From next Monday, March 17, all newborn babies in Lismore and the Northern Rivers will be eligible for free immunisation against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).It will mean all newborn babies in NSW can be protected against serious illness from this virus, with an estimated 1,150 babies under six months of age avoiding hospitalisation for RSV in NSW each year.   The NSW Government is expanding eligibility for infant immunisation from a more targeted vulnerable cohort.The NSW Government will offer nirsevimab, a type of monoclonal antibody immunisation to:Infants at birth not protected by maternal RSV vaccination;Infants at birth with certain medical conditions that place them at highest risk of serious RSV disease, irrespective of whether their birth mother was vaccinated; and Children up to 24 months of age with certain medical conditions.Nirsevimab will be given to eligible newborns before hospital discharge. Since February, pregnant women have been eligible for a free RSV vaccination (Abrysvo) which passes protection to their babies for the first fives months of life.Maternal vaccination for RSV is recommended for women between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.It is provided through the National Immunisation Program.With the combined coverage of free maternal vaccination and free infant immunisation, all newborn babies in NSW can be protected.RSV is a common cause of respiratory illness infecting up to 90 per cent of children within the first two years of life.It can affect anyone, but the infection is more severe in children under one year of age, who may develop bronchiolitis or pneumonia requiring hospitalisation.In NSW between 2016 and 2023, there were more than 52,000 hospitalisations with an RSV diagnosis, of which approximately 41 per cent were in children aged less than 1 year.Further information on how to protect yourself and others from RSV can be found on the NSW Health website here. NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “RSV can be very serious, and I know how stressful and anxiety-inducing such a condition can be for parents.“Today, we can announce that from next week, all newborns can access protection from RSV for free.“It doubles the options for protection of newborns, either through maternal vaccination or infant immunisation.“This will keep babies out of hospital, and at home with their family.”NSW Chief Paediatrician Dr Helen Goodwin said, “RSV can be a serious illness in babies and young children, and I want to encourage parents to make sure their babies are protected, either through maternal vaccination or immunisation at birth with nirsevimab.“Nirsevimab is safe and effective. It provides antibodies directly to the infant, so they have immediate protection against RSV that lasts for five months.”

New research from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, shows Australians' eating habits are on a downward spiral and without significant intervention the nation will fall dramatically short of its ambitious 2030 health targets. Findings from the new study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, predict the consumption of discretionary foods to surge, fruit intake will decline, and vegetables will remain well below recommendations over the next five years. (Australians are missing the target for two and five fruit and veg a day.)Key findings show: Discretionary food consumption (ultra processed foods and sugary drinks) will soar by 18 per cent by 2030. Fruit consumption will drop by nearly 10 per cent. Vegetable intake will remain stagnant at well below recommended levels. Young adults (18-30) are the only age group showing some positive trends, yet still consume excessive amounts of discretionary foods. The research also indicated some concerning trends for older Australians, with those over 71 showing the steepest projected decline in fruit consumption – a 14.7 per cent drop by 2030. Using predictive modelling techniques, CSIRO researchers analysed nine years of data from over 275,000 Australian adults to forecast future dietary trends and compare against the national targets.  Dr Gilly Hendrie, Senior CSIRO Research Scientist, said this innovative approach allows researchers to anticipate and address potential public health challenges before they occur, marking a significant advance in preventive health planning. "Predictive modelling gives us a powerful early warning system," Dr Hendrie said.  "Rather than waiting to see the impact of poor dietary habits, we can now identify concerning trends and intervene before they become major public health issues." The findings come as Australia aims to achieve nutrition targets of:  Two servings of fruit per day Five servings of vegetables per day Reducing discretionary foods to less than 20 per cent of total energy intake The targets are part of Australia's National Preventive Health Strategy (2021-2030), which identifies poor diet as a key risk factor for chronic diseases, as well as accounting for significant healthcare costs and reduced quality of life.  Improving access to and consumption of healthy diets is one of the Strategy's seven key focus areas, highlighting the critical role of nutrition in preventing chronic disease and supporting long-term public health. "The gap between our current dietary trajectory and our national health targets is widening," Dr Hendrie said.  "We have five years to get back on track with our diets and reverse these concerning trends.”  

New data released by Dementia Australia for Brain Health Week shows that Australians are largely unaware that common health issues such as hearing loss, depression and high cholesterol are risk factors for dementia.Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said that dementia is the second leading cause of death for all Australians and there are currently 433,300 Australians living with the condition.“Dementia is on track to become the country’s biggest cause of death within the next five years. While we cannot change getting older, genetics or family history, scientific research shows that looking after our brain health can make a big difference to reducing or delaying the risk of developing dementia,” Professor Buchanan said.A recent iPsos survey of Australian attitudes towards dementia, found that many Australians remained unaware that proactive steps can help reduce dementia risk.Last year, the Lancet Commission identified 14 modifiable risk factors that, if addressed effectively, could reduce dementia incidence globally by 45 percent.The risk factors include smoking, obesity and physical inactivity as well as factors such as hearing loss, high cholesterol and depression.“In fact, people with mild-severe hearing loss are two to five times as likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing,” Professor Buchanan said.Peter, who lives with younger onset dementia, was shocked to learn that hearing loss could contribute to dementia, especially as he has lived with an incurable hearing disorder for the past two decades.“If we can get the message out there, to help people identify small changes they can make in their everyday – we might just save a life,” Peter said.He said his focus now was to live as well as possible with dementia.“I’m trying to live life to the full – playing golf, spending time with my family and friends, and getting out into the world.”Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor Henry Brodaty AO led a recent three-year clinical trial that has definitively shown that looking after our brain health slows cognitive decline.The University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing trial – ‘Maintain Your Brain’ – tested whether effectively addressing some of the modifiable risk factors for dementia resulted in better cognition in older adults over a three-year period.“The outcome was a resounding yes – we can improve cognition over three years and, therefore, likely enhance resilience to dementia,” Professor Brodaty said.Dementia Australia is urgently calling on the Federal Government to fund a national discussion about brain health and dementia prevention.Professor Buchanan said dementia was a chronic condition that could impact anyone, just like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.“It’s a chronic condition which must be treated with the same health investment as other major chronic conditions, Professor Buchanan said.“Dementia is the leading health, disability and aged care issue facing Australia. It impacts Australians across their life and nearly 30,000 Australians live with younger onset dementia. The research is clear that dementia is a condition that starts many decades before symptoms appear. So, it is vital that all Australians understand the importance of maintaining brain health throughout our lives.“It is never too early or too late to reduce your dementia risk.”Find out more about the modifiable risk factors that can make a big difference to your brain health: dementia.org.au/brain-health/reducing-your-risk-dementia.

Corndale Hall has been at the heart of the community for more than 130 years. Sadly, it washed away and was completely destroyed during the 2022 floods.Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan today announced that an elected Coalition Government would provide the $1,114,351 needed to rebuild the hall.“Community halls are so important to our country villages, they host everything from school concerts to weddings, scout groups and community fundraisers.”“The hall was tragically lost, but the community has rallied together to plan a rebuild that will meet modern standards while honouring its historical significance.”(Kevin Hogan with members of the Cornwall Hall Committee. Photo: supplied)“This funding will ensure the community can once again enjoy this important local asset.”“The Corndale Hall Committee has done an incredible job in getting the project to this stage, with development approvals in place and a clear vision for the future.”“This has been driven and supported by the local community and a range of local professionals who have in part, volunteered their services free of cost.”“The design of the hall has been completed voluntarily by local architect Steve Lampe, who has worked with the hall committee to design a hall sympathetic to the previous historical building but meeting modern building standards.”“The hall design has been guided by local structural engineers, Greg Alderson’s and Associates, who have volunteered their advice to date and have committed to assisting with post approval structural design required for the project.”The total rebuild cost is estimated at $1,653,211, with The Corndale Hall Inc. covering $538,860 through their insurance. The remaining $1,114,351 required will be funded through this election commitment.

