From Keen Street, the Lincraft building looks the same as it has since it was cleaned out after the 2022 flood. However, if you look closely, you can see the roof coming down of the back building at the rear car park.A walk to Hampton Lane shows a completely different story, with a mass of twisted metal and tin sheeting on the ground, displaying the start of the demolition process.Local development consultancy company Newton Denny Chapelle lodged a DA with Lismore City Council to demolish the old Lincraft building at 186 Keen Street, next door to Uncle Lims. The DA was approved on October 24 last year.The building will be completely demolished in the coming months, leaving a vacant block of land.The Lismore App spoke with the Managing Director of Crafty Properties Pty Ltd and Lincraft John Maguire, who said he still has confidence in Lismore.While nothing is confirmed, Crafty Properties is looking to build a multi-story building on the site, with the ground floor being a car park. According to council's Flood Information Certificate, the floor level is 10.05 metres, with the roof at 12.5 metres.Mr Maguire said Crafty would be looking for expressions of interest from retailers or government to rent the building.Some preliminary plans have been drawn up, but no DA has been submitted to Lismore City Council.For now, the CBD will have a large vacant site in early 2025.

Police will be out in force targeting dangerous driving this holiday period as part of the state’s end of year road operation designed to keep people safe on our roads during the busy festive season.Operation Christmas/New Year 2024 began at 12.01 this morning (Friday, 20 December 2024) and concludes at 11.59pm on Wednesday, 1 January 2025.Double demerit points will apply for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley is urging everyone to play their part and stay safe on the roads this holiday season.“This is such a special time of year – a chance to celebrate with family and friends but it’s also one of the most dangerous times to be on the road,” Minister Catley said.“Some people think it’s okay to check a text, speed on familiar roads, or drive tired, but road rules exist to keep everyone safe. While police will be out and about patrolling this holiday season, it’s up to all of us to take responsibility – and if you do the wrong thing, you can expect to see red and blue lights in your rear-view mirror.“You don’t want to get a fine in the mail or lose your licence, but even worse, you don’t want to be the reason someone misses out on celebrating with their loved ones this Christmas.“So please, drive like your life depends on it – because it does,” Minister Catley said.Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said sadly six people died as a result of crashes on our roads during the Christmas and New Year double demerit period last year.“Every choice you make on the road can save lives.“With many people expected to be on the roads travelling across the state to celebrate the festive season, I remind everyone to be vigilant and allow extra time to travel, even for short trips.“It’s easy to become complacent about road safety, but unsafe driving can have tragic consequences.“I urge everyone to obey the road rules and make safe decisions every time you’re behind the wheel, so everyone can reach their destinations safely to enjoy the holidays with their loved ones.“You can avoid heavy penalties, and more importantly avoid hurting yourself or other people on the road, by staying under the speed limit, putting your phone away, correctly wearing a seatbelt and giving yourself plenty of travel time.“If you're riding a motorcycle, I also urge you to follow this advice and always wear a helmet and protective gear,” Minister Aitchison said. Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officers, together with local police across NSW, will be enforcing all road-related legislation, including speeding, drink and drug driving, distractions, driver fatigue, and any dangerous driving behaviours which put the safety of road users at risk.Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman, said the holiday period is traditionally the busiest time of year on NSW roads and police will be out in force across the state to encourage compliance with the road rules.“Sadly, we have seen an increase of fatal crashes on our roads in recent weeks, which is devastating to families, friends and whole communities,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said.“Our traffic enforcement activities seek to ensure all road users get to their destinations safely, and I urge people to consider the potential impacts of irresponsible behaviour – which can change lives forever.“The risk of a fine or the loss of demerit points should deter people from breaking the law. However, not putting the lives of others at risk should be the incentive to use our roads safely.“People can expect to see a highly visible police presence on all roads across NSW – from major motorways to backstreets.“We urge people to drive safely; this means not driving while you are tired, taking breaks on long trips, driving to the conditions and not getting behind the wheel if you have been drinking alcohol, have taken illicit drugs or are impaired in any way,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Chapman said.So far this year, as of 17 December 2024, 330 people have died in crashes on NSW roads – 244 of those in regional areas. For the same period last year, 331 people died in crashes in NSW – 235 of those in regional areas.Road Trauma Support Group founding member, Duncan Wakes-Miller lost his 17-year-old son in a crash in 2020 where he was a passenger in a car being driven by a drunk and speeding P-plater."My son Barney was killed by a speeding, drunk driver on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The ripple effect of road trauma is profound, devastating, and long-lasting for our family and in our community. “Dangerous and drunk driving should be treated as socially unacceptable by everyone, just as domestic violence is unacceptable. If you drive drunk you will get caught and if you drive too fast you will lose your licence. Be safe this Christmas holiday.“Please everyone 'speak up and step in' to prevent road deaths," Mr Wakes-Miller said.To help plan your trip anywhere in NSW, up-to-the minute traffic conditions can be found at: https://www.livetraffic.com.Members of the public are urged to report motorists engaged in dangerous driving to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Anyone with information about unsafe or dangerous behaviour on NSW roads is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

