NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has encouraged those affected by Cyclone Alfred to check their eligibility and apply for a range of disaster assistance being offered by the state and federal governments.“Thousands of Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands residents have been impacted by the now Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the damage left in its path, prolonged power outages and isolation from flooding,” Ms Saffin said.“I thank the NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, together with responsible ministers, for moving quickly to ensure timely disaster declarations and early assistance.“If you live in Lismore City, Tweed Shire, Byron Shire hinterland, Kyogle or Tenterfield Shire (disaster declared local government areas within the Lismore Electorate), check your eligibility and apply for financial support to get back on your feet.”For updates on all facets of recovery go to www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/tropical-cyclone-alfred.Key disaster support includes:The Personal Hardship Assistance Grant of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family to cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation, open from tomorrow (Wednesday, 12 March 2025) until Tuesday, 8 April 2025. Payment will be made to your bank account – this is not an in-person cash payment. Go to www.service.nsw.gov.au.The Disaster Relief Grant (DRG) Program supports those most in need and those least able to return their homes to a safe and habitable condition after a natural disaster, such as low-income earners and where the damage is not covered by insurance, subject to eligibility requirements. Also go to www.service.nsw.gov.au. For those who don’t have a Service NSW account or struggle with technology, support will also be available at their nearest Service NSW centre, Mobile Service centre, Recovery Assistance Point or Recovery Centre.The Disaster Recovery Allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders, depending on their personal circumstances, who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Go to www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-support.The Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) is currently providing the following assistance measures under Category B declaration that allows impacted small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profit organisations and sporting and recreational clubs and associations in declared LGAs to access concessional loans and subsidies. Go to www.raa.nsw.gov.au/loans/ndrl.Primary producers:     Concessional loans up to $130,000    Transport subsidies up to $15,000    Small businesses:     Concessional loans up to $130,000    Not-for-profit organisations:    Concessional loans up to $25,000    Transport subsidy for donated fodder Sporting and recreation clubs and associations: Concessional loans up to $10,000 The declaration applies to 18 Local Government Areas: Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glenn Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, MidCoast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed. Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline - 1800 814 647. For farmers seeking assistance with emergency fodder to veterinarian assistance. Landholders can move stock to Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) when safe to do so and locate TSRs by using the Travelling Stock Reserves –State Classification Map. Livestock owners may use a TSR free of charge for up to 7 days during a declared emergency.And importantly,Lismore City Council, Kyogle Council, Tweed Shire Council, Byron Shire Council and Tenterfield Shire Council are among the 18 LGAs which can apply for up to $1 million under a $15-million Community Recovery Support Fund once full impacts are known. This proactive support for communities to undertake essential immediate clean-up and restoration of community assets such as pre-schools, senior citizen centres, libraries and community halls. The Fund has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

Crime Stoppers is helping police make a significant impact on crime across NSW, with more than $13m worth of drugs and over 305 arrests in 2024, due to information provided directly by the community.In the 2024 year, NSW Crime Stoppers received over 93,000 tips equating to around 250 contacts each day (phone and online), helping Police enforce the law and prosecutors to ensure people are held accountable for their crimes – with most reports now made online.Crime Stoppers has been assisting in the safety and security of the New South Wales community for more than 35 years.With the community critical to ensuring information is provided, Crime Stoppers is visiting communities across NSW to highlight why information should be provided and how it’s used.Crime Stoppers NSW recently commissioned research relating to the reporting of crime tips with residents of NSW. This research shows how critical it is for the community to have confidence in the system. Conducted in February 2025, the key findings were:More than 55% those surveyed have never reported a tip and 21% of those considered doing so but ultimately did not.50% said they would provide a crime tip if the crime directly affected themselves or a family member.A smaller group (9%) are motivated to report a tip when it affects others beyond their immediate circle (stronger, local community or friend) representing individuals who are still willing to act for the broader good but may not feel as strong a sense of responsibility as those reporting for themselves or family or those who will report regardless.A significant proportion (37%) report they would be equally likely to report regardless of who is affected, indicating a generally strong sense of civic responsibility or belief that reporting is important regardless of personal connection.Uncertainty was the highest barrier to providing a crime tip and this was followed by fear then a lack of confidence.When it comes to types of criminal activity, those involving harm to individuals are most likely to be reported, followed by property theft. The top motivators for reporting are personal and family safety, followed by preventing it from happening again. Other reasons include protecting the community, doing the right thing, seeking justice, and confidence that justice will prevail.While 64% of NSW adults know they can report to Crime Stoppers in confidence, 36% are unaware.While fear and uncertainty are some of the major barriers to providing information, Crime Stoppers is reminding the community that information is provided in confidence.“All phone calls and online reports made to Crime Stoppers are made in confidence. There is no caller or computer ID when you make a report. This is reassuring for those who don’t want to be identified, don’t want the person to know they had made the call, particularly if it is someone they know, like a family member or colleague. Our message to the community is we don’t need to know who you are, just what you know,” said Crime Stoppers NSW CEO, Mr Peter Price AM.In the last 12 months we have seen a significant increase in online reports, and we want to encourage the community to continue to use our online portal, particularly if they have images or video footage relating to that tip.“We want to assure the community, reporting even the smallest piece of information may be a key piece of evidence needed in solving a crime. It may seem small but with information from other sources, it could be what Police are looking for to solve a crime. If you See something, hear something or know something, say something. Ultimately it means safer communities and that’s our aim,” added Mr Peter Price.There are so many good reasons to provide a tip to Crime Stoppers:It can keep you, your family and your community safe.It can stop the offender from committing further crimes and prevent others from being harmed.It can stop behaviour before it escalates.Reporting a crime tip means a higher chance a crime gets solved, or property gets recovered.Information can often lead to solving multiple crimes by the same offender.The Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism, Yasmin Catley, has emphasised the vital role Crime Stoppers plays as a bridge between the community and the police.“Public intelligence is one of the greatest assets the NSW Police Force has, which is why information given to Crime Stoppers is so important“Crime Stoppers reporting is quick and easy—and remember, we don’t need to know who you are, just what you know.“If you see something, hear something, or know something, speak up. Your tip could be the missing piece of a much larger puzzle, potentially helping to solve a crime and making New South Wales a safer place for everyone.”Crime Stoppers and NSW Police are fully aware of the crucial role tips to Crime Stoppers plays in preventing and solving crime.Many investigations are supported – and sometimes even solved – through the assistance of information received from Crime Stoppers. Examples of these include:-  Strike Force Roslyn: In 2022, Zachary Davies-Scott was fatally shot during a home invasion in Heddon Greta. Multiple separate Crime Stoppers reports helped in corroborating evidence against one of the accused. Three men were ultimately charged and remain before the courts.-  Strike Force Zygon: In 2024, the bodies of Zhoujun `Sally’ Li and Jai-Bao `Rex’ Chen were located in Botany. A number of online reports made to Crime Stoppers greatly assisted investigators in understanding the circumstances around their deaths. While no one has been charged, police have identified two people offshore they believe to be responsible and are currently working with Commonwealth agencies and Taiwanese authorities.-  Strike Force Ajo: Public assistance was sought by way of Crime Stoppers tips to help locate and apprehend those responsible for break-and-enter offences at Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum in August 2024 during which 27 firearms were stolen. As a result, police charged three people and recovered 20 of the stolen firearms. -  Strike Force Harthouse: Information was received at Crime Stoppers in relation to cannabis crops at a remote location. Several weeks later, multiple crime scene warrants were executed at various locations. Cannabis plants were located and seized from rural areas along with a large amount of cannabis leaf, and over $50,000 in cash and firearms. Multiple people were arrested and charged with their involvement. The estimate street value of the drugs seized by police was in excess of $5 million. Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, Commander of State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, said tips from the community can sometimes be the missing piece in solving a complex case.“We often rely on the eyes and ears of the community to help us piece together the puzzle of a crime. Crime Stoppers allows members of the community to share crucial information in confidence, which can be the key to solving a case,” Det Supt Doherty said.“Crime Stoppers helps bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community. By supporting Crime Stoppers, the community plays a direct role in making our streets safer. It's a partnership that benefits everyone.”Commander of the NSW Police State Crime Command’s Drug & Firearms Squad, Detective Acting Superintendent Richard Puffett, said Crime Stoppers tips can often set crucial investigations in motion. “When you ‘dial in a dealer’ or report suspicious firearm activity, you’re helping police stop crime in its tracks,” Det A/Supt Puffett said. “Crime Stoppers isn’t just a hotline; it’s a lifeline for safer communities.”Newcastle City Police District Commander, Superintendent Kylie Endemi APM: "Every tip, no matter how small, can make a significant difference. The valuable information shared with us through Crime Stoppers has led to numerous breakthroughs, and by working together and sharing information, we can create a safer environment for everyone."Crime Stoppers will be visiting around 10 locations across Sydney and regional NSW to talk to the community about reporting and how important it is in preventing and solving crime.To assist the community, Crime Stoppers has compiled information to help the community with reporting what they know as well as crime prevention tips to keep themselves, their family and the community safe. The information can be downloaded https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ZFold_Crime-Reporting-Roadshow-Campaign-Flyer_A4_WEB.pdf.

