As forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology, Tropical Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a category one system on Sunday, but as of Monday morning, it has strengthened back to a Category 2 system. John How from The Bureau said they are seeing winds near the centre of 95 km/h and wind gusts up to 130 km/h."As of Monday morning, it is currently a category two system over the Coral Sea, about 465 kilometers northeast of Brisbane and 410 kilometers northeast of Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. It is moving in a south-easterly direction at around 13 kilometers an hour, sort of about a running pace, moving down towards the south-east."As we know, there are a number of warnings for both South East Queensland and North East New South Wales already in place."So first, we do have marine wind warnings all the way from K'gari down through the Sunshine Coast off Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. That's for strong to gale force winds, and we'll see those strong winds extending down to even the mid north coast of New South Wales over the next few days. "There is also a coastal hazard warning for parts of the Queensland coast. That is for very powerful waves, which you have been seeing over the weekend, as well as normally high tides. And the combination of very powerful waves and these high tides does mean that we are already seeing beach erosion across southern parts of Queensland. Those high tide peaks will gradually start to recede from today, but those strong waves coming in from the east will persist for several days as Tropical Cyclone Alfred sits off the coast of Queensland. "Other warnings. We do also have a hazardous surf warning for parts of the south east, Queensland coast and North East New South Wales. That does mean that if you are heading out to the water, this will be dangerous for activities like swimming, boating and also rock fishing. In addition to this, the Bureau has also issued an initial flood watch for both Queensland and New South Wales. "For Queensland, it does include quite a few catchments across the south east of the state, this is a heads up for heavy rainfall, increasing from late Wednesday, continuing into Thursday and Friday. Catchments across South East Queensland are dry to moderately wet, and as well as that normally high tide coming through, it does increase the risk of flooding for those coastal low lying areas, but once the rainfall does pick up, we could see widespread, minor to major flooding across the Queensland FLOOD WATCH area from late Tuesday, late Wednesday and also into Thursday, but the location of the highest rainfall will determine where we do see that flooding. "We also have an initial flood watch for the Northern Rivers and also the mid north coast. This is also for the potential of up to major riverine flooding as you start to see that rainfall coming through late Wednesday into Thursday, and also Friday. So across both these areas, we are reminding residents to keep across the latest warnings and also flood watches as well, and later on Monday, we are expected to issue the first tropical cyclone watch that's for the onset of gales across mainland areas likely to be on onset from sort of Wednesday and into Thursday as well. So quite a few warnings, and we are expecting more warnings to be issued over the coming days."Jonathon said Alfred is expected to continue to move towards the southeast today and may be downgraded to a Category 1 but then is still expected to move back towards the west towards southeast Queensland coast as a Category 2 system.The forecast path of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, shown above, is the Bureau's best estimate of the cyclone's future movement and intensity. There is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting and the grey zone indicates the range of likely tracks of the cyclone centre.You can stay up to date with the Bureau's weather updates via the Lismore App Weather or through the website https://reg.bom.gov.au/nsw/forecasts/lismore.shtml.

UPDATE: 2:50pm Monday March 3This event has been cancelled due to the weatherThis Saturday, March 8, is International Women's Day. To celebrate, the Northern Rivers Women and Children's Services Inc. (NORWACS) is putting on the Lismore Women's Festival, a vibrant and inclusive event celebrating women at the Quad in Lismore from 9am to 4pm. Organisers say this year's festival promises a day filled with enriching activities and performances. Attendees can look forward to a variety of workshops hosted in the Art Gallery, the Con, and the Library.  The Festival will also feature food and market stalls, providing a delightful array of local products and culinary treats.  The day will commence with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Queenie Speeding, setting a respectful and inclusive tone for the day’s celebration. The festival will be hosted by the dynamic Mistress of Ceremony, Lissie Turner, and will feature a keynote address by the acclaimed journalist and author Jess Hill. The festivities will conclude with an all-inclusive participatory Flash Bang Mob choir, where Eve Jeffery from Byron Bay Singing will be inviting everyone to join in a joyful and harmonious celebration. A NORWACS spokesperson said, "We are proud to host the Lismore Women’s Festival for the fifth consecutive year. With Lissie Turner as the MC and keynote speaker Jess Hill, we anticipate this year’s festival to be the biggest yet! Join us on Saturday, March 8th, at the Quad and surrounding Arts Precinct for a jam-packed program. Everyone is welcome!NORWACS invites everyone to join in this celebration of women's achievements and contributions. The Lismore Women's Festival is a free event open to all members of the community. Find all the details here: https://norwacs.org.au/lismore-womens-festival/.

