. Photo: supplied)“It is also a positive example of three layers of government working together to implement flood mitigation measures following the floods of 2022.” Robert Mustow, Chair for Rous County Council, said: “Both villages bore the brunt of the catastrophic 2022 floods and it’s great to see this investment in these local drainage systems.” Chrisy Clay, Flood Mitigation Manager for Rous County Council, said the work had been completed with the assistance of locally based contractors. “We are very grateful for the funding made available through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program and the assistance of the NSW Reconstruction Authority in completing these works,” she said. “The improvements to the Coraki and Woodburn town drains are an example of the work Rous does to manage and maintain its large network of rural flood mitigation infrastructure. “This network includes 190km of drains and canals, which are highly valued by floodplain landowners and residents for the service we provide.”

Lismore has a lot of cultural elements, and one of those, poetry, is celebrating a high point with two known local poets releasing books this Thursday at See Space in South Lismore.Sarah Temporal and Vince Stead are holding an event this week to commemorate the occasion and make their voices heard.Sarah is releasing her first book at the Vocable Poetry Event later this week. This project has taken 4 or 5 years in the making. “I'm thrilled about the poems that are now really beautifully laid out on the page with a very elegant type setting that really goes with the fairy tale themes in the book," Sarah said.“The whole thing takes about 18 months from getting that exciting acceptance email from the publisher to actually having the book in your hands.”The name of the book, Tight Bindings, is reflective of navigating life, “It's about the darkness and the light of the bonds between people, families, the stories that we bind ourselves to, that we try and break free of, as well as those kind of bindings that really keep us whole and fill us up. The people in our lives that we really treasure.“There's a lot of different stories in the book, it does cover quite a large part of my life. And so there are sort of stories of birth, debt, death, sex, illness, desire, a whole bunch of feminist reclaimed fairy tales.“I think that it was really about working through these big questions and life transitions that had made their way into poems. The style of the poetry is also quite diverse. “I mucked around with a lot of spoken word styles as well as kind of confessional poetry, which suits me very well, because I like to imagine that I'm kind of telling secrets to somebody that I really trust.”(In the first part of Sarah's book, there is a lot of introspection in what she calls her “personal confessional poems”.)Sarah's book includes QR codes that link to performance videos, “I'm primarily a performance poet, and this book brings together about ten years worth of work- some performance and some page poetry, and to make it a multimedia product, where it connects with that part of my practice is really exciting.”The accessibility for the performance aspect will be open to all, “It is important to me because I work with a lot of teenagers and young writers and emerging writers, some may find that purchasing new books is out of range.”Sarah enjoys it when people read the book and reflect on how they can see themselves in the poems, “That's really humbling, and I wasn't necessarily prepared for those kinds of reactions.”“The last part of the book is a suite of reclaimed fairy tales. In the middle is kind of the junk drawer of the collection. I put things that didn't fit in either of the others. I called it singing, and that's because so much of my practice does come from sound and the spoken voice rather than things written down.”Covid was the catalyst for Sarah starting to put her works together for a book, “It was just a nice kick up the butt to make me sit down at my desk and go, Okay, time to go through all these poems and put them into a collection. “But I think what actually gave me the courage to write it was that I'd become a mum about a year before and had a baby at home. Somewhere in that big life transition, you lose a lot of self doubt and just, and just go for it.”Despite being “sleep deprived”, the “experiences of embodiment” won out, and the works were collated.“I have some poems in there about meeting my life partner, now my husband, who was very unwell with cystic fibrosis at the time that we met. I considered those questions: if you're only going to be with someone for a short time, then are they still the person to be with?“,Sarah is excited to be featured at Vocable (this Thursday), “a wonderful grassroots poetry night in Lismore”. It is an open mike night, but Sarah and Vince will be a large part of the festivities. There is an innovative performance style that combines visual imagery with the works.“It means so much to us to have audiences showing up and supporting our work, and even if you know buying a book isn't isn't possible, to have people there listening and taking it in is, yeah, really, really super for us.”Vocable Details:Thursday, the 21st of November6:45pm at See Space23 - 25 New Bridge Street, Lismore.

