As New South Wales enters the festive season, the NSW Government is asking the community to help them in their ongoing work to create a safer New South Wales by looking out for one another and standing together against domestic, family and sexual violence. Data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) is a sobering reminder that while for many this is a period of joy where loved ones come together to celebrate the holiday season, there will be some who do not feel safe in their own homes; who are victims of domestic and family violence.The data highlights the heightened risk of assault during public holidays in New South Wales, with a significant spike in domestic and family violence expected over the Christmas and New Years period. Sadly, Christmas Day and Boxing Day have historically seen 78% more domestic violence-related assaults than on the average day.New Year's Day sees a projected increase of 118% for domestic violence-related assaults and a 166% increase in non-domestic violence-related assaults.This increase is uniformly seen across public holidays in the state, with a 62% increase in domestic violence-related assaults on Australia Day and ANZAC Day. For non-domestic violence-related assaults, there is an increase of 89% and 78%, respectively on these days.As the community joins together in celebrations over the holiday period, where many will be consuming alcohol, the NSW Government is asking that everyone plays a part in ensuring that all members of the community are safe and respected. If you witness unacceptable behaviour, call it out.If you are concerned about the safety of someone you know or your own, please contact:The NSW Domestic Violence Line on: 1800 656 463Or, 1800 RESPECT on: 1800 737 732If it is an emergency, please contact Triple Zero: 000Every single person has a right to safety, and the NSW Government urges anyone who needs support or help over the holiday period to reach out for it.The Government genuinely understands its responsibility to unrelentingly work to address domestic and family violence across the state, but while that work continues, they are asking the community to help.Over this holiday period the Government is asking the community to check on their loved ones, to not ignore signs of concerning behaviour, and to help them in their ongoing work towards creating a safer New South Wales. Minister for Police Yasmin Catley said, "This data is a devastating reminder of the urgent importance of action to address domestic and family violence across the state.“To our state’s police who will continue to work over this period to keep our community safe, to those who will be at the end of the phone when someone reaches out for help, to those in our health system who will offer urgent care over this period, thank you.“Our state’s police stand with the NSW Government in having zero tolerance for domestic and family violence and are working hard every single day and night to do their bit to address this crisis facing our state, but they cannot do it alone. "If you think someone might be in trouble, don’t stay silent—speak up. Talk to someone, contact the police, and take action. Every single person has a role to play in creating a safer New South Wales.” Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, said, “As we end 2024, we must reassert our commitment to address domestic and family violence in all communities across our state.“The NSW Government is committed to taking meaningful and ongoing action to ensure women across our state are safe, but we know we cannot do this without the community’s help.“The data released today is sobering, but it is more than data, each statistic is a person who has had their right to safety taken away from them where they should feel safest.“We will continue to work across the entire government, across party lines, with victim-survivors, experts and advocates to urgently address this crisis.“But Government policy alone is not enough. To create lasting cultural change, we need every member of the community to join us in this work to create a safer New South Wales.”New South Wales Women’s Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said, "The holiday season should be a joyful time for us all to gather with family and friends. However, it is also one of the most high-risk periods for people experiencing domestic and family violence. "Over the coming weeks, many women and children will be living in fear for their safety in their own homes, and police and support services will be working tirelessly to deal with increased rates of domestic and family violence. This is totally unacceptable and it takes a heavy toll on families."If you are experiencing violence or abuse, you do not have to face this alone. Help and support is available."And if you are concerned that your own behaviour might be putting the safety of family members at risk, there are services to call who can help you to change."I encourage everyone to look after each other during this holiday period. Together, as a community, we can work to end domestic and family violence and ensure that everyone is safe and respected."

Six months ago, Tracy Ward was a woman with a vision. The vehicle to make that happen was a post office and her imagination.Tracy’s vision was to make “Hearts soar higher than a river ever could”. She never expected just how high that would be.  With children's excitement surrounding her Christmas “Nice List” and the tasks for the elderly in the community, she transformed “Ettie” (named after its first postmistress) into a gingerbread house.Tracy’s efforts have been recognised within the community, statewide and internationally.The 2022 floods severely impacted Tracy’s life. Another challenge in a life that has not been easy. But Tracy’s courage, vision and effort to not lose sight of her dream has been “successful beyond words.”“For as much as people think that I bring joy to the community, this community has saved me and my family.  “Lismore has stood by me.“You’ve held me and this space in which people are allowing me to create, allowing me to be exactly who I am, and asking nothing of me other than a smile - this place where I feel so fully accepted and safe standing in my own presence exactly as I am.If you haven't seen Ettie, yet, make sure you get down to see the whole effect...“I am home for the first time in my life. I am home.”Tracy has worked exceedingly hard for weeks to make a special Christmas event happen, and on the big day when the Rail Trail opened, and Santa was due to arrive at the Post Office, she spent the morning in hospital with one broken and two dislocated fingers!  Just making it back in time, Tracy got to see the Mayor, Steve Krieg, as a jolly Santa, making the children laugh and show pure delight when they got to ring the Santa Bell. Tracy also got to take in her daughters, stepping up their own efforts for the community.The various works Tracy has been involved in have seen countless words of appreciation from the community, and more formal acknowledgement has started coming in. Australia Post has voted her on the NSW State Council for licensed post offices in Australia. “That is a big deal, even for someone that has been at post for 20 years. I feel very privileged to be recognised.”The Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University has recognised her efforts, and Tracy has been awarded the 2024 Dean’s Honour List. Tracy was surprised and honoured to receive the award for Outstanding Achievement in her studies where she is currently working towards supporting children's experiences in a program called Quantum Kids.“It’s about offsetting the long-term implications of adverse childhood experiences with the objective of lowering the occurrence of domestic violence, a subject close to my heart."Last week saw Tracy recognised in a competition she didn’t know existed, let alone entered into - the National Christmas Lights Display competition. This has generated global attention, and on Saturday, CNN was at the Post Office wanting to speak with Tracy about it.  One of Tracy’s goals was to make Ettie into an Australian Icon. She has had visitors from interstate and even overseas, but having a global media network on her doorstep was something she never counted on. Tracy is delighted that Lismore is being recognised internationally for more than the 2022 floods.Tracy's youngest daughter, Heidi, played Santa at the light up. (Image Credit; Tracy Ward)However, Tracy acknowledges that recovery is still very real and is particularly concerned about the younger generation who had the double whammy of covid and floods.“There is a whole generation of children that didn't get to go to birthday parties. They didn't get to go to circuses or movies or understand what it was to go to a show and look at the chickens.”In Tracy’s eyes, this reality makes the children's efforts even more impressive. “We actually achieved 960 Christmas cards for our elderly and underprivileged residents. That’s a spectacular effort.“We wanted to hit 1000, but we aren't finished, we've still got a couple of days before Christmas.”Posting letters for Santa and the community on the Rail Trail opening day.There is one thing that concerns Tracy about her new venture, and that is whether or not Ettie can survive another flood. Tracy has been applying for grants to get her lifted.  “I am working tirelessly to achieve a grant.“If we can't raise her, we may not be able to sustain her through another big flood event, and that would be absolutely devastating.“Not just because it's the hub of our community and my personal family business, but mostly because she's been there since 1880 - she has served the community for that long, and she served it largely with single women at the helm.”There is a way for people to help, and Tracy asks, ”We need loads of support—letters of support from the community. If you love us, if we've served you well, and if you'd love to see us continue to operate, write that letter.“From your business, write that letter personally from your family, flood us with support so we can take it to all of the grants that are available and demonstrate how incredibly important Ettie is to the community.”Tracy is fighting for more than a building.“Every day I go to work, and I'm happy. Every day, my customers come in, and they laugh with us. If you gave me any job on the planet, I don't think I would ever find myself as happy and as at home as I am in Ettie at South Lismore.”