Premier Chris Minns has gone hard on illegal Pine Street squatters at today's media briefing in Sydney and a solution is now imminent as he declared the houses will be removed.The Premier said he was unaware of the illegal squatters moving into reclaimed NSW Government properties."Now the government has spent $900 million of taxpayer funds to remove people from very flood-prone areas of the Lismore region. These are flood-prone low-lying areas where the household elected to move out, to move to higher ground, and the house would effectively be condemned so that the community could be safe and we could reduce the exposure of affected communities and families in the event of a natural disaster."Look, unbeknownst to me in all candour, I wasn't aware that we were currently in court trying to execute eviction notices on some members of those communities when Tropical Cyclone Alfred emerged in the last week. This is a completely unacceptable set of circumstances. It's not tolerable to have so many people located in flood-prone land still in danger, and have SES personnel volunteers have to go and check on those households, check on those communities to keep them safe."We bought those houses so that we could keep communities safe, so that no one would live there, and to have squatters move in off the back of that is completely unacceptable. So I've made a decision in conjunction with the Reconstruction Authority, that we are going to demolish those houses."We're going to make sure that these communities are safe and we can't have an intolerable situation where large numbers of people are in harm's way after New South Wales taxpayers have spent millions of dollars trying to make the community safer. I can't have a situation where, when a tropical cyclone or the next flood hits Lismore, we are checking on houses that should be vacant as a result of millions of dollars that we've already spent that will take place in the coming weeks, but it's absolutely necessary that we do it."We're not trying to exacerbate the housing issues in the Northern Rivers. Indeed, we've spent millions and millions of dollars on homelessness services in the Northern Rivers, as well as emergency accommodation and social housing as part of the New South Wales government's budget. But the housing problems are not going to be solved by moving people into flood-prone land. We have to draw a line in the sand here, and that means demolishing those houses and ensuring that we can get on with life in the Northern Rivers."As most of the Lismore community knows, this has been an ongoing situation that has escalated in the last twelve months.The Premier was asked why he was not informed of the situation by Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, his response was:"We have many conversations with Janelle. You'd appreciate that when you've got a massive natural disaster in the community, you're talking about all kinds of things, financial assistance, you're also speaking about recovery programs, ou're also speaking about businesses in downtown Lismore getting back on their feet. I mean, I'm just being candid about what I was aware of. I had no idea there was such an extensive network of squatters in the community."It's subsequently been brought to my attention that there were meetings that took place between the squatters collective and government officials about how to get them out of these houses, including having them jump the queue for social housing and jump to the front of the queue. And that's completely unacceptable.(A Pine Street squatter meeting on February 12 this year when the RA was to turn the water off)"I can't have a situation where we're putting people in harm's way who are on the flood plain after New South Wales taxpayers have paid money to get them out of those houses. We have to take action."As locals know, the NSWRA (Reconstruction Authority) had met a number of times with the illegal squatters, and even tried to turn the water off permanently with police in attendance, with no result to remove the squatters.Premier Minns said he thought the meetings were with the RA, and ultimately accepted blame for the situation."But you have to understand the RA is responsible for thousands of things, particularly when you've got a complicated natural disaster like we've seen in Lismore. So you know, it's about a balancing act, but also about information flows. It's not their responsibility. It's my responsibility to be on top of the latest information from Lismore."I know that Mal (Lanyon) and the team would have been working hard to get that community up on their feet, but look, if I had my time again, we wouldn't have a tropical cyclone where we've got so many squatters who are in harm's way. It's obviously ridiculous."As we know from previous meetings and unsuccessful execution of plans to remove the illegal squatters, there will be more than likely a confrontation between the NSW Government and the illegal squatters on Pine Street.

