In case you missed it during the week and haven't driven along Uralba Street heading into the CBD, Lismore City Council has begun preparing the site next to Oakes Oval so construction can begin on the Lismore Skatepark and Youth Precinct.The area is being excavated in preparation for the construction of a world-class facility that will benefit the entire community. It will include state-of-the-art facilities such as a competition-level skatepark, seating, shaded areas, sports lighting and the capacity to host events.The design, developed by CONVIC in consultation with local stakeholders, includes street and park sections, a covered mini ramp and a rail in tribute to the late Travis Watson, a cherished member of our skating community.Construction will continue through 2024, with the project expected to be completed by mid-2025. During this time, Council will collaborate with competition operators, the local skate community, and sporting bodies to develop a calendar of events that fully utilise this new facility.This project is funded by the NSW Government’s Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund, which recognises the vital role of local sport infrastructure in promoting healthy, active and connected communities.The Lismore Skatepark and Youth Precinct will support our community’s well-being, economic recovery and future growth.For detailed design plans and updates on the construction progress, you can visit our project site at https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/lismore-skatepark-and...

Small and medium businesses in Lismore and the Northern Rivers stand to benefit from a new $9.5 million Towns and Villages Resilient Business Activation Program funded by the NSW Government.The funding for businesses and local Central Business Districts (CBDs) is being delivered through the NSW Government’s Community Restoration Flood Fund to help support the economic recovery of villages and town centres in the Northern Rivers with direct activation and revitalisation projects.Successful applicants must show how the project will benefit the local community and how it aligns with one or more of the Program’s objectives. Examples of projects that could be funded include repairing or replacing damaged fixed equipment, machinery, or infrastructure needed to keep the business operating or the implementation of flood barriers, elevated foundations, waterproofing, flood-resilient doors or windows and drainage systems.The Program will be delivered across the seven most flood-impacted Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers, including Lismore, Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley, Kyogle, and Clarence Valley, with each reporting the highest average damage and other costs for businesses.Funding is available through two targeted streams:Stream 1 – Infrastructure support for small and medium sized business with grant amounts from $250,000 to $2 million.Stream 2 – CBD activation and revitalisation projects delivered by Councils with grant amounts from $50,000 to $500,000.The NSW Reconstruction Authority has engaged the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to govern the delivery and management of the Program.Please contact programdesigndelivery@regional.nsw.gov.au or visit https://rd.smartygrants.com.au/rbap for more information about the Northern Rivers Towns and Villages Resilient Business Activation program.Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “This program will provide financial assistance for the repair, restoration, and resilience of small and medium businesses that suffered significant damage after the 2022 floods.“The areas eligible for these grants reported the highest average damage costs for businesses and experienced the highest damage assessments.“Local businesses in small towns provide important products and services to the community and it’s important we support them thrive.”Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said, “There are several locally significant businesses that remain closed or are only partially operational because of flood impacts and getting them back on their feet is incredibly important.“Some of the towns and villages included in this program were the hardest hit in the 2022 floods and the NSW Government is committed to supporting their recovery and their ongoing resilience and viability.”Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said, “The 2022 floods had a devastating impact on many of these small towns and villages right across the Northern Rivers, and they require unique support in their recovery.“If this funding helps support some of those anchor businesses or spruces up their CBD, then that’s very important to those communities.”

With temperatures warming up, the popular Lismore Memorial Baths will open its gates for the summer season from Friday, 13 September 2024, following the installation of the final piece of flood-restoration work.The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.These hours will be extended to 7pm weekdays during Daylight Savings from Sunday, 6 October 2024.The Lismore Memorial Baths is located at 179 Molesworth Street, Lismore, in the heart of the city. It offers excellent facilities in a convenient location.Eight-lane 50-metre lap poolFour lane 25-metre lap poolToddlers splash poolSwimsations Swim SchoolAll pools are solar heatedAs well as superb swimming facilities and changerooms, the Lismore Memorial Baths also has a kiosk, where you can get your post-swim energy boost with tasty treats like espresso coffee, hot chips, and ice cream. Open during operating hours.Pool entry is just $6.35 for adults and $5.55 for students/concession card holders. Visit packs, season passes and monthly memberships are also available. For just $4.40 extra, kids can enjoy the ever-popular inflatable obstacle course on the weekends from 12pm – 3pm.The swim also offers merchandise to cover your swimming needs, from the avid lap swimmer to the casual pool visitor including Vorgee goggles, ear putty, swim caps and much more.When the pool re-opened ahead of summer last year, Council was still waiting on the delivery of a moveable dividing block to bring the pool back to 50 metres. The diving block will be installed next week in time for the season opening.

