The NSW Government has committed more than $500,000 over the next three years, and joined forces with sporting organisations to announce the formation of a new whole-of-sport partnership that unites the sports community in the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence.This Multi-Sport Coalition brings together professional sports clubs, State Sporting Organisations, industry stakeholders and the NSW Government to use their influence to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence and progress gender equality through sport.The funding will support a suite of initiatives that will be delivered by sports organisations to raise awareness and change community perceptions towards domestic, family and sexual violence.The Coalition will be chaired by NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin, with national violence prevention organisation Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly and Sport NSW CEO Stuart Hodge appointed key Coalition partners.Last year, the NSW Government launched the State’s first standalone Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024-2028, which aims to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence by working with communities, schools, workplaces, sporting clubs and local organisations.This partnership is the result of $38 million in funding delivered under the 2024/25 Budget to roll out primary prevention activities across the state.Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said, “Sport is part of the fabric of communities across NSW and sporting organisations, both amateur and professional, can play a powerful role in influencing community attitudes.The NSW Government is working together with sporting organisations, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place for domestic, family or sexual violence in our society.This partnership is about using the influence of sport to drive cultural change and build a safer NSW for women and children.”Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said, “The NSW Government is working hard to build a safer state for women and children by taking action in primary prevention and early intervention in domestic and family violence.“Through our primary prevention strategy, we want to work with the community to address the drivers of violence against women where people live, work, learn, play and socialise.“Sport is an important part of Australian culture, so a commitment like this from sporting codes sends a strong message that violence against women is unacceptable.“Seeing our sporting heroes role model respectful behaviours will help change attitudes that condone or tolerate violence in our community.”NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin, “Sport plays a very important role in Australia, bringing people together and fostering a sense of community.“Because of this, sporting organisations and players can have a powerful influence on community values, attitudes and behaviour.“I am thrilled that so many major sporting organisations have come together and pledged to use their influence to help end domestic, family and sexual violence.“This scourge cannot be addressed by the efforts of government alone. We need the commitment of organisations and individuals throughout the community.“The Multi-Sport Coalition offers a valuable opportunity to mobilise and strengthen local communities and accelerate our efforts to end domestic, family and sexual violence.”South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said, “The Rabbitohs are extremely proud to stand with professional clubs, State Sporting Organisations and the NSW Government to support this powerful initiative. “Sport has an extremely significant role to play in ensuring that we end domestic, family and sexual violence. “There is no place in society for this violence, and we are fully committed to supporting all efforts to end it.”Western Sydney Wanderers CEO Scott Hudson said, “As a club deeply embedded in Western Sydney, we understand the role we play in shaping community attitudes and behaviours.“Football has the power to unite, to educate and to lead by example, and we are committed to using that platform to help prevent domestic, family and sexual violence.“The Wanderers are proud to stand alongside our fellow sporting organisations and the NSW Government in this critical initiative.”

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin is encouraging eligible local groups and event organisers to apply for their share of $1 million in NSW Government funding for culturally diverse festivals and events held across the state in 2025 and into next year.Ms Saffin said the Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants Program offers funding from $5,000 to $20,000 to help community groups and faith organisations to organise events that celebrate and embrace our vibrant cultural diversity.“The Northern Rivers region loves festivals and events which bring local communities together and which foster social inclusion and harmony,” Ms Saffin said.“This statewide program supports hundreds of cultural celebrations, food festivals, music programs and entertainment events each year.”As part of the program’s first round of funding, $500,000 is available for eligible community groups planning festivals and events between 1 September 2025 and 31 March 2026. A second round of funding will be announced later this year for events running from April to September 2026.Multicultural NSW administers the grants on behalf of the NSW Government and applications close 5 pm Monday, 7 July.For more information or to apply, visit https://multicultural.nsw.gov.au/stronger-together-events-festivals/

One of the region's largest annual events, the Lismore Lantern Parade, has hit the 7-day countdown period today.In its 31st year, the parade route has been set, the road closures locked in, and Jyllie Jackson and her team are working around the clock creating lanterns and making sure that Saturday, June 21, runs smoothly and successfully.This year's route will see the lanterns walk down Molesworth Street (from Victoria Street), turn right into Magellan Street, left onto Dawson Street and then right through the Oakes Oval gates near Woodlark Street, where the Fiery Finale will take place.For the best seat in the house, you can purchase Grandstand tickets for only $21.45 (including booking fee) for a family of four or $11.25 for one adult and one or two children. Click here to book yours.Once you have purchased your tickets online, you need to exchange them for a wristband to be able to enter the seating Pavilions at Okes Oval. This can be done by heading into the following outlets from Monday, June 16: Music Bizarre - 60 Magellan Street, LismoreSummerland Bank – 101 Molesworth Street, LismoreBohotopia, 103 Keen St, LismoreLismore Square Centre Management – Cnr Brewster & Uralba streets.Lismore Council Office, 43 Oliver Ave, GoonellabahGreen Bank, 1/39 Cullen Street, Nimbin  Oakes Oval - Cnr Magellan Street and Dawson Street, Ticket Kiosk 2.30pm - 7pm on 21st June only.Wrist bands will ensure it is easy for you to enter Oakes Oval and the grandstand.There will be some seating on the grass in front of the John McMahon Grandstand for about 1,000 people.Due to this year's route, there will be temporary road closures. They are:Carrington Street (from Dragonfly Café to Country Lane, including Eggins Lane) will be closed from 12 noon on Friday, 20 June 2025, and will reopen at 6am on Sunday, 22 June 2025.Magellan Street:From Molesworth Street to Keen Street will be closed from 12 noon on Friday, 20 June 2025, until 6am on Sunday, 22 June 2025.From Molesworth Street to Dawson Street will be closed on Saturday, 21 June 2025, from 4:30pm to 8pm.The intersection of Magellan and Keen Streets will also be closed on Saturday, 21 June 2025, from 4:30pm to 8pm.Molesworth Street, from Bounty Street to Magellan Street, will be closed on Saturday, 21 June 2025, from 4:30pm to 8pm.Victoria Street will be closed on Saturday, 21 June 2025, from 6am to 8pm.Dawson Street, from Keen Street to Woodlark Street, will also be closed on Saturday, 21 June 2025, from 4:30pm to 8pm.There will also be a small number of temporary on-street car parking closures from 6am on Saturday, 21 June. They are:Molesworth Street (between Bounty and Magellan Streets)Magellan Street (between Molesworth and Dawson Streets)Dawson Street (between Magellan and Woodlark Streets)These closures are essential to prevent vehicles from being trapped inside the parade route and to ensure no vehicle movement occurs during the event, helping to keep attendees safe.Convenient parking will still be available close to the CBD at the following locations:Kirkland Riviera CarparkHarold Fredericks CarparkClyde Campbell CarparkJohn Crowther CarparkThere will be on-street parking in areas that are not affected by the closures listed above, and variable message signs in place to remind you of the changes.If you have never physically taken part in the Lismore Lantern parade, Jyllie Jackson is looking for volunteers to carry a few lanterns."We still would really appreciate some people to carry a few lanterns. Some of the groups are finding it difficult to find people to carry them," Jyllie said."And generally, some more helpers would be really nice. I think everybody's having this problem at the moment." You will find all the information at your fingertips via the Lismore App front page, Lismore Lantern Parade, or via the Lismore App website.