The federal and state governments are today announcing emergency financial assistance to help residents in the State’s northeast severely impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.The jointly funded package will provide emergency financial assistance of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family to cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation.The Personal Hardship Assistance Grant for individuals and families is part of a range of support aimed at helping people recover.To be eligible for the grant individuals must reside in one of the declared affected Local Government Areas of - Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glenn Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, MidCoast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed.Further, individuals must have:Been subject to evacuation orders (Category red emergency warning) orExperienced power outages of more than 48 hours.Applicants must demonstrate they have suffered hardship as result of the disaster, making them unable to meet immediate needs.Applications will open on Wednesday 12 March and will be open until 8 April 2025.These payments are part of the Albanese and New South Wales Governments' ongoing commitment to helping residents rebuild their lives following the severe impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.Impacted community members are encouraged to visit New South Wales Government Recovery Assistance Points which will be operating in key locations from the end of this week.To find out where these will be and about other support available go to www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery to find out supports and assistance available.In addition, the Albanese Government has activated the Disaster Recovery Allowance for communities directly affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.This allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders, depending on their personal circumstances, who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the event.For more details on the Disaster Recovery Allowance go to Services Australia website at: servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-support.Other support available to communities as a result of Tropical Cyclone Alfred can be found www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “We are working with the Minns Government to get this money out the door as quickly as possible.“My message to those affected is my Government has got your back.”Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said, “It has been tough going for the communities impacted by TC Alfred. In particular those families who have been without power for days or required to leave their homes under evacuation orders have faced huge challenges.“We know these communities are concerned about the cost of re-stocking the fridge, or replacing damaged goods.“This payment will go a bit of the way to providing some immediate relief for hardship experienced.” Minister for Emergency Services Jenny McAllister said, “This payment will help provide some immediate assistance after a very tough week for Northern New South Wales.“We’re acting quickly to make financial assistance for impacted individuals and families available.“We know recovery will take some time, but we are here for the long haul.”New South Wales Minister for Planning Paul Scully said, “Through this financial assistance, we aim to ease the burden of immediate costs like food, clothing, and accommodation, helping individuals and families get back on their feet as quickly as possible.“Eligible residents in the affected areas can apply for the financial assistance package starting Wednesday, March 13."We encourage those in need to apply through Service NSW online or in person, and we are committed to making sure this support reaches those who need it most, as soon as possible.”New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said, “Our hearts go out to the people of this region who have done it particularly tough but continuously shown their resilience and spirit in recent years.“These payments in partnership with the Albanese Government will help the community by ensuring we get immediate financial relief to where it’s needed.“We will continue to work alongside our agencies and service partners to provide the community the help and support they need to recover.”

North Coast residents are encouraged to check the Healthdirect Service Finder for any changes to localhealth service opening hours in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, if your normal general practice orpharmacy are not available.The severe weather event has caused significant disruption to local infrastructure, including health services, which may be operating under revised hours or limited capacity. Residents are encouraged to verify the availability of their local healthcare providers before attending in-person.CEO of Healthy North Coast, Monika Wheeler, said the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been widespread, with many health services having to alter their hours or close completely:“So far, more than 70 local health services have advised changes to their opening hours to Healthy North Coast, due to the impact of flooding, damaged premises, power outages and staff being unable to travel,” explained Ms Wheeler.“We want to ensure the community can access the care they need without unnecessarydelays or travelling to providers that are closed.”The Healthdirect Service Finder is the most up-to-date public source of information for health service availability across Australia. It provides real-time details about medical centres, pharmacies, hospitals, and other essential healthcare providers, including changes to opening hours.Healthy North Coast worked with Healthdirect, South-Eastern Queensland Primary Health Networks and the Australian Government to ensure real-time updates are available in preparation of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.To check the status of a health service, visit the Healthdirect Service Finder at healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services or via the Healthdirect app.“As part of our role in supporting the health response with the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts and Australian and NSW Government agencies, Healthy North Coast has been in regular contact with local primary health practitioners, offering assistance, and communicating service closures and opening hours,” Ms Wheeler said.“We have also coordinated GPs and other health professionals to attend evacuation centres in collaboration with Local Health District services. Thank you to the clinicians who put their hand up to help with the coordinated response,” added Ms Wheeler.Bettina McMahon, CEO of Healthdirect Australia, also encouraged the community to utilise the platform:“People can’t just put their health on hold - even in times of severe weather events. Health leaders on the North Coast, in particular, have deep experience ensuring their communities can access the care they need during storms, floods, and fires. Often this is as simple as finding out which local services are still operating. Other times it is by having a telehealth appointment. Healthcare providers across the rest of Australia are ready to support the North Coast through telehealth to address urgent care and mental health needs when local services have reached capacity.“We are working closely with local health service co-ordinators like Healthy North Coast to ensure Healthdirect’s Service Finder has up-to-date information about which local services are operating, including GPs, pharmacies, allied health and hospitals. While a general internet search will only show opening hours during normal times, Healthdirect is getting daily updates on current operating hours.“Healthdirect also has information on staying safe in flood affected areas. We see certain types of injuries and infectious diseases rise in flood-affected areas, and we have advice on what people can do to stay well. Our website has practical information on health risks and other tips like storing essential medicines.”For further updates on health service availability, please visit the Healthdirect Service Finder at healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services.Additional info:Extreme weather events can be stressful and create anxiety, low mood or increase the severity of existing conditions. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone.Mental health support is available at:Medicare Mental Health (formerly Head to Health) 1800 595 212. Call Medicare Mental Health and be directed to the right information or service that best suits your needs, including referral to in-person and telehealth services. There are also in-person Medicare Mental Health Centres in Lismore and Coffs Harbour. Walk-ins are welcome and no referral is needed.Safe Havens are community support and wellbeing hubs that offer free on-the-spot services and advice. There are four Safe Havens on the North Coast: Woodburn, Lismore, Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah. Keep an eye on their Facebook for current opening times and contact numbers.Help in a crisis:If you require immediate 24/7 help, contact:Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters 13YARN (13 92 76)Mental Health Line 1800 011 511Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636Lifeline 13 11 14MensLine 1300 78 99 78Lifeline Text 0477 13 11 14Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (children under 12 years)Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467In an emergency, please call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.Health advice:If you are in NSW, you can speak with a registered nurse 24/7 by calling healthdirect on 1800 022222.