Just over twelve months ago, Lismore City Council voted to explore Balanced Regional Model C as its preferred waste management model and strategy.A year later, one significant change forced council to move from C to Balanced Regional Model A.The catalyst for the change was the one-off $5 million state government grant to council to purchase nine (9) new garbage trucks fitted with the latest technology. Before this grant was allocated, due to its financial position and the $ 5 million cost of replacing its ageing fleet of waste trucks, the decision was made to outsource kerbside pickup.So, Balanced Regional Model C was adopted at the last council meeting.Council has been reviewing its waste strategy and management plan. It is taking time to focus on the long-term viability of its waste decisions to benefit the community, not just in the next five years but well into the future.Lismore City Council's Chief Operating Officer, Brendan Logan, sat down for a chat about its waste facility and the options that are being discussed in our Talking Lismore podcast.Council is now working to understand the suitability of the Wyrallah Road landfill site and is considering both greenfield and brownfield sites as alternatives.Due to the damage done to Cell 2B and the constant rain that hinders council's chances of performing a full lining assessment, which includes EPA issues, they have discovered the lifespan of the Wyrallah Road site is shorter than expected. This left Mr Logan and his team to investigate other options. Blakebrook Quarry is one of those options.Blakebrook Quarry is much larger than Wyrallah Road and could lead to regional solutions if the opportunity arose.“Any decision would need to consider environmental constraints and the capacity to accommodate a waste facility and quarry operations simultaneously,” Mr Logan added.Mr Logan also discussed the council's plans for recycling and organics processing. He noted that the council recently shut down its materials recycling facility (commonly known as the MURF) due to safety concerns and is currently temporarily sending its recycling material up to Chinderah. However, he raised concerns about the long-term viability of recycling at Wyrallah Road and suggested that the site could be better utilised. The goal is to minimise the percentage of waste that goes into landfill. Technology now says that 90+% of waste can be recycled. Currently, Lismore City Council's number is around 70%.“I saw an announcement by Premier Minns a couple of weeks ago about a heavy industry manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Wollongong,” Logan said. “And I read the article and looked at the footprint down there in the industrial zone, and thought, well, we could have something similar for recycling and a circular economy in Lismore."Mr Logan also discussed the council's plans for organic waste processing and noted that the council is working with the Byron Bay Council to explore potential solutions. He said that the council is making small investments in its shredding and compost support infrastructure to ensure that it can continue to provide the service at Wyrallah Road. However, it is also exploring emerging technologies that could be used to process organic waste more efficiently.The process of moving our waste facilities back online may take longer than expected, but the end result may be worth waiting for.Hear the complete podcast by clicking Talking Lismore podcast.

People who live in or are visiting Northern NSW are being urged to take simple precautions to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 during the holiday period.Early indications suggest that COVID-19 activity will continue to increase in the coming weeks across the state, including in Northern NSW.The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report shows there were 150 COVID-19 cases reported in Northern NSW in the week ending 14 December 2024, compared with 110 for the week prior.Director of North Coast Population and Public Health, Dr Valerie Delpech said people should be alert for cold or flu-like symptoms as the statistics represent only a small proportion of the actual number of people with COVID-19.“The Report shows Northern NSW had the highest rate of COVID-19 in the state for the week ending 14 December,” Dr Delpech said.“With extra people visiting our region for the holiday period and gathering together, we want to ensure people take steps to protect themselves and those around them from COVID-19.”We want to remind the community of these simple measures to protect themselves and others:Stay up to date with your recommended COVID-19 vaccinationsStay home if you are sick, and wear a mask if you need to leave homePeople with cold or flu symptoms should avoid visiting high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, or people who are at higher risk of severe illness.Gather outdoors or in well-ventilated indoor settings.People should talk with their doctor if they are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. Their doctor may recommend a PCR test if they get sick, and they may be eligible for antivirals.Regular COVID-19 vaccinations are the best way to maintain your protection against severe illness from COVID-19. They are especially important for anyone aged 65 years or older and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19.To find out if you are recommended to get your next COVID-19 vaccination, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/health/covid-19/vaccination.

Natasha Shearer has been continuing her efforts to help those flood affected, and has made one more household happy by getting it finished off by Christmas.The flood-affected family was hesitant to go on the record - after almost three years of reclaiming their home, they are looking forward to putting the ordeal behind them. Still, it doesn’t make them less appreciative of Natasha and her team.Natasha feels the appreciation; it keeps her motivated. “My highlight is putting smiles on those in need the most, especially during Christmas," she said.Natasha and her helpers made a list of people that they wanted to help after the floods, and she is still working through that list, “I promised them I was going to do something.” Natasha's principle is as simple as that.“We keep going and see people whenever we can, it might be a whole weekend, or to go down to paint a house, or I'll get a plumber in, or whatever.”There are still things that have been donated or are being donated that are being distributed, “And then we've got different people who don't want to be acknowledged, but behind the scenes that will pay for different things.”That helps when donated goods aren’t enough - to hire a tradesperson to get a job done. A couple of organisations have recently given acknowledgement to Natasha's efforts.Resilient Lismore sent gratitude to those they have worked with, and Natasha received a well-deserved recognition.Elly Bird, the Executive Director of Resilient Lismore, said, “We've worked alongside Natasha since the 2022 floods. “We worked together to distribute significant amounts of goods into the community, and she's been forced to be reckoned with. She has always done everything out of the goodness of her heart, and her contribution to the recovery can't be understated.”Natasha lives in Queensland, and has since before the floods. She comes to Lismore for family and mob and those who need help.  Her children attend a school in Bilambil, and she travels to keep her children in the school where they were before the move to QLD to keep them happy and secure. Jeff Robinson, the Principal of Bilambal Public School, has worked with Natasha, and his description of her efforts speaks to her dedication to those she cares for - community - in another aspect of her community spirit in action“She's one of the only people I know that would literally give you the shirt off her back if she felt that you needed her more than she did. She's just the most beautiful soul, most gorgeous person giving of her time, of her possessions and things that she can organise for you. Natasha perform with the Caring for Country dance troup at the Murwillumbah kinship festival, which she involved many members from Bilambil Public School.‘We have a Community Contributor award. So, usually, that goes to a PNC member or people who are involved in the school in a voluntary capacity. This year, there were a couple of nominations, but the vote for Natasha was unanimous.“She's the sort of person who just is so community-minded. In particular, since the floods her charitable work in sourcing resources from businesses and individuals from across the Gold Coast and in the Tweed area to help and support the people in Lismore in particular was just astounding.”Natasha has also been very active in strengthening her indigenous culture in the school and community. “At NAIDOC, with our artworks and yarning circle and the country dance group. We love having her and her kids as part of that. She's so generous with her time and efforts - just incredible.”If you want to find Natasha to help her in her mission, the best place to find her is on Facebook.