NSW Farmers has thanked the NSW Government for delivering new funding for biosecurity and agricultural innovation to help farmers feed the future. On Friday, NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced a $100 million dollar funding boost to the state’s biosecurity system, with a further $41.2 million to be invested in upgrading a government research and development program for agriculture.NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said practical, long-term funding for biosecurity systems was long overdue, with feral animal species estimated to cost the state 500 million dollars in damages every year.“Everything from feral pigs and fire ants to deer and wild dogs are causing grief everywhere we turn, and soon it won’t just affect our farming – it will affect our way of life,” Mr Martin said.“Coordinated action to fight pests and weeds, continued funding to implement eID for sheep and goats, and supports to ensure we can prevent and respond to plant and animal disease incursions are what farmers need at a minimum to keep on farming. “While we’re still unpacking the details of this announcement and what it will mean for agriculture, we know investment in our biosecurity systems is what will strengthen our sector – and it is good to see our government commit to delivering that.” Research and development would also be critical to agriculture into the future, Mr Martin said, with the state government urged to follow its latest investment in the space with further funding and resources. “The hugely complex challenges to production that stem from emissions reduction, land use conflict and environmental conservation demand continued research and development if we want to keep our farmers farming,” Mr Martin said.“Adequately resourced research and development has the potential to drive benefits not just in the paddock, but to the broader economy, and that must not be stifled in any way, shape or form.“From better infrastructure to investment in the next generation, there’s so much to be done to secure a brighter future our farming communities, and we hope this is the start, not the end, of good news out of this year’s state budget.” 

A perfect winter weekend is on the way, weather-wise, for Lismore and the Northern Rivers. Mostly sunny and sunny is the forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology.Maximum temperatures will be a little warmer than during the week; 18 for Saturday and 20 for Sunday, after cold starts to the day (5 and 7 degrees).This weekend is quiet in terms of events to frequent, as we count down to one of the biggest on the Lismore Event Calendar next Saturday, June 21, the 2025 Lismore Lantern Parade.You will notice the Lismore Lantern Parade button on the front page of the Lismore App and the second tab on the Lismore App website. Here, you will find the program for the day, which begins at 12 noon in the CBD, the parade route and more.There will be road closures from 6am in the CBD next Saturday. These can be found on the Parade Route map.For this weekend, the Lismore Farmers Markets will begin with a cold 5 degrees at 7:30 tomorrow (Saturday) morning, but the skies should be clear.As well as hot coffee and tea, hot breakfasts and fresh fruit and vegetables, the North Coast Branch of the Animal Welfare League NSW will be offering $5 microchipping for cats and dogs between 9am and 1pm. This is the cost of implanting the chip, normal registration fees apply. There is no limit to the number of pets; the only stipulation is that they are over 6 weeks old and of a healthy weight. You are asked to bring cats in cages and dogs on a leash.The NSW State Golf Croquet Championships are being held at the Lismore Croquet Club on Molesworth Street. Check out the cion from 8am until 3pm both days.Sunny winter skies are a great time to ride the NRs Rail Trail between South Lismore and either Bentley or the full 30 k's to Casino. There are plenty of gorgeous free bush walks in the hills to do (Walks), Heritage Park, the Lismore Regional Gallery is open 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday, and Rollerworld at North Lismore is also open Saturday and Sunday to take the family rollerskating (costs apply).If live music is your scene, there is plenty over the weekend.The Northern Rivers Hotel has Wear the Fox Hat on Saturday night from 7pm and Katie Brooke for the Sunday Session from 1pm.The Lismore Heights Bowling Club has an ABBA Tribute Show on Saturday night from 6pm.The Lismore Workers Club doesn't have live music this weekend; however, here's what's coming up:Kevin Bloody Wilson has a night of comedy next Wednesday, June 25Dorothy the Dinosaur Spectacular on Sunday, July 27Herman's Hermits on Friday, August 8Fleetwood Max on Thursday, August 14Oh What a Night - a tribute to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons on Saturday, September 20, andThe Flying Forties on Saturday, October 4.For more details or to book, click here.The major events to write on your calendar or put into your mobile for July are:LisAmore! 2025: Saturday and Sunday, July 5 & 6.There has been no movement in the price of fuel in the last seven days. Here is the list of the cheapest service stations, saving you the most money in each town:E10 is 167.9 at the 7-Eleven in South Lismore, the Ampol Foodary on Woodlark Street in Lismore and the EG Ampol on Simeoni Drive, Goonellabah, 172.3 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 157.5 at the Mobil and The Metro on River Street, Ballina.Unleaded 91 is 169.9 across Lismore, 174.3 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 159.5 at the Metro and the Mobil on River Street, Ballina.U95 is 177.5 at the two Independents (Brad & Sharon) on Terania Street, North Lismore, 191.9 at the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street, and 171.5 at The Metro on River Street, Ballina.U98 is 185.9 at the Liberty on Ballina Road in Lismore, and the Liberty on Union Street, South Lismore, 193.3 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 180.5 at The Mobil and Metro on River Street in Ballina.Diesel is 174.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road in Lismore, 175.5 at The United and the two Liberty's on Hare and Centre streets in Casino, and 182.5 at The Mobil and The Metro on River Street in Ballina.Have a great weekend!Now, have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