The state’s peak farming group has welcomed a fresh crackdown on biosecurity controls in the wake of ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred.On Friday NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced measures to keep Red Imported Fire Ants out, with a temporary ban on soil and hay coming into the state from infested areas in southeast Queensland.NSW Farmers Biosecurity Committee Chair Tony Hegarty said recent footage of fire ant ‘rafts’ in Queensland’s Scenic Rim region had sparked serious concerns around the spread of the ants in the wake of recent flood events.“We’re seeing thousands of these deadly ants cling together and create massive rafts in Queensland floodwater,” Mr Hegarty said. “While these rafts haven’t been spotted in NSW as yet, floodwater does spread these ants about, and we can’t be careful enough when it comes to protecting our communities against these pests.”  If allowed to spread throughout Australia, it is estimated fire ants would cost the economy a total of $60 billion dollars in damages, with the ants known to attack livestock, people and pests. Fire ants are found in southeast Queensland and are known to gather together as large rafts in floodwater as a survival mechanism.As communities recovered from recent flood events, Mr Hegarty said the measures to stop the ants had come as welcome news to farmers on the front line of the threat.“NSW deserves a biosecurity system that is proactive and effective when it comes to eradicating extreme biosecurity threats – and that includes fire ants,” Mr Hegarty said.“A serious biosecurity regime is what we need the NSW Government to deliver, and we thank them for hearing us in this most critical hour.”

The Lismore Regional gallery has been closed since the artworks were evacuated offsite due to the severe weather caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the imminent threat of flooding in the Lismore CBD, which aligned with Lismore City Council's Emergency Management Plan.Council said that now flood waters have receded, its team has been working on reinstalling exhibitions, carefully unpacking equipment, and setting up the gallery. "This process takes time to ensure everything is appropriately handled," a council spokesperson said."The gallery will remain closed this weekend. We plan to reopen by Friday, 21 March at the latest." "Thank you for your patience and continued support. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to view proppaNOW: OCCURRENT AFFAIR, ARTEXPRESS 2025, and Aafia Ali Shah: To love the empty cup."

An international team of researchers is calling for urgent improvements in deepfake detection technologies after uncovering critical flaws in widely used detection tools. A study by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and South Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), assessed 16 leading detectors and found none could reliably identify real-world deepfakes.  (Created by our researchers using Midjourney, these diffusion model deepfakes illustrate the increasing realism and sophistication of the technology.)Deepfakes are artificial intelligence (AI) generated synthetic media that can manipulate images, videos, or audio to create hyper-realistic but false content, raising concerns about misinformation, fraud, and privacy violations.  CSIRO cybersecurity expert, Dr Sharif Abuadbba, said the availability of generative AI has fuelled the rapid rise in deepfakes, which are cheaper and easier to create than ever before. “Deepfakes are increasingly deceptive and capable of spreading misinformation, so there is an urgent need for more adaptable and resilient solutions to detect them,” Dr Abuadbba said.  “As deepfakes grow more convincing, detection must focus on meaning and context rather than appearance alone. “By breaking down detection methods into their fundamental components and subjecting them to rigorous testing with real-world deepfakes, we’re enabling the development of tools better equipped to counter a range of scenarios.”The researchers developed a five-step framework that evaluates detection tools based on deepfake type, detection method, data preparation, model training, and validation.It identifies 18 factors affecting accuracy, ranging from how data is processed to how models are trained and tested.SKKU Professor Simon S. Woo, said the collaboration between CSIRO and SKKU has advanced the field’s understanding of detection model vulnerabilities.“This study has deepened our understanding of how deepfake detectors perform in real-world conditions, exposing major vulnerabilities and paving the way for more resilient solutions,” he said.The study also found many current detectors struggle when faced with deepfakes that fall outside their training data.For example, the ICT (Identity Consistent Transformer) detector, which was trained on celebrity faces, was significantly less effective at detecting deepfakes featuring non-celebrities.CSIRO cybersecurity expert, Dr Kristen Moore, said using multiple detectors and diverse data sources strengthens deepfake detection.“We’re developing detection models that integrate audio, text, images, and metadata for more reliable results,” Dr Moore said."Proactive strategies, such as fingerprinting techniques that track deepfake origins, enhance detection and mitigation efforts.“To keep pace with evolving deepfakes, detection models should also look to incorporate diverse datasets, synthetic data, and contextual analysis, moving beyond just images or audio.”The paper, SoK: Systematization and Benchmarking of Deepfake Detectors in a Unified Framework, was published in arXiv preprint. The paper has been accepted at IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy 2025. This paper is authored by Le, Binh M., Jiwon Kim, Simon S. Woo, Kristen Moore, Alsharif Abuadbba, Shahroz Tariq (CSIRO Technical Lead).The types of real-world deepfake types that outsmarted detectors:Synthesis: Synthesis deepfakes generate entirely new synthetic faces using AI-powered Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or Diffusion models. They create an artificial identity by blending or generating facial features. These deepfakes are often used for creating realistic looking but non-existent individuals. For instance, a Diffusion model can blend the faces of two famous actors.  Faceswap: Faceswap deepfakes replace one person’s face with another in a video while keeping the original body and background. For example, they can make it look like a celebrity's face is on someone else’s body in a video.  Reenactment:  Reenactment deepfakes transfer facial expressions and movements of one person to onto another’s face in a video. This preserves the target person’s facial features but alters their expressions. They can be used to convincingly fabricate speeches or reactions that never occurred.  

Private Healthcare Australia says too many Australians are being hit with unexpected medical bills and excessive fees from specialist doctors who are sometimes charging more than $950 for a single appointment.A new survey of more than 5000 people by Patients Australia and Latrobe University has revealed one in five Australians are not attending appointments with specialist doctors such as psychiatrists, cardiologists and surgeons due to concerns about the cost. Under Australian law, health insurers are not allowed to cover these appointments if they don’t occur during a hospital admission, and doctors can charge whatever they think people in their community can afford. Dr Rachel David, CEO of Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for the health insurance sector, said while most specialist doctors charge appropriately and fairly, there is increasing evidence that more are charging very high fees and billing inappropriately. Some are taking deliberate steps to avoid billing through Medicare and private health insurance channels so they can get away with charging patients additional ‘hidden’ fees. “We have heard reports of people being charged more than $950 for a single visit to a psychiatrist and more than $650 for a single visit to an obstetrician. This is understandably putting people off seeing specialist doctors when they need to, and it’s clearly putting untold numbers of people at risk of worsening health and crises that land them in hospital,” she said.  “It’s also wreaking havoc for private hospitals because people need to be able to see a specialist doctor to get referred into a private hospital for treatment. With 20% of people referred to a specialist doctor skipping attendance or declining treatment due to the cost, it is no wonder some private hospitals are struggling, and private hospital beds are sitting empty.  “We must get specialist doctors charging more reasonable fees if we want to address this unbalanced use of our hospital resources.”   Health funds and their members want the Federal Government to step in with a range of measures including an opt-out system for the Medical Cost Finder website, so all specialist doctors’ fees are disclosed to consumers to view before they book a consultation.  Australia also needs tougher laws to protect consumers from surprise billing for healthcare services. Common examples of surprise billing in Australia’s private system include anaesthetists sending quotes to patients in the days leading up their surgery, causing them to worry their procedure will be cancelled if they don’t agree to pay, and unexpected bills from doctors such as assistant surgeons after surgery. These undisclosed fees can be thousands of dollars. There are also reports of patients being advised of extra fees and charges by text message, which is not informed financial consent and is completely unacceptable. “There was bipartisan political support for the ‘No Surprises Act’ in the US, so consumers can confidently proceed with healthcare knowing they won’t get a financial shock at the end. If people do not receive a proper quote for out-of-pocket costs well in advance of planned surgery, or if financial consent is not provided or provided under duress, they should not be obliged to pay,” Dr David said. Fifty-five per cent of Australians (15 million people) are paying for private health insurance. These people are contributing to their own healthcare and taking pressure off our stressed public hospital system. They should be guaranteed protection from unanticipated medical costs. The Patients Association survey also found 60% of patients treated in private hospitals faced an out-of-pocket fee, with 70% being hit with one more than $500. The rate of out-of-pocket fees is much higher than the Government’s reporting, suggesting a lack of transparent billing. “We are very concerned about reports of doctors splitting up bills with separate ‘booking fees’ and ‘admin charges’. This means one bill is seen by the Government and the health insurer and the patient receives another bill that no one has oversight of,” Dr David said. “Australia relies on the private system to perform two thirds of planned surgery, around one in four births, and most hospital stays for mental health treatment. If people are being stung with unknown fees to access this system, and an increasing number are being priced out of it, we must get it under control.”