Local man Charlie Pickford has started a family burger joint in Lismore’s Woodlark St, and it looks and smells amazing.Charlie, his siblings and friends are having a lot of fun with the new business.Charlie has a thing for burgers, “I just like burgers. I like eating them. I thought I could make a pretty good one. Lismore didn't really have many burgers for a bit, so I thought I’d open a burger shop.“So, originally, I had a food truck where I was selling burgers out of. We had a lot of customers, but the wait was getting long.“Now that we have a shop, it all goes smoother - much faster, and it's a lot easier.”Charlie is serious about burgers. He has a good menu with variety, but it is a work in progress. And he sets a high standard for burger quality…“I tried to make a veggie burger. It's really good, but I feel like it wasn't good enough to put on the menu, so I’m holding off on that. We've got a good vegetarian population around here to think about. The Garden Plate do a veggie burger really well. I loved mine, but I want it to fit the standard of the other burgers.”Asking about his recommendations, Charlie instantly made a couple, “ The double special is really good. Spicy Charlie, that's my favourite chicken burger. And the loaded fries, they're always good.”Charlie is learning the ropes in his business, but his passion for good food drives him.“I always really wanted to do something with food and business, and I was the guy who likes making burgers. It’s fun!”Charlie has his brother, Alby, and sister, Molly, as well as friends working with him at the shop. Aspects of the business are still being completed - like the interior. There is some great artwork going up on the walls.“Kyahna's a great artist. She's not finished yet, but it’s coming along, really nicely.”Charlie is also considering an ice cream bar. So when you call in for a bite, let him know if you think it is a good idea or not….

The federal government has made changes to international student visa processing. A move that has been welcomed by regional and smaller universities across the country, including Southern Cross University (SCU).The Government will replace Ministerial Direction 107 with Ministerial Direction 111. The changes will give regional and smaller unis fairer access to international students.SCU Vice-Chancellor Tyrone Carlin told the Lismore App that Ministerial Direction 107 was regarded as very damaging to SCU and other regional universities."Our strong view to government was in the absence of your legislation for caps, you know that 107 is doing enormous damage to regional universities. You know that it is privileging a small group of very well-established metro institutions. That connection between the passage of the caps legislation and the removal of 107 is just untenable. And I'm really happy that they've heeded that and moved on to what is now Directive 111.Ministerial Direction 111 basically means that people from overseas applying for a student visa are now being prioritised to join regional universities, like SCU, whereas 107 deprioritised them and prioritised a city uni in Sydney or Melbourne."So, that means that for the immediate future, the visa applications that will be lodged by applicants to Southern Cross University will be accorded the same priority as for all other universities. Now, that state of affairs doesn't go forever. It lasts until you reach a certain threshold of volume. But for us, for the commencement of next year, just in our own case, that's a really, really helpful boost to the year."And then once you get above the magic 80% of your notional cap target, they're still referring back to the caps that they would have liked to legislate for, but they cannot enforce these on a hard basis, then all they do is they revert the priority that is accorded to processing visas for your institution back to what they call standard."Now, we don't know exactly what that means yet. But, the first part of that equation is clearly more favourable for us than the predecessor regime, and it seems to me that the second part of that equation can't be any less favourable. So, the net for an institution like Southern Cross, that's good news."In terms of the Lismore, that should mean more international students on campus."One of the really pleasing things for us because we've introduced a new Masters of Nursing Program that's being offered here at Lismore for the first time in 2025, is we're seeing a more than doubling of our anticipated international students who'll be coming to study at Lismore in 2025."And that's even at this early stage. So, with the relaxation of the visa regime, that will give us still more opportunity to try and get people to come to Lismore. And that's a good thing from my perspective."That is a good thing, not only for SCU but also for Lismore itself.

We all knew the announcement that the first lot of flood-affected houses purchased through the NSW Reconstruction Authority's Resilient Homes Program (RHP) would be put up for sale was coming. That announcement was made today.Anyone can purchase and relocate the 29 homes through an Expression of Interest (EOI), although priority will be given to people impacted by the 2022 big flood.There is a range of homes on offer in different states of repair, from charming old timber homes with polished floor boards and painted walls to those needing more work to bring them back to their former glory.Many homes feature front verandas, high ceilings, and traditional features. From quaint to grand, this first release offers homes in a variety of sizes and styles.In Lismore, 440 house buybacks have been completed, with another 87 accepted. So, the 29 homes are the first of what is expected to be hundreds to be put on the market to be sold and relocated.Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin explained that each house has to be assessed for safety."Each house that's been bought back, if it's not one of the ones to be relocated, people taking it with them, a gifted one, then it's assessed for safety from asbestos, all sorts of things. Once it goes through that assessment that has been hazmat assessed too, then it can deemed to go on the market. So, it just takes a while to work through that process. But, it should be hundreds and hundreds.""Not being a hazmat expert myself," Ms Saffin laughs, "What I look and see, and what I hear, I think that there'll be that many, and that will be great to have them sold for people to live in them. Some could go eventually, when the land's developed, to East Lismore. I know some people in Nimbin who want some, and I've had a lot of people over the year or so telling me they're interested and I just send them all through to the RA."Under the NSW Government's 'Steps in the EOI process', it says, "Relocation of the home must be undertaken by the buyer within 12 months of purchase as per the conditions of the contract."With the Mt Pleasant Estate in Goonellanbah the only site ready for house relocations, and four have already been moved with no more to be accepted, there are no other Resilient Lands Program (RLP) sites available. The likelihood of anything being ready for house relocations within 12 months, such as North Lismore, is highly unlikely as the infrastructure has to be built. The MOU that was signed with SCU for the East Lismore site has not progressed to a contract, so that is more than 12 months away.That leaves people with the only option to purchase a block of land on the open market to relocate their historic old Lismore home.However, Ms Saffin said she encourages people to negotiate with the NSWRA about their individual circumstances if they have intentions of purchasing an RLP block of land. It may not be a cut-and-dry decision.According to the website, the EOI submissions will be assessed by an evaluation panel. This process will be overseen by an Independent Probity Advisor.All eligible EOIs will be assessed against the following weighted criteria: buyer type (40% weighting), buyer readiness (40%) and financial offer (20%). The highest-ranked EOI submission for each home will be invited to enter contract negotiations with RA to purchase the home.The RA has appointed local real estate agent PRD Northern Rivers to market and manage the sale of the homes in the Northern Rivers.The EOI opens today, 22 December 2024. The homes will be displayed on the PRD Northern Rivers website and will be open for inspection prior to the EOI closing on 14 February 2025. For more information, go to the RA’s website at www.nsw.gov.au/relocatable-homes-eoi or PRD Northern Rivers at www.prd.com.au/northernrivers/relocation-homes.  Ms Saffin said, "I'm happy that it's happened before Christmas because a lot of people say, what's going to happen with the houses on the ground? They want to see movement for all sorts of reasons, and there is movement at the station (laughs) for the word has got around."Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “Making sure that people have access to homes that are safely located away from floodplains is an important part of future-proofing our communities in areas like the Northern Rivers.“This initiative is an inventive way of keeping the homes within the region for future generations to enjoy.“Relocating and reusing these homes and giving them a new lease on life is something this community wants to see happen.”Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said, “This important work in the Northern Rivers is being undertaken to preserve the sense of community as well as provide better protection from future floods. “Through this plan, we are helping to retain and conserve older character-filled buildings as well as homes which hold significance to the community, something so clearly articulated to us by locals who love the sense of history.“By relocating these houses away from floodplains, we are saving a home while also moving it to a safer area, with those impacted by the 2022 floods prioritised under the EOI process.” 