The most topical conversation in our LGA, without a doubt, is water. It seems that we either have too much or not enough. And herein lies the challenge. How can we store enough water for long-term supply, and slow the inundation of water that Lismore suffers when we get too much rain?Let's start with water security.There's no doubt we all have to be smarter about how we use water. But we also need to think about the supply of water to our growing population.Rocky Creek Dam, built over seventy years ago as Lismore’s primary water source for a population of around fifteen thousand people, is quite simply too small. Now, under the control of Rous County Council, the dam services a population in excess of one hundred and twenty thousand regional residents.Its size of fourteen thousand mega litres categorises Rocky Creek as a small dam, and the only possible way it can service the number of people it does, is because of our high average yearly rainfall. If we had zero rainfall for nine months, our dam would be dry.Water security needs to be approached regionally, and funded by state and federal governments, but we in Lismore should be driving this forward. Previous terms of council have sold us out on water security by not fully exploring all options and pushing individual agendas.You will remember only a few years ago, when Councillors Ekins and Cook were our Rous Council representatives, they both voted to move the head office of Rous to Ballina, taking many jobs out of Lismore and down to the coast. Forget the fact that all of Rous’ main water assets are in the Lismore LGA!Councillor Ekins, who is currently standing to be the next mayor, is openly saying that she encourages business in the CBD and wants the CBD to thrive, yet voted to take forty jobs away from our CBD only three and a half years ago.Not only that, they also removed water storage options from the future water strategy. Many would think of this as being the Dunoon Dam, but all water storage options need to be scientifically considered, and the best outcome reached for the long term growth and benefit of the region.Top of Councillor Ekins's agenda is recycled water, which is basically filtering our wastewater treatment plant and putting it back through your taps to drink, wash and play in. We live in an area with the highest rainfall in the state. The Greens and Labor want to build an incredibly expensive filtration plant, made from mined products and powered by fossil fuel, to filter our wastewater. Why don’t we just capture what falls from the sky? I know what I would rather drink!And then there's flood mitigation. What do we do when there’s a flood?Again, a very complex issue, which has multiple layers to be a successful strategy. For the first time in our history, our catchment is being analysed by the CSIRO, in a report called the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (NRRI).Previous councils have spent countless ratepayer funds getting small reports done to mitigate against small to moderate floods. Finally, we are getting a funded report by Australia’s eminent scientific body, to help our region combat major flooding.The report is due to be released in June of 2025, with practical solutions to potentially reduce the impacts of major flooding for Lismore and the region. I look forward to the findings of this report, as it gives council a measure of how to better protect our businesses and homes. Personally, I will be strongly advocating for every recommendation in the report to be implemented, to give our businesses and ratepayers the confidence and security in the future of Lismore.My team and I are backing the future of Lismore through sensible and affordable water security and best-practice flood mitigation to enable our city to grow and thrive for generations to come.Water Water Everywhere by Mayor Steve Krieg

Pre-poll voting for the Lismore City Council Elections starts at 9am tomorrow morning (Saturday) at two venues in the Lismore LGA:Lismore Region Returning Officer's Office, 4 Zadoc Street, Lismore CBD. There is undercover parking available via Molesworth Street.Goonellabah Community Centre, 27 Oliver Avenue, GoonellabahWhether local, state or federal elections, pre-poll voting has consistently reached 50% of all votes cast over the last four years.A reminder that there are early voting criteria you need to adhere to:will be outside your ward or council area on election daywill be more than 8km from a voting centre (polling place) in your ward or council area on election daywill be travelling and unable to attend a voting centre on election dayare seriously ill or infirm, and due to such illness or infirmity will be unable to attend a voting centreare approaching maternityhave religious membership or beliefs that prevent you from attending a voting centre on election dayare in a correctional centre and prevented from attending a voting centre on election dayare caring for a person outside of a hospital setting, which prevents you from attending a voting centre on election daywill be working on election dayare a silent electorare a person with a disabilitybelieve that attending a voting centre on election day will place your personal safety or the safety of your family at risk.You may be asked why you are voting early.Early voting days and times