A woman has died following a single-vehicle crash in the early hours of Friday morning just south of the St Helena tunnel, today.About 2.20am (Friday 13 June 2025), emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway, McLeods Shoot, following reports a car had left the road and crashed into a sign.On arrival, officers attached to Tweed-Byron Police District located the body of a woman inside the vehicle.While yet to be formally identified, the woman is believed to be aged in her 60s.Police have established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the crash.A report will be prepared for the Coroner.M1 traffic was affected for northbound and southbound vehicles, with one lane closed. It was reopened to traffic at 9:36am.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

St Vincent's Hospital Lismore has today announced that plans for the sale of the facility are paused as the hospital gears up for an exciting rejuvenation through 2025 and 2026.Chief Executive Officer Alan Cooper said that he is excited to announce ongoing investment into the hospital, continuing to deliver and expand first-class care to the Northern Rivers community. “At present, our plans for sale of the hospital are on hold. Our primary focus is on delivering outstanding care, ensuring an excellent patient experience, and offering rewarding careers for our staff,” he said.The hospital has been a cornerstone of the Northern Rivers community for over 100 years, and reported a perfect score in its recent ACHS Health Standards review, ensuring St Vincent's Hospital will continue to offer excellent medical services. Mr Cooper said that increased investment in amenities would ensure that St Vincent’s is a modern, fit-for-purpose hospital for patients and staff alike.Recent investments include:Interior & exterior paint of the hospitalNew carpets & custom furniture throughoutComplete renovation of all public bathroomsUpgraded waste disposalNew wayfinding signageLifts upgradePatient ward rooms: room & bathroom complete renovation New scrubs and staff uniforms Development & implementation of positive values and behavioursChildcare facility upgradeAged Care facility upgradeEye Clinic upgrade“We take pride in being an employer of choice for healthcare practitioners, allied health workers, clinicians, and administrators, offering pathways for rewarding careers in Northern New South Wales.Our staff are the backbone of the hospital, and I am proud to lead them into a new era.”Mr Cooper said this announcement also provided a timely reminder that private patients in the Northern Rivers have the right to request a transfer to St Vincent's from public Emergency Departments, maximising choice.“The newly created Clinical Care Manager will allow General Practitioners to directly admit patients to the care of specialists at St Vincent’s instead of sending them to public Emergency Departments, alleviating some of the pressure on our colleagues at Lismore Base Hospital.My message is simple - St Vincent’s Hospital Lismore is very much in business, providing continuity of care to our wonderful Northern Rivers Community.”

The Pine Street squatters received their order to vacate from the Lismore Sherriff's Office last Friday, giving them thirty days to leave the NSWRA-owned buyback houses they have occupied for the last two years.The writs were applied for when the NSWRA (Reconstruction Authority) won its case against the squatters in the NSW Supreme Court in May to regain possession of its buyback houses in Lismore and Mullumbimby.Krisitie Clarke Executive Director of the NSWRA's Northern Adaptation Division, told the Lismore App she hopes the squatters will leave voluntarily."They have until the 10th of July to vacate the properties, and at that point in time, the RA will undertake assessments on the properties for their suitability for relocation."Unlike March 28, when a security company failed to deliver a Statement of Claim to all RA properties on Pine Street, because they were surrounded and verbally abused for trying to execute their job, Friday's notices were received peacefully.(Pine Street squatters on March 27 2025)"I understand that they were served peacefully. They were attached to the premises and served to the occupants, and there has been no feedback received on that."There has also been no feedback received from squatters on Pine Street."Nothing's come back through the RA that I'm aware of, and I think that gives time for the illegal occupants, despite our numerous requests to vacate voluntarily, to have a timeframe that they need to work to to get out."The Supreme Court Writs have come at a cost of approximately $400,000 to the NSWRA. One of the concerns was that squatters would illegally gain entry into other RA-owned buyback homes."I think they've already started to, and that's an issue that we're managing with Homes New South Wales and with the police. It's an issue that we need to keep monitoring. However, we'll continue to work with those agencies to make sure that the properties are vacant for the RA to determine their suitability for relocation or removal, so that we can start progressing plans for future land use of those regions," Kristie said."They're moving into a range of properties illegally. They're going in and vandalising properties. We've had over ten (10) instances in the region of properties being vandalised that are either owned by the RA or are actually privately owned, where homeowners are planning to relocate them. "So, it's been very disruptive from a community perspective, but also for the RA to be able to continue to plan and progress the removal of these properties. These properties are well signposted where there are plans to relocate them." While the RA deals with new illegal squatters, the next step for the Pine Street houses, once they are vacant, is to assess them for asbestos and other contaminants and their suitability for relocation.