A specialised mental health service for young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system is being expanded to regional areas of NSW, including Lismore to foster better outcomes and prevent youth crime and incarceration.The Justice Health NSW Safeguards Service will establish dedicated regional hubs to help vulnerable young people access on-site care in Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Lismore, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle.The program currently provides mental health assessment and treatment for at-risk youth in the Sydney metropolitan area, while young people in the regions typically rely on telehealth clinics for psychiatry support.The expanded service will provide young people aged up to 17 years and their families with direct access to a range of health services, including psychiatry, social work, occupational therapy, psychology and Aboriginal mental health care.It addresses a unique and often unmet area of need among youth in crisis, working to improve their mental health and strengthen relationships within the community and family unit.The regional hubs will build on the successful metropolitan service, which has received more than 150 referrals during its 14 months of operation. From these, more than 100 young people have been provided with mental health support, and many were connected to other community-based health services for ongoing care.The NSW Government is investing almost $110 million over four years to roll out 25 Safeguards teams across NSW. The Justice Health NSW Safeguards Service, with its focus on improving community safety, is part of the broader Safeguards Program which provides services to children and teenagers across NSW experiencing acute mental health distress and their families and carers.Minister for Mental Health and Youth Rose Jackson said, “The expansion of Justice Health’s Safeguards service to Dubbo, Lismore, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle acknowledges that vulnerable young people in the regions typically face obstacles in accessing specialised, wraparound care.“This innovative program doesn’t only work to address the serious mental health challenges faced by some young people – it also provides interventions that can prevent future encounters with the justice system.“By making sure these young people have access to mental health support when they need it most, we can help change the trajectory of their lives – improving long-term outcomes for these youth, their families and communities.”Justice Health NSW Chief Executive Wendy Hoey said, The expansion of our Safeguards Team into regional areas will help more young people stay out of the criminal justice system. It will support their family and community connections and encourage them to engage with health services where they live.“This service allows us to intervene early to reduce the number of young people facing court and ensure they get the right care at the right time.“We look forward to working with key stakeholders and the community to extend this important service into regional NSW and to support more vulnerable people get the care they deserve.”

Our Kids have received an early Christmas gift with the announcement of SEE Civil as an Our Kids Platinum Partner, committing to the partnership for three years to support mission and work of Our Kids, and particularly Our Kids' signature events.Joel Barnes, Chief Operating Officer of SEE Group, recently visited Our Kids and the sister charity Our House to see first-hand the incredible impact their contribution will have on families in the Northern Rivers."At SEE Civil, we believe in building stronger communities - not just through the work we do on our projects but by supporting great initiatives that directly impact local families. Our Kids is a great organisation, doing great things, and we're honoured to be part of such a meaningful cause, contributing to the future for the children and families of the Northern Rivers," Mr Barnes said.SEE Civil, as part of SEE Group, is a family-built and local group of companies that was started in the Tweed over 36 years ago. It has offices in the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Northern New South Wales. SEE Civil delivers major infrastructure, urban development, and mining projects across Queensland and New South Wales.Rebekka Battista, Our Kids Fundraising Coordinator, thanked SEE Civil for their willingness to partner with Our Kids.“SEE Civil’s contribution and support will help Our Kids to raise funds to purchase equipment for local Children’s Wards and Special Care Nurseries,” Rebekka said.“Thank you to the SEE Civil team; we appreciate all your support in helping our kids stay local when they need medical care. Welcome to the Our Kids Family.”SEE Civil joins fellow Our Kids Platinum Partners: Southern Cross University, North Coast Petroleum, Connect Business Solutions, Hurfords Harwood, Far North Coast Law Society and Bryon Bay Coffee Company.If you would like to know more about Our Kids or you are interested in becoming a financial or in-kind Our Kids Platinum Partner, please contact the Our Kids team on 0438 417 085 or info@ourkids.org.au.

Families planning to welcome a new cat or dog into their household this festive season are being urged to “Adopt, Don’t Shop”, and help pets in council pounds and rehoming facilities find fur-ever homes.Adopting from a pound or rehoming facility rather than buying from a pet shop or breeder is a great way to welcome a new pet into your family and give them a brighter future.It can also help take the burden off council pounds and rehoming facilities which are continuing to experience challenges with high numbers of animals being surrendered.  Data from the Office of Local Government shows more than 3,837 dogs and 4,473 cats found forever homes after being adopted through council pounds in the year to 30 June 2024.To adopt a pet, contact your local council for information on council pounds, or visit the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, Cat Protection Society or another approved rehoming organisation.In the lead-up to the festive season, current and prospective pet owners are also being urged to ensure their pets are microchipped and registered.Ensuring your details are correct is an important part of responsible pet ownership and can help reunite owners with pets if they go missing during a family holiday or get spooked by fireworks.Registration is free of charge for desexed cats and dogs adopted from pounds, animal shelters and approved rehoming organisations.Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “I’d strongly encourage anyone hoping to find a pet dog or cat under the tree this year to consider adopting.“When it comes to Christmas presents, it’s hard to think of a better gift than giving a pet a second chance at life.“There are many cats and dogs in council pounds and rehoming facilities, and I hope everyone looking to buy a pet will consider adoption instead.“It’s important to remember that owning a pet is a significant responsibility, and I urge anyone who does get a pet for Christmas to make sure they’re ready to take on that commitment.”