Federal Member for Page and Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism Kevin Hogan joined the Talking Lismore podcast last week to discuss some of the hot topics in Lismore and the Northern Rivers. They included the campaign to reopen Wollumbin/Mt Warning, US tariffs and his thoughts on the three years since the 28 February 2022 big flood.Mr Hogan wouldn't be drawn into predicting a date for the 2025 Federal Election; however, he did say there is a chance of an early April election if the Prime Minister calls it soon after the W.A. State Election, or in May. We do know that it must happen on or before Saturday, May 17. This is looking the most likely election option."Obviously it's a pre-election period. When you go into the campaign proper, there's a whole lot of rules that change around what you can and can't do. We live in a wonderful democracy. I know some people might get sort of like, oh, here we go, but look, there's billions, and I say billions of people on this planet that don't get the freedom to vote in an election and have a choice. At least they might vote in an election, but there's only one choice in some countries. So look, we live in a wonderful democracy, and it's a really important part of our democracy."To win 19 seats to win government is a tall ask for the Liberal/National Party. Is he optimistic?"Look, I'm a politician and a part-time farmer, I'm always optimistic. I think, look, it's going to be close, I think it's going to be really close. There's only been one government in the history of Australia, since Federation, so we're 124 years now into our federated system, and only once has a government been one term, and that was the Great Depression. So, it's a big ask to win from opposition in one term, but look, I think it's on. I think it's a real possibility. Labor's primary vote, from what I can see, has gone under 30%, which makes it very difficult for them. They certainly won't be a majority government. If they win, they'll be going into a minority government with The Greens and the Teals. I think that's problematic, if that happens."Our primary seems to be going back through 40, and if we start climbing through 40, I think we're a real chance to win."What about being confident about the seat of Page, which is now considered a safe seat."I am never confident, but optimistic. You know, I've been fortunate enough to be re-elected four times by our community, and I never take it for granted, and I'm always very grateful for that. So, I'm putting myself up to go again. And the public in this beautiful democracy have the right to tell you whether you're doing a good job or not."Last week there were calls for the Wollumbin/Mt Warning walk to be reopened, with local tourism operators and Indigenous elders joining forces to advocate for its accessibility.Mr Hogan visited the mountain with Bundjalung elder Sturt Boyd, emphasised the importance of reopening the track for cultural and economic reasons. He highlighted the potential of the site to attract and educate tourists about First Nation's culture and the importance of the site and generate millions of dollars for the region, stating that up to 100,000 people could walk the track annually."We went up there with Sturt Boyd. Sturt's grandmother, Marlene, was the guardian of that mountain. So, he's an elder. I've seen some very disturbing reports from media outlets saying he's an alleged elder. I've never heard that before, but he didn't suit certain people's narratives. He is an elder. He wants it reopened. The Wollumbin Consulting Group that has been formed, he thinks, is not transparent, is not representative. So he has issues with that," Hogan said."They want to ensure the mountain is accessible to everyone, not just a select few."Mr Hogan acknowledged there are differing viewpoints within the Indigenous community, as well as the broader community. He stressed the importance of respecting those who hold opposing views. He cited the significant public support for reopening the track, noting that over 90% of the 70,000 to 80,000 people reached through his social media platforms expressed their desire for its accessibility.Mr Hogan intends to advocate for the reopening with the relevant state minister, alongside Sturt Boyd and Kimberly Hone, the Nationals candidate for Richmond.When it came to the potential US tariffs on our mining industry products, Kevin Hogan expressed concerns and drew parallels to the previous Trump administration's trade policies, noting that Australia was able to secure an exemption from tariffs on certain products during that period."We were in government then. We had Ambassador Hockey at the time. It was very important to open doors for us and to get meetings with Trump, and we were able to get an exclusion. So Australia was excluded from the tariffs in Trump, Mark 1," Hogan said.Mr Hogan emphasised the importance of the government engaging with the US to secure an exemption, as they did previously."I am concerned about Rudd's effectiveness. He's made some very derogatory comments about Trump. So is he going to be as effective as Joe Hockey? I don't know, and it's disappointing," Hogan said.The Member for Page also criticised the handling of the flood mitigation efforts in Lismore, three years after the devastating floods. He described the decision by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) to withdraw from the floodplain as a "failure," arguing that it has not provided adequate protection for residents."Withdrawing from the flood plain has failed because of the 2000 homes that were identified, at best, we're going to have probably 800 or 900 and of those 800 or 900, some you'd know personally, like I do, some of them have sold their house on the flood plain through the buyback program, and bought a house around the corner on the flood plain," Hogan said.Mr Hogan mentioned the CSIRO's upcoming report on flood mitigation and suggested that engineering solutions are necessary to effectively address the flood risk. He acknowledged the potential controversy surrounding such proposals with a small percentage of the population but emphasised the need to prioritise safety and enable residents to live securely in their homes and for people to invest in the Lismore CBD.You can listen to the full Talking Lismore podcast via the Lismore App or by clicking here for the website link https://talkinglismore.buzzsprout.com/.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an initial Flood Watch for rivers within the Northern Rivers in anticipation of the rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.The Bureau says, "Rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Alfred has the potential to cause major flooding along NSW coastal rivers from the Queensland Border to Port Macquarie, with the locations and severity of flooding dependent on the track of the Tropical Cyclone. Flooding may develop from late Wednesday, and continue until at least the weekend."Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently located off the Queensland Coast and is forecast to move southwards parallel to the coast before tracking westward on Tuesday. This will bring heavy and locally intense rainfall from late Wednesday over the South East of Queensland, and the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast of New South Wales, and continuing on Thursday, Friday and into the weekend. The heaviest rainfall will be south of the Tropical Cyclone track."Coastal catchments in the flood watch area are relatively wet. Abnormally high tides are expected to increase the flood risk in coastal low lying areas. High sea levels and large waves are likely at coastal locations, and may exacerbate flooding and cause flooding impacts."Moderate to major flooding may develop across the flood watch area from late Wednesday into Thursday. The location of the most severe flooding will depend on the location of the heaviest rainfall, and the areas at risk will continue to be revised during the coming days."Rapid river levels rises and flash flooding is expected across many creeks, associated with the heaviest rainfall with widespread, including major, riverine flooding possible. Flood Classes (minor, moderate, major) are only defined for catchments where the Bureau provides a flood warning service."For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/For the latest rainfall and weather forecasts see www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/floodFlood Safety Advice:This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.Flood Warnings will be issued if Minor Flood Level is expected to be exceeded at key sites along the main rivers for which the Bureau of Meteorology provides a flood warning service.Severe Weather Warnings will be issued or updated if very heavy rain is forecast or observed.For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtmlFloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.auFor emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500.For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is taking the path forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology as it moves south parallel to the Queensland coast and away from the coastline.At 11am this morning, Alfred was a Category 2 system 515 kilometres east of Rockhampton and 370 kilometres northeast of Bundaberg moving at 10 kilometres per hour.Alfred has been weakening as it heads south and tonight it is forecast to turn southeast and move further away from the Queensland coast while weakening a little further. Unfortunately, Alfred is then expected to slow down and is likely to turn westward from Tuesday, moving back towards the southern Queensland coast. The forecast path shown above is the Bureau's best estimate of the cyclone's future movement and intensity. There is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting and the grey zone indicates the range of likely tracks of the cyclone centre.There is hope that the system may take a different path on Tuesday.As you would expect at this early stage of Alfred's path, the rainfall range from The Bureau is wide.The best case scenario at the moment is for 22mm over the four days (Tuesday to Friday), while the worst case scenario is 195mm over the four days.You can keep up to date with Cyclone Alfred through the Lismore App Weather or through this Lismore App website link https://reg.bom.gov.au/nsw/forecasts/lismore.shtml.(Issued at 11:53 am AEDT Sunday 2 March 2025 by the Bureau of Meteorology. No Tropical Cyclone Advice is current for this system.)