Well-known local photographer Natsky, or Natalie Barovsky, is about to embark on a walk from Canberra to Sydney for a very worthy cause: Jay's Mission Melanoma Walk.The walk is not a one-day effort, but 11 days from Canberra to Sydney, covering 333 kilometres.Lismore App readers may remember a story we published on November 5, where the Cancer Institute released a melanoma hotspot map for NSW. Ballina took the unwanted honour of being the number one hotspot, with Lismore number two and Byron Bay number three.Melanoma doesn't discriminate and is the third most diagnosed cancer in NSW. Close to 5,000 people will be diagnosed in the state in 2024; sadly, 500 people will lose their lives.Natsky's walk is personal. It is not just raising money for a wonderful cause; she is being driven by the memory of her sister, Melinda, who passed away Christmas Eve 2018.(Melinda and Natsky. Photo: supplied)"This walk is about prevention, it's about spreading awareness and it's about raising funds. The guy who organises all of this is Jay Allen; he's also known as the melanoma man; he's a two-time survivor. He's put one free skin check truck on the road, so he just travels around doing free skin checks."He wants to get another one on the road. So that's what we're trying to do on this walk: raise enough funds to get that happening. Along the way, we will stop at schools and talk at various places. We'll just talk to people about the dangers of getting a tan."Natsky believes the cost of a new skin check truck is about $500,000, so it's a big chunk of cash that needs to be raised."They've then got to basically have nurses and doctors to man it. They get people volunteering their skills, but they can't always do that. So, it's It's a pretty big thing."There are essentially seven full-time workers. So, Jay and then six other walkers, and then there are people coming in and out, so one or two days or, you know, sometimes only a couple of hours, just depending on what they can do. Coming into Sydney, I imagine we'll probably end up with a few 100. By the time we get to Sydney, it gets to be pretty big."As you would expect, Natsky is in full training mode as the real deal starts this coming Thursday, November 21, from Parliament House."It is very time-consuming. I basically just slowly built up. I started trying to just do five k's a day and I'm generally doing between 10 and 15 most days, and I've done a couple of bigger walks as well. But it's also about pace. Because we're on the side of highways, and at times, we've got a police escort, we have to be able to maintain a certain pace. I was supposed to be walking 6 to 7k's an hour. It doesn't sound like much until you try and do it for 15, 20 or 30 kilometres.(Natsky in training)"So, I've kind of built up the pace. I haven't really built up the length of all the distance at this point, so we'll see how we go."The length of each day's walk varies. The first day is 33 kilometres, the longest will be 56 kilometres and the shortest 10 kilometres, which is on the final day in Sydney. The end of the walk is Sunday, December 1, when they arrive at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach.As for raising awareness about sun protection, Natsky believes there are two camps."I find it interesting. You've kind of got pretty much extremes and, look, a gross generalisation, but there are the people who know all about it, and they're all over it. You know, they're wearing long sleeves, and they've got their hats on and all the rest of it. And then you've got the ones who unfortunately tend to be younger, who just think they're invincible."We've got some building going on in our backyard at the moment. There's a young, probably 20 or 21-year-old builder, and he's constantly got his shirt off. And I warn him, and he says, Oh, you sound like my mum. I tell him it's because we care. It's bad; you need to be putting stuff on. He doesn't wear sunscreen."It's heartbreaking because I've seen what it can do. All various reasons. You know, they think they're invincible, it's not going to happen to me, all of that. Also, the ones who are just lazy or don't care. It's hard. You just want to shake them and tell them to wake up to themselves."For anyone reading who may take skin cancer flippantly, at the end of this story is Melinda's final letter she wrote about her melanoma journey. It's a stark reminder that the 5 minutes it takes to slip, slop, slap is worth the effort.Melinda was 46 when she passed away, leaving a 20-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son.If you can make a donation to help fund a second skin cancer truck and fund further melanoma research, click Jay's Melanoma Walk link, which will take you to Natsky's page."Every 30 minutes, somebody's diagnosed in Australia. So, yeah, it's a pretty big killer."Jay's Melanoma Walk starts at Parliament House in Canberra this Thursday, November 21 and concludes, with some tired but satisfied bodies, on Sunday, December 1, at Bondi Beach.MELINDA'S WORDSAug 2018I’m 45 years old, married to an incredible man, Dean, with a wonderful 19-year-old stepdaughter, Summah and a lovely little boy, Tom, who is 7. I work in publishing and have sold books for over 25 years. I grew up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in Narrabeen. I loved the water, and I used to go to the beach any chance I could. Who knew such an idyllic lifestyle could be the cause of so much anxiety and fear years later?In Nov 2014, Summah was brushing my hair on a weekend and noticed a weird-looking brown spot on my scalp. We just thought I may have scratched myself but I must have had a feeling as, unusually for me, I booked to have it checked on the following Monday. My doctor thought it looked wrong so sent a punch biopsy off and it came back as positive for melanoma. Interestingly, I visited a skin cancer centre once a year prior to that, and they had never checked my hair – make sure you see someone who knows what they are doing!I had the primary removed in December 2014, which was a little scary, but I was pretty much okay after that – still in a bit of denial as to how serious it was I think. We found out it had spread to my lymph nodes, though, and I went back for surgery in January 2015 for a neck dissection. That knocked me flat physically and emotionally.I’d been told I could go back to work 2 weeks after surgery and after the last one, I had no reason to doubt I would be okay. Unfortunately, basic things like putting clothes on, lifting anything heavier than a cup, and simply doing my job became a challenge– one I hadn’t been expecting. I was getting lots of headaches, too. I was diagnosed as Stage 3B, and though I felt I had been lucky, everything had shifted in a way I cannot describe and barely understand myself.For the next two years, I had quarterly checkups and a PET scan each year. At the two-year mark, I was pretty confident I had dodged a bullet and had finally found myself on a more even keel again. I was so confident that