are:Saturday: 9am to 6pmMonday to Wednesday: 8:30am to 5:30pmThursday: 8:30am to 8pmFriday: 8:30am to 6pmThere is no voting on Sunday.One aspect you should note. There is no absentee voting available at NSW council elections.You must vote at a venue in your enrolled council area (or ward if you live in a divided council area). You cannot vote at a venue in another area. Use the address lookup tool to find your council or ward.HOW TO VOTEWhen completing your ballot paper, you must choose between voting above the line or below the line.Above the lineYou must place a number ‘1’ in one of the group voting squares above the thick horizontal line on the ballot paper. By doing this, you are voting for that whole group of candidates in the order they are listed below that square, starting from the top. This is all you need to do. You can show more choices if you want, starting with the number 2 above the line. If you vote above the line, do not put numbers in any squares below the line.Below the lineYou can vote below the line if: you want to vote for candidates within a group in the order of your choiceyou want to vote for candidates from different groups in the order of your choiceyou want to vote for ungrouped candidates in the order of your choiceyou want to vote for a mixture of grouped and ungrouped candidates.To vote, you must place at least the number of preferences indicated in the ‘Directions for Voting’ on the ballot paper. This will be at least half the number to be elected (rounded up).For example:if there are three to be elected, you must vote for at least two candidatesif there are nine to be elected, you must vote for at least five candidatesIn Lismore, we vote for 10 councillors, so you must vote for at least 5 candidates below the line.You may then continue to number more candidates if you wish.Your first preference is indicated by placing a ‘1’ in the square next to the candidate of your choice, your second preference a ‘2’, your third preference a ‘3’, and so on.If you vote below the line, do not put numbers in any squares above the line.You can watch a video of how to vote below.https://www.youtube.com/embed/bqLM7RI0grs?showinfo=0If you are searching for information on the Lismore candidates, you can go to the Meet Your Candidates button on the Lismore App and/or go to Podcasts to listen to all five Mayoral candidates chats on Talking Lismore. Big Rob is the latest inclusion for his mayoral talk.

Another cracking weekend is on the way, weatherwise, for Lismore and the Northern Rivers.The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast 30 degrees for both days after a cool start.There is a 40-50% chance of a little rain from Monday, but only 1 to 3mm if predicted.It is another quiet weekend in terms of events. However, we are not far away from:The Nimbin Show September 21 and 22.The 2024 Rodney Lees Cabinetmaking Lismore Cup Friday, November 27It is a 'market' weekend ahead, with the Lismore Farmers Market and The Channon Market.The Lismore Farmers Market has different offerings on top of the locally grown fresh fruit and veg. The Raw Bee Company has containers of honey for sale and Kiraana Spicery makes its debut showcasing the culinary richness of India.The Lismore City Concert Band will entertain marketgoers during the morning. The markets get underway at 7:30am and run until 11:30am.The Channon Markets at Coronation Park always makes a good day out in the hills. The markets are on Sunday between 9am and 3pm with loads of food options, locally grown fruit and veg and unique local artisan products.You can also enjoy a bushwalk and lunch at the Channon Tavern to make a day of it.NORPA's new production, 'Wildskin,' will have its opening performance next Thursday, September 12, at the Lismore Showground.Wildskin is part bush-thriller, part road trip and a whole lot of fun combining music, song, physical theatre and script. An all-female cast helps create the story of Eva, who believes the only way to mend her broken life is to go on the road, solo. After encountering wild animals and even wilder humans, does Eva have the primal instincts to handle any challenge life throws at her?Wildskin runs from September 12 to 28. Tickets can be purchased here.Poets from all over Australia are expected at the 2024 Nimbin Performance Poetry World Cup this weekend. The World Cup will be held at the Nimbin School of Arts, 47 Cullen Street, starting at 10am-ish tomorrow (Saturday) and run until 5pm, with two heats on Sunday at 12noon and 2pm before the finals.Pre-poll or Early Voting starts tomorrow for the 2024 Lismore City Council Election. The Lismore App will have a complete story tomorrow, but for now, you have two venues to choose from, with voting starting at 9am until 6pm.Lismore Regions Returning Officer's Office - 4 Zadoc Street, Lismore CBD (opposite the Lismore Police Station), with undercover parking off Molesworth Street.Goonellabah Community Centre - 27 Oliver Avenue, GoonellabahGood luck to all our mayoral and councillor candidates.It is finals time for most winter sports. Check out our Sport button on the Lismore App for more details.In the NRRRL, the Ballina Seagulls take on the Bilambil Jets for the Premiership on Sunday at Ballina, with a 3:10pm kick-off.Football Far North Coast is into the final round of the home and away