Southern Cross University researcher Dr Alana Gall has been awarded an Investigator Grant of more than $640,000 to lead a research program focused on First Peoples' Cultural Medicines (also called bush medicine) in Australian healthcare.The latest round of the prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Investigator Grants scheme, funded by the Federal government, is worth $422 million.Dr Gall’s project spans two key areas. The first is embedding Cultural Medicines into Australian health policies to improve cultural safety, health and wellbeing. The second is to protect Cultural Medicine knowledge through research that informs research and development in drug discovery, regulation and intellectual property, to realise the self-determination of First Peoples and their communities.“Despite initiatives, including Closing the Gap, disparities persist in health outcomes for First Nations peoples. We need to focus on community-driven solutions that align with First Peoples’ ways of knowing, being and doing,” said Dr Gall.“This encompasses plant medicines, native foods, healing ceremonies, spiritual medicine, Traditional Healers, and both the tangible and intangible healing aspects of Country.”With the boom in recent years of products based on native Australian plants and traditional knowledge, Cultural Medicines face the double dilemma of misleadingly being regulated as a food or appropriated for commercial profit with minimal or no benefits returned to the community.“We need to make sure Cultural Medicines are appropriately regulated for the health and safety of all Australians and that First Nations Intellectual Property is protected from biopiracy,” said Dr Gall.Dr Gall’s project has the backing of three major partners: the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).About the Investigator Grant SchemeThe Investigator Grant is NHMRC’s largest funding scheme and plays a critical role in supporting the Australian health and medical research sector by providing a salary (if required) and a significant research support package.It’s the third time in the history of the scheme that women researchers will receive more funding overall.NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh congratulated all researchers who were successful in the 2025 funding round.“NHMRC funds investigator-led research where Australia’s highest performing health and medical researchers set out to achieve ambitious goals of improving the health and wellbeing of the Australian community,” he said.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is encouraging Lismore seniors to make the most of free events on offer during the NSW Seniors Festival starting next week.“The NSW Government is delivering $10,000 in funding to support Lismore City Council with hosting exciting activities as part of this year’s NSW Seniors Festival. “The NSW Seniors Festival Grant Program backs initiatives which encourage people aged 60 or over to stay healthy, active, and connected to their community.“The Lismore Council program for the two-week festival includes author talks, intergenerational story time, educational seminars, entertainment, dance, movement, social events and fitness and nature based activities.“Lismore Council was one of 35 organisations to receive a share of $200,000 under the NSW Seniors Festival Grant Program to host activities this year.“The NSW Seniors Festival opens the door to a range of fun activities which help older people in our community feel more connected to friends and our local community.”The full program of events for Lismore is available here: seniors-festival-brochure-2025-v3.pdf.

Lismore Regional Gallery is pleased to present OCCURRENT AFFAIR - a major exhibition featuring new and recent works by influential Aboriginal artist collective proppaNOW.Established in 2003, proppaNOW is one of Australia’s leading cultural collectives – members Vernon Ah Kee, Tony Albert, Richard Bell, Megan Cope, Jennifer Herd, Gordon Hookey and Laurie Nilsen explore the politics of Aboriginal art and culture, re-thinking what it means to be a ‘contemporary Aboriginal artist’.Conceived as a collaborative activist gesture, OCCURRENT AFFAIR addresses current socio-political, economic and environmental issues, while celebrating the strength, resilience and continuity of Aboriginal culture. Engaging wordplay through its title, OCCURRENT AFFAIRreferences the sensational journalistic style of some television current affair programs. OCCURRENT AFFAIR embraces the slippage between language and its associated readings to probe and present new narratives. The exhibition will reflect on the ongoing state of affairs affecting Aboriginal communities – issues that are relevant to all Australians.One of Australia’s leading Indigenous arts collectives, proppaNOW was set up in Brisbane in 2003 to give urban-based Aboriginal artists a voice. They present a unique and controversial perspective of black Australia, which is sometimes confronting and always thought provoking. proppaNOW create art that raises awareness of Aboriginal urban expression that depicts a contemporary story. They reinforce that Aboriginal Australia is a living culture that has evolved over time and dispel the notion that Indigenous art needs to be from a remote area to be ‘authentic’.This will be proppaNOW’s last exhibition as a collective – seeing this historically significant movement at Lismore Regional Gallery is an unmissable opportunity. Ashleigh Ralph, Director at Lismore Regional Gallery, says of the exhibition, "It is with great pleasure that we can showcase some of Australia’s preeminent contemporary artists at Lismore Regional Gallery. OCCURRENT AFFAIR is engaging and thought-provoking, providing a platform for important conversations around socio-political and cultural issues. "Our public programs offer the community meaningful engagement with these themes. Bringing this exhibition to Lismore reinforces the legacy of Lismore Regional Gallery as the cornerstone of cultural life in the Northern Rivers and a gallery that attracts national and international audiences."As part of OCCURRENT AFFAIR, there are a range of public programs. Visit the website for the latest information.OCCURRENT AFFAIR soft openingSunday 2 March, 12 - 1pmFollowed by Gathering Space with Kylie Caldwell for Aboriginal artists and community membersEmbassy programming in the Quad1 March – 27 AprilA platform for First Nations people to have a voice and share stories, poetry, and ideas.Words as activism: placard making workshop with artist Penny EvansSaturday 5 April, 10am – 12pmUsing Richard Bell’s Embassy as inspiration, artist Penny Evans facilitates a placard painting workshop for all ages, exploring the power of words.OCCURRENT AFFAIR closing celebrationSunday 26 April, 1 – 3pmJoin Rhoda Roberts OA in conversation with proppaNOW artists.