A grandstand at the newly refurbished Oakes Oval is now officially named after local cricket icon Lyn Larsen AM, celebrating her extraordinary contributions to the sport and deep connection to the Lismore region. The tribute is an acknowledgment of Lyn’s remarkable professional sporting career as well as the inspiration her legacy provides future generations. Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said Lyn’s sporting achievements deserve recognition.“Lyn Larsen embodies everything we admire in a sporting icon—passion, perseverance and excellence,” he said.“Naming this grandstand in her honour is a fitting tribute to her legacy and a reminder of what our local talent can achieve.“This grandstand will inspire countless young cricketers and sports enthusiasts, reminding them of the heights that can be reached with dedication and passion.”Born and raised in Tuntable Creek, Lyn’s journey to cricketing greatness began on front-yard cricket pitches prepared by her father, George, where she developed the skills that would launch her to the pinnacle of international cricket, captaining her country.Lyn paid tribute to George for also rolling his arm over countless times on their farm and to her brother Peter for taking over when George was worn out.From playing local matches to leading the Australian women’s cricket team at just 22, Lyn’s career featured 15 Test matches and 49 one-day internationals, plus captained Australia to a historic World Cup victory in 1988. Last year, Lyn was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, which added to her impressive list of awards: the NSW Hall of Champions, NSW Cricket Hall of Fame, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Life Member Cricket NSW, Honorary Life Member of the MCC (Lord's cricket ground) and in 2020 Lyn was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to cricket as a player, selector, manager and coach at an elite level.(Lyn Larsen holding the Women's World Cup trophy in 1988)An emotional Lyn Larsen said she is honoured to be recognised in such a way."To say that this is special is an understatement. To say that I'm honoured is an understatement. When I look around, I see Adam's (Gilchrist) name, I see John's (McMahon) name on this iconic ground. I've had a lot of terrific acknowledgements in recent years, things that have blown me away at the time, but to have your name on a grandstand at an iconic venue in the town that you love, there's no greater tribute.""I've always loved this ground. We used to attract such fantastic events here, back from World Series Cricket. I remember standing behind the sight screen behind Michael Holding when he was running up. We'd have Sheffield Shield games. We'd have the Toohey's Cup matches."We'd be over here in the old grandstand for Lismore Women's Cricket, Marie would be catering, and we'd sneak out amongst all the stars like we had a right to be there. We were just carrying out the meals or collecting cups, but we were rubbing shoulders with them. So, the memories go back a long way."When we played out here, we played state championships and won state championships. To be out in the middle here was so special. City v Country out here. I just love the fact that we got the Sydney people to come here. They didn't realise it was so far from Sydney. Well, it's the same distance in reverse. I loved that they could come here and see what Lismore had. We had facilities like no other in the state, and I was so proud of that."We used to play matches against the Gentleman of Lismore who put their hand in their pocket, $100 or something, just to play in that match, which was a fundraising match in 1987 to get me on that plane to England because, as you know, back then, we had to pay to play. And the support from the Lismore community back then was just unrivalled. And I was so proud to always be Lyn from Lismore.Lyn said one of her favourite matches on the Oakes Oval turf was the first Women's One Day International under lights."We had the old wooden stand at the time. To stand out in the middle under lights, we were beating New Zealand, and that was always good, but there was no prouder moment for me to be looking around and seeing the stands full of family and friends that Lismore people had come out to support.Lyn then acknowledged the crowd of people who turned up to watch their friend receive her grandstand tribute.(Lyn Larsen AM, Mayor Steve Krieg and Lyn's family and friends in front of her grandstand)"So, the connection with this ground is long and strong, and I love it. And to look around, I won't look around to see that because I will burst into tears again. I just feel it's such a privilege, Steve; I can't thank you enough for the honour that you've given me. I want to thank you all for coming today. You're all here as special people for me."I'm so privileged to have Marie Lee here. I would never have played cricket, and there wouldn't have been cricket, except for Marie forming the Lismore Women's Cricket Association and a lifelong supporter. The whole time, Marie was always there, and I can't thank you enough, Marie, I've got former teammates here in Lismore Spot, Scurgy, Shippo and Karen and Julie as former Australian teammates. So, to have you here means the world to me.""And three people I want to acknowledge going back to my Sydney connection. When you get off the bus at five o'clock in the morning at Hornsby, and you've got to get to a training thing, you've got to have someone in Sydney, and it was Aunty Mary, Uncle Charlie and Dean. He'd pick me up, take me wherever I needed to be, and then get me back on the bus on the Sunday night. So it's lovely to have you here all these years later. Dean was my little cousin at the time who carried my kit bag; I was the only person who had their own private kit bag carrier. I thought I was pretty special."It was at this stage that another well-known Lismore cricketing identity, Norm Ryder, presented Lyn with the cricket ball that was used in her favourite Oakes Oval Women's International One Dayer under lights on the 13th of January 1993. The ball was signed by other Australian players, including Lyn as captain.Lyn then shared her favourite innings on Oakes Oval."It wasn't a formal game; it was in the Gentleman of Lismore when we played that fundraising game, and I made 80 odd or something. It was such an enjoyable occasion. The guys were great, playing with my Lismore teammates and playing out here. I mean, I just loved this. That would be the one that I say was special because of the community support from the guys that we played against and playing with my Lismore teammates and to score some runs. The longer you're out in the middle, is always a good time."“I am so privileged and humbled, and this is such an honour,” she said.“To have a grandstand bearing your name is one of the greatest tributes a sportsperson can be paid.

School has finished for another year, Christmas 2024 is less than a week away, and many families are heading off for a festive celebration this week.Police are reminding you to plan your journey and drive safely this holiday period, with high traffic volumes expected across NSW.NSW Police will enforce double demerits for speeding, motorcycle helmet, seatbelt and mobile phone offences from tomorrow (Friday, 20 December) to Wednesday, 1 January 2025.  Delays are expected in the lead-up to Christmas with people hitting the road to visit family, and again between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve as holidaymakers head away to ring in 2025.Transport for NSW will be monitoring traffic at known regional pinch points on the Pacific Highway, including Coffs Harbour, Tugun, and Hexham.A number of major regional road projects will be shutting down during the holiday break, and many projects will still have reduced speed limits in place, you are reminded to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs.If loading up the car, trailer, caravan, or boat, take the time to check everything is secure, all tyres and blinkers are in good condition, and drivers should be across the rules around how to drive safely when towing.Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said, this weekend, we’re expecting thousands of motorists to hit the road and head to the regions to make the most of the Christmas holidays. “We want people to have a safe and happy holiday. Tragically, as of midnight on 17 December 2024, 330 people have lost their lives on NSW roads so far this year which is one less than the same time last year. So, I’m asking everyone to please slow down and take extra care on our roads to make sure this is a merry Christmas.“Stick to the speed limit, never drive if you’re affected by drugs or alcohol, make sure you’re well rested before hitting the road, always wear your seatbelt, wear a helmet if you’re riding a motorcycle and don’t use your phone illegally.”Transport for NSW Executive Director Operations Management Craig Moran said, “This is always one of the busiest periods on our road network with people moving right across the state to visit family and friends for Christmas or to enjoy a summer break, and we’ll have dedicated staff working around the clock to make that journey as smooth as possible.“We want everyone to arrive at their destination safely and full of holiday spirit. The best way to do that is to plan your journey, drive to the conditions and pack some patience.“Our holiday and journey planning website has everything you need to plan your trip, with tools to help avoid the busiest times on our roads, an interactive rest stop map to plan your breaks, and access to Live Traffic, where you can check out real time incident information.”  To find the best times to travel to your destination, use the TfNSW pinch point journey planning tool at myjourneynsw.info and get the latest traffic updates by downloading the Live Traffic NSW app, visiting livetraffic.com or calling 132 701. Check out the NSW Government’s holiday and journey planning website here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/plan-your-trip/holiday-driving/holiday-and-journey-planning.