they would tell me that the two-year PET scan would be all clear that I didn’t take anyone to the results. It was a massive shock to hear that they had found “something” on my left lung. They wanted to wait six weeks and do another scan to see what it did.They were a long six weeks and at the end of it, it was still there and had doubled in size. I was booked in for surgery to have it removed. All went well, which was a relief! Unfortunately I had now “graduated” to Stage 4 metastatic melanoma. With the removal of the tumour I was NED (no evidence of disease), but my chances of this bugger turning up again was somewhere around the 80% mark in the next 5 years.I started on a drug trial for Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in around May 2017. I wasn’t 100% sure I was doing the right thing, but there were a lot of good reasons for why I decided to do the trial. It’s an incredibly tough decision and one that is very personal. I know my family wanted me to do this – I think because doing something was better than nothing. There are no certainties with the treatment, and my motivations were complex.Unfortunately, as a preventative measure, it did not work for me. I had minimal side effects until I got a dose of pneumonitis in about August 2017. They treated that with prednisone, and I rejoined the trial a few weeks later. In November 2017, I was very breathless, and they did scans to see what the issue was. I thought it would be another dose of pneumonitis and was expecting another round of prednisone – never very much fun, but it works! Turned out to be fluid on the lungs and three pleural taps later (a fun procedure where they stick a dirty big needle in your back and drain the fluid out of your lung), I was placed on the targeted therapy of Trametinib and Dabrafenib. I had a “sprinkle” of tumours in my lungs this time so they couldn’t operate. I had some nasty side effects in the beginning, but they have settled for the most part now. The biggest thing I deal with is fatigue and a serious case of forgetfulness….I stopped work in October 2017 because I was fortunate enough to be able to, and it has given me the space to try and focus on getting well and spend as much time with the people I love as I can. Interestingly, that has been more difficult than I thought, but I keep trying.We now take each day as it comes, and while some days suck, we have a lot to be grateful for. This disease has turned our lives upside down. The physicality of treatment for me has been uncomfortable, and there have been challenges at times. However, the biggest thing to deal with, for me, has been the emotional and mental side. I have a wonderful family and my husband and children mean the world to me. I waited a long time for them, too – I was 33 when I met Dean and Summah, and Tom is still so little. The idea of not being around to see my kids grow up and watch my husband grow old seems incredibly sad and actually makes me feel incredibly angry sometimes. I’ve never thought, “why me?” but I have felt extremely ripped off at times. It can take my breath away if I think about it for too long – so, of course, I don’t.Unfortunately, the tumours in my lungs and brain have grown exponentially over the last month. The ones in my lung are very large, and there are now around 15 Mets in my brain. So I start a cycle of 10 sessions of radiation from this Weds. I’ll continue with the drugs I’m on, and hopefully, the combo of all of them will start to turn this around. LuckyI didn’t get my hair done this week - apparently, it’s all going to fall out!I am doing all the necessary financial and legal stuff just incase, and am putting the rest of my energy into believing I will get better.I am INCREDIBLY well-supported, and if anyone else wants to help and isn’t sure how, I ask that you use that energy to support my support system instead - I can only imagine the toll that this is taking on my family and close friends and feel horrible to be causing them so much pain.I have been so humbled and amazed by the outpouring of love from all of those around us. We are surrounded by incredible people.I want to thank everyone for the massive amount of generosity you have shown us. I barely have the words to describe how humbled and overwhelmed we are. Some of you we know well, and some we have never met, but all of you have given us so much. Thanks also for your overwhelmingly kind messages of love and support.Thank you.On 27th October 2018, M celebrated her 46th birthday. It would be her last.On 15th December 2018, Tom celebrated his 8th Birthday. It would be the last time his mama would sing him happy birthday.On 24th December, just before midnight, I was writing gift tags through tears for Tom’s Christmas presents, trying to mimic his mama’s writing. 3 hours earlier, M had died. There would be no more Christmases.Be sun-safe. Get your skin checked.

A reinspection pilot program run by the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) around Casino showed that most of the 52 properties visited had taken positive action to better meet their obligations. The properties targeted had previously breached water rules, but after an initial visit from NRAR outreach staff, 83% of them had acted to improve water compliance on their property. Just 17% (9) were still breaching the rules. NRAR Manager Education Pat Yeates said common problems previously seen in the area included water works that were too big, approvals that had expired and failure to keep accurate logbook records of water used.  “These visits were an opportunity for us to confirm whether the rules are being followed, and to help landholders understand their obligations.” Mr Yeates said. "We are really encouraged by the results,” he said. “The effective management of water in NSW depends on accurately and consistently measuring water use – and we are working closely with licence holders to ensure that happens. “Many NSW water licence holders haven't had an interaction with the water regulator for years. These site visits show meeting people on their property and helping them understand what they need to do leads to better outcomes.” Mr Yeates said NRAR was working with the landholders who were not yet compliant to ensure they met their obligations.  "Continued failure to comply with the water rules could lead to enforcement action, which can range from fines to approval suspensions and even prosecution for the most high-risk, significant cases," she said.  The Casino area falls into the Far North Coast Water Sharing Plan area which stretches from north of Coffs Harbour to the Queensland border, covering an area of 10,000km2 including over 280km of coastline of NSW.  NRAR's Outreach program sees the regulator visit thousands of licence holders on their properties each year to hear directly from them about their water management practices. While they’re there, NRAR officers help them understand their obligations.   Find out more about NRAR’s education and engagement activities. 