Players from all over NSW will converge on the picturesque Lismore Croquet Club today as Far North Coast NSW hosts the NSW State Golf Croquet Division 2 Doubles & Singles Championships for the fifth consecutive year.For Lismore, this will be the first time since the 2022 big flood severely damaged the historic Lismore Croquet Clubhouse on Molesworth Street, when flood water went over the roof.Lismore City Council and builder Paul Cook helped rebuild the heritage-listed clubhouse."We've got a beautiful new kitchen, a beautiful new clubhouse in every way you can think of," Club Captain Deborah Matten told the Lismore App. "It took us quite a while to get back on our feet.Ballina Cherry Street and Byron Bay hosted the State Championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024 due to Lismore recovering and rebuilding its historic clubhouse."Honestly, this is a fantastic feeling. And for it all to come together for Lismore is incredible," Deborah said on the eve of competition in Lismore. The championship action began in Ballina and Byron on Wednesday and Thursday."We've got 15 games today starting at 8am. There'll be six players, and then they swap over. Games will run all day, finishing around 3pm or 4pm."As Lismore is the host club, members will be putting the new kitchen to use, catering breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, along with coffee and tea.While the State Championship presentations will be held in Ballina on Sunday afternoon, Deborah said Lismore is hosting the plate finals on Sunday, when they will have their own presentations."These are the players who don't earn themselves a position in the State finals. They don't come anywhere. So, what I have done is get them little trophies and I've put one and two on them, and we'll give them a bottle of wine, just to make them feel better that they've received something for playing, for all their effort."Tournament Manager David Scott is thrilled to welcome players to the area."We are delighted to once again showcase the beauty of Northern NSW and the passion for golf croquet within our community. These championships not only provide a platform for top-level competition but also highlight the camaraderie and sportsmanship that make this sport so special."The success of the championships relies heavily on the support of numerous volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all. Roles include lawn preparation, catering, refereeing, promotion, and fundraising."The dedication of our volunteers is invaluable,". "Their passion and commitment are what make these events possible."You can head along to the Lismore Croquet Club at 163 Molesworth Street, Lismore and watch the championship games from 8am today, Saturday and Sunday.

At Tuesday's Lismore City Council meeting, Deputy Mayor Jeri Hall put forward an urgency motion for council to write to Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Minister for Water, Housing, Homelessness and Youth Rose Jackson, Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarity and Minister for Tourism John Graham requesting them to review the decision to close Bells Bay Campground at Toonumbar Dam.Bells Bay is in the Kyogle Shire; however, Councillor (Cr) Hall mentioned that it is a campground used by many Lismore residents for camping, fishing and recreational activities, while Cr Electra Jensen mentioned it was also used by the Lismore Canoe Club annually.Cr Hall said there was a petition circulating with over 3,000 signatures to keep the Bells Bay Campground open.Today, Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, joined the call, releasing a statement in support.Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan is calling on the NSW Labor Government and Water NSW to reverse their decision to close public access to Bells Bay at Toonumbar Dam, effective from June 24.“This decision was made with no warning, no consultation, and no respect for the local community” Mr Hogan said. “Bells Bay is a cherished public space, built and cared for by volunteers over many years.”Water NSW cited safety concerns as the reason for the closure, but Mr Hogan says these issues can be resolved without locking out the public.“I’m calling on the Government to work with the community – not shut us out.”Mr Hogan is urging the local community to sign a petition calling for the site to remain open.Sign the petition here: Save Toonumbar Dam – Kevin Hogan MP

A new project led by Southern Cross University and SDG Align, with support from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), will explore how the Northern Rivers can accelerate its transition to a circular economy.The project will map out sustainable circular opportunities across the agriculture and food industry, manufacturing, the built environment, and community and social systems sectors in the Northern Rivers.  The design of a business case and an operational funding model for a Northern Rivers circular economy hub will be inclusive to all stakeholders and expand on the proposition of a new value chain design for the Australian red meat industry.Professor Andrew Rose, Academic Director of Industry Collaboration at Southern Cross University, said the project builds on the success of the University’s ReCirculator program, which ran six successful pilot projects between 2021-2024 and laid the groundwork for regional material flow mapping and stakeholder engagement. “The ReCirculator gave us a starting point. This project takes it further into applied systems design with a clear economic and governance lens. We aim to move beyond discussion and deliver a tangible model for regional circularity,” he said.Project partner SDG Align, Willem Overbosch, said the project was not building from scratch but would connect what already works and design what is missing.“The aim is to co-create a locally relevant, practical model that helps the region shift from linear to circular in how we use resources and design systems,” he said.Supply Chain Innovation Lead at Meat & Livestock Australia, Alicia Waddington, said the initiative was part of the organisation’s strategy to deliver sustainability outcomes that improve productivity and profitability for producers. “Livestock operations are increasingly looking for circular solutions to deal with waste streams like manure, wastewater, and plastic.  "This project is an opportunity to co-design scalable solutions that align with the sector’s sustainability goals and strengthen supply chain resilience,” she said.Stakeholders from local businesses, councils, and community organisations are invited to participate through short interviews and upcoming co-design workshops.For expressions of interest to participate in a co-design workshop, please get in touch with SDG Align at willem@sdgalign.com.au / 0477957911

Owning and running a business in the Lismore LGA has not been easy over the last twelve months. Staying in business and making a profit are reasons to celebrate as they head towards the end of the financial year.August 9 will be another reason for the business community to celebrate when the Lismore Business Excellence Awards take place at the Lismore Turf Club. It is a chance for owners, managers and staff to let their hair down, celebrate and recognise the region's achievements.Entries are open now for the 2025 Lismore Business Excellence Awards, with local businesses encouraged to take part in over 20 award categories, including Outstanding Employee, Excellence in Creative Industries, and Outstanding New Business, there’s an opportunity for businesses of all sizes and sectors to be acknowledged.Be quick, as entries close at 5pm on Wednesday, June 26th, and are open to all businesses operating in the 2480 postcode area. Entry is FREE and you do not need to be a member of Business Lismore to enter.Business Lismore President Michael Ackrell says the Business Awards in 2024 were exceptionally popular and sold out last year. “I encourage all businesses to get involved, either by entering or just coming along for a great night of networking with the business community.’’ Business Lismore Secretary Felicity Hyde says the event is a fantastic opportunity for business owners to celebrate their hard work and reflect on their achievements over the past year.“It’s a chance to pause, appreciate what you and your team have accomplished, and share that success with the broader community.”Business Lismore wishes to acknowledge our amazing awards Platinum Partners Lismore Toyota, Beach and Bush Distributors and Lismore City Council. For more information and to enter, visit www.lismorechamber.com.au.