season. There are four matches to complete before the final series gets underway.Tonight, it is Byron Bay v Ballina from 6:30pm and Alstonville v Lennox Head from 8pm. Then, tomorrow in the heat of the day, Bangalow are at home to Richmond Rovers and South Lismore have the home ground advantage over Mullumbimby/Brunswick Heads. Both games get underway at 3pm.Bangalow and South Lismore will fight it out to be Minor Premiers with Goonellabah safe in third place as Richmond Rovers and Alstonville battle for fourth.In the Women's Premier League, the last three matches on Sunday will determine the Minor Premiers also.Alstonville play Byron Bay, Richmond Rovers take on Ballina and it's Bangalow v Lennox Head in the other match.Byron Bay, Lennox Head or Alstonville could be Minor Premiers with Richmond Rovers secure in fourth place.There was a further small price drop in Lismore and Casino this week for high-end fuel, but not enough to close the gap to Ballina being the cheapest place to fill the tank. Lismore keeps the 'most expensive' crown for fuel, with Ballina up to a whopping 27.4 cents a litre cheaper. That equates to $16.44 for a 60-litre fuel tank. If you are going to the beach this weekend, fill up at the coast.Lismore is the cheapest for diesel.Here are the latest prices in each town:E10 is 193.9 across the board in Lismore and Goonellabah, 176.9 at the United on Johnston Street, the Ampol Foodary on Centre Street, and the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street in Casino, with The Metro and new Mobile in Ballina cheapest at 166.5.Unleaded 91 is 191.9 at the new Astron on Ballina Road, 177.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and 168.5 at the Metro and the new Mobil in Ballina.U95 is 203.9 at the Independent on Wyrallah Road, East Lismore, Northside Liberty and Bakers Corner at North Lismore, 193.9 at the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street, Casino and 179.5 at The Metro in Ballina.U98 is 208.9 at the new Astron on Ballina Road, 197.9 at the Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and 188.5 at The Metro on River Street, Ballina.Diesel is 181.9 at the new Astron on Ballina Road and the Caltex Lismore on Leycester Street in Lismore, 185.9 at the two Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino and 182.5 at the new Mobil in Ballina.Have a great weekend!

This week, the Lismore CWA has been celebrating CWA of NSW Awareness Week, highlighting the vital work and enduring friendships fostered by the Country Women’s Association (CWA). As Australia’s largest women’s organisation, the CWA is committed to improving the lives of country women and children through health, education, agriculture, and rural development initiatives. With both a Day Branch and an Evening Branch, the Lismore CWA offers opportunities for everyone, from lifelong locals to newcomers seeking community connection.Both Branches meet regularly at the Lismore CWA Rooms, 46 Spinks Park on Molesworth Street (Behind NSW Fire and Rescue Lismore station).Why Join the Lismore CWA?The Lismore CWA branches are about more than scones and tea—they are dedicated to building a supportive network, advocating for important issues, and creating positive change. The Lismore branches have been actively involved in flood recovery, disaster relief efforts, educational scholarships, and many initiatives that make a real difference in our region. Joining the CWA connects you with like-minded women passionate about community service, personal growth, and advocacy. The CWA year starts in October, so joining then will give you a full year of membership.Discover the Day BranchThe Lismore CWA Day Branch, a long-standing part of our community, meets on the second Friday of each month at 10:00 AM. This branch is perfect for those who enjoy daytime gatherings focused on skill sharing, charitable projects, and making a positive impact. Whether you’re interested in crafts, cooking, or community service, the Day Branch offers a chance to contribute your talents and build lasting connections. You may have joined us for a craft morning (Tuesday mornings between 10:00AM and 2:00PM), had a gift wrapped by us at Christmas, or enjoyed a scone from our Lismore Show tea rooms.(Photo: Lismore CWA)Join the Evening BranchThe Lismore CWA Evening Branch provides a flexible option for women with daytime commitments, such as work or family. Meeting on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 PM, It’s a great way to unwind, connect with like-minded women, and contribute to projects that benefit the Lismore community. Whether you’ve seen us at the Lismore Farmers Market with our van ‘Margy,’ received a beanie or rug after the floods, or enjoyed a scone with us at Gemfest, the Evening Branch offers an ideal way for working women or those with busy days to still be part of the CWA’s mission.Meeting Information:Day Branch: Second Friday of every month, 10:00 AM, 46 Spinks Park, LismoreEvening Branch: Second Monday of every month, 6:00 PM, 46 Spinks Park, LismoreFor more information or to join a meeting, please contact our Branch Secretaries:Lismore Day Branch: secretarylismorecwa100@gmail.comLismore Evening Branch: secretary.lismoreeveningcwa@gmail.comYou can also find us on Facebook or locate your nearest branch at cwaofnsw.org.au/branches.