The CBD was a mixed bag of activity yesterday afternoon. Some shops showed no sign of activity, while others had owners, managers and staff working on shelving, stock or moving fridges and freezers back into place.There were a limited few that were open and trading.Two elements of the Cyclone Alfred event that stood out were that Flood Plans worked, and the support of the community was incredible once again.A number of businesses reported community help. For some it involved family and friends, and for others it involved complete strangers.Once again, the people of Lismore, both young and old, stood up to lend a hand when needed. That help will turn to spending hard-earned dollars to support local businesses that have yet another challenge to overcome in what has been a very challenging five years.Rollerworld in North Lismore is situated on low-lying land near the Wilsons River. Floods of this recent size are nothing new, the floodwaters were about waist deep. It will be a massive week of cleaning for owner Craig Newby and the team.(Rollerworld in North Lismore, under again.)"We had about a dozen people turn up today and help us with the clean up," Craig told the Lismore App, "Which was really good. They're pressure cleaning the floor and furniture and then using sugar soap to get us ready for, hopefully, a Saturday reopening."(Rollerworld after a clean)Most of the businesses the Lismore App spoke to said it was a good exercise to test their Flood Plans. Everyone said their flood plans worked well, with some more lessons learnt so that they will be further improved during the next flood.Another learning was the time it takes to restock shops after it is safe to return. Many reported four to five hours to pack up and move, while it took a minimum of eight hours, in some cases two shifts of eight hours. This is why most businesses are reopening later than most people expect.A quick walk around the CBD block discovered the different reopening days.WOODLARK STREETThe Boys Hair & Makeup will open today. Millers Bakery will open Wednesday or Thursday.Toyworld will be open on Wednesday.(Toyworld on Woodlark Street)Indian Mumtaj is hoping to open today for takeaway but it could be Wednesday.MOLESWORTH STREETBi-Rite Home Appliances & Furniture Court are open to do business over the phone and doing home deliveries. They are looking at reopening Wednesday with floor stock.The Furniture Court will hold a sale on floor stock that has been damaged during the move out of the store last week.Sportspower may be open on Thursday. Inka & Co will reopen on Wednesday.(Annette Adams out the fron of her Inka & Co shop on Molesworth Street)Brands Pharmacy is open for medication and scripts although they are still re-stocking from 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 8:30am to 12:30pm.Laubman & Pank opened yesterday for eyewear and eye tests.(Optometrist Millur Gao waiting for customers at Laubman Bank on Molesworth Street)MAGELLAN STREETLittle Polli & the Blackbird will reopen next Monday.Intersport opened yesterday.KEEN STREETUncle Lims will probably open on Thursday.Thai Satay Hut were serving meals yesterday.SOUTH LISMORESouthside Pharmacy is open for all scripts, medication and mobility items from 8:30am to 6pm.The community has supported our local businesses physically, and now it is time to support them financially by visiting the CBD and making a purchase.After speaking with some business owners, this will give you an understanding of the losses they have incurred in the last seven days. As a rule of thumb, the larger the business, the larger the loss. All business owners spoken to kept paying their staff.One owner lost around $200,000 in lost trade and wages, another $100,000, and a smaller business $30,000.Most have debt from the 2022 flood, ATO debt that is accumulating interest and lower consumer spending for the last twelve months because of the high cost of living.All were disappointed there was no Business Grant announcement yesterday from the PM for small businesses across the board, not just sole traders."Not really ideal. We can’t rely on them to fix our problems", "It would be nice to get loss of wages" and "They seem to forget the little guys", were just a few comments.Most said, "We're just happy it didn't flood". The damage bill would have been so much higher if the levee wall was overtopped.

A man has been charged with middle-range PCA after being stuck in floodwaters at Loftville, near Lismore's airport.About 9.15am on Monday, 10 March 2025, police patrolling South Lismore in response to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred were called to assist a driver at Caniaba Road, Loftville.Officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attended and found a 55-year-old man had attempted to cross a flooded section of the road in a 4WD when the vehicle became stuck.The man was assisted out of the water by Police Rescue and SES crews.The man was subjected to a breath test at the scene which returned a positive result.He was taken to Casino Police Station where he was subject to a breath analysis which returned an alleged reading of 0.086.The 55-year-old man was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with middle-range PCA to appear before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday, 19 March 2025.His licence was also suspended.

NSW public schools closed ahead of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are reopening across the Northern Rivers, as the NSW Department of Education carries out safety assessments to check for damage following days of heavy rainfall, strong winds and localised flooding. In a statement released this afternoon, the Department of Education said:As the acute impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred begins to ease and the state begins the clean-up efforts, we are focused on ensuring our students and staff are safe while returning to their local public school.  Of the 253 public schools that were closed last week, around 170 have now been assessed for safety and will reopen on Tuesday, 11 March, 2025 and that tally is being updated constantly. Some schools will remain closed while further clean-up work takes place. As the Department carries out its safety assessments, some damage to schools has been reported, along with multiple instances of fallen trees, which need to be made safe before students and staff can return. To stay up to date on flood impacts and school closures in your local area, please check the Department of Education website. Further updates on school operations are expected after 6.30pm.Catholic and independent schools and early learning centres are also expected to be carrying out similar assessments, and families should check the department or local school websites for further information.   Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:“I want to thank our families for their continued patience during this ongoing disruption to learning. “Our work to carry out safety assessments at affected schools is well underway and we expect to have most schools that had been closed back up and running tomorrow.“Unfortunately, we have encountered some damage to schools, which the Department will work to make safe and rectify.”