Lismore's filmmaker Jayden Creighton is gaining international recognition with his debut feature film, which has won an award for Best Screenplay in New York.We first met Jayden in March this year when The Matriarch had one of its first screenings at the Starcourt Theatre. The Matriarch is a horror film that took its subject from a theme and borrowed some inspiration from horrific true-life scenarios.Jayden started shooting scripts in 2012. After a few short films and a web series, this is his first feature-length film.  Shot in Bonalbo in mid-2023, the film was ready for release in February this year.The Matriarch was screened locally in Lismore, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, and in various locations in the United States. The film has been selected for several film festivals and has won a few awards.“In New York it has just been awarded best screenplay at the New York Horror Film Festival. Which is cool for a film about a mum trying to kill her daughter - what the film is about. We were blown away. People liked it!“I’ve never been recognised for my writing before, so this is a nice notch in my belt.”Jayden describes the film’s plot. “It's about a 13-year-old girl who kills her mother's abusive boyfriend in self-defence. Then the mother sides with the perpetrator and spends the night trying to catch her daughter and do horrible things to her.”Jayden with his stars (Image provided by Jayden Creighton)There are plenty of things to speculate on what those horrible things might be, as Jayden talks about the motivation behind the subject, “The idea was to try to touch on some societal themes. You hear all the horror stories about things that are going on in the confines of people's homes and parental figures turning a blind eye to it.”The idea came from a pitching competition, “There was a thing called the Monster Pitchers Pitch Initiative. Monster Pitchers is a big distributor in Melbourne. They had an initiative that was designed to bring up-and-coming filmmakers into focus.  “Basically, you had to pitch to them around the theme “mother”. It kind of got the screws turning. We looked into true crime stories - it's very murky waters. We wanted to touch on the issues, but at the same time, make it entertaining and fun to watch, considering the subject matter.”Jayden won the competition - that was in 2022.If you want to see the film, you will have to wait a bit, “I’m just shopping it around to various distributors at the moment. We've had distributors and sales agents reach out to us over the past few months.” However, they are yet to sign on.Jayden does not think it will be a DVD, and a physical showing at a venue is unlikely. He sees it being released to paid streaming like Amazon Prime or Google Play.Jayden working on set (Image provided by Jayden Creighton)“It will certainly be on Tubi; they're a bit more accessible to Indie filmmakers because they tend to take low-budget films.”The budget for this film was $40,000, so think of a well-worn shoestring. Jayden raised the funds himself, “We had a lot of people just jump in, doing favours, a couple of people working back, but really it was just a very low-budget thing. Everyone came out, and we paid them in food and whatever we could afford.”Now the Matriarch is released and opening up to the world, Jayden has turned back to writing, “I’m working on my next feature. We want to take all the things we've learned with the business side of The Matriarch and try and pop that into this one.  “Speak to the people I've spoken to upfront and try and get distribution deals that are early in the piece. Now we've already got one up our sleeve, we can hopefully pitch that and try and get some more funds for the new one.”A Lismore band, Total Buzzkill provided music for The Matriarch. In the new film, they will feature more prominently - and it will still be horror/thriller genre.“We're going to lean into that more with this one. Make it very musically focused. It's about a band, so it should be a lot of fun. We get to tackle a couple of different mediums then.”The new film is set in the US, but Jayden plans to film the fake trailer (used to pitch the show) somewhere nearby.Jayden wants to say, “A big thank you to the cast and crew and all the people that helped, and looked out for our projects. And thank you for for having us on the Lismore App!”You can follow Jayden on Facebook and Instagram, and see the string of interest and attention his film is getting..And you can see the trailer, here!The things you do for the right shot! (Image provided by Jayden Creighton)Jayden was interviewed by the Lismore App in March this year when his film was shown in the Starcourt Theatre. Read the story here.

Lismore and the Northern Rivers will benefit from a $1.7 million funding boost from the NSW Government to upgrade hospitals and health facilities throughout the region. Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park announced a number of projects will be undertaken in the Northern NSW Local Health District as part of the government’s $12 million Regional Health Minor Works Program to help improve the experience of patients and staff at the District’s hospitals. These include:Lismore Base Hospital Cardiac Catheter Lab Chiller upgradesLismore Base Hospital Mental Health High Dependency Unit observation, seclusion area and courtyard upgradesBallina District Hospital General Ward hot water system replacement and upgradesGoonellabah Dental Service roof replacementNimbin MPS façade painting and refurbishmentMaclean District Hospital mortuary upgradeGrafton Base Hospital Emergency Department Short Stay Unit upgrade works The minor works are expected to commence during the first half of 2025. The NSW Government is investing a total of almost $12 million in 61 projects as part of the Regional Health Minor Works Program. Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said, "The Minns Labor Government is committed to investing in health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for rural and regional communities. “The $12 million Rural Minor Works Program allows local health districts to upgrade equipment and health facilities to enhance the working environment for health staff and improve patient experiences. “The program is one of a number of investments the Minns Labor Government is making to strengthen rural and regional health services, so people have access to the best possible care close to home.” Janelle Saffin, Member for Lismore, said, “These works are essential to maintain the high level of health care which our communities deserve. These improvements, repairs and upgrades will enable health staff to continue to deliver excellent patient care in environments that support patients and their families to feel safe, welcome and comfortable.”  

It was a rare but pleasing sight at the Lismore Lifeblood Donor Centre on Bounty Street yesterday, with members of the Richmond Police District and members of the public combining to form a full house to help stock the fridges ahead of the busy holiday period.Operation ‘Bleed 4 Blue’ is an annual blood drive that was launched in 2018 following the stabbing of Detective Sergeant John Breda at Maroubra on Australia Day 2018, with more than 100 bags of blood needed to keep him alive. Yesterday, fifteen (15) officers from the Richmond Police District (RPD) took to the chairs with regular donors.Now in its sixth year, Operation ‘Bleed 4 Blue’ is a national drive between police that sees forces and the community encouraged to visit a Lifeblood donor centre over the festive season and has so far contributed more than 1202 bags of blood donated. The RPD had already seen 18 police officers donating so far for this year’s drive, helping to save the lives of more than 50 Australians relying on blood, including cancer and trauma patients. With blood demand at a 12-year high and the festive period a challenging time of the year for blood supplies, Scott Tanner, Superintendent (Supt) for the RPD, is throwing their support behind the challenge. "I think this is because, as emergency service workers, we see the need for blood. And I'm just reflecting now as we talk: there's a motor vehicle accident down at Ballina where someone's being airlifted to the hospital, and you go, that person may need blood. So what better way for us to give back to our community than by getting our police officers to give blood. It really does sort of hit home."There is a national callout for blood donors. Traditionally, the Christmas/New Year holidays are the busiest time of the year with increased road traffic and domestic matters.(Superintendent RPD Scott Tanner, Constable Courtney Chalmers and Lifeblood's Scott Morrison)"There's a whole different range of things, a lot of added pressures around Christmas time, as we know, in the domestic and family violence space. So, we certainly have an increase in reported crime and calls for service this time of year," Supt Tanner said.Apart from the serious side of blood donation, there is also some friendly rivalry between police districts within NSW and Australia."Last year, we took out the challenge. We beat the Victorians," Supt Tanner explained, "Unfortunately, the Vic's are in front at this stage. So, we've done a bit of a call to arms today, and we've got 15 of our local police that are giving blood."We'll see by the end of the week if we beat the Vic's because every time we put out a call for service, so do they. But look, I'm confident we will be coming home strong."(Probationary Constable Jordan Siemsen giving plasma at the Lifeblood Lismore Donor Centre)Lifeblood Lismore spokesperson Scott Morrison said Lismore needs 100 donors to step forward between now and the second of January."Lismore, as a community, always stands up and responds for us. It's wonderful seeing Scott Tanner and his police officers here donating blood and plasma today."We've just gone to a national call out across the country. In our region, we need 100 donors between now and January 2. That's how many vacant spots we've got. So our normal donors are off taking holidays and a well-deserved break, so we are just asking anyone in the general public who hasn't donated before or hasn't donated in a while but has always thought about it to step forward."Come and register online at www.lifeblood.com.au, or they can simply download the Donate Bllod App on their iPhone or Android, and they can always call 13 14, 95 and talk to someone there to get registered and book an appointment."It's really a critical time of year, Christmas time; we've always seen the need for blood and plasma. It's an hour for a blood donation and an hour and a half for a plasma donation."It's a very altruistic thing to do this time of year. We always have that giving season, and we want to make sure that we get our people to donate in the Lismore and Northern Rivers region so that we can save lives and keep the blood stocks up."(Constable Carolyn Groves giving plasma)