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from Alstonville.Susan Connors, aged 59, was last seen in Alstonville about 8pm on Thursday (14 November 2024).When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Richmond Police District were notified yesterday (Friday, 15 November 2024) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.Police and family hold serious concerns for Susan’s welfare.Susan is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 165-175cm, solid build, short dark brown hair with red streaks in fringe, brown eyes and walks with a limp.She was last seen wearing a floral top and three-quarter white pants.Susan is known to frequent the Alstonville, Lismore and Ballina areas.Inquiries have established that Susan maybe driving a red coloured Mazda 3 bearing NSW registration SC564.Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Ballina Police or 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.

It's always good to start your weekend on a lighter note, and this story will appeal to young boys across Lismore and the Northern Rivers.CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, is calling on the community to track their farts to help scientists better understand the frequency and characteristics of one of the leading gut health symptoms experienced by Australians. While passing wind is a normal bodily function, a 2021 CSIRO gut health study found over 60 per cent of Australians reported experiencing what they identified as excessive flatulence, with up to 43 per cent reporting experiencing it most days.  A public-led research campaign is recruiting citizen scientists to help researchers paint a better picture of gut health nationwide.People aged 14 or older are being asked to track their flatulence for at least three days in total, using the free ‘Chart Your Fart’ phone app. Participants will track the quantity and quality of their outputs, including attributes such as stench, loudness, duration, linger and detectability. By sharing their fluffs, people will help to create a chart of what ‘normal’ wind may look like in different groups of Australians.  CSIRO Research Dietitian, Megan Rebuli, said that while some can find farts embarrassing and uncomfortable, healthy bodies are meant to let them go.  “Passing wind is a natural occurrence and a sign that our digestive system is working as it should, to expel excess gas that is produced from breaking down and processing the food we eat,” Ms Rebuli said.  “Talking about diet often leads into discussion about the other end of eating.  “Different foods, medical conditions, or even the way we chew, or swallow can have an impact on how our body processes the excess gas, leading to different smells, frequency or even volume.” The Chart Your Fart campaign is part of newly launched public-led research initiative being driven by CSIRO health and wellbeing researchers in the citizen science space.  Project Lead and CSIRO Behavioural Scientist, Dr Emily Brindal, said when it comes to health and wellbeing, the community bring personal experience and observations that can better inform research.  “Research is only as good as the data we have, and we want to work with as much of our diverse Australian community as we can to drive innovation in health and wellbeing research and deliver meaningful outcomes,” Dr Brindal said. “We want to showcase the potential of public-led research and ask the community to come on board with shaping our future health and wellbeing science.  “We rely on the public to share their experience with us for so much of our health and wellbeing research, but we also want to hear what research the community wants us to do – it is about keeping it real and relevant, but why not have some fun too?”  To take part in the Chart Your Fart campaign please register.Find out more about CSIRO’s Health and Wellbeing community science projects.

Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) marched through the Lismore CBD on Wednesday after failing to reach a deal with the NSW Government over the 4 weeks of negotiations at the Industrial Relations Commission.Minister for Health, The Hon Ryan Park MP has related a list of items he has proposed to alleviate the nurses and midwives situation in Lismore and around the state.  As the negotiations are still underway, Minister Park has not issued a media release, as written information can muddy negotiations underway; however, he has made some information known after speaking with the press on Wednesday, and further details were obtained from a spokesperson at his office on Thursday.Minister Park revealed the NSWNMA had rejected numerous offers during the negotiations, including a 10.5% pay increase.The spokesperson explained that the 10.5% increase is the standard rate offered to public servants across the board. There was outrage due to the increased offer of a 40% wage rise highlighted for NSW Police. However, that level of increase was only made to certain members of the police force. The 10.5% was not spread evenly, and the police had implemented certain cost-saving initiatives, which assisted with the amount of recompense.Last year, the NSWNMA produced a report outlining ways to reduce costs in their industry; however, on Wednesday, the Minister said that the report was not based on sound modelling.(According to statistics released in September, 105,611 nurses are employed in NSW)Another offer was made to increase the pay of first and second-year nurses by 16%, and spread the 15% pay rise over three years.“What we tried to do was look at ways in which we could expand the amount available but slow down some of the other reforms that we were implementing,” MP Park said."We said very clearly that this reform is often around choices and priorities."This meant that another factor, namely the proposed safe staffing rollout, would need to be delayed.(Rallying in Lismore on Wednesday. Image Credit: Penelope Anderson)The nurses rejected this offer, stating the 15% rise was needed stat, as were safe staffing levels.The spokesperson for the minister pointed out that safe staffing levels have taken eight years to implement in other jurisdictions. They are attempting to change them in the current term of Parliament - less than 4 years, which they describe as ambitious.An immediate 15% pay rise of that magnitude would cost over $6 billion.Minister Park said he was disappointed the NSWNMA had decided to strike again. The government intends to proceed with formal arbitration when both parties appear before the commission once more in 12 days.“I want this issue resolved for nurses and midwives, and I want the service to go back to functioning as the best health service in the world,” he said.The office of the minister was unable to confirm why the NSWNMA went back to strike when they had made a promise not to.Asked about the 3% pay increase that they had not yet received, the spokesperson said that they should have received it on Thursday unless their pay cycle is due next week.