Nobody knows natural disasters quite like Member for Lismore and Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin.It is now folklore that Ms Saffin swam to safety from her flooded home in North Lismore on 28 February 2022. She has been integrally involved in Lismore's rescue, recovery and rebuild for the last three years.As the cleanup continues and the damage bill is still being assessed, the Lismore App had a chat with Ms Saffin to compare the recent Mid North Coast floods to 2022, and to learn about what lessons have changed the rescue and recovery efforts since 2022.The rain on the Mid North Coast around Taree, built on the Manning River, broke records with 750mm in May, the Manning River recorded its highest ever level of 6m, half a metre higher than the previous record, the Pacific Highway was cut off, and five people lost their lives."The similarities lie in that they had rain bombs, so some of the farms I met were in a pocket, went totally under, and some businesses went under. It wasn't like the whole CBD, but there were pockets of it and bits of it where they got a lot of water, and the same with some houses."When you read the report of uninhabitable houses. I say you have to drill down, and I get the drill down figures, it just means on that day when it was assessed, because it needs to be cleaned out. There is some that they say can't be lived in. It's clear what's happened to them.""For people who go through it, we can't compare because of the shock and the disbelief and the mud. This one, everybody talked about the mud, there was so much mud, and they said the one before was big in 2021, but not the mud. "We can remember the mud and can smell the mud still."Ms Saffin explained that Taree's topography is different from Lismore's. Taree is not a basin like Lismore, but it does have pockets of low-lying areas."The farms I went to are all low-lying, near the river. Good land, when it's all good, particularly for the dairy. So again, pockets of it. But it's up-and-down the mid north coast and to the Hunter area, so I've been right across it, although there are still some places I've got to go to. "Nearly everything's been assessed now. Some of the members of Parliament came to me and the Reconstruction Authority, and others, because there was a list of localities or suburbs that could qualify for the personal hardship.BUYBACKSAre buybacks being considered at this time for those homes inundated with water?"No. The premier said that's not under consideration at this stage, and I've said that one of the things we did here, we did do buybacks, and I mentioned it yesterday in a media interview, and I noticed on Facebook or Meta that some people say oh she said that. Well, I said that from the beginning, I said it should be a managed retreat. So, if you're having buybacks, it has to be a managed retreat and not just, okay, we're going to buy back all these houses because it has to be done with community, has to be done looking at the economic impact on the town on the CBD, you know all of that. And we didn't start like that, I mean that's no secret, but everything I'm saying now, I said at the time, so it's not new, but for some, they are lessons learned."TAREE STATISTICSCurrently there are 128 households in emergency careDamage assessments concluded on Sunday, 1 June 2025, with more than 12,000 properties assessed. Of these, more than 1,200 have been deemed uninhabitable, including 736 residential and 142 commercial premises; however, this means there was water over the floor, so as more extensive examinations are undertaken, that number will decrease. More than 18,000 cubic metres of waste has been removed from the Mid North Coast region and transported to 11 temporary emergency waste sites. The sites support faster debris removal by local councils and Public Works, while ensuring waste is properly sorted — with recyclables separated and remaining materials compacted before going to landfill. More than 12,000 tonnes of waste has been sent to landfill. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has also engaged specialist marine contractors to remove large and hazardous flood debris from rivers. Clean-up efforts are underway in the Manning, Hastings, Nambucca Rivers, with the first pass of the Macleay River now complete. Items collected include livestock carcasses, silage bales and chemical drums. As of Tuesday, 10 June, there will be 5 Recovery Centres open in Taree, Kempsey, Wauchope, Macksville and Wingham and 5 Recovery Assistance Points at Raymond Terrace, Manning Point, The Entrance, Kempsey (Kinchela Boys Mob Hub) and Taree (Biripi Aboriginal Community).Ms Saffin said that those who have been displaced want to go home. This is being worked through with mayors, MPs and the local communities."That's being considered now. There has been money in Category A and B, and there's money, of course, for roads. Roads is the biggest expenditure in floods. It's massive. And then there's some money, and I know farmers are asking for more, understandably, there's some money for farmers, some for small businesses and not for profit, rural land holders, that's all been announced."Then we're working through housing now. What they're looking at is caravans on people's properties. Remember, how we banged on about it here from day one, to get people on their property, and oh no no no we couldn't do that. I even remember someone saying to me in authority, Oh, Janelle, they might take the caravan away. I said a whoopee do. "So, I said caravans because people could be back home sorting out their home, cleaning up, and doing all the things they need to do. And if they're rented, talk to the landlord and see if that can happen. That's the conversation that's underway now."As there are no buybacks on offer, and thousands of displaced people will be moving back to their homes, Ms Saffin confirmed that house raisings and retrofits will be the mitigation solution for some, if they want it.If the state government is not looking at buybacks, will they look at a land swap through a Resilients Lands-type program?"Again, I don't know because we're not at that stage yet. One of the things I've learnt from here, and I did say at the time, hasten slowly. There's some things that have to be absolutely immediate, but hasten slowly in what you do in your local communities that impacts on your whole life; your social cohesion, your economy, all of that. So, don't sort of rush into it. And I found here that sometimes people would say to me Oh, Janelle, we've got to do this, we've got to do it straight away. 12 months later, they said the opposite to me. Just with time and consideration. So, I do say hasten slowly." 2022 LEARNINGS FOR THE REST OF NSW"Early warnings, as much as you can, and because we always get told that the SES wait for the BOM before they do it, and I said, well, you're on the ground, you've got intel from locals, you're watching it, you're watching rain bombs, you might go ahead of the BOM. I've seen that happen."When I say go ahead, they still have the BOM integrated with them, someone from the BOM, but just make sure people get enough time. And, if it looks like it's going to cut you off, then you have to have time to get out. So, I've seen that lesson learned, but we still really need to get the early warning down pat. One thing I do know, and it hasn't been in the public realm so to speak, is there were tinnies out rescuing people and helping neighbours and rescuing people. I said thank you to them because, as we know, often it's the locals who are the first responders." Another lesson learned from 2022 is the coordination of the rescue plan after a disaster."This was coordinated, and I've had people comment to me, even locals. When you're hit yourself, and in the eye of the disaster, it can feel like nothing is happening, it's not fast enough, what's going on? But you look at it, and you can see it was a coordinated effort. The SES had everyone there; Fire and Rescue, RFS, VRA, Marine Rescue, I mean, absolutely everybody was there, and recovery was being set up at the same time they were doing rescue.""When the rescue and the response are over, at the formal handover, which was last Monday, Mal Lanyon had the team out and about, and they were there like with Alfred, in that preparation. There were five recovery centres set up, a number of recovery assistance points, smaller ones, or you go out mobile to villages and places. And a lot of things were in place already, like the waste, it was being moved pretty quickly. There were LLS Department of Primary Industries people stepping up, EPA, all of that, plus moving livestock that were deceased." Another lesson learned from 2022 is the management of incoming emergency phone calls."We had nothing. We had silence, didn't we? SES can patch through calls that come to them, so they diverted calls to other combat agencies. That didn't happen in 2022. On the Mid North Coast, a volunteer group, similar to Resilient Lismore in 2017, was set up quickly."They were ready to help everybody, and the SES worked with them. It was fantastic. There's a fellow in SES who's done his Churchill Scholarship on spontaneous volunteers with community groups, and they worked together really well. The SES were out on the ground first, a lot of them, and they would allocate tasks, they would help, they would feed people and go out to people, so it was fantastic to see that in operation." "When I walked into the EOC, the emergency operation centre in Taree, they said Hi Janelle, someone from Lismore is on the team's meeting. I went in and Holly Langer was there with her team and Ellie Bird was on screen. She had her program up, the way you take calls, log them, work allocation, what I call soft infrastructure stuff, so that was really helpful."The Lismore and Northern Rivers community understands only too well the situation the Mid North Coast are experiencing right now. How can we help?"I always say money. If we can give money, that's really helpful. Givit, is the formal site that the Reconstruction Authority uses, but you all know your local trusted people; there is Vinnie's, the Salvo's, Anglicare and Red Cross. There may be other local ones, and I always say just make sure it's a trusted body when you donate." It is good to know that lessons have been learned from February 28 2022, and that knowledge is being used to quicken the rescue and recovery process following a natural disaster.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed the NSW Government’s $110-million investment in the 2025-26 NSW Budget to revitalise and rebuild our public spaces.Ms Saffin said projects included $12.4 million to upgrade fire trails on Crown land and adjoining land to provide safe access for firefighters to battle bushfires and protect local communities.“These fire trails were neglected for a decade under the previous government, and now we can start some repair and restoration work to support our firies and give better protection from future bushfires,” Ms Saffin said.“Crown Lands undertakes statewide helicopter inspections to keep the network in good shape.“The Minns Government has identified a number of critical works required across Crown Lands and public spaces, which will be funded by a Budget allocation totalling $110 million.”Two other projects which could potentially benefit parts of the Lismore Electorate include:$7.1 million to maintain community buildings and other public infrastructure on Crown Land, from public halls and sports facilities to walking trails and bridges.$6 million to remediate Crown Land that has been contaminated, such as former cattle dip sites, mines and industrial sites, to protect the environment, and restore land for use. Funding will also help control invasive species such as feral foxes and rabbits and noxious and invasive weeds to keep land health and functional.