Northern NSW Local Health District is advising people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case who was infectious while visiting several locations in Lismore, Casino and Kyogle.The new case is linked to a previously notified case in the area.While the locations no longer pose a risk, people who attended the following locations, during the specific times listed, should watch for the development of symptoms:Monday 17 February 2025 – Ritchies IGA Kyogle, 17-31 Summerland Way, Kyogle, from 1 to 2pm, Kyogle Ampol Fuel, 26 Summerland Way, Kyogle, from 5:10 to 5:50pm. If you attended either of these venues, monitor for symptoms until 7 March 2025.   Tuesday 18 February 2025 – Lismore Base Hospital, from 7am to 4pm. If you attended this venue, monitor for symptoms until 8 March 2025.      Wednesday 19 February 2025 – Lismore Base Hospital, from 7am to 4pm, EG Group service station, cnr Brewster and Uralba Streets, Lismore, from 3:40pm to 4:20pm, Casino Woolworths, 169 Canterbury St, Casino, from 4 to 5pm. If you attended any of these venues, monitor for symptoms until 9 March 2025.    Thursday 20 February 2025 – Lismore Base Hospital, from 6am to 3pm. If you attended this venue, monitor for symptoms until 10 March 2025.   Friday 21 February 2025 – Ritchies IGA Kyogle, 17-31 Summerland Way, Kyogle, from 1 to 2pm. If you attended this venue, monitor for symptoms until 11 March 2025.     Saturday 22 February 2025 – Beansprout Café located within Mitre 10, 142 Summerland Way, Kyogle, from 10:30 am to 12:30pm. If you attended this venue, monitor for symptoms until 12 March 2025.Director of North Coast Population and Public Health, Dr Valerie Delpech, said it can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure.“Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body,” Dr Delpech said.“It's important for people to stay vigilant if they've been exposed, and if they develop symptoms, to please call ahead to their GP or Emergency Department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients.“We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. The measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough.“This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious.“Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have had two doses of measles vaccine. This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment."The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective, and is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age. It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn't already had two doses.Children under the age of 12 months can have their first dose of MMR up to six months earlier if they are travelling to areas with a high risk for measles. Parents should consult their GP.People who are unsure of whether they have had two doses should get a vaccine, as additional doses are safe. This is particularly important prior to travel. MMR vaccine is available from GPs (all ages) and pharmacies (people over 5 years of age).For more information on measles, view the measles factsheet​.

The first weekend of autumn is looking partly cloudy with maximum temperatures of 29 degrees. A great start to March.The Bureau is forecasting rain from Monday as Lismore and the Northern Rivers feel the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.The exact picture will become clearer over the weekend, and the Lismore App will let you know if Alfred is expected to turn toward the coast. It is too early to tell at this stage.The warm temperatures mean contestants will be feeling the pinch during the Samson Fitness Challenge, which begins this evening and ends tomorrow afternoon at Hepburn Park.Individuals and teams of four will be tackling everything from swimming and running to gruelling challenges like the sled pull, jerry can walk and tyre flip.Motorists driving along Oliver Avenue will need to be aware as contestants run/walk between Hepburn Park and GSAC.Resilient Lismore's 'Stronger Together' community event is on tomorrow in The Quad (110 Magellan Street) starting at 3:30pm and ending at 7pm.There will be live music by Tapestry Road, Lismore Supper Club Soul Band and the All in a Chord Choir.You are welcome to take a picnic or there will be food options available, plus you have local restaurants nearby to support local businesses.ARTEXPRESS 2025 is being displayed at the Lismore Regional Gallery in The Quad between 10am and 4pm Saturday and Sunday.ARTEXPRESS is a selection of outstanding bodies of work from last year's HSC Visual Arts students.Play Little, Win Big is a new photographic exhibition at Lismore Flying Fine Art in the old Timezone building at 161 Keen Street, Lismore. Opening reception is on tomorrow (March 1) between 3pm and 6pm.Organisers describe the exhibition as "A captivating exhibition of never-before-seen photographs by 90-year-old Australian photographer G. G. Rochfort. Showcasing vivid slices of mid-century Americana. These images were taken during Rochfort’s 1959 visit to the United States — a journey prompted by his work as a newly graduated civil engineer on Australia’s ambitious Snowy Mountains Scheme."At 25 years of age, G. G. Rochfort embarked on his first-ever trip overseas. Tasked by the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority with studying American dam and tunnel construction methods, he found himself enthralled by the bustle and allure of late-1950s America. Driven by the excitement of traveling abroad—a rarity in those days — he captured everyday moments and architectural wonders on film, creating an intimate record of his transpacific adventure. Upon returning home these evocative photographs were carefully stored away for decades, only to be rediscovered 60 years later."The Lismore Evening CWA branch is hosting an important community event on Sunday (2 March) at 1pm. Hannah's Story is an interactive educational workshop to help identify the red flags and early warning signs of coercive control behaviours and helping to drive positive behaviour change.Organisers would love to see as many people as possible to hear this incredible story and to create more awareness and empower members of the community about the early warning signs of coercive control behaviours.The venue will be emailed to those who register for the event. Entrance is free with afternoon tea available for a donation. Registration can be done via - https://forms.gle/7qhkNMZkz8BUB5Ps7.The Lismore Farmers Markets get underway at 7:30am tomorrow at the Lismore Showgrounds.Fresh fruit and vegetables, honey and handmade goods can be purchased as well as coffee/tea and breakfast. Live music is by Broadfoot this week.While on live music, the Lismore Jazz Club has ESTAMPA performing on Sunday from 2pm at the Lismore City Bowling Club.It's $15 for members and $20 non-members. Cash at the door.At the Northern Rivers Hotel tonight Hannah Pearl takes to the stage at 6:30pm and Saturday it's The Hillbilly Skank also from 6:30pm.The Lismore Workers Club has The Fab Four - The Ultimate Beatles Tribute next Friday night (March 7). Tickets are available via their website.While there, check out the live music coming up, including Tommy Memphis and Who's Bad - the Michael Jackson Tribute Show in May.Fuel prices have been stable once again in the last seven days. Here are the cheapest fuel options in each town:E10 is 178.9 across the board in Lismore, 175.9 at the Ampol Foodary on Centre Street (96) 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, 177.9 at the Liberty's on Hare and Centre streets, the Coles Express and the Ampol Foodary on Centre 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 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 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 Liberty's on Hare Street, Centre Street and the Roadhouse 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.....