(Excerpt from the original story earlier this week.)Other aspects discussed were doubling rural health incentives for our hardest and most critical roles to fill. On 25th Sept, a $20,000 relocation bonus was offered to health workers relocating to rural and regional areas.Nine regional NSW scholarships have also been put on offer to attract workers to the health industry, and give them opportunities to upskill.In regards to accommodation, “The Government will secure approximately 120 dwellings, a proportion of which will be situated in Lismore, which may include the building of new accommodation, refurbishment of existing living quarters, and possible purchase of suitable properties such as motels.”July 17th saw a media release announcing that “Lismore Base Hospital is currently undertaking recruitment as part of the Safe Staffing Levels roll out.” Comments as to whether they were able to fill or keep these posts filled were not mentioned.Minister Park has visited Lismore and has only just returned. The spokesperson said he is acutely aware of the particular impact that floods had on healthcare here. On discussing the particular needs of the Northern Rivers with the temptation of QLD nursing wages only hours away, the minister's hands are tied. The explanation - under the liberals, there were 12 years of wage suppression - the wage cap.The issue is that it cannot be undone, and fixing the problem in a short period of time is impossible. It was described as sad and unfortunate, but it is the fiscal reality that's facing the government. You can read the full article on Wednesday's NSWNMA strike here.

Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) has elected a new Chair and Deputy Chair for a two-year term. Lismore City Council Mayor, Cr Steve Krieg was elected as Chair and Cr Russell Webb, Mayor of Tamworth Regional Council, was re-elected Deputy Chair at a board meeting in Sydney on Thursday.The new leadership will lead the organisation post-NSW local government elections, which took place in September.Cr Krieg said he was proud to lead Regional Cities New South Wales as it advocated for a fair share of investment and population growth to ensure regional cities continued to thrive."Regional Cities New South Wales is an important advocate for its members and has a proven track record as a valuable partner for the State Government," Cr Krieg said. "I am passionate about the work of Regional Cities NSW. Our members are a similar size and are facing similar issues. Together, we are stronger."We have much work to do as we are on the frontline of change in New South Wales. This includes growing populations, energy transition and climate impacts."Our cities are also highly liveable and we know regional living is on the minds of many Sydneysiders. We want our cities to retain their liveability as new residents continue to make the move."As chair, I will be a strong voice for our member cities as we meet these opportunities."Cr Webb retained his position as Deputy Chair."I’m very happy to be reappointed as Deputy Chair,” Cr Webb said. “It has been fantastic working with Mayors, General Managers and CEOs of Regional Cities New South Wales." "Cr Krieg will lead us in the right direction and I am looking forward to working in partnership as we continue to build our strong network of relationships in Macquarie Street," Cr Webb said.Cr Krieg also noted the work of Cr Mathew Dickerson, who stepped down as Chair after the New South Wales local government elections.  "Cr Dickerson has left a great legacy as I take the reins of Regional Cities NSW," Cr Krieg said."Cr Dickerson has led us through the many challenges we have encountered over the past few years, particularly as our members faced natural disasters, housing availability and growing skills shortages."Regional cities have received key support in these areas due to his leadership and advocacy. There is still much to do, but the impacts in these areas have been meaningful for our communities," Cr Krieg concluded.Regional Cities NSW members include Lismore, Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Hill City Council, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Goulburn Mulwaree, Griffith, Maitland, Orange, Queanbeyan Pelarang, Tamworth, Tweed Heads and Wagga Wagga.

Police believe the Ballina tobacconist ram raid on Wednesday, October 23, is linked to organised crime selling illicit tobacco following investigations by the Financial Crime Squad.Detective Superintendent Gordon Abinja, the Commander of the Financial Crime Squad, said the Ballina ram raid was linked to another at Tweed Heads, which suffered two separate attacks, one in September and the other the day before the Ballina attack in October.Supt Abinja said the tobacconist was extensively destroyed, the Ballina units above the tobacconist were completely destroyed, as were the associated commercial properties next to the tobacconist.Police believe these three incidents are part of an organised crime network in Queensland.Supt Abinja said fourteen (14) arson attacks have occurred in NSW this year, 30 in Queensland, 130 in Victoria, 8 in Western Australia and 12 in South Australia. "We believe it's linked to the sale of illicit tobacco or standover tactics from organised crime networks that sell illicit tobacco," Supt Abinja said.The sale of illegal tobacco products is lucrative because it bypasses government excise. One cigarette stick has an excise cost of over $1.30, making Australia one of the highest tobacco excises in the world. The average price of cigarettes is above $50 a pack. Illegally imported — and untaxed — cigarettes are now widely available and sell for about half that price.Financial Crime Squad detectives have released CCTV as they appeal for information following the ram raid and arson from the two tobacconists in Ballina and Tweed.Detectives are also hoping to speak to the driver and passengers of a black BMW seen leaving the scene of the Ballina ram raid (pictured below).Supt Abinja said a young man was taking pictures of the getaway vehicle in Ballina."When that person tried to take a photo, he was targeted. We allege that the driver of that black BMW tried to run over that person, and when he made evasive action, the vehicle still ran over his foot." Supt Abinja's message to people who have information about the crime was to come forward."Look, they're quite safe ringing Crime Stoppers or contacting the Financial Crime Squad directly."Anyone with information about any of the incidents is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Anyone with information that may assist investigators 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.