This week is National Blood Donor Week. The goal is to raise awareness of the need to find 100,000 new blood donors per year, as the community's need for blood and blood plasma products is at the highest level in 12 years.The statistics are a stark reminder for the eligible 57% of the population to make the effort and donate blood or blood plasma. Only 3% of the population donate, while 1-in-3 people will need a donated blood product in their life. The demand is for 1.7 million donations each year and growing.Corndale resident and father of two, Kieran Middleton, knows only too well the benefits of receiving blood and blood plasma products.In 2021, Kieran was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CDIP), the same condition that affects former Australian swimmer Michael Klim.(Kieran Middleton giving a talk to Lifeblood donors today)CDIP is an autoimmune disorder that causes gradual damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering around nerves. This damage can lead to weakness, numbness, and other sensory changes in the arms and legs.Basically, over a period of time, Kieran couldn't walk, lost part of his sight, couldn't hold a knife and fork or unlock a door. Life as Kieran and his family knew it changed drastically over a period of time."I was a builder, and had my own business," Kieran explained, "And then all gone. I had to give it up.""We had to get around on a wheelie walker because of my severe foot drop," Kieran told the Lismore App today. "It was like, there's no control of my feet at all. Everything was dead. They would poke me with a blunt needle, and there's no feeling, all the nerves, everything was gone"That was twelve months ago, but thanks to fortnightly infusions of immunoglobulin and plasma, Kieran is slowly on the mend as his independence returns."I've got all my downward movement in my feet with no up movement. That's the nerves repairing the calves, because they repair themselves an inch a month. So, to repair from the waist down, it's got to go all the way down and come all the way back."It's been three years from completely nothing to this, and now I'm driving again. I work from home, and do estimating for jobs thanks to a fabulous Sydney company, Buildcorp. I'd like to be able to do my own things again, because we live on 25 acres, and I've got to pay people to do all this stuff, where I used to do everything myself, even something as simple as mowing the lawn or cleaning the pool."Kieran is moving from fortnightly infusions to every three weeks and then every four weeks. His recovery time is unknown, but could be as long as ten years.During our discussion, Kieran expressed his concern as to why more people do not take the 60 minutes to donate whole blood or the 90 minutes to donate plasma. Everyone he speaks to thinks it is a great idea, but very few are motivated enough to take the next step and actually book into a donor centre to donate blood or plasma.Instead, most of the heavy lifting is done by a few incredible human beings like Michael, Beryl, Ian and David (100+ donations), Sue and Steve (150+), Trish and Narelle (200+), Dan, Sharon and Kim (250+), Llewenna (400+) and Richard (500+). In fact, Richard was about to make his 512th donation today.As Lifeblood's Helen Sager said, "You are the most amazing people that society has on offer, the cream of the crop, the crème de la crème, the elite."(The amazing staff at the Lifeblood Lismore Donor Centre in Bounty Street, along with the incredible 100+ club donors)The high donors club was also thanked by Kieran Middleton, "Your donations ensure that my condition won't get any worse. It gives me a greater quality of life. I can't thank you donors enough and express how much it means to me and my family. My treatment would not have been possible without you guys. Please give yourselves a pat on the back, because without you, heroes, I call it, to give me the donors, I wouldn't be where I am now. Thanks so much, and keep up the good work."You can enquire about being a blood or plasma donor or book an appointment by clicking https://www.lifeblood.com.au/, by calling 13 14 95 or by popping into Level 1/26 Bounty Street, Lismore CBD.