A man has died at a hospital after a crash last month at South Lismore.Emergency services were called to Casino Street, South Lismore, about 10.40am on Saturday (25 January 2025), following reports of a crash.Officers attached to Richmond Police District were told a motorcycle and a sedan had collided with the rider ejected from his motorcycle.The rider – a 19-year-old man – was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.The driver of sedan – a 80-year-old woman – and her passenger – a 82-year-old man – were taken to Lismore Base Hospital for further treatment with minor injuries.A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, with the assistance of crash investigators, commenced.Last Monday (25 February 2025), police were informed that the rider had died in the Gold Coast University Hospital.A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Two North Lismore teenagers have been arrested following an investigation into property offences.On Sunday, 23 February 2025, two youths allegedly entered a home on Sandra Close, Coffs Harbour, before stealing a bag, purse, keys, and an SUV.Officers attached to Strike Force Imperium were notified and commenced inquiries into the incident.About 1pm on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, officers located the stolen SUV in North Lismore.Following further inquiries, a search warrant was executed at a North Lismore home on Wednesday (26 February 2025).During the search, police allegedly located and seized the stolen purse and keys, along with items including balaclavas, gloves, knives, and 15g of cannabis.Two boys – both aged 14 – were arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station.One of the boys was charged with nine offences:Aggravated break and enter dwelling in company intent to steal (two counts)Enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuseFace blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offenceDrive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerousDrive conveyance taken without consent of ownerCommit s 154A offence and disseminatePossess prohibited drug (two counts)He was refused bail to appear before a children's court yesterday (Thursday, 27 February 2025), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Monday, 10 March 2025.The other boy was dealt with under the Young Offender's Act.

UPDATE 12:42pm1 of 2 southbound lanes closed.Advice: reduce speed and prepare to merge.Live Traffic is reporting an accident between a truck and a car on the Bruxner Highway, just past the M1 Pacific Motorway.Emergency Services, Transport for NSW, Heavy vehicle tow truck and tow truck are in attendance.The Bruxner Highway is closed in the westbound direction (towards Lismore).You are advised to avoid the area.Light vehicles are asked to detour using Teven Road.More to come.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan released this statement on the third anniversary of the February 28 2022 flood.Three years ago, our community faced Australia's biggest natural disaster since Cyclone Tracy. The devastating floods tore through Lismore and the Mid-Richmond, destroying thousands of homes and businesses - leaving an entire community with serious questions about its future.In the aftermath, there were only two approaches that could have been taken: remove everyone from the floodplain, or keep them there and implement serious flood mitigation measures to lower the height of the next flood.The NSW State Government chose the strategy of removing those in danger from the floodplain. This has failed. Over 2,000 homes were identified to be unsafe. We are now in a position that less than half of the homes identified will be bought back. Some families who accepted a buyback, have purchased new properties back on the floodplain, highlighting the failure of this plan.Individuals and families had nowhere to live and had to make decisions about their immediate future. Some people started putting money back into their homes and commenced renovations immediately. Others decided to sell their properties on the private market. The new property owners did not qualify for the buyback.After the completion of the buyback program, maybe 900 of the 2000 homes identified by the NRRC will have been bought back. This means over 1000 homes will remain on the flood plain. Those individuals and families will be no safer and are still at risk. The CBD, industrial estates, businesses, villages, farmers and the road network are no safer.The strategy of withdrawing from the floodplain has failed. Flood mitigation is the only strategy that will give the region a sustainable future and safety.Over $800m has been spent on the original strategy of withdrawing from the floodplain. None of this money has lowered the level of the next flooding event. This means no home, business or industrial estate occupant, is in any safer.Our path ahead must include a public commitment to flood mitigation. CSIRO will release a report this year, looking at practical scenarios that include engineering solutions to mitigate future flooding. This work is crucial.If the community knows a metre or more will be taken off future events, they will invest and live in confidence in the Northern Rivers. The McKell Institute’s Cost of Extreme Weather Report found that between 2005 and 2022, the Federal Government spent $23.99 billion on disaster recovery and relief, while only $1.51 billion was allocated for disaster prevention. This imbalance must change. Flood mitigation is the best prevention option for the Northern Rivers to grow and prosper. It will also save future governments—and therefore taxpayers—billions of dollars by reducing the impact of future disasters. The 2022 disaster alone is measured as a $15 billion event.The Government at all levels must act. Decision-makers now will determine whether the next major flooding event in this region kills people, destroys lives financially, or if the region has been made safer. Mistakes have been made, and significant public funds have been spent with marginal return. This can be rectified with a real commitment to flood mitigation and a clear vision for the region’s future.