UPDATE 6:30pmBallina Road is all but clear.ORIGINAL STORYA car accident on Ballina Road near the Invercauld Road turnoff is causing long traffic for those travelling east.The advice is to keep away from the area, and if you have to travel, go through East Lismore, up Cynthia Wilson and through Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah. However, the traffic queue has reduced in the last ten minutes..Reports say the traffic was banked up to Lismore Base Hospital on Rotary Drive and before the Rotary Drive roundabout on Ballina Road.It is believed a car was trying to turn right onto Ballina Road when it was hit, followed by another car hitting the rear of that car.ADF personnel were near the accident and helping on scene.More to come.

The last of the evacuation orders was lifted just before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived at the Lismore SES base on Brusnwick Street today.The NSW SES advised that North Lismore residents may now RETURN WITH CAUTION to the following area(s): North Lismore, including Lismore showground and all properties between Cusack Road, Woodlawn Road, Winterton Parade, Pitt Lane, Bridge Street, Terania Street and Dunoon RoadSavins Road, WoodlawnSt Johns College WoodlawnPitt LaneLow lying parts of Pine StreetWinterton ParadeWotherspoon StreetThe SES says to take care when returning to the area as flood damage can be widespread. What you need to do:Drive slowly, plan your route carefully to avoid any flooded roads and allow extra travel time. Damage to roads and buildings caused by flooding may still exist in your area.Be aware of road hazards including mud and debris.Remain vigilant as there could still be water in low lying areas.Take care as local roads could still have water over them.Check in on your neighbours if safe to do so.Check on animals and livestock.If you are isolated and require resupply, contact NSW SES on 132 500If your property has been affected by floodwater:Make sure your property is safe before entering. Check for damage to windows, walls and the roof and be careful of potential dangers including asbestos.Make sure the electricity and gas are turned off before going inside. Use a torch to carry out inspections inside buildings.If power points, electrical equipment, appliances or electrical hot water systems have been exposed to floodwater or are water damaged in any way, they must be inspected by a qualified electrician before use.Gas appliances and gas bottles that have been exposed to floodwater should be inspected for safety before use.Wear suitable protective clothing, including boots and gloves when cleaning up.Sandbags that have been in contact with floodwater need to be thrown away. Sturdy gloves should be worn when handling wet sandbags as they can contain chemicals, waste, and diseases.Be aware of any slip, trip or fall hazards.Never eat food which has been in contact with floodwater.Only use clean utensils and personal items.The Wilsons River level at Lismore has dropped minimally since this morning, and reads 7.73m at 2:14pm. The moderate flood level is 7.2m.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was at the SES Lismore base on Brunswick Street at midday announcing an addition to the Federal Government's Disaster Recovery Allowance.The announcement will not please local business owners who were optimistic about receiving government support for loss of income over the last week."I can say that from tomorrow, eligible workers and sole traders in South East Queensland and Northern NSW, who have lost income as a direct result of ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred, will be able to access up to 13 weeks of income support that will click in and be available for applications from two o'clock tomorrow."People can check on their eligibility by logging in now to the My Gov website or the Services Australia website."While sole traders will be happy, small business owners who are registered as a company will feel let down by the federal government as the support measures have failed to take a further step to include many businesses in the CBD, South and North Lismore.The difference between sole traders and companies is in their legal, tax and reporting obligations. The set-up costs for sole traders is less than that for a company. Mayor Steve Krieg was disappointed today's announcement did not include a small business owners."13 weeks income support is the exact same package after the 2022 flood, but the circumstances are vastly different as most of our staff are going to back at work this week. It's the actual employers, in my opinion, that need the support but haven't had the income generated from doing business over the last week, which means that suppliers are going to struggle to get paid. "While I welcome any sort of income support relief, 13 weeks is a bit exorbitant, and I would prefer to see the money go to the actual employers, the small businesses themselves, to be able to stay in business, and pay not only their staff, but their suppliers as well."To be eligible for the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a person’s income must have fallen below the average Australian weekly income as a result of the floods.Applications will open at 2pm local time, Tuesday 11 March.Before they claim, people can check their eligibility on the Services Australia website at: Natural disaster support (Services Australia).

Premier Chris Minns announced the closure of evacuation centres in Lismore at SCU and other parts of the Northern Rivers once evacuation orders have been lifted.In Lismore, the final order is for North Lismore residents. This will be lifted as soon as flood waters recede enough and roads become passable. At 11am, the Wilsons River height at Lismore was 7.83m."These are not permanent solutions to that region's housing challenges," the Premier said, "As the premier, I am fully aware of the significant challenges for housing in the Northern Rivers, but evacuation centres are not permanent solutions. They just can't be."We don't have the resources, the staffing, the time, the allocation. In many cases, they are community centres or licensed premises or clubs or university facilities that need to be returned to those communities."So I want to apologise in advance, but we have to draw a very clear and understood line in relation to evacuation centres when the immediate threat of the storm is no longer felt by the community, we will not continue to operate them, and as the day wears on, we will be closing down evacuation centres once the SES believes that the threat to the local community has been lifted."Our efforts in relation to housing for that community are ongoing, but they're perennial challenges, they're very difficult. I want to reiterate and emphasise they're not going to be solved with the permanent evacuation centres, and I don't want people to be disappointed when the government announces that we're not continuing with their operation once the threat has been relieved inside those communities."Premier Minns also mentioned about further grants being announced later today, hopefully including additional business support."We'll speak a bit later today about grants we're working with the Commonwealth Government and the Queensland Government about what we will roll out as it relates to emergency grants for affected communities, where, at the moment, looking at the assessment, the economic damage, the actual damage to those communities. The latest information I have is that we should be able to say something later today, but as soon as we've got a package to announce we'll do that as soon as we can."Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be in Lismore this afternoon. He announced employees can apply for up to 13 weeks payment for those who are unable to get to work, who have lost their wage because of Cyclone Alfred from 2pm today.People can check eligibility there on the MyGov website. Essential Energy crews are continuing with the massive cleanup and restoration effort in the Northern Rivers as weather conditions remain challenging.Helicopters are being used where possible to survey remote areas of the network to help identify the damage before plans can be made on how to safely access the locations.As at 10:30am, around 10,000 homes and businesses remain without power across various communities from Tweed Heads south to Grafton and west to Armidale, with this number expected to slowly decrease throughout the day if the weather holds. Around 6,000 of these are in the Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah regions.Some locations will require special equipment and climbing crews due to the nature of the terrain which won’t be able to proceed until the weather has cleared.Unfortunately, a tree has come down on a powerline that has caused Mount Nardi to lose power again after teams restored it last night. Crews are back on the job this morning. Mount Nardi is home to several transmission towers for FM radio, digital television, fixed wireless broadband and some mobile phone services. Community hubs will be established later today and tomorrow to provide support to customers, including access to the internet and charging for mobile devices. Locations will be listed on electronic signboards that will be placed throughout impacted communities.