A week ago, the Lismore App published the story of an unknown Alstonville person who had won $200,000 in Lucky Lotteries. The search was on to find them.Not only did the man come forward to collect his $200,000 prize, but he confessed it was his third win since 2021!“The other day I walked past the newsagent and noticed they had a sign up looking for an unregistered Lucky Lotteries winner. In that moment, I thought to myself, ‘I hope the prize goes to someone good and deserving’, the man explained. “Later that day when I woke up from a nap, the thought crossed my mind to check my tickets.  “I was completely shocked when I saw I had won again! I couldn’t believe it! “I’ve already won Lucky Lotteries twice now, so a third time just seemed crazy! “After a little bit, I couldn’t help but laugh. “The craziest part of this story is that my winning ticket was a free bonus ticket from a previous draw. “Winning three times is mind-boggling!”The Alstonville man held the 1st Prize winning entry in Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot draw 1686, drawn Thursday 29 August 2024, and looks forward to a total prize of $200,000. He first scored $100,000 in Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot draw 10460, drawn 13 May 2021, followed by a $200,000 win in Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot draw 1586, drawn Tuesday 16 August 2022. With $200,000 soon to boost his bank account, the hard-working man shared he wanted to lend a helping hand to his friends doing it tough at the moment. “I’m not really an extravagant person. I’ve got everything I need,” he shared. “I always try to help others as much as possible, and this time around I want to help a friend doing it tough. “As for myself, I wouldn’t mind taking some time off work and going on a holiday.” The man’s winning ticket was a free bonus entry he received from another ticket purchased at Alstonville Newsagency, Shop 2 79-83 Main Street, Alstonville. Alstonville Newsagency owners Ray and Maree Smith shared they were very excited to hear they’d sold a 1st Prize winning ticket worth $200,000. “Only three weeks ago, we sold a division one winning ticket in Saturday Lotto, so I guess you could say we’re on a winning streak!” he said. “Our customers are very excited to hear our small community is getting some big wins. “A massive congratulations to our special winner on behalf of the entire Alstonville Newsagency team."