Hundreds of competitors are set to descend on Lismore this weekend to take part in this year’s Samson Fitness Challenge, tackling everything from swimming and running to gruelling challenges like the sled pull, jerry can walk and tyre flip.The morning competitors will compete in cooler but still warm conditions, while the afternoon group will be working their way through the course in temperatures around 29 degrees.Now in its fifteenth year, the Lismore Samson aims to raise funds for Our Kids, which helps sick children receive medical care locally. Funds raised will go towards the purchase of medical equipment to help with the treatment of retinal issues in premature babies.Powered by NBN News, the event kicks off at 5.30pm on Friday, 28 February at Hepburn Park in Goonellabah with the Samson Solo, where competitors tackle the course individually in heats. The fastest competitor will take home the title.The main event begins on Saturday, 1 March at 7am, with teams of four taking on gruelling challenges, including strength activities, running, swimming, and an outdoor obstacle course. With more than 500 competitors, the atmosphere will be electric.Competition in the Elite Men’s division is fierce, with the title race heating up from 11am. Meanwhile, this year’s women’s teams outnumber both the men’s and mixed teams, making for an exciting competition.Saturday’s schedule also features Teen Sprint (3 km) – a high-energy race for young athletes and the Conlon Bros Samson Kids, a dedicated obstacle course for children under 12 years, run by Mr Brad from Fitness Kidz.Sponsored by Conlon Bros Earth Moving and Sea & Sky Sensory Co, the Teen Sprint includes an inflatable jumping castle and unlimited obstacle course fun for just $10, while the climbing wall is an extra $5. Volunteers from Summerland Christian College will be on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly.Lismore’s local Army Reserve unit, the 41st Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment (41 RNSWR) will assist on the day, alongside more than 120 volunteers, ensuring a seamless event.Athletes can recover at the Southern Cross University Recovery Zone, while spectators and competitors can enjoy Samson Eat Street, featuring delicious offerings from Amici Food Van, Boost Juice, and the Norths Baseball Club BBQ.For more information, visit the website lismoresamson.com, or Facebook Lismore Samson on Facebook or call 0438 417 085 or simply join us on the day to support the competitors!

Yesterday's Lismore City Council extraordinary meeting descended into chaos when Councillors (Cr) Rob and Gordon engaged in a personal verbal barrage. This followed a confrontation between Cr Guise and Mayor Krieg as the Chair of the extraordinary meeting.For context, councillors and the public (during public access) should only speak to the motion at hand. In this instance, the discussion should be centred around why the Property Strategy motion, which passed at the last council ordinary meeting, should be rescinded, and not rehash the same information that was tabled during the last debate.Cr Guise was asking questions to the Richmond River Historical Society's Robyn Braithwaite during public access about how the group has prepared for probable maximum flood heights. A point of order was raised by Cr Rob, which was agreed upon by Mayor Krieg."I appreciate the question Cr Guise, but we are speaking as to why it should be rescinded, not the work that the Historical Society has done. So, unless you can offer any alternatives around why the decision should be rescinded and why we shouldn't have a Property Strategy, then you need to rephrase your question."After a question from Cr Rob, Cr Guise then said, "Unless you make a ruling, an official ruling, and can quote the section and the relevant code of meeting practice as to why I can't ask the question I asked and frame it the way I frame it, then I will ask that question again, and I'll also ask another follow-up question to Robyn."Do you think it's fair with a lawful resolution of council to issue a lease to the Richmond River Historical Society to occupy the Municipal Building, that the idea to undertake a property strategy is being used as a cover to kick out the museum from occupying that building. Is that a fair way to conduct council business?"Mayor Krieg then called a point of order."Again, you're impugning improper actions by councillors and council staff, so I'm not going to allow that question."As the questions from Cr Guise continued, Mayor Krieg once again mentioned it had nothing to do with the rescission motion before Cr Guise challenged the mayor to make an official ruling. Under the code of meeting practice, when the mayor stands, all councillors must sit and remain quiet."Cr Guise, the questions should be in and around, why the decision should be rescinded, not hearsay and accusations of wrongdoing. So, either it directs directly to a rescission motion or not at all. And that is my ruling."Cr Rob and Gordon's joust came during the rescission motion about adopting changes to the Code of Meeting Practice.While Cr Rob was stating his case, Cr Gordon said something that was audible to Cr Rob. A point of order was called, and Mayor Krieg asked Cr Gordon to refrain from speaking.Cr Rob then pointed his next comment to Cr Gordon as he continued."Anyway, clearly, Cr Gordon doesn't want to have longer meetings or public attending to speak longer or longer periods of public access by restricting them to less than an hour. I think that's clearly the position by the frustration expressed in this chamber when another councillor is talking. I think it's very rude. Sorry Cr Gordon, would you like another point of order? Yeah, but you're not the chair, are you Cr Gordon."To which Mayor Krieg said, "I am. Thanks Cr Rob.""Cr Rob turned his attention to the mayor."You are Mr Mayor so you should be intervening on your member of your team. Do your job."Cr Rob thought he heard another comment from Cr Gordon, and with his microphone on, said, "Sorry, what was that? Are you calling me a smart arse? What are you saying? Say it on the record."Mayor Krieg then said Cr Rob's time was up and to take his seat, when Cr Rob called another point of order."Point of order, Mr Mayor, about interruptions every time I speak, constantly. I am sick of it. Do your job with your team member."Mayor Krieg then reiterated to all councillors to refrain from speaking while other councillors were talking. To which Cr Rob continued to talk, so the mayor said, "Thank you Cr Rob, your'e doing the exact same thing as what you asked me to pull him up."Cr Rob continued to speak inaudibly with his microphone off after which Cr Gordon joined in.Finally, Mayor Krieg adjourned the meeting for 15 minutes to allow rising tempers to calm.When the extraordinary meeting resumed, it was without Crs Guise, Knight-Smith and Waters. A vote was called with the rescission motion defeated 5/1 with Cr Rob in support and Crs Gordon, Bing, Hall, Battista and Krieg against. Cr Dalton-Earls was absent from the meeting.As a side, and as expected, all rescission motions were defeated.With the new code of meeting practice that will be adopted in a few months by the Office of Local Government, meetings could be more volatile.Councillors will be asked to stand when the Mayor enters the room. Cr Rob said during yesterday's meeting that he will not be standing when Mayor Krieg enters the room.A chairperson can expel members of the public or a councillor from a meeting. A councillor can be expelled if they fail to comply with a requirement under clause 15.1 with regard to an act of disorder. Councillors can only be expelled by a resolution of the council or the committee of the council. You can't help but think an expulsion is likely at some point over the next three years.What went missing during yesterday's council meeting was part of 2.1 Meeting Principles of the Code of Meeting Practice:Respectful: Councillors, staff and meeting attendees treat each other with respect.Maybe next time.