There will be plenty of sunshine over the weekend to enjoy and dry things out after a horrendous last seven days in Lismore and the Northern Rivers.The weather will be as we expect at this time of the year, with 28/29 degrees as the maximum and 16 as the minimum.A bit of rain is forecast to return for Monday, so make the most of it.As you would imagine, events have been rescheduled and postponed as TC Alfred wreaked havoc across the Northern Rivers.The ARTEXPRESS 2025 exhibition will reopen at the Lismore Art Gallery next week as the team works to install artwork. No specific date has been given.The Her-Art Work exhibition at Serpentine Gallery was postponed and is holding its opening tonight at 6pm, with Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin.The exhibition runs until Friday, March 28.The Lismore show grounds may be a little soft underfoot, but the Lismore Farmers Markets is going ahead tomorrow (Saturday) from 7:30am.Bring your smiles and bags to fill with fresh fruit and veg, the CWA Evening Branch will have their famous homemade scones and there will be live blues music from Two Tears ina Bucket.This Sunday is the monthly market for the Lismore Free Market at 50 Brewster Street, near the tennis courts from 9am to 11am.All items are free to the public, there is no trading, bartering or exchange of money.Harmony Day is next Friday (March 21) at The Quad in the Lismore CBD (110 Magellan Street).Put on by the YWCA and Women Up North, Harmony Day celebrates our cultural diversity.There will be free music and activities as well as international food stalls.We are getting in early for this reminder so you have plenty of time to adjust, Daylight Savings ends on Sunday April 6 at 3am.The Lismore Workers Club had to postpone The Fab Four - The Ultimate Beatles Tribute to this Tuesday night, March 18. Last minute tickets are available by calling the Workers Club on (02) 6621 7401.You can check out the live music coming up at the Workers Club by clicking here. There are artists like Tommy Memphis (Free show) and Who's Bad - the Michael Jackson Tribute Show coming up in May.The Northern Rivers Hotel will be back with live music next week as they continue to move everything back into the hotel.Fuel prices have been steady throughout TC Alfred. Here are the cheapest fuel options in each town:E10 is 178.9 across the board in Lismore, 174.4 at the NightOwl Puma at 37 Johnston Street in Casino, with The Metro and the Mobil on River Street in Ballina cheapest at 170.5.Unleaded 91 is 179.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road, Lismore, 176.9 at the Casino Roadhouse and The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 172.5 at the Metro and the new Mobil in Ballina.U95 is 188.5 at Bakers Corner, Terania Street, North Lismore, 194.9 at the Ampol on Dyraaba Street and the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street in Casino and 183.9 at the Shell on River Street (273), Ballina.U98 is 196.9 at the Liberty Foodmart on Ballina Road and the Liberty at 113 Union Street, South Lismore, 197.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street, and The United in Casino, and 191.9 at the Shell on River Street (273).Diesel is 188.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road and the Independent at Bakers Corner at 111 Terania Street, North Lismore, 189.9 at the Casino Roadhouse and The United on Johnston Street in Casino and 192.5 at The Mobil and The Metro in Ballina.Have a great weekend!Have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the NSW Government has taken immediate action to ensure that fire-ant-carrying materials, such as hay, sourced from both the storm-impacted and infested areas of southeast Queensland are now banned from entering NSW while the after effects are being assessed.Until there is a consolidated understanding of the impact on fire ant mobility and locations in the infected areas and outside that region, NSW must firstly protect its communities, farms and landscape.The Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit, which allowed movements of hay from lower risk areas in the fire ant biosecurity zone of Southeast Queensland under certain conditions, will be suspended for one month effective immediately.To protect our primary industries, the government is cracking down on the movement of materials such as hay, plus instigating increased surveillance and monitoring of movements across the border.The recent cyclonic high winds, rainfall and flooding has disrupted fire ants in southeast Queensland and consequently people in those areas may not be aware of fire ants moving into their businesses and stored materials such as hay, soil, landscaping materials, pots and soils.This follows the NSW Government’s suspension of turf being moved from Queensland Fire Ant-Infested Areas into NSW from November last year.The NSW Fire Ant Team has stepped-up efforts to prevent the spread of fire ants with proactive early detection surveillance across northern New South Wales. The initiative uses specially trained detection dogs and human surveillance teams to monitor high-risk sites to detect and prevent. This swift response follows the surveillance of multiple fire ant colonies moving in flood waters in Queensland, within the Logan River catchment. While the catchment flows to the northeast and into Moreton Bay, the risk of mobile fire ant colonies being transported into NSW in known carrier materials is increased because they may appear in new Queensland locations.  This suspension of hay movement allows the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to further assess the distribution of fire ants following the flooding events and clearly determine the current biosecurity risk.Fodder material such as baled hay could be unsuspectedly transported into NSW without appropriate processing and endanger NSW primary industries.Other materials such as soil, sand, vegetation and debris are also regulated as high-risk carriers of fire ants and must be treated and handled according to the Order before they can be moved into NSW from the Queensland fire ant infested area.Surveillance will target high-risk locations identified through tracing of fire ant carrier materials, along with areas highlighted by habitat suitability modeling.The NSW Government is committed to protecting the state’s primary industries and has instigated record funding for biosecurity, $945 million, and specifically for combatting fire ants, $95 million.Since December 2023, over 390 record of movement declarations have been made for hay, documenting the movement of over 6,500t of hay into NSW.Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said, “We’ve all seen the images of wind and rain in Queensland, and this is making the fire ants mobile over the coming weeks. The temporary suspension of the hay permit is a necessary step to mitigate the movement of these highly invasive pests.“The impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred are being felt in our agricultural sector in the north of the state. They need our support to get them back on their feet and don’t want a fire ant incursion adding stress and strain to their recovery.“We have increased surveillance focusing on high-risk areas and are employing advanced tracking and modelling techniques, taking strong preventative measures to stop fire ants."“Fire ants won’t march into NSW they will either be carried with materials such as soil, mulch, hay and turf, or fly in by natural spread from QLD. Which is why we’re ramping up surveillance in these high-risk areas.“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, so it’s critical that businesses moving these types of materials comply with the Biosecurity Fire Ant Emergency Order.”NSW Chief Invasive Species Officer Scott Charlton said, “We know that fire ants will raft in water as a survival mechanism and move following rain and flooding events.“The recent videos and images on social media of fire ants forming rafts are no doubt concerning. However, we know from hydrological analysis that ants floating into NSW is not possible.“What we can do is mitigate the increased risks of human-assisted movement of fire ants from the infested areas of Queensland and suspend the hay permit.”