The Wilsons River is likely to remain above moderate flood levels today (Monday) as further rainfall in the catchments makes the lowering of river levels a slow process.Rainfall in the last 24 hours was lower in the southern end of the Northern Rivers. Lismore airport recorded 27.4mm to 8:30am, Ewing Bridge at Corndale 61mm, Dunoon 66mm and Terania Creek 55mm.Further to the northeast, the falls were a lot higher. Huonbrook 152mm, Goonengerry 129mm, Mullumbimby Creek 105mm, Mullumbimby Upper Main Arm 127mm, Uki 108mm and near the Queensland border Bilambil Heights recorded 272mm.Christie Johnson, a senior meteorologist with the Burea of Meteorology, said the highest falls were in South East Queensland with Wangawallen (inland Gold Coast) recording 400mm and areas of the Sunshine Coast 350mm.Unfortunately, the low pressure system is drifting south for most of Monday, meaning there is a very high chance of rain, and heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding. The easterly winds will turn more northeasterly after midday, which will see less rainfall for Tuesday. Possible showers is the forecast with a 0-7mm range.Shop owners looking to get back in and trade will be doing so under trying conditions, but no worse than they have faced in the last five days.Christie Johnson said river levels continue to fall slowly at Lismore, "River levels are likely to remain above the moderate flood level through to Monday evening".A Severe Weather Warning is current for heavy rainfall for the Northern Rivers. This rainfall may cause renewed river level rises at Lismore from late Monday onwards. The situation is being closely monitored and warnings will be updated as necessary.The Wilsons River had fallen to 7.91m at 8:38 this morning.For the rest of the Northern Rivers, major flooding is occurring at Coraki and Bungalbyn, moderate flooding at Woodburn and renewed flooding is possible at Kyogle from Monday afternoon.The BOM says that river levels are peaking at Coraki and Bungawalbyn, where major flooding is likely to continue through to Monday evening. Moderate flooding continues at Woodburn.In the upper Richmond catchment, renewed minor flooding is possible at Kyogle from Monday afternoon with forecast rainfall. Minor flooding continues at Casino, where river levels are slowly falling.A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall is current for the Northern Rivers. This rainfall may cause renewed river level rises along the Richmond River. The situation is being closely monitored, and warnings will be updated as necessary.Richmond River at 6:35am:Major flooding is occurring along the Richmond River at Coraki and Bungawalbyn. Moderate flooding is occurring at Woodburn, and minor flooding is occurring at Casino.The Richmond River at Kyogle is currently at 9.56 metres and rising, below the minor flood level (12.00 metres). Renewed rises to the minor flood level (12.00 metres) are possible along the Richmond River at Kyogle from Monday afternoon.The Richmond River at Casino Road Bridge is currently at 9.24 metres and falling slowly, with minor flooding. The Richmond River at Casino Road Bridge is expected to fall below the minor flood level (9.20 metres) around 07:00 am Monday morning.The Richmond River at Casino (automatic gauge) is currently at 12.05 metres and falling slowly, with minor flooding. The Richmond River at Casino (automatic gauge) is expected to fall below the minor flood level (11.90 metres) around 07:00 am Monday morning.The Richmond River at Coraki is currently steady near a peak of around 6.20 metres, above the major flood level (5.70 metres). The Richmond River at Coraki is likely to remain above the major flood level (5.70 metres) through to Monday evening.The Richmond River at Bungawalbyn is currently steady near a peak of around 5.70 metres, with major flooding. The Richmond River at Bungawalbyn is likely to remain above the major flood level (5.00 m) through to Monday evening.The Richmond River at Woodburn is currently at 3.87 metres and rising, above the moderate flood level (3.70 metres). The Richmond River at Woodburn may reach around 4.00 metres late Monday morning, with moderate flooding.

There will be a partial restoration of public transport services today in Lismore, the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast to support communities who have not been seriously impacted by the tropical low.  Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins said commuters should check if their regular bus and train service is running again. “Communities on the Mid North Coast in towns like Coffs Harbour, Kempsey and Port Macquarie will see a return to some bus services,” Mr Collins said. “All Port Macquarie regular route services, 33 regular route services in Coffs Harbour and Kemspey Town and 285 school services in Port Macquarie will be operational. “On demand services in Lismore and Coffs Harbour will also be operational, which will give people more travel options in their local community.”  In the Northern Rivers areas such as Tweed, Grafton, Yamba, Kyogle, Ballina and Byron, will have over 1000 school services cancelled on Monday as well as 109 regular routes. Transport for NSW has been liaising with the Education Department through the State Emergency Operations Centre to ensure a whole of government approach.  For updates passengers are urged to check Transportnsw.info and the transport apps.  TrainLink Chief Executive Roger Weeks said from tomorrow NSW TrainLink will recommence limited coach operations through to Grafton.  “After suspending services late last week due to the condition of roads and the safety of passengers heading to the far north of the state, we have recommenced some of our services,” Mr Weeks said.   “There will be limited coach services from Taree to Grafton, with altered stopping patterns. At this stage Nambucca Heads and Macksville will be unable to be serviced by NSWTL coaches.”  “Rail replacement services through to Brisbane will be established while the Australian Rail and Track Corporation (ARTC) have the North Coastline closed, which is with no rail traffic operating north of Taree or south of Acacia Ridge.”  ARTC has advised that they plan to inspect their network tomorrow via helicopter, and if safe to do so, access to the network via crews on the ground to ascertain any damage.  ARTC will proactively assess damage and commence rectification. Once the damage has been assessed, ARTC will be in a better position to provide a return to service.  Transport for NSW works alongside emergency services to reopen major roads as quickly as possible with a focus on safety for all road users, including our crews and emergency service staff in the field.  When major roads are closed, Transport needs to assess the overall impact of the natural disaster on the roadway and undertake safety reviews and inspections before we can safely reopen the road. In some cases, reopening may involve heavy vehicle load limits and speed restrictions should further repairs be required.  “Our message is to avoid non-essential travel, but if you do need to drive, please slow down in the wet and drive to the conditions,” Mr Collins said.  Please follow the directions of our traffic crews and never drive into or enter floodwaters.   For the latest traffic information on the road network visit www.livetraffic.com, download the Live Traffic NSW app or call 132 701.  For up-to-date information, including where to find an evacuation centre, visit the NSW SES website www.ses.nsw.gov.au/. For the latest warnings download the Hazards Near Me app. For the latest weather warnings, please visit the Bureau of Meteorology website: http://www.bom.gov.au/ 