For those who were in Lismore and the Northern Rivers on 28 February 2022, the events will remain etched in our minds for the rest of our lives. Not replayed on televisions or social media at various times, but replayed in our minds when a conversation moves to flood recovery.As soon as the extent of this flood was known, the community came together in a way that the government (all levels) never could. The rescue was nothing short of heroic, and the support to those who were flood-affected was generous and heartwarming.Since those dark days, Lismore has been blindly reaching and searching for a way forward in our flood recovery efforts. That has involved all levels of government, but especially the state government, with a particular focus on the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA).There were strong calls for a 'community-led recovery' or 'community-focused recovery' following the 'community-led rescue. The faith in government was certainly low at the time and remains very sceptical three years later.When it comes to housing, we can see that about 750 buybacks have been accepted. We can also see that not one house has been built in three years.We all know the bureaucratic process has slowed the recovery process down through its checks and balances and multiple agency handling and approval process.What about us, the community? How much has a community-led or community-driven recovery slowed the recovery process? We posed two questions to four key players for their response: Mayor of Lismore, Steve Krieg, State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and the NSWRA's CEO Mal Lanyon.Has a community-led recovery slowed the recovery process as much as the bureaucratic process?"What decisions could have been made for the community in the recovery process?Mayor of Lismore Steve Krieg:"The so-called “community-led” recovery has certainly slowed our rebuild. That is because you have lots of community groups, all with different and often conflicting agendas, fighting over limited grant funding."This has led to a disjointed and distracted recovery, which has become highly politicised with resources being diverted away from essential services to funding various organisations."Compare this to Queensland, where within weeks of its recent flood, a Disaster Commissioner was appointed to lead every aspect of the recovery and rebuild."Janelle Saffin MPTHE Lismore App has asked me to respond to two compelling questions regarding community-led (I prefer community-driven to led) recovery and bureaucracy.  People frequently ask me, “How is Lismore?” and I answer, “Forever changed.”I accept their inquiry graciously as I know they ask with care and concern, knowing that very few people have an acute understanding of the long tail of recovery and very few have experienced what we have. We know that recovery takes many, many years. That is not easy for us to hear but the Australian Red Cross evidence demonstrates just how long it takes. Look at how long it took us to recover here in Lismore from the 2017 floods that were two metres less than in 2022.Our community cried out for the reuse, recycle, relocation and resale of buyback houses, longer settlement periods, and that takes time, unlike Queensland, where homes are gone soon after people accept a buyback. The NSW Reconstruction Authority responded positively to these community wishes, but it comes with a certain degree of bureaucracy. My catchword is not business-as-usual bureaucracy but responsive bureaucracy. I know it is hard for any agency, but they are trying hard and with some success.To the rearview mirror question of what decisions could have been made. The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) could have adopted the Queensland Reconstruction Authority model, could have informed themselves of the Victorian Bushfire Recovery model and that of places in New Zealand, could have not said to me, “Janelle we are only service deliverers, to which I retorted, “We expect only service deliverers to be competent and compassionate”, could have let their advisory group work and walk with community, could have accepted the people (Federal Member for Page) Kevin Hogan and I put forward, could have done a better job with the maps for the Resilient Homes Program (RHP), could have hastened slowly on the buybacks, and waited for the Resilient Lands Program (RLP) to roll out, could have included local government more and especially on their projects regarding land, could have engaged well with the community, establishing a two-way communication approach, could have developed programs based on evidence and within a solid public policy framework.The governments at the outset could have provided us with a long-term independent recovery coordinator, with clear communications, clear information, informed us well on what to expect in recovery, could have worked with the community leaders more closely, could have made it a whole-of-government response, could have provided us the Commission we called for, saying it was our (Cyclone) Tracy moment.But none of this leads us anywhere.We did get a reset under the NSW RA and it is yet to be recognised for its revolutionary role in preparedness. It inherited the right mess of the NRRC and has had to unscramble a lot of broken things, set in train. It has the power to help us adapt where we cannot mitigate, and that will be powerful, as there will be more events, and they need not be disasters, but extreme weather events for which we can be better prepared and then bounce back better and sooner. All governments are wired to Canberra and Sydney comms, but disaster-impacted communities need a different, almost bespoke comms approach. (See Communicating in Recovery https://www.redcross.org.au). This is finally starting to take shape now that Mal Lanyon has taken on the permanent role of CEO of the NSW RA. You will see him and hear him more at local levels communicating on what is important to our community. There is a Latin word desiderium that describes best what happens to us post such a catastrophic humanitarian disaster. We long for our life as it was and yet must learn to live the new life and walk with what happened, and shape the new way. We have done this and can do this.NSWRA CEO Mal Lanyon:“We’ve always said the community would be at the centre of what we do, and we remain fully committed to supporting residents as they rebuild and move forward.“As one of the nation's largest recovery initiatives, we’ve listened to the public’s desire to preserve their unique communities while focusing on building resilience.