As reported earlier, emergency services are at the scene of a single-vehicle crash just north of Ballina this afternoon.About 12.25pm (Wednesday 18 December 2024), emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway, Tintenbar, after a vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a tree.The driver of the car, a 35-year-old woman, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics.She was taken to Lismore Hospital for the treatment of injuries believed to be minor and for mandatory testing. The front passenger, a 97-year-old woman, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics.She was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition.(The Westpac Rescue Helicopter at today's accident. Photo: WRHS)The two rear passengers – aged 15 and 16 – were assessed at the scene for minor injuries.Police from Richmond Police District have commenced inquiries into the incident.As inquiries continue, anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Traffic remains heavy past the scene northbound. For traffic updates visit: www.livetraffic.com.

There was a car crash on the M1 at Cumbalum near Tamarind Drive at 12:24 this afternoon that closed the northbound lanes.Initially, one of two southbound lanes were closed as well. However, at 2:22pm that changed to one of two northbound lanes remains closed.Emergency services, the Crash Investigation Unit and Transport for NSW were in attendance.The advice from Transport for NSW is to reduce your speed, exercise caution and allow extra travel time.

Lismore City Council meetings will be different at some stage in 2025 as the NSW Government continues to progress reforms to strengthen local government, announcing changes to the way council meetings are conducted to ensure greater transparency and increase community confidence in council decision-making. All councils are required to adopt a code of meeting practice based on the Model Meeting Code issued by the Office of Local Government.The government has now released a consultation draft of amendments to the Model Meeting Code for public comment.The changes aim to simplify the Model Meeting Code and ensure councillors are making decisions in the full view of the communities they are elected to represent.They also aim to increase the dignity of the council chamber and remove the general manager’s involvement in council politics.Key changes, some of which have been recommended by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) include:preventing councils from holding private councillor briefing sessionsrequiring information considered at closed meetings to be made public after it ceases to be confidentialrequiring councils to give reasons when making decisions on planning matters that depart from staff recommendationsde-politicising the role of the general manager by removing the requirement for them to prepare reports on councillors’ notices of motion expanding the powers of the mayor to expel councillors from meetings for acts of disorderrequiring councillors to stand when the mayor enters and when addressing the meetingThe scenario that immediately springs to mind is point 5, where the mayor can expel a councillor from a meeting for acts of disorder. This would be a last resort; however, there have been times during a Lismore City Council meeting in the last three years where debate turned into bickering, personal attacks and a lack of respect for the position of mayor.Changes to the Model Meeting Code were flagged in a discussion paper outlining the government’s proposed reforms to the councillor code of conduct system.Submissions will be accepted until Friday, 28 February 2025. To learn more and provide feedback, go to: https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/councils/governance/model-code-of-meeting-practice/reforms-to-the-model-code-of-meeting-practice/. Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “Council meetings are where a council’s most important decisions should be made.“It concerns me that these decisions are increasingly being made behind closed doors in private briefings, locking out the community and protecting councils from public scrutiny. “As a former mayor, I want to see all councils conducting their business in an open and public forum, where communities can engage with their council on issues that directly affect them. “The current Model Meeting Code has become unwieldly and is prone to drawing the general manager into political disputes which should be left to elected councillors to resolve. “These changes are part of the government’s commitment to restoring public trust in local government, which has been eroded by years of neglect and a cultural shift towards secrecy over public service.”There will be an extraordinary Lismore City Council meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 4pm to deal with two rescission motions that have been lodged following last week's Ordinary monthly meeting.The rescission motion includes the removal of all CSG and nuclear-free zone signs and the new Code of Meeting Practice, which included moving public access before the start of a council meeting at 10am. Public access will be live streamed.

Students, teachers and families in Lismore and across the Northern Rivers are waiting anxiously as Higher School Certificate (HSC) results land for students across the state this morning, including a record 69,962 attaining their HSC and another 9,522 who have completed at least one HSC course.The Class of 2024 are the largest cohort in NSW and Australian history, with 57,205 students eligible to receive an ATAR, and 18,430, or a quarter of students completing a VET course. This year’s graduates have bright futures ahead, with 12 per cent of all course results in the top band, 42 per cent in the top two bands, and 74 per cent in the top three bands.    Yesterday, 131 students were recognised for achieving first place in their HSC course, while another 19,460 students have been recognised in Merit Lists today.Some 1,457 students have also featured on the All-round Achievers list, achieving results in the top band across 10 units of study, while 779 students were placed on the Top Achievers list for earning one or more of the top places, and a result in the highest band.An impressive 19,591 students received at least one band six and have been recognised on the ‘Distinguished Achievers’ list – making this year the largest HSC honour roll in NSW history.Visit the NESA website to view the 2024 HSC Merit Lists from 12pm today: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/awards-and-events/hsc-merit-listsGovernment school students are also celebrating today as they mark the final day of Term 4, with teachers and school staff also set to put their pens down for a well-earned Christmas break at the end of the week.Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “Congratulations to all our students from the Class of 2024 who have worked hard to complete their HSC. It is fantastic to see hard work helping students to reach their full potential.“Reaching the end of your schooling journey takes grit and dedication, and every student deserves to feel proud of their efforts and everything they have achieved.“Whether you are moving into the workforce, furthering your education, going into a traineeship or joining TAFE, I wish all our students the very best as they take their next steps forward.”Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said, “Congratulations to all students who have sat an HSC course and exam this year.“I wish you all the best for whatever comes next, whether that is taking on a VET course, university, taking a gap year or heading straight into the workforce.“Today is also a really important day for teachers, principals and support staff who guided HSC students along the way. Thank you to all staff in schools and TAFE who have worked with year 12 students.“Thank you also to the parents, carers, families and friends who supported young people through such a momentous time.“I am sure many communities across the state are celebrating the achievements of students today."NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) CEO Paul Martin said, "What an exciting milestone for the HSC Class of 2024.“Today can bring with it a range of emotions and reactions – so I am reminding all young people now leaving school – this is only the beginning.“There are many pathways to achieve your goals. And goals change over time.“Continue learning and finding ways to feed your passions and interests.”