Thousands of people across NSW will be able to access treatment for ear infections, wound management, nausea, gastro, acne, muscle and joint pain at their local pharmacy, without needing to visit their GP, boosting access to fast, convenient heathcare across NSW.Health Minister Ryan Park announced at the Pharmacy Guild’s Pharmacy Connect Conference last night in Sydney that work is underway to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice, including the following conditions:Acute otitis media (middle ear infection)Acute otitis externa (outer ear infection)Acute minor wound managementAcute nausea and vomitingGastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)Mild to moderate acneMild, acute musculoskeletal painSubject to appropriate training and ongoing work in implementation work, the expanded service delivery could commence as soon as 2026.NSW Health is consulting with universities on the development of suitable training as well as the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia on request support for pharmacists including:Condition specific training; andUpskilling in clinical assessment, diagnosis, management and clinical documentation.NSW Health has also agreed to authorise individual pharmacists who have successfully completed the Queensland pilot training to deliver selected services in NSW from January 2025 onwards.More than 490 pharmacies across the state have participated in the oral contraceptive pill trial since it began, delivering more than 1,800 consultations to women in NSW.This follows the successful completion of the first phase of the trial in May 2024, which saw more than 3,300 NSW pharmacists provide more than 18,000 consultations to women aged 18 to 65 with symptoms of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI). The UTI service transitioned to usual pharmacy care on 1 June 2024.The third and final phase of the trial, allowing pharmacists to manage common minor skin conditions, is underway and will be running until early 2025.A detailed evaluation of all three phases of the NSW Pharmacy Trial will be provided to NSW Health in 2025 and will inform future expansion of services.Expanding the scope of practice of pharmacists forms part of the NSW Government’s broader efforts to alleviate pressure on GPs.According to the Federal Department of Health & Aged Care, there were fewer GPs in NSW in 2023 than there were in 2019.The GP shortage is having a significant impact on the state’s emergency departments.While the Minister for Health continues to work with the Commonwealth on the challenges facing primary care, the NSW Government this week announced the commencement of its Bulk Billing Support initiative. It also follows the NSW Government’s half a billion dollar emergency department relief package announced in the state budget in June, which seeks to build more pathways to care outside the hospital, as well as improving patient flow within our hospitals. Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “We know that it is becoming more difficult to access a GP than ever before, with people often waiting days or even weeks before they can find an appointment.“By empowering pharmacists to undertake consultations on more conditions, we can relieve the pressure on GPs and end the wait times.“People should be able to access treatment as and when they need it, and the expansion of this important initiative will improve access to care.”Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch President David Heffernan said, “Whether it’s providing ten million vaccinations during COVID or treating over 18,000 uncomplicated UTIs over the past year, pharmacists have shown that they are able to offer more of the everyday healthcare patients need.“These changes will mean that patients aren’t forced to present to hospital for a simple ear infection just because their GP can’t see them.“It’ll mean easier access to everyday healthcare for everyone in New South Wales.”Pharmaceutical Society of NSW President Luke Kelly said, "The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia thanks Minister Park and the NSW Government for the confidence they have shown in pharmacists following the success of the NSW Pharmacy Trial, and for leveraging pharmacists' expertise to expand access to health care."“NSW residents will benefit from more timely access to care for a broader range of conditions at their community pharmacy.”“PSA is committed to workforce preparation, including training, education, practice support and upskilling of pharmacists to undertake and deliver these services.”

Regenerative enterprises in the startup and the scale-up stages are converging on Lismore next Thursday, 12 September to connect with a panel of regenerative agriculture experts and hear more about an opportunity to give their enterprise efforts a strategic and financial boost.“Regeneration Connection is an exciting program we launched in May at Primex to support regenerative agriculture leaders in the Northern Rivers to improve their production capacity and business capabilities”, says Business NSW Regional Director Jane Laverty.The Sourdough Regenerative Connection Program has been funded by the NSW Government’s Accelerating Regional Innovation Fund (ARIF) Grant managed by the Byron Community College, who have partnered with Business NSW to deliver the program alongside a range of collaborators including Southern Cross University and Local Councils who are enthusiastically supporting regenerative agriculture industry development.“The Northern Rivers has been championing and enabling regenerative agriculture practice and enterprise for some time. We see this program as a great opportunity to shine a light on successes and support new and scaling enterprises in the sector.” Mrs Laverty said.The Program includes events like the one being hosted in Lismore on 12 September with industry experts and an 8-week accelerator program with enterprise mentoring through the highly regarded Sourdough Business Pathways Mentors group.The exciting opportunity for farmers, entrepreneurs and small business owners in Agrifood, Agtech or Agriwaste enterprises is the 8-week fully funded accelerator program with Program Expert in Residence, Saadi Allan.