“Our focus is not only on replacing damaged infrastructure but also on implementing strategies to make the region more resilient to future flooding, relocating homes, and recycling materials from demolished properties.“While this process may take longer, our commitment to listening to the community and supporting their needs will remain at the centre of everything we do.”Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan:I don't know that we've done that much that has slowed it down as a community. I mean, I think there were bad decisions made initially about what the strategy is, such as to remove ourselves from the flood plain. That was a bureaucratic decision that didn't come to the community, and I think that was made on an ideological error that that person didn't believe in engineering solutions for flood mitigation. They thought it was too controversial."I think sometimes the community wants leadership too. This is what we're doing, and, you know, making decisions around it. I love this community, and obviously, there's differences of opinion, but I don't think it's been a community-led slowness about it."The RA were given powers through state legislation to speed things up, and they need to use them more. Whenever you want to do anything, and let's take housing, I'll have people who come to me and say, Kevin, you should be building more social housing. You should be doing this too, and doing that. And I say, what do you think of the North Lismore Plateau development? I don't like that, or they don't want the development up here, or they don't want the development at Monaltrie, or they don't like this, don't like that."We have a lot of NIMBYism, not next to me. Happy to do it, but don't do it anywhere near me. Well, now we're short of houses. We got to build houses somewhere, and we've got to understand that."Has the community-driven recovery slowed our flood recovery process? A question for all of us on a day of commemoration and reflection.

On the eve of the third anniversary of the February 28 2022 big flood, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has been briefed on good progress being made under the Emergency Response Fund (ERF) Richmond and Wilsons rivers flood warning improvement project.“I recently sought and received a briefing from NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe’s office, and I’m heartened by actions and recommendations aimed at prioritising our network of gauges for installation, upgrades or integration into the flood warning network,” Ms Saffin said.“In New South Wales, we are working to improve flood warning services in the 62 local government areas impacted by the floods in early 2022 using $15 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Emergency Response Fund.”“Locally, the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, in collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology, have installed 12 new flood gauges, seven of which have been fully commissioned and incorporated into the BoM’s flood modelling system.“These seven stations include water level gauges at Keerong (Terania Creek), Gungas Road (Mulgum Creek), Whiporie (Myall Creek), Tatham (Sandy Creek) and Broadwater (Richmond River); and two rainfall gauges – Findon Creek and Woolners Arm.“The remaining five stations being commissioned include water level gauges at Leycester Creek, Robert White Bridge and Casino Road Bridge; and rainfall gauges at Mid-Richmond, Bungawalbin (Clearfield) and Mummulgum.”For more information about the ERF Richmond and Wilsons rivers flood warning improvement project, go to https://mhl.nsw.gov.au/floodstudies/DCCEEWBCD-RichmondHome.   

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has many people in Lismore and the Northern Rivers worried as it heads south in the Coral Sea parallel to the Queensland coast but out to sea.Alfred's path was uncertain, and there was certainly speculation over its effect on the Northern Rivers, given February and March are our most prolific rainfall months.As of today, Lismore has received only 128.6mm at the Lismore Airport, which is more than last year's 115.8mm but lower than the mean of 142.5mm.March's mean is 181.4mm, so we can expect a wetter month.Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology said they are starting to get more confidence and more certainty about Alfred's likely path.As of 12 midday NSW time, Angus said the signs show a strengthening system, so Cyclone Alfred is likely to increase from a Category 3 to a Category 4 over the weekend."There are a couple of changes to this track compared to the tracks from yesterday, and that's the first one there, the Category 4 symbol that we see on Friday afternoon, as we expect Alfred to intensify during Friday even further."However, as Alfred continues to move southwards, it's likely to move into an area of slightly cooler ocean temperatures down here, which means the intensification will probably stop, and potentially it will even go back to a Category 3 tropical cyclone by Saturday morning.It is at this point that Alfred is expected to move towards the Queensland coast, but not reaching the coast, as a Category 3."This is going to mean an increase in wind and swell across eastern parts of Queensland. We've got a number of marine wind warnings already in place from Townsville down to K'gari, and these warnings could well be extended down to the southeast in the next day or two as well. And really, one of the most significant impacts of this turn towards the coast is going to be an increase in the swell."Importantly for the NSW Far North Coast, the second movement on Sunday should see Alfred moving away from the coast, which is likely to see it classified down to a Category 2 on Sunday or Monday and start a southeastward trajectory. This would mean less influence on our weather; however, it may linger over the Tasman Sea."This doesn't mean we're quite out of the woods yet. there is a chance that tropical cyclone Alfred could just hang out over the Tasman Sea for a few days in a row, and then may get blown back towards the country if an easterly wind picks up. However, if that occurs, it's likely that tropical cyclone Alfred would be a category one, or potentially a tropical low, no longer being tropical cyclone status."So, there's still a lot to go with the system. It's got a long life ahead of it, hopefully staying away from the country."The Bureau is forecasting a potentially wet Monday to Thursday at this early stage, but nothing significant.