As the cleanup continues following Cyclone Alfred's devastation across South-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, cyber security experts are urgently warning the public to remain vigilant against a surge of online scams preying on victims in the aftermath of the disaster.  AUCyber CEO Chris Wright said it was a sad reality that whenever there was hardship, scammers usually weren’t too far behind. Something that Lismore and the Northern Rivers is only too aware of following the 2022 big flood. “We don’t want to see any more pain for people who have already suffered enough,” said Mr Wright. “Scammers are the lowest of the low and will take any opportunity to prey on people when they are at their most vulnerable—with their guard down, easy to scam.”  Top Scams to Watch Out for as the Cleanup Begins: Unannounced Contractors and Repair Scams - Fraudsters may show up at cyclone-affected properties, posing as contractors or insurance representatives. These scammers may offer to carry out quick repairs for an upfront payment but will disappear with the money and never complete the work. Phishing Emails - Cybercriminals may impersonate insurers, sending emails claiming to verify or update your personal information. These emails can trick victims into revealing sensitive data, such as bank account details, personal identification numbers, or MyGov credentials, which can be used for identity theft. Fake Donation Campaigns - Fraudulent pages claiming to raise money for cyclone victims often emerge across social media platforms, where donors are unknowingly funding criminal enterprises rather than legitimate relief efforts. Impersonation of Government and Relief Agencies - Scammers may pose as representatives from organisations like the Australian Red Cross, Centrelink, or the Government, offering emergency assistance or housing and asking for sensitive information like Medicare numbers or bank account details.  AUCyber’s Top 8 Tips to Protect Yourself During the Cleanup:  Lodge Your Insurance Claim Through Official Channels - Always file your claim directly with your insurer online or over the phone. Avoid third-party websites or unsolicited offers. Keep Your Reference Number Handy - Ensure your insurance reference number is easily accessible, like in your phone case, to streamline any communication with your insurer. Never Pay to Fast-Track Work - Be wary of anyone asking for payment to expedite repairs or insurance claims. Your insurer will never ask for money upfront to speed up the process. Verify Contractor Credentials - No builder or contractor working on behalf of your insurer should request payment. Always check their credentials before proceeding with any services. Don’t Be Pressured into Quick Contracts - Avoid signing contracts under pressure, especially in the aftermath of a disaster. Take the time to read and understand any agreement. Check the Sender’s Email Address - Ensure any email communication claiming to be from your insurer is legitimate by verifying the sender’s email address. If in Doubt, Contact Your Insurer Directly - If you are uncertain about an offer or email, contact your insurer directly using known contact details to confirm its legitimacy. Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam, report it to ScamWatch (Australia). Awareness is key to preventing further exploitation.  “The recent 2025 LA wildfires showed us just how quickly cybercriminals can exploit a disaster. Fraudulent charity campaigns, phishing schemes, and fake contractors were launched in the chaos, preying on the vulnerability of both victims and donors,” Mr Wright said.  

The latest long-term weather forecasting from the Bureau of Meteorology shows a 43% chance of a wetter than usual end to March (17 to 30 March), so there may be some wet days towards the end of the month.The good news is 'unusually wet' is classified as greater than 134.8mm. If spread out, this should not be a problem for Lismore and the Northern Rivers.So far this month, we have recorded 405.2mm with 280mm of that received in two days last week. The mean rainfall for the month of March is 181.4mm.The likely scenario in terms of averages is for 'above median rainfall' (59.8mm) being 66%.When looking at the rainfall for April, we could sum it up by saying "on the wetter side" as well.The chance of 'above median rainfall', which is 131mm is 63%, while the chance of an 'unusually wet' April (greater than 278mm) is 31%.May's unusually wet percentage falls to 20%.In the short term, we will be enjoying plenty of sunshine with mostly sunny and sunny the forecast for the weekend with maximums of 28 and 29 degrees.