Planned surgery and outpatient care services at Northern NSW Local Health District will resume from Tuesday 11 March where possible, subject to staff availability.Emergency departments also remain open 24 hours a day, so people who need to seek emergency care should continue to do so.Tracey Maisey, NNSWLHD Chief Executive, said healthcare staff continue to provide ongoing care to the community as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to impact the region.Ms Maisey said patients will be contacted if their planned appointment or surgery needs to be postponed, but any patients not able to make their appointments should inform the relevant health service so these appointments can be made available to others.“They say when the going gets tough, the tough get going and that is certainly the case when it comes to our workforce,” Ms Maisey said.“To date, more than 370 staff stayed away from their homes – some for up to four days – to ensure emergency and urgent care services to patients across the NNSWLHD’s eight hospitals and four multi-purpose services.“Most of these staff slept on-site in the hospitals to ensure they were able to report for duty the next day, lending a hand to unpack and deliver supplies and assisting in evacuation centres.  “While the emergency is not yet over, we are indebted to all our staff, both clinical and non-clinical, for their incredible efforts to provide the best possible care for our community over the duration of this weather event. “We are also extremely grateful to those NSW Health staff, including registered nurses, mental health and allied health workers, who have travelled from other locations across the state to provide back-up support in our hospitals – thank you! With their support we are planning to resume normal operations, where possible, from Tuesday.”Ms Maisey said 130 patients were delivered to emergency departments by NSW Ambulance across the NNSWLHD on Saturday 8 March, following 118 presentations on Friday, both higher than normal. Walk-in emergency department presentations were slightly lower than usual as people chose to stay home during the adverse weather. Friday saw 435 walk-in ED presentations across the District and Saturday saw 520 – lower than the usual 600-plus presentations per day. This is expected to return to normal from today. Technical support teams, with the support of emergency services, worked well into the night to distribute back-up telecommunications equipment, while healthcare workers from NNSWLHD and Healthy North Coast continue to provide support at evacuation centres across the region.Helpful resources:If your life is in danger, please call Triple Zero (000).If you need medical advice and care, call Healthdirect for free, 24/7 on 1800 022 222 and speak to a registered nurse. They can also connect you or your children with virtual health care services, so you can receive care from wherever you are. If you need crisis support, please call Lifeline Australia at any time on 13 11 14. Children and young people can call Kids Helpline at any time on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at kidshelpline.com.auFor non-crisis support, please call beyondblue on 1300 22 46 36. There’s also a range of online resources to support you and your loved ones. Please visit Beyondblue and Lifeline online. Young people should visit heaspace.org.au, Kids Helpline or ReachOut.comMore information on mental health services and support can be found on the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/Pages/default.aspx.

As Lismore's weather slowly improves and hopefully sees the sun peak through another rainy day soon, attention will turn further to the recovery effort for Lismore and other Northern Rivers LGAs.Now that residents and businesses can move back into the CBD, it's time to think about our local businesses. They have not only missed over a week's worth of trade that adds up to tens of thousands of dollars for each business, but they have experienced the anxiety of not knowing whether business will be flooded once again.When asked how it felt that the levee wall would not be overtopped yesterday, Mayor Steve Krieg said, "It's a massive relief. But again, the work begins now. A lot of our businesses were in a precarious financial position before this set in, and so people will be keen to hear the evacuation orders being lifted. It is a massive relief."I was talking to one of the business owners who said, 'packing up is quick, setting up again is a three day process'. So, they're hoping to be back up and trading on Wednesday. That's over a week without an income, and with all the staff that are employed that need to be paid, that's a, still a massive stress and a strain on our small business community, there's no doubt about that."I will just mention the waste and the cleanup is very important with the help of the state government, the EPA. One of our big abattoirs has got 20 tons of carcasses to be disposed of because of power loss. All of those sorts of compounding issues with the green waste, but we'll be working hard to make sure that our Lismore community can get access to our waste facility. There's a massive cleanup ahead of us, just due to our outages."Yesterday afternoon, the streets of the CBD were quiet; however, there were a few business owners already at work putting back shelving and beginning to restock the shelves so they can start trading again.Matt Healy from Daleys Hardware and Monogramming was one of those in his Keen Street shop. Matt was taking the opportunity to update his layout before reopening on Tuesday morning at 8:30.(Matt Healy from Daleys Homewares and Hardware on Keen Street)Matt Bone from Planet Music was also in his shop next door to Daleys, and was just about to move his guitars back in his shop. Planet Music will open at 9am today.Kyle Wood from Southside Chempro on Casino Street, South Lismore is another business reopening tomorrow. If you need your srcipts filled or are after medication pop into Kyle and the team.The Tropical Cyclone Recovery Support website is now live, and can easily be accessed through the Lismore App Flood Recover button (Cyclone Alfred) or directly through https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/tropical-cyclone-alfred-recovery-updates.Individuals can get help through grants for low-income earners, as well as help clean and remove damage to their properties.Not-For-Profit businesses can get access to concessional interest loans and grants, but a regular business can only receive concessional interest rate loans.Premier Chris Minns was asked if the state government had looked at further business help, such as grants that can be given to Lismore businesses that have struggled with debt from the 2022 flood, delayed tax debt and recently, lower consumer spending due to higher cost of living."I'll answer it because it's a very good question. You're absolutely right. Janelle and Steve will hug you first and then put you in a head lock and say, we need help. We're actively looking at it. We're talking with the Commonwealth Government. We've also been speaking with the Queensland Government. We want to make sure that we act."We think we'll have more to say as early as tomorrow in relation to the next stages of community grant support. We need to make sure that it works. And I can't announce it today, but it's not far off."Local businesses will be anxiously waiting to see what help will be coming there way later today.