It has been a week of wild, unpredictable weather for Lismore and the Northern Rivers, and that ride is expected to continue early next week, with more thunderstorms on the radar.Before we worry about what may occur next week, the weekend is looking good, with only a 40% chance of rain tomorrow and 20% for Sunday.Temperatures will be in the mid-20s after some warm minimums around 16/17 degrees.It is a fairly quiet weekend event-wise.Aquarius: the film about Dreamers, Tree Huggers and Radical Ratbags is showing at the Nimbin Bush Theatre this Sunday at 2pm.The movie takes a look at the iconic festival that made Nimbin what it is today. There will be a Q&A after the screening.The Lismore Farmers Markets fire up tomorrow morning from 7:30 at the Lismore Showgrounds.Christmas gifts are making an appearance, as are cakes, condiments and meat, on top of the usual fresh fruit and vegetables. Tapestry Road will be performing live until 11am.The other market on over the weekend is the Lismore Free Market on Sunday between 9am and 11am at the Lismore Community Garden, 50 Brewster Street.The Free Market is a gathering of people who want to give away goods and services for free. There is no money, bartering or trading.The live music scene over the weekend includes the Northern Rivers Hotel in North Lismore. They have Hello Ray Duo tonight from 7pm, Katie Brooke tomorrow from 6:30pm and the Sunday session is Ghostown between 2pm and 5pm.It is a big night of music at the Lismore Workers Club with Marina Prior and Michael Cormick 'Centrestage' from 7:30pm. You can still book tickets here.Next Friday, The Italian Tenors hit the main auditorium stage with The Classics, and then in February, the lineup includes Forever Olivia - A Tribute to Olivia Newton-John and Reputation - The Ultimate Taylor Swift Tribute Show. Check out the 2025 lineup here.Fuel prices remained steady this week. However, if you are looking for the cheapest fuel, Ballina is the place to fill the tank with prices 13 cents to 17 cents a litre cheaper than Lismore.Here are the cheapest fuel prices in each town:E10 is 178.9 across those that serve E10 in 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, 185.9 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 Astron on Ballina Road, 176.9 at the two Liberty's (as above) 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!

Falls, transport, assault and accidental poisoning are among the leading external causes of injury, hospitalisations and deaths in Australia, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).An update to the report, Injury in Australia 2022–23, presents the latest injury-related hospitalisations (2022–23) and deaths (2021–22), including trends over the preceding decade and local area information about four (4) major external causes of injury.Data examined for mortality varies by year due to being updated and released one year later than hospitalisations.‘This ongoing work monitors trends in injuries as a major cause of morbidity, permanent disability and mortality with the aim of informing discussion around injury risk, prevention and management,’ said AIHW spokesperson Dr Sarah Ahmed. Falls‘Falls have remained the leading cause of injury-related hospitalisation and fatality in Australia over the past decade and across most regions,’ said Dr Ahmed.Falls resulted in 238,055 hospitalisations in 2022–23, accounting for more than 2 in 5 (43.4%) of all injury hospitalisations. They also accounted for more than 2 in 5 (6,378) injury deaths in 2021–22, with rates increasing due to age. Slips, trips and stumbles were the most frequent cause, with 74,399 cases in 2022–23, however, hospitalisation patterns varied by season and the type of falls.TransportTransport was another leading cause of injury hospitalisation in 2022–23, resulting in around 61,200 hospitalisations.Cars were the type of vehicle most frequently involved in both transport injury related hospitalisations (over 20,000 cases) and deaths (over 720 fatalities). Transport-related injuries resulted in 1,500 deaths in 2021–22 and were most common among males (1,148 deaths). ‘Across types of transport, age groups and sexes, injury rates generally decreased over the past decade,’ said Dr Ahmed.AssaultAssault resulted in 20,490 hospitalisations in 2022–23 and 218 homicides in 2021–22, with people aged 25–44 most likely to be affected. While males were the most common perpetrators across all assault types, the patterns of assault injury hospitalisations differed based on who was assaulted and the nature of the assault.Accidental poisoningAccidental poisoning resulted in 8,921 injury hospitalisations in 2022–23 and 1,567 injury deaths in 2021–22.Children aged 0–4 were most likely to be affected, with around 80 hospitalisations and 11 deaths per 100,000 population. Among accidental poisoning related hospitalisations, the proportion of cases severe enough to require ventilatory support has doubled over the past decade from around 4% in 2012–13 to 8% in 2022–23.Common substances associated with both accidental poisoning hospitalisations and deaths include antiepileptics, sedatives and psychotropics and narcotics, opioids and hallucinogens. Among non-pharmaceutical substances, alcohol was responsible for the highest number of accidental poisoning deaths (155 in 2021–22).