Year one students at three public schools in the Lismore electorate have been taking part in a new Number Screening Check this month, as part of a statewide trial.Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, said the trial is to check students’ grasp of numbers and provide teachers with the opportunity for early intervention.“The screening check is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to lift numeracy levels and is a key part of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement signed with the Commonwealth in March, which delivered full funding for NSW public schools.“NSW is leading the country in developing its own number screening check and will share the resources with other states once the trial is completed.“So Year One students at Goonellabah Public School, Kyogle Public School and Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Public School in Tenterfield are taking part in an important program that will go on to benefit many children.“This new check gives teachers a clearer picture of where each student is up to with their numeracy skills, like counting, number order and simple addition. It means they can step in early and give targeted help to kids who might otherwise fall behind.“An earlier pilot was tested across 19 NSW schools, and the schools that participated are already using insights from the screening to plan for targeted teaching.“We know that early strong numeracy skills can better equip children for success through their school years and beyond. “

Lismore City Council is harnessing cutting-edge aerial imaging technology to fast-track critical flood restoration works across the region. The 2022 natural disaster caused surface damage at 84 sites across 25 roads in Lismore. Lismore City Council recently received Disaster Recovery Funding to design the restoration of these assets using aerial assessments (surveys), which capture extensive data while reducing safety risks for pedestrians near traffic.In collaboration with Dykman Consulting, a leading civil engineering firm, Council is adopting advanced survey methods. Rather than relying on traditional, time-intensive ground surveys, a helicopter equipped with state-of-the-art LiDAR technology will be deployed to efficiently survey each damage site. This high-precision data will feed directly into the design process, enabling tailored solutions that consider both site-specific needs and the broader infrastructure context.Helicopters were chosen over drones for their ability to carry sophisticated imaging equipment, including state-of-the-art LiDAR technology, crucial for precise flood restoration designs. They offer greater flight stability and longer operational durations, enabling uninterrupted surveys across multiple sites and speeding up recovery efforts.Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg emphasised the significance of this initiative, stating:"This work marks an important step in rebuilding Lismore’s road network efficiently and effectively. By leveraging innovation, we can deliver more resilient infrastructure, ensuring our community recovers stronger than ever."The result will be superior road designs, delivered rapidly and optimised for efficient construction.Helicopter flights are scheduled throughout June, flying at an altitude of 850 feet with five passes over each affected road. Residents may notice aerial survey activity during this period.A full list of roads included in the survey is available at https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Building-and-planning/Flood-Restoration-Portfolio/Roads-and-bridges/FR-Pavement-Restoration-Package.This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government.