A large and impressive new play park is the new feature at Lismore’s Heritage Park.Designed by a team at Lismore City Council, they wanted something not seen before in the Northern Rivers, giving it a point of difference and another thing to do when the family comes into the city!As the name suggests, it is dome-like in shape, and the dome provides shelter for participants below. There is a wide range of things to climb, swing and balance on, as well as towers and rock walls to defeat.The look and colour scheme is in keeping with the park, and it looks like a lot of fun to take on.MP Janelle Saffin opened the park by talking about its development and providing appreciation where it was due, “It's been much anticipated, and it was made possible firstly, through the brilliant engineering and design of Lismore City Council, who did it in-house with value for money. “It cost $798,121 through a state government grant for Stronger Community, Stronger Countries.” Ms Saffin spoke of her grandson, with whom she enjoys visiting the park to spend some time and enjoy the facilities.Despite the drizzle, kids from the Living School were playing on it in the background, and Councillor (Cr) Gordon got a laugh when he likened the Gigadome to the Thunderdome! He praises the fact that the Gigadome provides a much-needed pastime for families.The allure of the new playground saw bigger kids who couldn't help but have a play... Ms Saffin and Mr Gibbons were happy to test out some of the features!Jon Gibbons, Lismore City Council General Manager, was impressed at how many children were content to play on the new structure despite the rain, “I can only imagine how many children they'll be here on a nice, sunny day. It's great to see.”Brian Gray couldn’t be happier with the way the park has developed, “The Gigadome cements the park as being Lismore’s number one park, and possibly also the Northern Rivers. With all the upgrades that have happened in the last four years, it has made this park awesome.”Tony Duffy and his team designed the park. Tony said, “We wanted balanced motor skill ability, but we also wanted to offer something that was unique to Lismore. “So we've created a piece of equipment that is challenging to keep the kid's interest.”Cr Dalton Earls reflected on being at the park and his fondness for it - the new addition being another thing for kids to get excited about.Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg praised the new playground additions, highlighting how important this investment is to the community. "What sets the Gigadome apart is the uniqueness of the play structures. The design was carefully chosen to offer something truly special for our community. This is a space where children can challenge themselves, have fun and create lasting memories."Brian is very happy with the addition. After being at the park for 30 years and seeing all kinds of developments, this one is a big one. School holidays start this Thursday, and Brian will be operating the trains 6 days a week (not on Mondays); he is looking forward to seeing the difference the Gigadome will make.The new playpark has seen all the original features replaced, now, Brian mentions.“The big central fig tree originally came from Dalley Street. There used to be two.”  The towering tree provides a beautiful, cool centre to the park. Adjacent to it is a train carriage.“The plan for that will probably be the next change to the park. Council are looking at turning it into a venue to hire for parties.” But that may be some way off yet. Meanwhile, Heritage Park will be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike over the festive holidays.

The last of Lismore's iconic pubs opens its doors today for the first time since 28 February 2022. The Station Hotel front bar is open to the public once again.The iconic hotel, on the Union Street/Casino Street roundabout, has been operating the bottle shop and a small bar section at the rear of the pub for two years while proprietor Mark Neilson worked out what he wanted to do with the front bar.There was no rush, as the bottle shop is the main part of the business, and Mark wanted to get the design, look and feel right.Mark reflected on the damage done nearly three years ago."The roof caved in; it just collapsed. There were two Bobcats working out there for two days, 10 skip bins of rubbish.""This pub has been through so many floods. It's designed for it really, that's why we don't over pretty it. It's very important that it's able to be washed through. So, what we did this time was take it to another level."Enter well-known local builder Joel Jensen Constructions. Mark had seen some of Joel's work around town, did a bit of research and gave him a call. Mark sat down with Joel and his designer, Emily, to get the brief."The brief was they wanted to make it feel like stepping back in time going into an old school," Joel Jensen explained, "Somewhere where people, you know, blokes, women, families feel warm and welcome, but then also creating a good vibe. Plus, having the rail trail opening, we want to sort of keep that heritage and give the station respect."We sourced a lot of local timbers. So, all the bridge timbers you'll find around the bars and around the TAB machine. That's all locally sourced off rail lines, which we got from Jules at Off The Rails in Byron. He goes and sources a lot of the timbers. We actually made the bar tops out of salvaged timber from the old St Mary's. It was demolished, and rather than chuck it out, we tried to bring back a bit of that history. We screwed and fixed them all together, sanded them up and repurposed them into bar tops. So they're, I don't know, 150-odd years old.The tiles on the floor and on the bar wall, once again, have the heritage look, and as Joel says, it gives you the feeling of stepping back in time.(The rebuilt Station Hotel showing off the tiles, St Mary's bar top and pressed tin ceiling. All keeping with the history of the building)"Locally sourced once again," Joel said, "Ray from Lismore Tiles & Mosaics went nuts for us and sourced a heap of tiles. He was brilliant.""I was actually just saying to Mark before, it was a pretty tight timeline, so to speak. They didn't put me under any pressure, but we wanted to get it open for Christmas, and around the rail trail opening, and all the local trades and suppliers were just typical of what this town's all about. Everyone was just like, yeah, we're on."The other component of the Station Hotel is its flood-resilience.Mark explained that "No mud can get behind anything, nothing. The flood comes through, we hose the bastard down, put the electrics back in, and we're ready to go again.Mark explained that if a big flood goes through the Station Hotel, all the electrics need to be rewired. "That's just par for the course, but that's pretty much cheap compared to the rest of the job."Right now, the tellie's can come off the wall. It's all old railway sleepers. This floor is designed to come up, it's in squares and taken upstairs very quickly.(The timber wall in the TAB room)"The bar is designed to be washed down, scrubbed and start again very quickly. Everything's been designed that way for this bar. So, hopefully, it'll stand the test of time. Doug Hogan was here for about 50 years, and that old bar did the job, and hopefully, this bar will be the same."Mark estimates that the flood-resilient changes made will only cost him 10% of this rebuild for any future floods.There is no doubt that this flood rebuild, using some modern materials, is certainly true to the character of the building.The Station Hotel South Lismore is open seven days a week. It closes:Monday and Tuesday: 8pmWednesday and Thursday: 9pmFriday: 11pmSaturday: 9 or 10pmSunday: 7pmMark doesn't want to spend $200,000 on putting in a commercial kitchen as it will be damaged during a flood. So, he has Skimmos Food Truck on site, supplying food to his customers.Mark had a soft opening on Monday with the tradies that were involved in the rebuild. He wanted to test the new beer lines and to make sure everything else was working as expected.(Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan, Station Hotel proprietor Mark Neilson and Joel Jensen share a beer at Monday's soft opening)Today is the first day the Station Hotel will be open to the public in nearly three years. Go and check it out.