While Christmas is top of mind for the majority of the Northern Rivers, it won't be long before the 2025 Federal Election becomes a priority for the Liberal/National, Labor and Greens parties and the Independents who will run.The federal election is expected to take place in March, April, or May of next year, with the Prime Minister having the discretion to call the election within that timeframe.Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan talked to the Lismore App in its podcast Talking Lismore about the cost of living, flood mitigation, vaping legislation and aged care facilities.Cost of Living is shaping up to be a key issue in the election, or at least one that the Liberal National Party are expected to focus on during its campaign.Mr Hogan said according to independent research, the average Australian family is over $35,000 worse off per year compared to three years ago. This significant financial strain is attributed to a series of 12 interest rate increases, which have resulted in an average mortgage cost increase of over $20,000 per year for families. The rising cost of energy and food, among other essential goods and services, has further exacerbated the financial burden on households.The Liberal National Party believes that the current Labor government has not adequately addressed the cost of living crisis and has, in fact, contributed to the problem by implementing policies like the Truckie Tax, which they claim has increased transportation costs and, consequently, consumer prices. The party argues that excessive government spending contributes to inflationary pressures, further impacting the cost of living.Mr Hogan said the Liberal National Party proposes to target cost-of-living relief by removing the Truckie Tax and alleviating inflationary pressures by controlling government spending. They believe these measures will contribute to lower interest rates and ultimately provide financial relief to struggling families.While cost of living will be a focus for the opposition, Mr Hogan feels nuclear power will be a focus of attack from Labor and The Greens.He believes that the Australian public is open to the idea of nuclear power despite Labor and the Greens' opposition. Mr Hogan cited his own experience, saying that he does not receive any emails about nuclear energy, but receives many emails about the cost of living.Mr Hogan argues that his party's plan for nuclear energy is cheaper than the Labor Party's plan for renewable energy and would result in lower energy prices over time. He referenced a report by Frontier Economics, which supports his claim that his plan is cheaper than Labor's. He also highlighted that 19 out of the top 20 economies in the world have plans for nuclear power, while Australia remains the only one without.When asked about flood mitigation and if a Liberal National party coalition would commit $1 to $2 billion dollars if a scenario took 1 metre or 1.5 metres of a future big flood, Mr Hogan said he would hope so."But it won't be easy because what they will look at and say is, well, we've just spent a billion dollars, and what's that achieved?" in reference to removing people off the floodplain through the Resilient Homes Program. Mr Hogan acknowledged the significant challenges ahead and feels that retention basins will be a real option as part of a scenario, one that will cause community disharmony for some sections of the region. He said there is a vocal minority who philosophically oppose engineering solutions to flood mitigation.A new coalition government would regulate vapes. Mr Hogan argues that the current prohibitionist approach to vaping, which requires a prescription from a doctor, is not working and is driving a black market. He believes that by regulating vapes and making them legal for adults over 18, the government could stamp out youth access and the involvement of organised crime.“We’ve tried to tell the Labor Party that’s not working. We believe in regulation,” Hogan said. “So what does regulation mean? Well, you can go, if you’re over 18, and buy a vape as an adult, like you can go and buy a drink.”Mr Hogan suggested taxing vapes to generate revenue for health programs. He compared this approach to the existing taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, suggesting that the government needs to be careful not to tax these products too much, as it could encourage black market activity and unsafe practices.According to the CEO of the Northern NSW Local Health District, the lack of aged care facilities is one of the main reasons for Lismore Base Hospital's decreasing performance in the emergency department. Aged care facilities is the responsibility of the federal government.Mr Hogan said the Liberal National Party is working on a bipartisan solution with the Labor government to solve the issue.The full Talking Lismore chat can be heard by clicking here.Kevin and Karen Hogan are spending their Christmas at the same local holiday spot as they have for the last 25 years, surrounded by family and friends. Kevin has three weeks to recharge the batteries before a busy election cycle kicks into gear early in 2025.Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Lismore App

Fishers from the Tweed to Yamba are gearing up for a big summer of fishing, with the annual deployment of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) along the NSW coast now complete.FADs are GPS-tracked floating buoys anchored to the ocean floor that are effectively ‘fish magnets’.Some prized pelagic fish, including mahi-mahi (dolphinfish), wahoo and tuna, are attracted to floating objects, which makes FADs so effective.Each year ahead of summer, FADs are strategically placed along the NSW coast to provide reliable locations for fishers, especially those targeting the much sought-after Dolphinfish or Mahi Mahi. The FADS remain in the water until early winter, when they are removed for routine maintenance, including cleaning, fitting the GPS systems on individual FAD buoys and replacing anchors, chains and ropes.   FADs are a NSW Government initiative run by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) with support from the Recreational Fishing Trust. Funds raised from the recreational fishing licence fee are placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts, with the money spent on projects to improve fishing opportunities and recreational fishing across NSW.Recreational fishers are encouraged to keep up to date on FAD deployments, coordinates and responsible fishing tips on the FishSmart app or at: https://bit.ly/3AU3aNP .They are also reminded to check the latest marine weather forecast before heading offshore to wet a line. NSW is home to more than a million recreational fishers. The industry contributes some $3.4 billion in economic activity each year and support the equivalent of 14,000 full-time jobs.Every year fishers pay their licence fee, which in turn is reinvested into enhancing recreational fishing opportunities, like the FADs program.For more information on the FADs program and the code of conduct for FAD fishing, visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/fish-aggregating-devices Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said, “FADs are the fish magnets of the ocean; Aquatic discos where the fish come to hook up.“Recreational fishers in NSW now have an even greater chance at fishing success, with the annual deployment of FADs now complete from the very top to the bottom of our State.“As well as improving fishing opportunities, FADs stimulate significant economic activity for the recreational fishing industry, providing a major boost to the fishing and tourism sectors in the coastal areas where they are deployed.“I encourage fishers to take the opportunity to visit a FAD site during the 2024-25 season and enjoy the great fishing that is delivered through this flagship program.”  