As the recovery continues from Tropical Cyclone Alfred, there are a number of financial options available to help individuals and businesses get back on their feet.It is certainly not an easy task to easily find, follow and understand what is available. The Lismore App has done its best to help by putting it in one place.One of the criteria for most financial aid is that you must reside or have a business in one of the following 17 Local Government Areas: Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glen Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Mid-Coast, Nambucca, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield and Tweed as well as the locality of Lord Howe Island, including any islands within a 3 nautical mile radius.That can reduce in size, but is noted.Personal Hardship Assistance Payment - NSW GovernmentA one-off payment of $180 for eligible individuals and $180 per eligible dependent (up to a maximum of 4 dependents)and up to $900 per family is available from Service NSW for essential costs such as food, clothing, medicine and emergency accommodation.To be eligible for this payment, individuals must reside in one of the declared affected Local Government Areas and as a result of the disaster event:experienced a power outage of 48 hours or more orbeen subject to evacuation orders (Category red emergency warning).Applications are now open and will close on 8 April 2025. More information is available on the Service NSW website.DISASTER RELIEF GRANTS - NSW GovernmentThe purpose of the DRG Program is to support 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. In doing so, it seeks to alleviate personal hardship and distress arising as a result of natural disasters in NSW. Who can apply?Criteria 1 Income: You must be a low-income earnerCriteria 2 Insurance: You're unable to claim costs under an insurance policy or you are uninsured.Criteria 3 Principal Place of Residence: The damaged property is your principal place of residenceCriteria 4 Cause of Damage: The damage was caused by a declared natural disaster Criteria 5 Within Scope: It has been less than 6 months since the disaster, and that the grant provided allows for the safe and habitable return of a resident to their home Criteria 6 Realisable Assets: That you do not have any assets that could be used to support you post disaster. Who can’t apply?You cannot apply if: you're able to claim under insurancethe damaged home is an investment property that you do not live inlack of maintenance has caused the damagethe damage is minor and repairs are not essential to live in the property. Essential Household Goods (HHG) GrantThere are two types of Essential Household Good Grants to support eligible applicant who are impacted by a natural disaster. Essential household goods: Under the Household Goods Grant, a maximum of $18,000 is available as a contribution toward the cost of re-establishing essential household items considered necessary to maintain a basic standard of living. Items include bedding, furniture, clothing and essential electrical items such as a refrigerator, washing machine, or stove. The HHG grant assists low-income residents who have no other means of purchasing or repairing these essential household items and are not covered by insurance. For more information on this you can access the FAQ document, which includes a list of items and nominal costing associated with each item.Rough Sleepers/Camping Package: Rough sleepers can apply for a small grant that is contribution to replacing essential items, such as a tent and sleeping bag. A flat rate of $1,200 is available plus $150 for each additional resident. STRUCTURAL GRANTSStructural Grants provide a contribution toward essential structural works for households unable to meet the cost of repairs and may also assist in relocation-related costs. These grants assist low-income homeowners who have no other means of restoring their homes to a safe and habitable condition. There are 4 types of Structural Grants available (depending on the type of damage suffered by the eligible applicant): Repair Grant: A contribution towards essential structural repairs to a Residence (including a relocatable home) to assist in restoring it to a safe and habitable condition – grant amount is determined based on assessment of scope of works and threshold considerations. Rebuild Grant: A contribution towards the rebuild of a residence (including a relocatable home) to a basic level that has been rendered uninhabitable – grant amount is determined based on assessment of scope of works and threshold considerations.Temporary Dwelling Grants: a Flat-rate Temporary Dwelling Package – flat rate of $5,000 for repairs and $10,000 if the temporary dwelling has been rendered uninhabitable.  Access Grant: A contribution of up to $50,000 towards a basic level of repairs to legal accessways on private property where there are no safe alternate routes to the residence or temporary dwelling (and where the Accessway was maintained and fit for purpose prior to the natural disaster). If you meet the above criteria, further information, including what documents you need to provide, by clicking here.AUSTRALIAN DISASTER RECOVERY PAYMENT - Australian GovernmentIf you are eligible, you'll get a $1,000 grant per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child. This grant is being activated for impacted LGAs. They are: Ballina Local Government Area (LGA), Byron LGA, Lillian Rock in Kyogle LGA, Lismore LGA, Tweed LGA, Yamba in Clarence Valley LGA.You have until 11 September 2025 to make a claim for the following areas:To find out how to make a claim, click here.AUSTRALIAN RECOVERY ALLOWANCE - Australian GovernmentThis is a short-term payment you can get for a maximum of 13 weeks. This will be paid from the day you started to lose income.You cannot receive this payment if you are already receiving: Age Pension, Austudy, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, JobSeeker Payment, Prenting Payment, Special Benefit, Youth Allowance, a Service Pension, Income Support Supplement or veteran payment from the Department of Veteran's Affairs, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Farm Household Allowance, Parental Leave Pay and Self-Employment Allowance.If you’re eligible, you’ll get the maximum equivalent rate of JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on your personal circumstances.The government will reduce your payment to zero if your income is more than the average weekly income amount of $1,924.60 before tax.Disaster Recovery Allowance is a taxable payment and needs to be included in your tax return.Click here to learn how to make a claim.BUSINESS AND PRIMARY PRODUCERS - NSW GovernmentNATURAL DISASTER RELIEF LOANS for SMALL BUSINESSSmall business operators directly affected by a declared natural disaster may be eligible for a low interest loan of up to $130,000 to support recovery.The concessional loans have a two-year interest and repayment free period and may be used for essential working capital for up to 12 months from the date of the disaster, to continue trading until normal income resumes and for replacements and repairs to damages caused to the small business as a result of the natural disaster.Check out the program guidelines or if you are ready to apply, click here.NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF LOANS for PRIMARY PRODUCERSPrimary producers directly affected by a declared natural disaster may be eligible for a low interest loan of up to $130,000 to support recovery.The concessional loans have a two-year interest and repayment free period and may be used for essential working capital for up to 12 months from the date of the disaster, to continue farming operations until normal income resumes and for the replacement and repair of property damaged as a result of the natural disaster.Check out the program guidelines or if you are ready to apply, click here.NATURAL DISASTER TRANSPORT SUBSIDYThe Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy is available to eligible primary producers for the transport of fodder and/or water to a property, stock to/from agistment, stock to sale or slaughter, or bee or oyster movements following a declared natural disaster.An eligible primary producer or primary production enterprise can claim a maximum subsidy of $15,000 (GST-exclusive) in one financial year, regardless of how many parcels of land or aquaculture leases for oysters they operate and whether the declared natural disaster spans one or two financial years.The subsidy will be paid for road transport (for fodder, water, stock and bees) or water-based movements using a vessel (for oysters) at a rate of 50% of the total amount (GST-exclusive) paid to the carrier or specified costs for an owner-driver. A maximum distance of 1500 km applies for road transport. Check out the program guidelines or if you are ready to apply, click here.NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF LOANS for NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONSNatural Disaster Relief Loans assist voluntary non-profit organisations directly affected by a declared natural disaster including flood, fire or storm damage.The concessional loans are available for the restoration of essential facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster and may also be directed towards temporary storage or leasing of alternate premises.Eligible non-proft organisations impacted by the declared natural disaster can apply to borrow a maximum amount of $25,000. All loans have a term of up to 5 years, depending on the amount borrowed and your repayment capacity. Check out the program guidelines or if you are ready to apply, click here.SPORTING and RECREATIONAL CLUBS:Concessional loans up to $10,000 and a Grant up to $2,000No links can be found.After reading the list of Disaster Relief Payments, Allowance, Grants and Loans, and you are still confused (I don't blame you), there are Recovery Assistance Points with staff from Service NSW and other government agencies who can help explain each in more detail and help you through the application process. They are at:Tweed Heads – Tweed Heads South Community Hall Cnr Heffron St and Minjungbal Dr, South Tweed Heads, open 9am - 5pmLismore – Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore Room V1.19, open 9am - 5pm (For SCU, it is at the Visual Arts building after the stop sign off University Loop if you come down from the Ballina Road/Rotary Drive roundabout or if you travel up Rifle Range Road, it is on your left after you turn left at T junction.Coffs Harbour – C.ex Coffs 2-6 Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour, open 10am - 6pm Ballina - Ballina Surf Club Lighthouse Beach Parade, East Ballina, open 9am – 5pm There are mobile venues in the following villages:14 March 2025Coraki - Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre, Shop 1 - 121 Richmond Terrace, Coraki, from 11:00am to 1:00pmNana Glen - Nana Glen Community Hall, 26 Grafton St, Nana Glen, from 11:00am to 1:00pmMurwillumbah - Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, 10-14 Tumbulgum Rd, Murwillumbah, from 11.00am to 1.00pmWoodburn - Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre, 123-125 River St, Woodburn, from 4:00pm to 6:00pmByron Bay - Marvell Hall, 37 Marvell St, Byron Bay, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm15 March 2025Wardell - Pod Village, Bath Street, Wardell Recreation Ground, from 11:00am to 2:00pm

Amid claims from the Prime Minister on Monday that insurance companies are "ripping off Australians", the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), insurers, reinsurers, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other government agencies met yesterday morning to discuss how the insurance sector is supporting customers impacted by ex-TC Alfred.The meeting heard that insurers pre-emptively contacted more than a quarter of a million customers across south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales with safety and preparedness tips and how to lodge a claim as quickly as possible.The ICA said insurers added hundreds of additional claims consultants, engaged round-the-clock major event response teams during the active phase of the event, pre-reserved temporary accommodation for impacted customers, and secured a strong network of builder and supplier capacity in potentially impacted areas.While claims types differ from region to region, insurers reported that pre-event concerns about large numbers of severe wind damage claims have not been realised, with some customers in localised areas making flood claims and many more thousandsof customers across the path of the event making claims related to storm-driven water damage and food spoilage due to power outages.Insurers having already paid almost $2.4 million in emergency cash payments to almost 6,000 impacted policyholders, generally for items such as food spoilage and temporary accommodation.As of midday yesterday, insurers had received more than 34,000 claims across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, an increase of more than 50 per cent.The ICA also warned today about ‘disaster chasers’ operating in impacted communities. Disaster chasers may offer to undertake work such as tree and debris removal, requesting payment upfront in cash but often leaving work poorly done or incomplete.Disaster chasers can also offer to undertake home inspections or repairs for cash payment. Some disaster chasers pressure homeowners to sign a contract on the spot for future repair work and may promise their insurer will pay.This can leave the homeowner liable to pay a commission or inflated repair bills not covered by their insurance policy, as insurers will only pay for approved work that is covered by a policy.Residents who believe they may have been approached by or signed with a disaster chaser should seek guidance from their insurer.Andrew Hall, CEO, Insurance Council of Australia said, "As part of the recovery from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred insurers and reinsurers met today with NEMA and other government agencies to share what the industry is observing on the ground."This ongoing dialogue with our partners in government is crucial to ensuring that resources are deployed to where they are needed most."Insurers have already paid out almost $2.4 million in 6,000 small emergency cash payments to help impacted customers get through the immediate aftermath of this event, for items such as food and temporary accommodation."Claims numbers are increasing significantly each day, with more than 34,000 claims now received by insurers, the large majority from Queensland."Neither the government nor the opposition has announced a policy to address issues in the insurance industry.