Blood donors are urgently needed nationwide as the impact of Cyclone Alfred has led to a shortfall of more than 1,000 blood and plasma donations a day (+4,000 donation shortfall).Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has been forced to close 22 donor centres across Northern NSW and Queensland due to the cyclone, including the Lismore Donor Centre and six regional mobile centres.Executive Director of Donor Experience, Cath Stone said the safety of donors and staff was Lifeblood’s utmost priority. “We do not want anyone putting themselves in danger during this weather event. We are calling on people in other parts of the country to step up and book a donation so we can make up this shortfall.  “Blood is a critical resource and there are patients across Australia, including in impacted areas, who are reliant on blood and plasma donations.” She said additional blood supplies were pre-emptively sent to hospitals in affected areas to counter any possible impact on blood delivery services with further stocks sent from unaffected states.“We’ve been working closely with hospitals this week to ensure they had enough stock before the cyclone arrived.“We’re a national organisation and can move blood around as needed, but we can’t replenish stocks without people donating. “There may be people out there thinking, 'How can I help?’ Donating blood ensures that patients in these communities get the medical treatment they need,” Cath added.The Lismore Blood Donor Centre (1/26 Bounty Street) will reopen today from 8am to 2pm. Plus there will be a Ballina pop-up donor van from 9am to 12midday at Ballina Library, in the Ballina Richmond Room, 5 Regatta Ave, Ballina.Lifeblood’s thoughts are with everyone affected by the flooding.To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App. 

Residents of South Lismore will read this story with glee as life begins to slowly return to life pre-Cyclone Alfred. The Wilsons River is sitting at 8.35m at 8:34 on Sunday night, still above a moderate flood level of 7.2m.The NSW SES has advised that residents from South Lismore may now RETURN WITH CAUTION to the following area(s): South Lismore and surrounds including all properties along Kyogle Road between Casino Street and Leycester RoadLow-lying areas near Ostrom StreetParts of South Lismore to the north of Hollingsworth CreekSouth Lismore industrial areaAll properties around Casino Street and Union StreetSouth Lismore Airport and surrounding areasThe advice from NSW SES is to take care when returning to the area as flood damage can be widespread. What you need to do:Drive slowly, plan your route carefully to avoid any flooded roads and allow extra travel time. Damage to roads and buildings caused by flooding may still exist in your area.Be aware of road hazards including mud and debris.Remain vigilant as there could still be water in low lying areas.Take care as local roads could still have water over them.Check in on your neighbours if safe to do so.Check on animals and livestock.If you are isolated and require resupply, contact NSW SES on 132 500If your property has been affected by floodwater:Make sure your property is safe before entering. Check for damage to windows, walls and the roof and be careful of potential dangers including asbestos.Make sure the electricity and gas are turned off before going inside. Use a torch to carry out inspections inside buildings.If power points, electrical equipment, appliances or electrical hot water systems have been exposed to floodwater or are water damaged in any way, they must be inspected by a qualified electrician before use.Gas appliances and gas bottles that have been exposed to floodwater should be inspected for safety before use.Wear suitable protective clothing, including boots and gloves when cleaning up.Sandbags that have been in contact with floodwater need to be thrown away. Sturdy gloves should be worn when handling wet sandbags as they can contain chemicals, waste, and diseases.Be aware of any slip, trip or fall hazards.Never eat food which has been in contact with floodwater.Only use clean utensils and personal items.

Due to the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, including a heightened risk of flooding, public schools in the affected areas that were closed on Friday will remain closed on Monday, 10 March as the Department of Education assesses the damage to school infrastructure and overall safety.The full list of non-operational schools, TAFE colleges and early childhood education centres is available on the Department of Education website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/school-operational-statusWe request families in these areas do not send children to school on Monday. The safety of students and staff is our highest priority as the full impact of this weather event continues to unfold and the risk of flooding continues to pose significant danger to life, especially on roads.While so far there have not been reports of major damage or flooding to schools, there will be further assessments made tomorrow as debris including fallen trees are cleared and the clean-up is underway.   Non-government schools in affected areas have been advised to remain closed on Monday but parents should check individual school websites for any updates.The Department of Education will issue further communication on Monday regarding the resumption of school operations from Tuesday, March 11. It is expected that most schools will be able to resume, but it is too early to confirm the operational status for all schools.  As schools outside the affected areas prepare to begin NAPLAN testing from Wednesday, 12 March, the NSW Education Standards Authority will work with affected schools to start testing later if needed. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis and NESA, in conjunction with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, will provide advice to schools as they become operational.We want to do everything we can to ensure our school communities are well supported and our staff and students are as safe as they can be.Download the Hazards Near Me App to stay across the latest warnings and information. If you need emergency assistance in floods or storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “As the full impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to unfold and clean-up efforts begin to get under way, our priority is ensuring the safety of students and staff.“While thankfully, we have not had reports so far of major damage to our schools in affected areas, that does not mean staff and students are safe to travel to and from schools tomorrow and we are asking that parents keep their children at home.“I want to thank parents for their understanding during this difficult period and give special thanks to the many teachers who have volunteered their time in evacuation centres and with the SES and other organisations during the emergency and clean up.  “As we conduct more detailed assessments of the impacts of this weather event on our schools and their local communities tomorrow we will be able to confirm which schools will be able to open from Tuesday, and provide an update on the likely testing window for NAPLAN.”