The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital (NRWH) had hoped to open its new facility in Wollongbar before Christmas. However, it has suffered delays with its build, so January is now the expected date.General Manager Bronte Potts and her team have learnt to be patient. The journey to build a top-class facility to treat wildlife and rehabilitate them started in 2019."That was by a really enthusiastic and passionate group of conservationists, vets, vet nurses, just people in the region who are passionate about wildlife. Since then, it's been quite a journey to find the perfect site to open a wildlife hospital on, and they've managed to, obviously, get this beautiful site on Crown land in Wollongbar," Bronte explained."We decided we wanted a site for the hospital that was to be centrally located in the region. So, being in Wollongbar, we've achieved that, and we'll be servicing seven local government areas, from Casino to Kyogle, Tweed Valley, along the coast and right down to Clarence Valley.(Jasmine Phillips - media and marketing for NRWH and General Manager Bronte Potts)"We're on five acres, and we've built this facility that's completely focused on the care and rehabilitation of wildlife specifically. So, a lot of thought has gone into the design and ensuring that it's going to be the perfect place for us to treat wildlife and rehabilitate it until we can get it out to the carer groups or released into the wild again."We're really close to being at that goal of opening. We're basically in the final stages of building; the floors are going down, the cabinetry is done, all the little bits and pieces and equipment are being sorted. So, we're, we're super close.While the construction of the NRWH building is phase one, the five acres of land it sits on means the facility will grow into one of the preeminent wildlife hospitals in NSW."We're definitely future-proofed in terms of having enough space to build rehabilitation enclosures as the region needs them, and there's already some facilities in the pipeline. Additionally, we're wanting to be able to plant out native species that we can feed to the more common species that we'll see here, so that we can keep their diets as natural as possible while they're in hospital.(Part of NRWH's 5 acres above the building will be used for wildlife rehabilitation in future years.)"There's room for emergency preparedness. Basically, a slab where we can have a field hospital should something like avian influenza hit Australia or hit this region. So, we'll be able to utilise that for any emergencies that arise or in the event of bushfires or floods, we could essentially set up a field hospital on our site."Bronte explained that the new building will have a triage space, a carer consultation room, a treatment room, an x-ray room, a surgical theatre and a wildlife food preparation room."We have a couple of staff rooms, one for sort of board meetings, and one just for breaks, tea breaks and lunches. And we also have a couple of different wildlife wards. We have a reptile Ward specifically, and we have two wards that we haven't decided exactly how those will be run, that will be for the staff to decide. And then we have an intensive care unit with some really impressive intensive care cages for those really sick animals when they initially come in."On top of that, NRWH has a wildlife hospital transport van to pick up wildlife taken to general practice to save time and expense for their carers."We'll also use it to get those patients backed into the care of the care organisations. As you can imagine, driving all over the region costs those carers a lot of money, and we're hoping to really help them out with that because local vets are under a lot of pressure as well. They often provide their services for free to treat wildlife, but the hospital will help alleviate at least a little bit of that pressure."Bronte gave advice to anyone who comes across an injured animal or bird over the festive and school holidays following a record number of callouts in recent months.“Increased traffic, warmer weather, summer storms, and the movement of many species during and post-peak breeding season make this a particularly dangerous time for our native animals,” Bronte told the Lismore App. “We’re seeing an unprecedented need for support, and everyone can play a role in making a difference.”The NRWH is encouraging the public to take some simple steps to help protect wildlife during the holidays. “Quick action and community awareness can mean the difference between life and death for these animals,” Bronte explained.Easy Ways to Help This Summer:Slow Down: With more cars on the road, animals are at greater risk of collisions, especially at dawn and dusk.Provide Water: Place shallow bowls of fresh water in shaded areas to help wildlife cope with heat stress.Look Out After Storms: Severe weather can displace wildlife, including baby birds knocked from nests or injured animals seeking shelter. Check your garden or property for any displaced or distressed wildlife, and contact a wildlife rescue service if you find an animal in need of assistance.Be Prepared: Keep a DR WILD card handy (available for free on the NRWH.com.au website) and download the IFAW Emergency Wildlife App to know what to do if you encounter an injured or orphaned animal.(The DR WILD card can be downloaded by clicking https://nrwh.com.au/resources/.)The NRWH is calling on community members to volunteer in 2025 to help meet the growing demand for wildlife care. Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles, including fundraising, and supporting hospital operations. “As a community-owned, not-for-profit organisation volunteers are the backbone of everything we do,” said Potts. “With the hospital nearing completion, we need hands on deck to ensure we can support the region’s wildlife effectively.”In addition to NRWH, local partner organisations like WIRES and other wildlife rescue groups are also seeking volunteers for critical roles such as wildlife care, transport, and phone support. For some roles, no experience isnecessary and even small amounts of volunteered time are much appreciated.With the NRWH hospital in Wollongbar set to open its doors in the new year, the not-for-profit organisation is currently running a Christmas Appeal to help get the doors open sooner, and the hospital fitted out with life-saving equipment.A generous Foundation Sponsor is matching every dollar donated by the public (up to $50,000), so a gift to wildlife this holiday season will go twice as far. You can donate to the NRWH’s campaign at https://www.givenow.com.au/end-of-year-christmas-appeal-2024.“We’re on the brink of something incredible for our wildlife,” said Potts. “2025 is going to be a game-changer, and we’re inviting everyone to join us in creating this wildlife legacy.”For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, visit www.nrwh.com.au.

This Christmas, the NSW Government is urging the community to consider becoming a foster carer. Right now, in NSW, there are 339 vulnerable children and young people living in emergency accommodation, children whose parents haven’t been able to provide the safety they deserve. The NSW Government relies on foster carers to provide children with the stability, care and support they need to thrive and fulfil their potential. Fostering is a chance to give these kids a brighter future, but we don’t have enough carers for these kids.Since coming into government, we have: Announced a total ban on Alternative Care Arrangements (ACAs), including hotels and motels, by March 2025Reduced the number of children placed in ACAs by 83% since November 2023, down to just 23 childrenReduced the number of children placed in all types of High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEAs) by 33 per cent since November 2023Opened the Waratah Care Cottages to better support children and sibling groups who are currently stuck in HCEAsFound safe homes for 849 children by commencing recruitment of more than 200 emergency foster carers after the former government stopped recruitingReleased a systems review that provides a roadmap for reform Despite significant progress, hundreds of children remain in emergency accommodation simply because there aren’t enough carers to meet the demand. While work is underway to fix the system, the government needs the community’s help to get there. Foster carers can come from all walks of life – you can be single, in a relationship, or have a family. It doesn’t matter if you rent or own your own home. Emergency care is a great way to get started, with placements ranging from one night to 12 weeks. Foster carers receive training, support and an allowance to help them throughout their care journey. In August, the Minns Labor Government also made paid parental leave available to NSW Government employees who are providing ongoing foster placements for children in OOHC. To learn about becoming a foster carer, go to nsw.gov.au/community-services/foster-relative-and-kinship-care/become-a-foster-carer Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said, "This Christmas, there will be more than 300 kids in emergency accommodation because there just aren’t enough foster carers. “We have found safe and caring homes for 849 children by recruiting 200 emergency carers, but we desperately need more. “If you want to change a child’s life, please consider becoming a foster carer. “I’m so grateful to all of the foster carers who are giving the best gift that they can give this Christmas - a safe and caring home to a vulnerable child. This gift could be yours to give by becoming a foster carer.”