As we heard earlier this week, 22 Lifeblood Donor Centres were forced to close because of the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.Scott Morrison, Group Account Relationship Manager, was joined by Australian Red Cross CEO Andrew Colvin and Federal member for page Kevin Hogan is launching a national Cyclone Alfred blood appeal to try and urgently restock blood and plasma supplies. As is often the case with the Lismore Donor Centre on Bounty Street, yesterday was booked out after only reopening on Monday."Here at Lismore, we've been open for two days, and today we are fully booked," stated Scott Morrison, "And if Lismore residents can open their doors and roll up their sleeves, the rest of Australia can as well. "It's not just for this week, it's for the next several weeks. We do need to catch up about 6000 donations. So 1000 donations a day are needed to urgently boost the National Blood stock of blood and plasma products.""34% of our blood products and plasma go towards cancer patients. So we all know someone who's been touched by cancer these days, throughout any of their treatment, they are using a significant amount of our blood products there. "Also, you have maternity wards, mothers giving birth, you have accident emergency, trauma, and also elective surgeries for daily managed operations of a normal hospital scenario throughout our national healthcare system. Blood and blood products, plasma and platelets, are vital part of the network system to keep Australia healthy, well and safe."Kevin Hogan said, "So I know many of you have donated blood in the past, I know many wonderful people who do that. We all certainly know people whose lives have literally been saved because of the blood supplies that we collect through Red Cross centers. So, if you're thinking about it, if you're thinking you might have some time over the next day or in the next week or so, please come in and donate blood. It's going to make a big difference to the 1000 a day that we are short, and don't forget you get a free snack, and you get a drink. It's all worthwhile."(Helen will not only greet you with a smile, she will make you a milkshake of your choice)Andrew Colvin said, "Clearly, this has been a difficult time for the community. It's important that we all reconnect at this time, and you'll see our red shirts out and about amongst the community. We're closing the evacuation centers, of course, but now it's very important that we start to think about what comes next for the region, what does recovery look like? And we're working very closely with our partners, the SES with Reconstruction Authority, as well as the Rural Fire Service on what needs to come next, and that's a critical part of this for us. "If you do want to support Australian Red Cross, in many ways, you can do it. You've heard today about donating blood, of course, if you want to donate time, we would be very appreciative of that. If you can't donate blood, you can't donate time, but you want to support us in some way, please go to our website, redcross.org.au, have a look at our Tropical Cyclone Alfred Appeal. Critical funds that you can support us with, go directly to the community, help them recover and to help them move on to the next phase of their lives. When asked why Lismore continually punches above its weight in terms of blood and plasma donations, Kevin Hogan said, "There's a word that I actually don't like, but I'm going to have to use it to answer your question. I mean, obviously we are a resilient community, and we've been through a lot. Andrew and I were just talking, Andrew, as you may know, I'm sure you do, was very integral with our bushfires and the role he had then. So our community has been through a lot, and I think we know we need to keep moving on. I think we value places like the Red Cross Donor Centre. We know the importance of it. Lismore today is almost back to normal. Everyone's reopened their businesses. We want to get back to life. We want life to be normal again. And part of that is community involvement and community spirit, donating and being involved with the Australian Red Cross." If you can spare an hour for blood or 90 minutes for plasma in the next six weeks, call 131 495, download the Lifeblood app or visit the website www.lifeblood.com.au to make a booking.

Scott Tanner began his role as the Tropical Cyclone Alfred Recovery Coordinator yesterday. A job he has been fully immersed in since accepting it last week.But what exactly does a Recovery Coordinator do?"So, I'm really still unpacking it, but the area of operation is anywhere that Tropical Cyclone Alfred impacted, and it's based on those national disaster direct declarations that they put in place."Really, the brief is getting community back up and running again, and getting all the functional areas working, getting all the functional area people talking to each other, so make sure the transport and health and education are all on the same page and there's no duplication, making it a speedier process."I guess if you actually really wanted to nut it down to something really basic, because I'm a basic type of person, is that I want to be able to get the community back near as possible to how it was before we went into this event. And that's going to be difficult, because we're still suffering from the 2022 event. So, sort of like you're bringing us back from a disaster, back to half a disaster, if that makes sense, as quickly as possible.""We learned from 2022, and I tried to get out of the habit of comparing to 2022 because that was just a monster. People say, Oh, geez, you've done a great job, you've got people back into their homes really quickly and out of the evac centres. Yeah, because they had homes to go back to. They weren't destroyed. Whereas in 2022, they had nothing to go back to. We forget there were thousands of homes that were uninhabitable.Where are you starting the recovery?"The things that we can control, certainly the cleanup of the debris, that's going exceptionally well. They've completed 1547 rapid damage assessments across the area so far."They're finding very, very low levels of damage. So that's businesses and houses that they've inspected. That's really good. So, there's a few that obviously have sustained some variety of damage, you know, trees in the backyards, or a tree on the garage roof and things like that. A quick fix. Get in, get it out of there and get their insurance involved. And then, if it's not insured, they might be eligible for some funding."The pace at which Scott and the team are moving is impressive. Lismore, Kyogle and Tweed shires have been completed, and the cleanup and assessments are now focused on the Coffs Harbour area. This process is carried out by mutliple agencies."It's the SES, the RFS and Fire and Rescue. They also sometimes call upon the ADF to help. And what it is is basically they'll go and have a look at a place or property, they log it on their system and go yes its habitable, minor damage, take photos, and then that can be sent off as part of the impact assessment."For instance, we'll go, Okay, we know, there's, for instance, five houses that need their roof repaired. So then you put that onto the insurance company, if they're insured, and you go, right, I'll get on to trades quick and then quarantine that trade network for that area."So, really, my role is about making sure the priorities are aligned, things don't drag, and there are no double ups too. An example was given to me today, that after 2022 flood event, there was a lot of stuff about the road network and Public Works we're doing some and Transport for NSW we're doing some and they're both trying to source the same contractors."And you go, well, what's more important, is it driveways to people's places, or is it a main arterial road that connects community? So that's what we want to get away from this time, is that there is no duplication, that we know we can share the trades and get the right people."While flood waters have reced in Lismore, it's not the case in Coraki, as is the case after every flood as the water from the Wilsons and Richmond rivers make there way slowly to Ballina."The further out you go, the more we're finding. I've got a lot of photos sent through from National Parks, and they've been smashed. So they're road networks, which you never really consider, that need fixing so it can reopen. Because people want to come to our state parks and our national forests, and if they can't access it, they're not going to come. That has an impact on industry, has an impact on accommodation, tourism, all that kind of stuff."From today, people can access the Recovery Access Points in four locations in Lismore, Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour and Ballina. The addresses are:Tweed Heads – Tweed Heads South Community Hall Cnr Heffron St and Minjungbal Dr, South Tweed Heads, open 9am - 5pmLismore – Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore Room V1.19, open 9am - 5pmCoffs Harbour – C.ex Coffs 2-6 Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour, open 10am - 6pm Ballina - Ballina Surf Club Lighthouse Beach Parade, East Ballina, open 9am – 5pm For simplicity, the Lismore Recovery Access point is listed as V1.19, which is the Visual Arts building at the top of Southern Cross University. This is the first building on the left when you drive down University Loop from the Ballina Road/Rotary Drive roundabout, or if you drive to the top of Rifle Range Road from Industry Drive/Cynthia Wilson Drive.These are only the permanent Recovery Access Points (RAPs), there are also quite a few mobile Recovery Access Points for those who live away from the big towns:13 March 2025Dorrigo -  Dorrigo Community Hall, Hickory St, Dorrigo, from 11:00am to 1:00pmOcean Shores - Ocean Shores Community Centre, 55 Rajah Rd, Ocean Shores, from 11:00am to 1:00pmKyogle - Kyogle KMI, 6-8 Stratheden St, Kyogle Entry via Roxy Lane, from 2:00pm to 6:00pmMullumbimby - Mullumbimby Civic Hall, 55 Dalley St, Mullumbimby, from 4:00pm to 6:00pmBellingen - Uniting Church Hall, Cnr Hyde & Ford Streets, Bellingen, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm14 March 2025Coraki - Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre, Shop 1 - 121 Richmond Terrace, Coraki, from 11:00am to 1:00pmNana Glen - Nana Glen Community Hall, 26 Grafton St, Nana Glen, from 11:00am to 1:00pmMurwillumbah - Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, 10-14 Tumbulgum Rd, Murwillumbah, from 11.00am to 1.00pmWoodburn - Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre, 123-125 River St, Woodburn, from 4:00pm to 6:00pmByron Bay - Marvell Hall, 37 Marvell St, Byron Bay, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm15 March 2025Wardell - Pod Village, Bath Street, Wardell Recreation Ground, from 11:00am to 2:00pmPlease note: this information is subject to change, with more locations to be rolled out based on community need.Scott Tanner said how important it is to get out to other parts of the Northern Rivers."It's nice having a central point for these RAPs, which you know might be Lismore, but we need to make sure that we get out to Coraki, that we get out to Woodburn, we get out to Evans Head and feed those services out there."The RAPs are for people to come and access services. So there'll be Service NSW, there'll be Welfare services, Health services there. People there can actually step them through the grants process, for instance, or they can come to us and go, You know what? I have got damage at my place, or I need this."Really it's about having a central contact point to come to and speak face to face with a person and not be online, or having to talk to a phone or AI, and getting that support. But we're really going to ramp up the wellbeing support in these RAPs because we know this is re-traumatised a hell of a lot of people, including emergency services and essential workers."We have definitely seen that. I mean, we had to evacuate our police station again, and that brings back a thousand memories. We had to move our police out of Woodburn and Coraki. People forget they lost their homes and all their possessions last time. And we had twenty of our own police who lost their homes in 2022.When the mobile RAPs are visiting our villages, they will be in vans and cars."We'll just stack it up with whatever we need to, because it might be a unique place of a community like down in the Bellingen area, Meldrum. The little locality of Meldrum is not an actual town, but it's a locality. And there might be a hall there, but it's really impacted. So, we go there for a couple of hours a day and say, hey, here we are. We can come to you."Again, a lot of these communities, the telecom network is still not up everywhere. So, we found before in 2022 that people don't want to go to the big towns or the big cities to access these services. They want us to come to them. So that's what I said to the team. We are flexible. For instance, I was speaking to a couple of guys on the team, and they said, Oh, we can't get up to Dorrigo because the road is shut. So I said I'll get you a helicopter. Simple. I've got the resources of the state at the moment. So, you know, for me, that's a no brainer. You can't let that get in the way of people getting support.