Back in August, Airservice Australia began asking the community across the Northern Rivers for feedback on proposed changes to the Ballina Airport flight paths that will occur in November 2025.The changes were necessary because Ballina Airport is moving from 'uncontrolled airspace', where pilots self-separate from other aircraft using information from Airservices Australia, to airspace that is controlled by air traffic controllers to safely accommodate the growth of air traffic in the region.Following a review, both CASA and Airservices have taken steps to enact some of the recommendations to improve safety. These include:• separation of traffic frequencies (used for pilot communication to ensure aircraft are kept separated in the skies) between Ballina and surrounding airports, including Lismore, Casino and Evans Head• installation of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) ground station, an advanced airspace surveillance system that enables precise aircraft tracking for pilots and air traffic controllers• introduction of a Surveillance Flight Information Service, a traffic information service that supports pilot self-separation from other aircraft.This is the final week that people can provide their feedback; it closes on Sunday, 22 December."You may notice changes to aircraft operations in your local area once the flight path changes occur," Airservices Australia said."Feedback received from this round of engagement will help determine the final flight path design that will be implemented in November 2025. Subscribe to email updates on the Airservices website to stay up to date on project updates."Click here to view the proposed flight paths and to give feedback.Airservices Australia is a Federal Government-owned organisation responsible for the safe and efficient management of 11% of the world’s airspace and the provision of aviation rescue fire fighting services at Australia’s busiest airports.

The plans announced just over a year ago for a brand new St Vincent’s Hospital on Uralba Street opposite the Lismore Base Hospital have been put on hold; instead, the existing hospital has been getting a makeover.Alan Cooper, St Vincent’s Lismore Hospital’s CEO, talked to the Lismore App about the difficult decision and revealed more details about the plans being put into place.“At the present moment, the sale of the hospital is on hold. If we were to have a larger organisation of similar faith and intent, we would consider merging or becoming, partnering with that entity.”However, Mr Cooper does not see that happening in the short term.  Mr Cooper joined the team at St Vincent’s in October last year, where he moved to Lismore after spending 24 years as CEO of a private hospital in Bundaberg, with a prior background as a Director of Nursing in Beaudesert.  Among his tasks, he was to assess the viability of the plans for a new hospital, and he found they were not in the best interest at the present time. “I came here to look at issues and what we could do to transform the organisation. It was apparent that we needed to spend some money to at least make what we have into a viable option as a private hospital. So, over the past 12 months, my job has been to transform it both from a facility and looking at the aesthetic side.”Mr Cooper spoke of the challenges the private hospital sector is currently undergoing as presenting a real threat to any facility. Coupled with Lismore’s recent struggles, in particular COVID and floods, the timing for a big change does not seem advantageous.“Lismore has been hit badly by some serious situations, the flood being the biggest, and COVID was probably just as bad. The two major events have put pressure on Lismore. And that impacts a single standalone hospital owned by a Catholic Church - the only one in Australia owned by a diocese in its entirety.“The whole of the private health industry is in difficulty. There's a lot around at the present moment indicating that hospitals aren't viable. They're not functioning particularly well and some hospitals are even closed down because of that. The Lismore Diocese has really struggled with what the future holds.”Renovations are well underway at the hospital; Inside and out have been painted, and new carpets, furniture, and decor make the internals look modern and inviting. “We've started the public front. And then, at Christmas, we're starting to get into the bathrooms and the wards. Ward three and the high dependency unit are closed and will start renovations.”Mr Cooper believes it is important to have a private health facility in any region, and the expectation is that it will look after its patients in an outstanding manner. Mr Cooper has applied the revitalisation to “patient experience and patient comfort”, implementing new roles to assist with community care. “What we need to do is to build this place to be relevant for the community, bringing the great services that are needed and building those services to the best that we can. We have to make sure that what we build has a sustainable future - that it is a service that is needed and required by the community, but it's also able to be continued once we start.”One of the things St Vincent’s does not have is an emergency department where you can walk in off the street. However, they are introducing changes to make it simpler to be admitted.“We've been looking at how to improve accessibility. We are looking into all those areas of what we can do to enable people to have easier access into our hospital. Maybe they are not sick enough - they don't always have to go to an emergency department.”St Vincent’s now has a liaison person who speaks with doctors to understand patient needs, and if required, they can be admitted via that route.“One of our senior nurses is now the contact point for doctors to ring us and say, look, I've got Mrs Jones in my surgery, for example. She's not well, and she needs to be admitted. Instead of sending her to the emergency department, I'll send her directly to do some tests.” Mr Cooper is aware that some people are disappointed when they find they cannot access St Vincent's amenities. Private health insurance doesn’t necessarily guarantee you coverage in a private hospital. He explains there is a big difference between Bronze and Gold coverage, “Bronze cover is for a private patient in a public hospital.“If you don't have gold cover, then you need to know what you're not covered for. If a situation arises and you want to come to St Vincent’s, you may not be covered for that. It is a good idea to understand your level of cover well.”Please note that this may not be applicable to all health insurers. The Lismore App have been made aware that some health insurers have much more stringent regulations on where private patients can receive treatment. It is best that you investigate your level of cover andconditions thoroughly so you understand your risk.The information for the decision to renovate rather than rebuild has been held back for some time. Mr Cooper says, “Partly why we haven't made too much public yet is because we want to get ourselves established with a new look, a new feel and a new presentation, and a lot of it has been training of staff. “A significant part of what we're doing is turning the culture around and there's things that we need to be cleaned up for a consistent approach. That affects the way we're doing business and working together and really getting behind the scenes into our equipment and looking at what needs replacing. “If we're going down this path and not the new hospital, it's time to refresh and get these things back on deck again.”Along with the announcement of a new hospital was the conversion of the old hospital into an aged care facility. Mr Cooper is also the CEO of St Joseph's Nursing Home and Mary’s Grange. He considers that these two facilities are serving Lismore well, and can do even better with some TLC.“St Vincent’s and St Joseph's have consistently provided excellent care. They really have, even in an environment that may not have been aesthetically beautiful, and they've had very high commendations from accreditation reviewers.“The hospital had a spot accreditation of three assessors over three days of eight standards, 148 actions were checked. And they found nothing to update - they had no recommendations.“And the same thing with St Joseph's, they found it provides very good care. The number of stars that they get is really quite amazing.”St Joseph's has also been going through renovations.“There's been some things that were let go but we are cleaning it up, making sure that the residents are in an environment that’s improving. We're putting in new furniture, making sure that the maintenance is getting done, and I think there's further opportunity, but we haven't got there yet. “In the interim, the idea is to make it comfortable, make it presentable.”Mr Cooper speaks of his experience, “I come from hospitals in regional areas, and for me, Lismore Hospital in this regional area needs support from the community. It needs encouragement, and it needs to have a plan for the future, and that's what we're really on about. “We want to be able to do the best we possibly can for our region.”If you are interested in further announcements about the changes happening at St Vincent’s Hospital, they have regular updates on their Facebook page.Last year's story on a new hospital can be found here.