The Aquarius Festival, the event that shaped Nimbin into what it is today as a local, national and international destination, has been turned into a film by local director Wendy Champagne.Recently shown at the Byron Bay Film Festival, where it was a sellout, it is being shown in Nimbin over the next two Sundays, with a Q&A session after each movie.David Hyett from the Nimbin Bush Theatre (where the screening will be held) talks of the relevance of Aquarius to the area today, “It was the Aquarius Festival that brought people here. “10,000 or so people. And from that draw card, the people came and celebrated their union together, and a lot of them stayed. They decided that they didn't want to have a bar of how life was, and they wanted to make a new future.”It started as a vision by uni students, “There were students from various universities who were looking to hold a festival, which was combination of demonstration, and also to change of the way of being. It had music and arts and young people having a good time. “The theme of the festival was, “You are the Festival”.“It was done on a very tight budget, but it had funding from the Labor Government, Gough Whitlam was one of the key people to ensure that the funding came through.“This movie is the story about how it came about. It’s pretty incredible.”The relevance to the popularity of Nimbin and how this single event shaped the future of a small town losing its industry could have happened anywhere.“It was very interesting that when they approached Nimbin to hold the festival, they were looking all around the country. They came across this little village, which was suffering from the financial vagaries that were created through the loss of the dairy farming industry.”Life was brought back to this small town at risk of dying out and fading away by the young energy. The film also addresses ”What it took for people to be accepting of the fact that it would be a good thing for the village.”Local film director Wendy Champagne wants locals to get something to enrich their identity of being from this area, “I want people to get pride from the film and to know what is possible when you get together with a bunch of other ratbags and try new things and work for the good of the environment and each other.”Wendy came home from being overseas and was disappointed by the lack of good films about the region, “The reason why I made it actually came out of a response to as a filmmaker. Returning here and realising that there were not a lot of good stories being made out of here kind of forced the decision. Aquarius is a key story that makes this place what it is.”Wendy will be at the Q&A sessions along with other Aquarians and people of the Aquarian ethos to discuss the topics of Community and Protest.The Q&A this weekend will be about Communities and Community living. David has arranged a panel of people to support the discussion, including Tom Zubrycki, a well-known and respected documentary film-maker who is moderating the Q&A this weekend.The panel includes:Terry McGee, once a Lismore counsellor, created and formed the Tuntable community, Billen Cliffs community and Blue Springs communities. Jen Ireland from Dharmananda, a successful community that has been around for over 50 years.Megan James from the Tuntable Falls community, is a long-term activist and member of the community.The panel for the protest Q&A is under final consideration.Aquarius will be shown at the Nimbin Bush Theatre at 2pm on:Sunday, November 17th - Q&A on Communities and Community LivingSunday, November 24th - Q&A on Protests

With Christmas about five weeks away, Lismore's shops are adorned with decorations and gifts as shopping ramps up to the big day.The annual Anglican Parish pop-up Christmas shop has opened in the old Cruise and Travel building at 55 Woodlark Street.The Anglican motto is 'Hand Made, Hand Grown or Hand Baked', so you can be sure there are not only good quality gift ideas but a lot of love has gone into creating each item.The gifts that you buy are not made in a matter of weeks. Dawn Back, Treasurer and a Warden at the Anglican Church in Lismore, said they have already started collecting materials and items for Christmas 2025. So, the creation of some of the gifts for sale began in 2023."We've got lots of craft ideas, Christmas decorations, we've got plants, and a lot of the plants are refreshed every day and are reasonably priced. We have loads of cakes, Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings, we have a group of eight or nine people who normally start cooking those by the end of August."Then, every day, we get fresh cooking in from a lot of our parishioners. It just depends on what they cook and what they bring in on the day. So, it could be a surprise, but it's usually very, very nice and very tasty. Our lady that does the scones, the pumpkin scones, comes in fresh every second day. And date loaves, too."We have lemon butter, passion fruit butter, pickles, honey. We get a shipment from the Little Brothers at Tabulam. They have chillies, honey and jams. They send them to us. We pay for them, then we sell them at the same cost and that helps them out."We have coat hangers, we have kitchen towels, we have nativity scenes on blankets. Everything's got to be handmade, hand grown or hand baked."All the money raised from the pop-up shop goes to the Anglican Church, who distribute it to their missions."Our missions are generally Australian missions. We have things like the Anglicare Affordable Building Fund, CMF and BCA (Bush Church Australia), which is an Anglican organisation. They have ministers in outlying places in Australia, whether it's Western Australia, Queensland, outwest New South Wales, in the remote areas."We usually pick one local charity and give a portion of the money to them as well. And it's not only our pop-up shop, its also our Op-Shop at Goonellabah (Rous Road). Last year, we distributed $50,000 in donations. Last year, it was Our Kids that got a sixth of all our mission money.This year's charity will be decided after this Tuesday's parish council.The Anglican Church is also putting on Bethlehem Revisited, a recreation of Christmas, on Saturday, December 21 from 5:30pm."We dress up. We've got all uniforms, angels, Roman soldiers, all different things. And that goes part of it as well. We just try to be a shining light of Christ in Lismore."We've got a lot of a lot of parishioners that are helpful and dedicated, and we're all out there for the same reason, which is giving back to our community."(Deidre, Dawn, Lyn and Narelle, just a few of the many people giving their time in the Christmas pop-up shop) The Anglican Christmas pop-up shop is at 55 Woodlark Street, in the old Cruise & Travel building. Be quick, as it is open until Friday, November 29.You will find them open Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm and Saturdays from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