Arguably the biggest long term issue for Lismore and Northern Rivers residents is flood mitigation.Everyone understands the significance of the CSIRO report on June 30 this year and, more importantly, the release of the final mitigation modelling on June 30, 2026. This will show a number of mitigation scenarios that will take varying amounts of height of a flood in the Richmond catchment, which will then be costed.What the community wants to hear is reassurance from the Federal Government that it will provide the necessary financial support to lower future flood heights, make insurance affordable and boost confidence for future investment in our region.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked that question on Monday at the Lismore SES base on Brunswick Street."Well, we of course have already, I think, shown our bona fides through the commitments that we've made. $150 million through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program to the New South Wales Government to deliver flood mitigation resilience projects."We have commissioned the CSIRO to do that work. $880 million with New South Wales for the Resilient Homes program to buy back homes and upgrade those which can be made safer. So we await the report. We'll give it proper consideration when we receive it."When asked the same question, Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan added more detail."I brought it up personally with him as well, and again, in a private meeting that I had. And look, I'm talking to everybody about flood mitigation, and have done for three years. We do, unfortunately, and everyone that I talk to says this, and I understand this, but we have to wait for the CSIRO report in about a month or two."They will have done all the mapping, the LIDAR mapping, that they've done, and then they'll have to say what do you want modelled? Now, I always have said, Let's model taking off a metre to two metres off a flood, and see how much that costs, and where we would do that, and how that would look and work. So I'm hoping that is one of the things that we model. That will then take, and they'll do other models, so that then will take around 12 months to push the button and do all that because this is quite full on work."What they're going to come back with in another 12 months time, by the middle of, say, hopefully 2026, is, say, Okay, if you want to take a metre and a half of a flood, this is where you would have to hold the water back, or slow the water down, in these four, five or six locations. This is what you might do at Boundary Creek in Ballina to let the water go quicker. And there might be other things they come up with that would help."We then have to look at that and go, Okay, which one are we going to do? Which one are we going to fund? And how are we going to do this? Now, while we're not getting commitments from funding at the moment, there's no model to look at and say, well, that's the one, and we have no costings around how much it would be. But what I would like at least is some people talking positively and talking that we'll commit to things when we see them."If that work from the CSIRO wasn't happening, what are we waiting for? What would we have to look forward to, except for a half botched buyback scheme. So, this is very positive that the modelling is happening and it's going to be a very, hopefully, positive conversation we have in a year and a bit's time, this is what we want to do and this is how we're going to do it and this is what we're going to fund it with."Speaking of the CSIRO report, lead scientist Jai Vaze said the next stage, the Calibration Report, is on time for a June 30 finish.From that moment on, Jai and his team are capable of testing the various scenarios given to them by the Regional Masterplan with input from councils and the community. That modelling is expected to be completed and released by 30 June 2026.Jai said this is not an easy job. "It's one of the hardest catchments I have modelled, largely because it is populated. A lot of the time my research is in unpopulated areas. This is a massive job, especially because it is the entire Richmond catchment. This is why no one has ever tried before."Talking to Jai, you can tell he and his team are passionate about and working very hard on the CSIRO report to hit the suggested deadlines. They are committed to delivering the most sophisticated flood modelling, as well as the first of its kind, for the Richmond catchment that will deliver the best flood mitigation suggestions for our community. We're in good hands with the CSIRO. But not so sure about Federal Government funding at this stage.