The Alstonville Markets will return this Saturday for its third market day, offering a diverse range of local products and a boost for the community. The market, which takes place on the third Saturday of each month, will be held from 8:30 am to 2 pm at the Alstonville Showground. This 100% community-driven event, with proceeds going back into the community, has quickly become a popular destination for local shoppers and vendors.Since its launch in October, the market has grown in popularity, attracting over 100 stallholders and a waiting list for vendors. Rod Bruem, Alstonville Chamber member, highlighted the market's success, stating, "It's been very popular since our first October market. We've been fully booked with a waiting list." The market provides a low-cost platform for budding entrepreneurs and local businesses, charging $50 for a stall site. "People love markets. I think markets have a strong following in this region. They're a big part of our economy. That's my observation since moving here," Rod added.​The Alstonville Markets aim to fill a void left by the closure of the Lismore Car Boot Market, offering a general market with a focus on arts, crafts, gifts, and locally produced goods. While the market does feature some local produce, such as fruits, vegetables, and meat, it primarily focuses on arts, crafts, gifts, and other locally produced items to complement existing farmers' markets in the region.The market's strategic location in the Alstonville village draws crowds from both the coast and inland, with visitors travelling from as far as Casino and the Richmond Valley. The organisers will decide whether to continue the market next year after reviewing feedback from stallholders and marketgoers about the Saturday time slot."We have a sort of joint committee between the chamber and the society," explained Rod. "We said that we would trial these three markets this year and then decide what we're going to do next year. But I think we're all fairly decided at this stage. We will continue next year, and, more than likely, we'll probably continue with the same Saturday format."The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital is the charity partner for the December market. The Alstonville Markets will take a break in January and are expected to return in February.

The Albanese Government is going to invest $180.5 million to support local news and community broadcasting, today launching the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) and announcing additional funding for community broadcasting.In a statement, the Government said it recognises local media and community broadcasting as critical to the health of our democracy, social cohesion and informing communities. Federal Funding in the past has not made its way to independent digital newspapers like the Lismore App and Indynr, that services Casino and Kyogle. This involves both the Liberal/National Party and Labor in the last seven years..Their focus has been on supporting the ailing print industry and funding their transition to digital, mainly the big names in the industry, such as Murdoch and ACM. Lismore has seen the Northern Star stop printing at the end of June 2020, and then Lismore City News (that replaced it) closed its doors at the end of July 2024.So, the question remains: will News MAP support all local public interest journalism? Or will it be more of the same?The DetailsThe Government will invest $153.5 million over four years to implement the News MAP, which has been informed by extensive public and industry consultation, with the following measures: Release of the News MAP policy framework to guide government intervention to support public interest journalism in Australia, with clear objectives and the best available evidenceEstablishment of a new expert advisory panel to provide advice on the design and targeting of mechanisms to support sustainability and capacity building, including attracting philanthropy $33 million over three years to support the Australian Associated Press newswire service – recognising its important role in supporting media diversity and providing high quality news $116.7 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $1.7 million in 2028-29) to support and build the sustainability and capacity of news organisations so they can deliver public interest journalism and local news vital to Australian communities, including $17.6 million for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to support program delivery $3.8 million over three years from 2025-26 for the development of Australia’s first National Media Literacy Strategy, co-designed in partnership with the media literacy research sector, education sector and communities, to better equip Australians to critically engage with news and media. The Government will also mandate a minimum commitment of $3.0 million per year for two years from 2025-26 for regional newspaper advertising across the total Commonwealth media advertising spend.This is in addition to the $15.0 million in 2024–25 already announced for the News Media Relief Program to provide urgent support for eligible regional, independent suburban, multicultural and First Nations news publishers, and the $10.5 million already announced for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to implement the Media Diversity Measurement Framework. The Government will also invest an additional $27 million to back Australia’s vital community broadcasting sector, with:$15 million through the Community Broadcasting Program (CBP) to support the community broadcasting sector, including $3.0 million to support community television$12 million through the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program (IBMP) to support the First Nations broadcasting and media sector.This new funding recognises and supports the services of over 450 community broadcasters who connect communities and amplify diverse voices, while the Government continues work with the sector on the Community Broadcasting Sector Sustainability Review.For more information on News MAP, visit: News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the ArtsFor more information on the Community Broadcasting Program and the Community Broadcasting Sector Sustainability Review, visit: Community Broadcasting Program | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the ArtsMinister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP said, “Informed by extensive public and industry-wide consultation, the News MAP builds on the Albanese Government’s support for a strong, diverse and independent media sector with a new policy framework and range of new measures to support news and public interest journalism.“Local news and community broadcasting is at the heart of local communities, and makes a vital contribution to national identity and media diversity in Australia.“Community broadcasters provide millions of Australians with localised news, information and entertainment and the Government is providing additional funding as it works with the sector on the Community Broadcasting Sector Sustainability Review”. Minister for Indigenous Australians. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said, “First Nations journalists, broadcasters and media are a vital part of Australia’s media landscape.“They help connect, represent and tell the stories of our communities across the country. “The Albanese Government’s $12 million investment through the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program recognises and supports their important work.”Full disclosure: the Lismore App has received a Meta Fund to hire a journalist part-time for 12 months. This ends next week. It was provided through the Walkley Foundation.