When we get a break from work and go on holidays, it’s usually around the same time that crime opportunities arise. This year is no different.Socials have been reporting it, so the Lismore App looked into the facts of what is happening - what to look out for, what to do and the things that can make the summer holidays one to remember for all the right reasons.According to the BOCSAR crime statistics for Lismore, the most outstanding figure is the rise in break and enters over the last two years. It is reported to be up 78%. The next highest figure was breaching bail conditions at 38%, also over a two-year period.Richmond Police District Superintendent Scott Tanner confirms these figures and adds a couple more to be alert to that affect us at present, “We have had increases this year in break & enter and break & enter & steal in residences, stolen vehicles, and steal from retail. They are the three crime categories that have gone up the most, but that is on a 12-month average.”The Superintendent says that usually, the 5-year figure tells more of a trending figure, but those numbers are a little skewed with COVID - the numbers dropped dramatically at that point. They are rising to what they were, or pre-COVID levels - which also distorts break & enter 2-year percentage rise.Supt Tanner added, “Summer absolutely raises the risk of crime, and that's that's for a variety of reasons. Especially in this area, we get a large influx of people, causing more opportunistic crime.”People on holiday, especially camping, are more likely to leave things left around unattended.“Pushbikes, mobile phones and computers and anything left outside can be easily picked up.”The police really want to reinforce the need to lock up in summer, “and make sure your valuables are out of sight. Same thing when you're out shopping for the Christmas period.“What we've reiterated is the days of leaving your homes open are gone. That doesn't exist anywhere anymore. So make sure that your windows and doors are locked.”Recommended security measures around your home don't necessarily mean thousands of dollars on a full security system, ”The best deterrent is motion sensor lights because if the crook can be seen, they will leave. You can go to Bunnings and get a light for around $20 or $30.“A lot of people now have CCTV cameras, and they are really, really good.“And if you've got security alarms, ensure they are installed properly, activated and working.”If you are going away for holidays, it's wise to take some common sense precautions. “Make sure someone's checking on your house and removing mail and catalogues out of your mailbox.“If you can have timed lights that come on over night time or in the evening, it gives the impression that people are home. Go back to talking to your neighbours and let them know you're not going to be there, and they can keep an eye out for you.”It is easy to post things on social media for entertainment and shock value, so be mindful about what you believe and look for credible sources. The problem with social media is that it can distort actually what's happening.This is also a reminder that from yesterday, double demerits are being enforced. Superintendent Tanner can’t speak highly enough about the importance of taking care on the roads, “ There’s nothing worse than having to knock on someone's door and tell them their loved ones passed away while they've still got a Christmas tree up and presents under the tree.” That is their reality.Supt Tanner says, “Hopefully, we won't be busy. Because if we're having a quiet Christmas, that means the community is safe!”There are three ways to report any incident, and the police recommend that you report any incident:Online via the Community PortalBy calling 131 444 and reporting the incidentOr in an emergency, call 000

Finally, Lismore and the Northern Rivers will see a warm, sunny weekend!The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast blue sky with tops in the late 20's and early 30's after minimum temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees.Partly cloudy is the forecast for Christmas Day, with a perfect 26 degrees the top temperature.As you would expect, there is a lot of Christmas activity over the next two days.CAROLSThe Lismore Anglican Bethlem Revisited is on at the Lismore Anglican Church Hill tomorrow (Saturday) between 5pm and 8pm.There will be a petting zoo, carols, a sausage sizzle and Christmas cake.Carols by Candlelight is on at the Bexhill Open Air Cathedral from 7pm tomorrow.Christmas Carols are also on at the Uniting Coraki Community Church on Sunday from 6pm at 15 Adams Street.The Southern Cross Presbyterian Church Carols are also on Sunday from 6pm at Lismore High School, 118 Dalley Street, East Lismore.Now school holidays have started and work has finished for a lot of families, it may well be time to hop in the car for some Christmas Light sightseeing. Check out the list on the Lismore App Lights.The third-ever Alsonville Markets will be held at the Alstonville Showground (6 South Street) tomorrow between 8:30am and 2pm.You can search for Christmas gifts, artisans crafts and products, plants, clothing, family entertainment and more.The Lismore Farmers Markets will swing into action from 7:30 tomorrow at the Lismore Showground on Alexandra Parade, North Lismore.The CWA Lismore Evening Branch will be there, so look for Emily’s famous Ham Jam and Christmas Chutney, Susan’s sumptuous Shortbread, Kerry’s Gingerbread cookies and Helen’s beautiful Christmas cakes.You could also choose the CWA Cook Book for $25 or a CWA recipe Tea towel for $15.The Lismore Region Refuge Settlement Group have second-hand books for sale. Valentina has Italian treats, Nimbin Valley Dairy has cheeses, and the Raw Bee Company has locally-produced honeycomb.All that's on top of the fresh fruit and veg, breakfast and cook/tea.It is worth families checking out the new Gigadome at Heritage Park. The new climbing dome is undercover, with towers and rock walls. The water park and Heritage Train will be running over the weekend, too.For some live music, head to the Northern Rivers Hotel for Hello Ray Duo from 7pm tonight/ Al Cole's Drummer Not Included performs tomorrow night from 7 and the Sunday session is Pistol Whip between 1 and 4pm.The Lismore Workers Club live music returns in February 2025 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.The Christmas/New Year fuel price hikes have seen most types of fuel increase by at least four cents a litre this week, as the price of crude dropped $2.25 US a barrel in the last week.Here are the cheapest fuel options in each town:E10 is 178.9 at the 7-Eleven on Union Street, South Lismore, 169.9 at The United 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 and The Shell Goonellabah at 753 Ballina Road, 169.9 at The Ampol Casino on Dyraaba Street and 169.5 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, 184.9 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, 191.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and 188.9 at The Shell Ballina.Diesel is 173.9 at the Ampol Foodary at 237 Union Street, South Lismore and the Astron on Ballina Road, 182.9 at the Casino Roadhouse at 86 Johnston Street in Casino and 184.5 at The Metro and the Mobil in Ballina.Have a great weekend!