Applications for Personal Hardship Assistance Grants are now open, helping cover out-of-pocket expenses incurred following the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred across northern NSW. The jointly funded Commonwealth and NSW Government package provides 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. Applications can be made online through your MyService Account on the Service NSW website (https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/nsw-support-cyclone-alfred-march-2025) or on the Service NSW mobile app.  To be eligible for a Personal Hardship Assistance Grant, you must reside in one of the 18 declared affected Local Government Areas, and you must have been either subject to evacuation orders (Category red emergency warning) or experienced power outages of more than 48 hours.NSW Government staff will be available onsite at Recovery Assistance Points to help residents and businesses access a range of essential government services to aid their recovery. Impacted community members are encouraged to visit the Recovery Assistance Points which will open tomorrow, Thursday, 13 March: Tweed Heads – Tweed Heads South Community Hall Cnr Heffron St and Minjungbal Dr, South Tweed Heads, open 9am - 5pmLismore – Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore Room V1.19, open 9am - 5pmCoffs Harbour – C.ex Coffs 2-6 Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour, open 10am - 6pm Ballina - Ballina Surf Club Lighthouse Beach Parade, East Ballina, open 9am – 5pm Reconstruction Authority and Service NSW teams will also be available to help at mobile recovery outreach locations across the region running between Thursday and Saturday, including Dorrigo, Mullumbimby, Coraki, Nana Glen, Byron Bay and Murwillumbah. While people do not need to attend a Recovery Assistance Point or Service NSW Centre to access a Personal Hardship Assistance Grant, staff can assist those who are unable to apply through the Service NSW website or app. People can also contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 for assistance.The NSW Reconstruction Authority is working alongside other government agencies, local governments, non-government organisations, and community groups to repair essential infrastructure, assess social recovery and mental health impacts, understand the needs of small business and primary producers, and coordinate any additional support that may be required to help the community recover.To find out about support available to communities following Tropical Cyclone Alfred visit www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecoveryMinister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “The impacts of an event like ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are far reaching and as we shift to recovery, we hope these payments can help ease the immediate financial burden being felt by families and individuals.  “The NSW Government is here to lend a helping hand in restocking your fridge, replacing damaged goods and other essentials.  “These payments have a proven track record of offering relief in times of hardship and have previously helped the residents of Broken Hill to recover from the recent power outage.   “This is just the first step in recovery that the NSW Government and the community will navigate together.” Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said, “We are on the ground, delivering vital support to communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred and providing residents and businesses the assistance they need. “Whether it's applying for Personal Hardship Assistance payments, accessing essential services or receiving in-person guidance, the NSW Government alongside support organisations is here to help. “We are continuing to assist communities affected by this natural disaster and moving quickly into recovery by offering a range of support services. Whether you’re an individual or family, business or farmer, or someone who requires health or mental health support, I encourage you to reach out.” Minister for the North Coast Rose Jackson said, “As we move from response to recovery, the NSW Government is making sure people across the North Coast can get back on their feet.“These personal hardship payments offer immediate assistance, so that individuals and families can get the essentials like food and medicine, or cover a range of other out-of-pocket costs. “I want to assure these communities that we’re here for the long run as we begin to take stock of the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and shift our focus to repair and recovery.” Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said, “I encourage people to check their eligibility and apply for a range of disaster assistance being offered by the Minns and Albanese 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. “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 any of the 18 disaster declared Local Government Areas, check your eligibility and apply for financial support to get back on your feet.”

Following Premier Chris Minns' hard line yesterday on the demolition of houses in Pine Street that will see the removal of illegal squatters, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) has begun making plans to make that happen.A spokesperson for the NSWRA said, "The NSW Reconstruction Authority is working with Police to resolve the issue of occupants illegally living in homes devastated by the catastrophic 2022 floods. "Illegal occupancy obstructs our efforts to repurpose, relocate or demolish these properties, delaying the community’s recovery and safety."These homes were bought back by the Government because they pose a serious and ongoing risk to human life. The most recent operational planning for ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred demonstrated the vulnerability of the bought-back homes and the significant burden placed on the NSW SES who undertook doorknocking as part of evacuation orders."Pine Street, where illegal occupants have been staying, was impacted by the cyclone with the street flooded and occupants subject to an evacuation order by the SES. "It is untenable for them to return and illegally occupy these homes again."The RA is working to engage contractors to undertake emergency demolitions as quickly as possible following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The demolitions will be focused on the highest flood and safety risk areas in the first instance."Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully was in Lismore and the Northern Rivers today touring affected communities including Woodburn and Broadwater to discuss what each needs for its recovery.When asked about the illegal Pine Street squatters, Minister Scully said, "We've got people who are illegally occupying homes that we bought back because these are dangerous locations, right? This is not a sport. This is not a game. This is not free accommodation provided by the New South Wales Government. These sites were identified because it's dangerous to live in."What we've seen over the last week is just how quickly that danger can re-emerge, and we're not about to replace one problem with another. When it comes to this, people are occupying those houses illegally. They have been provided offers of assistance on multiple occasions where they might be eligible."The government remains ready to provide assistance to those who need it, but where there are people who are taking advantage of the fact that other people have had to leave their house and had a buyback because of the danger that area poses, we're not going to tolerate the illegal occupation of places. That's not what the program is about. The program was about making people safe, not to be taken advantage of with the illegal occupation.(Pine Street during the flood peak on Saturday)Minister Scully was asked if the government is planning to make arrests if needed to get the job done?"Look, we have been in constant conversation with police about this situation the whole way through. Mr. Lanyon may be able to add some more details, given his background and has been dealing with more directly. Our bottom line is we don't want buy back homes illegally occupied. That's as simple as that. These homes were bought back and identified for buyback because they are in a dangerous location. Now that doesn't mean that it's safe for some other group to go in there and occupy illegally. We will continue to work with police. We will continue to work with it and work on the situation there, but those who are occupying those properties illegally, should leave.Mal Lanyon, the CEO of NSWRA, said that the legal process of removing the illegal squatters is still progressing."It's still very much afoot. The actions for a writ of possession are with the Supreme Court at the moment. At this stage, they've not been withdrawn. Our preference, obviously, would be to negotiate a withdrawal of the illegal occupants peacefully from the premises down there. We'll continue to work with the police and the sheriffs with a view to making that happen."Minister Scully also got tough when answering a question on house relocations through the Resilient Homes Program."People said, wherever possible, we'd like to either salvage some of the material that's there if the homes are too far damaged to be occupied ever again, or to move it where it's possible. We've had a number of home moves that have happened. I was up here a couple of weeks ago. There were four up the road from here that I was able to go and see. We've had an expression of interest process where people have been able to identify homes that they may be interested in moving and we will continue to wherever possible, make homes that have been bought back and can be relocated and can still be habitable, available to people to buy and relocate as far as possible."But you can't do that when people are illegally occupying them. That's the bottom line. You know, this is not a rental inspection game. You can't just say knock on the door one day and say, Hey, illegal occupants. Do you mind if we come in and have a look to see if we might want to buy this? No, we need to be able to have clear things so we can assess them from an engineering point of view, and then people can consider them from whether or not they are in a position to be able to relocate them to another area. We would prefer to see relocations wherever possible."While speaking at the launch of a National Blood Drive in Lismore today, Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan was asked about his thoughts on the illegal Pine Street squatters."Well, I'm glad that the Premier's here, and realises the situation. We know, we've been aware of this for 12 months at least. I have a lot of people from north and south Lismore who come to me and talk to me about that, and they have health and safety concerns. There was a man murdered when he went into a home he owned about twelve months ago that you may remember."I'm glad they're acting. What they're doing is illegal. None of them are flood victims. None of them are locals. They're predominantly people from overseas, and they're taking advantage of a situation that, I think, is unfair and very disappointing that some people in the community are supporting that."There are allegedly people in this community giving free legal advice, legal people giving free legal advice to the squatters, on how to get around this, or to delay this, or to make it expensive for the government to get rid of them, that's outrageous. So they're getting free legal advice about what to do, what to say, what not to do, so that they don't have to move. And that's delaying it because there's appeals now going through the court system that the taxpayer has to fund.The Lismore App visited Pine Street late this morning asking for an interview. Rio identified himself as a media liaison person, who attempted to contact a spokesperson. No one came forward. Our contact details were left to organise a chat this afternoon. At the time of writing, the Lismore App has not heard from anyone living on Pine Street.As the removal or now demolition process continues, it will no doubt come to a head in the coming weeks.