In a surprise outcome yesterday, Lismore City Councillors voted not to give themselves a pay rise, as suggested by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal.A 3% rate increase was factored into next year's budget by council staff; however, councillors voted unanimously after 30 minutes of debate to keep their fees the same as the 2024/25 financial year.This equates to $64,000 for the Mayor and $26,070 for each councillor, plus 11.5% superannuation, which will increase to 12% from 1 July 2025.Councillor Gianpiero Battista put forward a foreshadowed motion that councillors receive the increase, and then take $11,000 off their combined fee to accommodate an earlier resolution to refinance a Commonwealth Bank loan for $1.78 million over five years to give council more liquidity options going into an uncertain period. To cover the loan cost, Cr Battista proposed that each councillor would lose about $80 per month.Cr Harper Dalton-Earls then put another foreshadowed motion forward to keep the Mayor and councillor fees the same.The debate surrounded the time councillors put into their elected positions. Cr Virginia Waters saying, "As councillors, we certainly do a lot more than what this payment would suggest. Basically, we're on call, attending meetings, briefings and workshops, reading reports, meeting with the community members and events, and contributing to decisions that shape the future of the LGA villages and land."The Queensland mayor/councillor renumeration system was mentioned on a few occasions. In Queensland, they have full-time councillors who receive around $80,000 per year for a similar population to Lismore. The mayor is paid about $150,000, while they also pay the Deputy Mayor's position is paid about $95,000 per year.A few councillors mentioned the fact that Queensland has a more diverse range of councillors because of the full-time positions.Back to NSW and reality, Cr Battista spoke against the rate increase by saying this was an opportunity to show leadership."It's only $80 per month, roughly, or $90 or whatever, out of our fees, which increase anyway, but at least we show a bit of leadership, and we're sure that we're actually serious about what we're doing here," Cr Battista said.Cr Dalton-Earls also spoke against the increase. "Under the current economic conditions, where people are struggling to afford basic groceries, where we've got a budget, and we're talking about the need to have liquidity, I don't feel comfortable taking a pay increase."Mayor Steve Krieg, who moved the original motion, joked that he looks forward to the social media commentary about him being a money-hungry mayor supporting the 3% rate increase."If you look at the term that I've served at council, we have kept the fee structure the same. We've taken the moral high ground and kept the fee structure the same for the mayor and the councillors for a long period of time. In my opinion, and it is a very humble opinion, I think council is heading in the right direction. I think our staffing and the people that we've got in senior management are doing an exceptional job. I believe that as much as there is still a lot of work to do in and around our financial position, it is certainly on the right track."With Crs Gordon and Bing not in attendance, the motion was defeated 4/5.Cr Battista's foreshadowed motion was defeated 2/7.That left Cr Dalon-Earls' foreshadowed motion that no rate increase be adopted.The Queensland example rose again, but the reference was Toowoomba, where they have a population of nearly 180,000. The Mayor is paid $198,000, the Deputy Mayor $135,000 and Councillors $117,000.Deputy Mayor Jeri Hall said that Lismore has had negative growth when referring to the Toowoomba comments. "We have a smaller rate base. You're comparing apples and oranges really. We are currently still recovering from the biggest natural disaster in Australia's history. Our community needs this money. Our roads are crap, our garbage is garbage."The motion for fees to stay the same was a unanimous vote.While on garbage, in a confidential session, councillors agreed to accept a proposal for eight (8) new garbage trucks at a cost of just under $5.5 million. The new garbage trucks were a lifeline from the NSW Government, announced in December last year, when Lismore City Council could not afford to renew the current ailing, ageing fleet and was considering outsourcing the waste collection.A motion moved by Cr Waters that Council liaise with the NSW Reconstruction Authority to identify hazard-free sites within the LGA to store the dwelling stock bought back due to the 2022 flood was discussed, reworded and ultimately supported by councillors.The final wording stated that Council:liaise with the NSW Reconstruction Authority to seek a subdivision approval on Resilient Land sites within the LGA with a view to relocating the houses bought back to be sited on the location of proposed subdivision lots.holds a workshop with NSW Reconstruction Authority.The RA Resilient Lands sites mentioned were North Lismore and the East Lismore SCU site.The Resilient Land sites were specified due to the double-moving of buyback houses if the site were in another flood-free location. To move a house costs over $100,000, so the cost would be over $200,000 to store and then move to a permanent site.Cr Electra Jensen said that every time you move a house you damage it, as another deterrent to double-handling, and also mentioned the Pine Street squatters."A lot of this came about as a result of the Pine Street issue, which has cost over $400,000 to the ratepayers and taxpayers of Australia, which was disappointing. But it has raised the fact that those houses are still sitting there."The vote was unanimously in support of the motion.The Reconciliation Action Plan was adopted, and an urgency motion to support Kyogle Council to save the Bell's Bay Campground at Toonumbar Dam from closing after NSW Water's decision to close it, was also supported.Lismore City Council is going for a three-peat of meetings with an extraordinary meeting next Tuesday, June 17 at 10am when the 2024/25 Budget will be discussed.

June 30 is only twenty days away, and that means tax time as millions of Australians begin their search for a tax return, not a tax payment. It is also the time of year for a 300% increase in tax scams.Australia’s largest accounting body, CPA Australia, is urging the public to be wary of tax scam emails, SMS and other communications this tax time, including those that arrive in your inbox overnight, designed to catch you off-guard in the morning.CPA Australia Tax Lead, Jenny Wong, says Australians should prepare for a deluge of scam activity in the lead-up to June 30 – and make sure they have their morning coffee before opening emails and text messages.“Scammers take advantage of any situation, and at tax time that means targeting unsuspecting individuals through unsolicited messages claiming to be the ATO or another reputable organisation,” she said.“These ‘phishing’ scams not only look legitimate, but they’re designed to catch you off-guard. That’s why you’ll often see them arrive first thing in the morning because you may be more likely to have a momentary lapse in judgement.“The scammers know Australians will have tax on their mind and are vulnerable to prompts to act, which is why these messages usually create a sense of urgency or claim of significant refund. While they could come at any time, be especially careful opening up and reading messages while you’re still waking up in the morning.“It’s crucial to see through the lies and review these communications with a clear mind once you’ve started your day and had a coffee or two.”Data from the National Anti-Scam Centre shows a significant increase in scam losses in the first four months of 2025. The biggest increase in reported losses comes from phishing scams – where scammers impersonate government agencies and financial institutions – accounting for $13.7 million in losses, compared to $4.6 million in early 2024.Meanwhile, the ATO says impersonation email scams have increased by more than 300% from this time last year.Scam emails seen by CPA Australia include titles like: ‘Urgent new notification in your account inbox’. The messages direct individuals to log into their myGov account and claim to provide a secure link.These messages try to trick individuals to click the link to see ‘official government correspondence’, an ‘update regarding your benefits’, ‘a new refund notification’ or they need to click to ‘avoid being penalised’.They even encourage individuals to ‘keep checking your inbox to stay informed about important updates related to your tax, pension and other government services’.How to spot tax time scamsDistinguishing between legitimate and scam messages from the ATO is becoming increasingly difficult. However, there are signs. Look for any grammatical errors and unusual language. This could include American English spellings, such as using ‘z’ instead of ‘s’ for certain words.The ATO does not use hyperlinks in unsolicited SMS messages. If you see any links in an unsolicited SMS or any QR codes in a message claiming to be from the ATO, treat it as a scam.When it comes to emails, check the sender’s address. Anything unusual is a red flag. If the address includes the acronym ATO or Australian Taxation Office in full, look for subtle anomalies like using a number, adding extra letters, or even removing a letter.Be wary of anyone making unexpected requests for personal or financial information, especially if they claim it’s urgent. The ATO will never ask for passwords, account numbers or other sensitive data by email or SMS. If you see a social media account claiming to be the ATO or myGov, look for the official logo and profile verification, such as the blue tick on Facebook and Instagram or grey tick on X. The ATO will never discuss your personal ATO account on any social media platform, including private messages.If you're still unsure, you should always verify if the contact is legitimate by contacting the ATO on 1-800-008-540 or by visiting the verify or report scam page on the official ATO website.