Yesterday's extraordinary Lismore City Council meeting was disrupted by members of the public who were unhappy with a council resolution.There were two rescission motions on the agenda yesterday. Item 11.1 was to rescind its decision from the December 10 meeting to remove all CSG and nuclear-free zone signs and replace them with more welcome or place signs, and 11.2 was to rescind councils decision on moving public access to 9am, before the meeting proper started and having it live streamed.The public gallery was full of people holding what looked to be CSG signs from the successful campaign in 2012, when 87% of the Lismore LGA voted against having a coal seam gas industry in the region.Four public speakers supported the rescission motion, saying how important it was to retain the signs as it part of Lismore's history and a tribute to the 87% who voted no to CSG.Mayor Steve Krieg asked the gallery to abide by the Code of Meeting Practice, which applies to everyone in the chamber."I'll just remind everyone, and I know everyone here is very peaceful and certainly not going to cause any drama, but everyone, public access, speakers, members of the gallery as well as councillors and staff are bound by the code of meeting practice. And although things can get emotional, we are bound by the code of meeting practice, which states that when people are talking, there's to be silence from everyone else, and I know everyone will respect that, but I just wanted to remind everyone about those obligations that we're all under."Unfortunately, this was forgotten following council's vote on the issue.Before the vote, Councillor (Cr) Guise, who moved the motion with Crs Knight-Smith and Waters, said the signs are there with community."It took a whole of community movement to achieve that, and it's worth remembering that was across political spectrums, as people have attested to tonight, it was not just related to a single interest group or a political party. That's what these percentages in the 90% from Community Surveys attest to, and that's what that profound 87% LGA referendum attests to, and that's what proudly sits at the entrances to Lismore."And as speakers have said tonight, we should fly that with pride. We should get a real sense of achievement about achieving that great exercise in democracy, but also, there's not a day I go by or wake up and have deep gratitude for our community, for everyone that stood together to live in a gas field free region."Cr Dalton-Earls asked if this should be the focus of this council at a time when roads, drains, other infrastructure and flood preparedness are more important.Cr Knight-Smith said, "They voted to say that they did not want gas fields in the Lismore LGA, and that's what those signs represent; that we don't want gas fields in the Lismore LGA. Those signs are beautiful. They represent a beautiful thing, a beautiful community, our community. They represent rolling hills and farms. They represent our pristine national parks. They represent a lifestyle that we've all come to love and enjoy. So, my vote won't be changing."Mayor Krieg stood to speak on the issue stating he was in a "No win situation. And I know I'm going to cop it.""This is for me, not about turning Lismore and the LGA into a gas field. It is a very honourable act that happened at Bentley. I drive past there often on my way to work, and that has solidified the Lismore LGA's right to be gas free and nuclear free. That is not what this motion is about in my opinion."I'm not going to get on the phone straight after this meeting to see Montgomery Burns from the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and say after this motion, there is an opportunity here. That is not what this is about. This is about modifying some signage at the entrance ways to our city and to our villages to welcome people to Lismore."Everyone has their own opinions as to what those signs represent, and those opinions are more than valid. And, I accept that the 60 or so people that emailed me, I am grateful, and I read every single one, and I tried to reply to every single one, whether I did or not, if I didn't, I apologise. But the reality is everyone has an opinion. The reality is that this is not going to open up Lismore to become a gas-friendly city or a nuclear-friendly city. That is not the case."The voices of the people have clearly spoken on this. What it is about is welcoming people at our entranceways to our city and our villages with uniform, modern, fresh signage. And that's what I want to see for Lismore, and it's as simple as that, so I'm going to stick with my original decision."The vote was Crs Guise, Dalton-Earls, Knight-Smith and Waters voting for the rescission motion and Crs Gordon, Hall, Battista, Rob, Bing and Krieg voting against. So, the motion was defeated 4/6, with Cr Jensen on leave.It was at this time that Mayor Krieg attempted to move the meeting to the next item on the agenda. However, the public gallery began to leave, with some loudly expressing their disappointment in the result going against the mayors advice at the start of the meeting.Cr Rob became defensive and asked the gallery to leave quietly with the mayor asking him to be quiet. The gallery then proceeded to make more noise outside the chamber through what sounded like a chant.The mayor introduced 11.2, the rescission motion on Public Access, ironically, with the chant clearly being heard in the background.Cr Guise moved this motion and started by saying, "I will speak to this. Another rescission. But there's a bit of a theme going tonight, so I will repeat what I said last meeting in dealing with this item, which is this, to me, is a backward step in democracy and the way that we treat our community."Mayor Krieg then left the chamber to speak to those involved as Cr Guise asked for the chamber doors to remain open, "I understand that there's some noise disruption, but we would adjourn it in that case. But closing the chamber isn't, as far as I'm aware, lawful."Finally, order was restored, and Cr Guise continued.The arguments against were the same as the December 10 meeting, starting at 9am, so not having it part of the monthly council meeting, limiting the number of speakers to two for and two against, limiting the meetings to five hours and not being accountable to the community.Those speaking against the rescission motion pointed out that nothing has happened yet, so all the talk was just that, talk that is casting aspersions on councillors not showing up for public access at 9am. Mayor Krieg called that "The height of arrogance."The vote was again 4/6, with Crs Rob, Guise, Waters and Knight-Smith for and Crs Dalton-Earls, Gordon, Battista, Hall, Bing and Krieg against.The result does mean the public access changes will start from the February 2025 meeting. It means the changes will be put on public exhibition for 42 days. The submissions received will be shared with council and then it will be tabled, debated and voted on in early 2025.That is the council wrap for 2024. We can only hope that councillor behaviour and the public gallery behaviour will be more respectful of the Code of Meeting Practice in 2025.

The rain has gone, the sun will be out and temperatures back in the late twenties and early thirties, perfect weather for a new local business to be in demand.Daniel Peterson and Grace Guiuo have come up with a winning summer treat with their Citrus Bliss Icy Poles.After years of development and research, they have recently been confident to go into commercial quantities to make Citrus Bliss the flavour of summer 2024/25!Based in Goonellabah, these two entrepreneurs are changing the face of what we call a treat! Their recipe is 100% organic fruit juice, no added preservatives or sugar - packed full of refreshing, chilled goodness.Daniel describes the flavour as “Tangy. It strikes that balance between sour and sweet. Of course, it's going to be too sour for some people and maybe too sweet for others. It grabs your attention, and for some, it grows on you.”A flyer caught my eye at a service station during a visit to Woodburn. A new local business with a new product, how could you say no? Citrus Bliss struck me as more of an adult flavour, not over-sweet, and so refreshing with the citrus hit. But Daniel says they are most popular with kids. The Living School is one of his biggest customers.Daniel says they are popular in drinks. Serving suggestions include breaking them up in a cool glass of sparkling water or a dip for an alcoholic drink.The time of year that the icy poles are made is when the fruit ripens, “Production occurs during winter because I'm trying to capture the nutrient of the fruit juice while it's ripe.”The goodness of the icy pole wasn't the only good thing about it. It was important to Daniel to make the whole product sustainable.“We wanted packaging alternatives to plastic. The one we use is a cellophane material, which is the same type of cellophane we used to play with in primary school. It's completely starch-based, and it's backyard compostable.”The fruit that Daniel uses is not A-grade that goes into shops, it's the seconds, where marks or shapes are not good enough for shop shelves. “We are juicing fruit that would otherwise go to waste. Part of the benefit of it for the farmer is that by using that second-grade fruit, I'm reducing the habitat for fruit flies.”“This year is the first year that I've had the product packaged properly, and I've had a commercial quantity of stock.Daniel started a business in juices at markets about eight years ago. The Icy Poles was a different business venture that started 3 years ago after spending some time experimenting with different fruits and veggies and assessing their frozen state and flavour.“I took a lot of inspiration, initially from the farmer who grows the fruit. His orchard is at Rosebank, and he planted those trees himself some 30 years ago. “Based on feedback that he'd been given and his experience, he was encouraging me to try and develop a product like this that could be commercialised.“This is the technical stuff, but it holds its flavour extremely well, and it holds its texture and its other characteristics as a frozen fruit juice.”Daniel and Grace are looking for more retailers interested in stocking their products and more lemon orchards for future stock!At the moment, there are around 80 stockists from the Gold Coast to Coffs Harbour and Bellingen. In and around Lismore, you can find them at:24-hour Liberty Service Station, LismoreAstro Service Station, LismoreThe Smashed Avo grocer at GoonellabahThe IGA on Rous Road, GoonellabahHilltop Station grocerGeneral stores at Bexhill, Clunes Goolmangar, Dunoon and the Channon The FoodWorks at WollongbarThe Village Fresh Fruit and Veg, Alstonville  The Woodburn Service StationCoraki SparCasino at the West post office. The Manor pantry at KyogleYou can also buy them online and have them delivered locally for free!Or follow them on Facebook and Instagram