All four flood-affected houses have now been relocated from East Lismore to Mt Pleasant Estate in Goonellabah.The rooves are on, and all are elevated, with some having concrete driveways already built as part of the early stages of the home renovation.The NSWRA (Reconstruction Authority) has stated previously that the renovations will be completed to a high standard to fit in with the aesthetics of the area and should be finished by mid-2025.Back in March this year, the NSWRA's Susie George said they had received over 100 expressions of interest to relocate to the Mt Pleasant Estate. So, there is no shortage of interested flood-affected parties ready to explore their options.The million-dollar question is around affordability.At this stage of the process, it is purely speculation, but it is worth getting a professional opinion from a local real estate agent. Andrew Gordon from R Gordon & Son has been in the real estate game for 34 years but has never experienced anything like the Resilient Homes Program.Andrew Gordon said it is difficult to estimate pricing at this stage as you can only refer to what has been said by the RA."Yes, we've heard that it's going to be an extensive renovation, and I hope it's on a Bangalow-type scale. You drive through some of those estates where you've had exactly the same thing happen: older homes moved to a location and done up, and they sell for a million plus or two million. Well, I'm not expecting that sort of level in Lismore, but I'm certainly expecting over the $600,000 mark. I can't see it being any less than that."If you look at the average price up there, the mean would be well above $800,000. I'm just not sure these will get to that point. I don't think that's the point of the exercise."Andrew raises a good point: what is the point of the exercise?Is it buying the land at Mt Pleasant Estate through the Resilient Lands Program, then moving four homes, renovating them and selling them to flood-affected people going at market price or a reduced price to make them affordable to those people who were at high risk in the floodplain?If we make the assumption that the average Lismore buyback house was around $500,000, and the removal costs were $120,000, plus another $150,000 to renovate the house, including landscaping, the total cost of the exercise would be $770,000. That is before adding the value of the land.Just Street currently has a 670sqm steep block for sale at $295,000. However, the average flat block is around the $350,000 mark.The total cost of purchasing and establishing the house in Mt Pleasant would be around the $1.12 million mark. Of course, if the house was purchased for a market rate of approximately $130,000 (3brm 1 bth), then the total cost would be around the $750,000 price range.A timber home on Just Street, which could be similar to what is being renovated at Mt Pleasant, sold in October this year for $780,000. It had 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on a 880sqm block of land.Would a resident who received a buyback for $500,000 to $550,000 be able to afford a property out of flood for $700,000 to $750,000?"I don't know how the RA is going to structure that," Andrew explained, "I would have thought there'd be an affordable component to it. To which there's a formula that will dictate a finishing price. But I think regardless, people are going to get a very good home. I'm sure the effort will be made to ensure that it's a very good home. As an example of exactly what you can do, and provide you with a variety of homes."You've gotta be careful about pricing. You don't want to devalue your neighbour's homes, and I'm sure the RA is very, very aware of that because that will have shortcomings straight away.""You would have to believe that even a timber home with a modest renovation up there would have to be worth $700,000. But if they're trying to sell it under the banner of affordable, then I'm not sure what that formula will be."Eventually, we will know the purchase price of houses in Mt Pleasant Estate and the four relocated homes."It comes through the land titles office, and that information becomes public knowledge. So, we'll always be able to tell at some stage. And I'd imagine they'd be on the open market for which there will be a price levied."As mentioned at the start of this story, this is speculation; however, the reality can not be far off.Andrew concluded by saying, "I honestly don't know, but I'm very interested to see how it works".As is the rest of the community.

Almost 1.1 million drivers are on track to have a demerit point scrubbed from their licence as the NSW Government urges a safe Christmas and New Year on the state’s roads.The second year of the demerit point return scheme will end on 16 January 2025, giving motorists that little extra incentive to remain offence-free at a time when people travel longer distances to reunite with family or go on holiday.About 1.5 million drivers were eligible this year, with about 70 per cent still on course to benefit. It comes at a critical time for road safety, with 323 deaths so far on NSW roads this year – three more than at the same point in 2023.The demerit point scheme will continue in 2025 after Transport for NSW noted a positive reception among drivers to have the incentive to drive safely as a counterbalance to fines, enforcement and double demerits.Results from the first 12-month period showed it was drivers in some of the most car-reliant parts of NSW, including western Sydney and the Central Coast, who benefited most.The demerit point scheme is open to eligible unrestricted and professional licence holders with active demerit points. To qualify for the reduction, they must maintain an offence-free record for 12 months.Demerit point return is part of a suite of measures introduced by the Minns Labor Government to encourage safe driving, including:Seatbelt enforcement by the existing mobile phone camera detection networkRemoving a loophole to force all motorists driving on a foreign licence to convert to a NSW licence within six monthsDoubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with the addition of 2,700 new locations where a camera can be deployed. Enforcement hours will remain the sameA trial of average speed cameras for light vehiclesHosting the state’s first Road Safety Forum of international and local expertsSigning the National Road Safety Data Agreement with the CommonwealthMinister for Roads John Graham said, “More than a million drivers have the chance to get a precious demerit point scrubbed from their licence, which in some cases can mean the difference between remaining on the road.“If you drive for a living, then the reward for safe driving could be the difference between ongoing employment and losing your livelihood.“These are very personal incentives to drive safely, but the broader effect is that safety on our roads is enhanced overall when people are making the right decisions to remain within the speed limit and within the law,“People are used to the stick of enforcement and double demerits but this is the carrot of reward for good behaviour. At a time when fatalities have been on the rise on our roads, we can all do something to make sure no more families are left grieving rather than celebrating Christmas and New Year.Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said, “As we head into the busy summer period, I am urging all motorists to drive so others survive. For those drivers who may have demerit points from previous years, but who have managed to keep their driving record clean this year, there will be a demerit reward if they can maintain their improved driving behaviours.“Most importantly, by improving our driving behaviour, we are all helping to save lives and reduce trauma on our roads.“It’s really simple to save lives on our road this Christmas and holiday period: stick to the speed limit, don’t drink and drive or use other drugs, put your mobile phone out of reach to avoid distraction, manage your fatigue and always, always wear a seatbelt.“Regional deaths on our roads make up over two thirds of all deaths on our roads, despite only a third of our population living in the regions. Deaths and road trauma hit tight knit regional and rural communities extra hard as everyone knows everyone and the grief, hurt and trauma impact even more widely.“The NSW Government is working every avenue to drive deaths and road trauma towards zero across the state, including by rewarding those drivers who have improved their driving behaviour in the last year. My message to those people is to continue that good driving behaviour and stay on track for a demerit reward.”