NSW Farmers is calling for urgent action to eradicate fire ants after yet another detection of the insidious pests on the North Coast. According to the NSW Government, Red Imported Fire Ants were discovered in pallets of turf being installed this week on a private property at Byron Bay, 53 kilometres from the Queensland border. In an official statement, the government said the NSW Fire Ant Program team located and removed six queens as well as worker ants from turf on the property, after landscape contractors detected and reported the ants at the site.NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said it was yet another critical breach of the state’s biosecurity controls, further endangering lives and livelihoods. “Red Imported Fire Ants are an incredibly dangerous invasive pest – they are a threat to people, animals and the environment, and they must be eradicated as quickly as possible,” Mr Martin said. “These insidious pests can damage agricultural equipment, sting livestock, ruin the natural environment, and pose a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of all people in NSW, so we simply cannot keep letting them slip through our borders.“This is the third detection we’ve seen in less than a year, and enough is enough – they cannot come back again.”Mr Martin called on federal and state governments to ensure every resource was available to support eradication efforts. “NSW Farmers has been calling for increased efforts and competent resources to secure prompt eradication of these ants, and our calls cannot continue to fall on deaf ears,” Mr Martin said.“DPIRD, with the full support of other critical agencies, must act quickly to eradicate these pests as they did at Port Botany in 2014, or else it’s the whole community that will face the consequences.“Enforcing our biosecurity rules must be a top priority for governments, and anyone found to be doing the wrong thing and spreading these pests must be prosecuted.”People across Australia are strongly encouraged to remain vigilant for Red Imported Fire Ants and are reminded of their legal responsibility to comply with biosecurity orders. Suspected fire ant sites in NSW should be reported to the NSW Government on 1800 680 244.

The storms this week have kept the SES and Essential Energy decidedly busy. Last night's storm centred over Federal with pockets of blackouts, damage all over and reports of 4cm hail in Goonellabah and 4-5cm in Bangalow.The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting further thunderstorms tonight, possibly severe, with some recommendations from the SES if you have time to prepare. The worst of tonight's thunderstorm activity will be in South East Queensland and the border ranges of Northern NSW, so Murwullimbah way.Scott McLennan, the Incident Controller from the SES told the Lismore App, “The storms have been hectic, ferocious and quite intense in some locations. During the week, the whole zone has had approximately 140 jobs, and 70 of those came through last night.”Main Arm Public School was damaged in last night's storm, and there were a few areas around Lismore with trees down. The winds that accompanied these storms were strong - at Lismore Airport around 4pm, the wind was blowing at over 50km/h and gusting up to 85 km/h. Strong winds are expected to be with us for the days to come.Scott warns that more severe storms, including damaging winds, are expected between 1pm and 9pm this afternoon. “Power outages are one of those things expected once more, so consider what they will do should the power go out.”The worst is expected at the border, around Tumbulgum.(Hail falling in Goonellabah yesterday where 4cm size hail was recorded)In these storms, “There could be some hail, but the issue is going to be damaging winds because everything is so wet at the moment, and there's been a lot of wind from yesterday. “A lot of people's gutters and drains are all now blocked with leaves and debris. So it's an opportunity, while the sun is shining, to quickly clear your gutters, clear your drains, and expect another storm today.”The weather pattern will continue over the weekend.“Tomorrow, there should be just some isolated showers, but we're looking at more storms coming in on Sunday. Ahead of that, there's going to be some significant winds on Saturday and Sunday.”Dangers include unsecured items being blown around and battered trees and branches getting “tired” and coming down.Scott reminds people, “If it’s flooded, forget it.“There was one incident where someone did drive into a puddle of water and stalled, so they called in as a flood rescue, but they could actually walk out.“It happened in one of those storm drains. People love driving through a big puddle of water to create a big splash. It’s fun; however, in small cars, what generally happens is they stall and get stuck, and then they panic. “Don't try and plough through those puddles or flooded storm drains or causeways or culverts. You don't know what's underneath. There could be a big tree branch, or it could be something underneath that could flick up and damage your car, or it could be deeper than what you think it is.”The SES will be at the Resilient Lismore meeting tonight at South Lismore Bowling Club at 6pm.The Lismore App will notify its readers of any thunderstorm warning as soon as it is published by the Bureau of Meteorology.