“Saadi is a well-known entrepreneur in the region, with Subpod, the innovative composting gardening brand he co-founded and led, achieving international success. It is a real boon for us to have Saadi leading the accelerator program and wonderful for us to be advancing industry development opportunities here.” Jane says.The first Accelerator Program cohort has already started and the second intake of participants is now open for registrations. The eight weeks leads into a pitch night where participants can showcase their enterprise.An Investor Package is also up for grabs for the pitch night winner, including $2,500 towards enterprise development and a Mentor Advisory Masterclass. A great boost for any business right now and wonderful exposure for the business, product or service.“I am looking forward to working with people passionate about growing their enterprise in this sector and being a regenerative business demonstrating best practice.” Says Saadi Allan, Expert in Residence for Sourdough Regeneration Connection Accelerator Program.The Lismore Regeneration Connection is a FREE event being hosted on Thursday, 12 September at the La Baracca Espresso & Trattoria function room 4pm – 6.15pm. Please register for seating and catering purposes - https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-sourdough-regeneration-connection-event-or-lismore.For more information on the Program or to apply to be an accelerator participant go to regenerationconnection.com.au or contact Business NSW on 56318509

Lismore City Council plans to carry out works on Conway Street, Keen Street and Molesworth Street in the Lismore CBD this Saturday, 7 September 2024 commencing at 6am.The works are 'subject to weather', but with The Bureau forecasting sunny skies and a top of 29 degrees, they are looking certain to go ahead.The roadworks involve heavy patching of Conway Street, Keen Street, and Molesworth Street, commencing at 6am and continuing until about 4pm.Traffic controls will be in place during the roadwork period, which will cause minor delays and disruptions. These traffic controls include:Conway Street: During works on the roundabout approaches on Conway Street, traffic control measures will be in place.Keen Street: A temporary (northbound) traffic lane closure in place between Lismore Central and Magellan Street.Molesworth Street: A temporary road closure will be in place as we work along Molesworth Street between Woodlark Street and Browns Creek Carpark.Traffic controllers will direct all lane closures, and traffic lanes will reopen once the works are completed. Road users are asked to follow on-site signage and directions given by traffic controllers.You are asked to follow the signposted detours in place, obey traffic control instructions, drive carefully and have some patience.

The Lismore CBD continues its post-flood rebuild, with Folk Modern joining the offerings in the CBD with their range of rugs from Morocco.Sarah Etheridge and her partner, Dan (Director of the Living Lab) travel to regional areas in Morocco and buy rugs with a difference to offer them to the Northern Rivers.Folk Modern have been selling rugs for 10 years, and most of this has been from North Lismore, but now they have found a large, welcoming new premises to showcase their offerings on the south side of the Magellan Street island.It was a chance occurrence spotting the vacant shop, but the appeal of the place was immediate for what they wanted. ”We have a Moroccan business partner who's one of our best family friends. He grew up in the desert in the Sahara as a nomad, and his family now owns a tour company in Morocco, Loud Sahara.   Sarah, Dan and their Moroccan friend, Ali, were living in New Orleans, but Dan was missing Australia, and Ali was missing Morocco. “We were all into textiles, and so we got into the rug business.“We travel throughout the Atlas in Morocco, and we buy directly from the weavers or their families and we can give them better prices than larger commercial buyers.“By the time you buy a rug in the market or from a distributor, they've gone through at least six hands, and so you can imagine that money to the people at the making end is not really reflective of the end cost."There are still hurdles to their business model that do not make what they do cheap, but the rugs come with a backstory.“We buy what the weavers weave for themselves - these are what our favourite rugs are. Our variety is different than what you normally see. They weave a lot more wild and fun stuff for themselves than they do for the markets. “In Morocco, when you go into their homes, all their furniture and their beds and everything is just piled rugs. They sit on rugs, sleep on rugs, eat on rugs, they become furniture.”Looking around, you can see where Sarah and Dan have set up some “rug chairs”.“For the most part, they're wool. Some of them have camel hair, and some of them are recycled cotton. “Sometimes you'll go into the villages, and you'll see kids that have created this little motor. One kid will hold a sweater, and the other one's holding the motor, and they're just taking the sweater apart, and then they'll use the fibres to make some really cool rugs.”You can hear the passion in Sarah's voice about this very unique product that is all around the shop, in piles, on the floors and walls.“We love it. We love travelling. We love the colours. We have a pretty extensive personal collection of rugs.“It's so cool. And it's fun for us. We want to have work that brings us joy. And hopefully, we can pay ourselves and our bills!“And it gives other people joy. We love placing them in people's homes - it's just a fun business.”The name Folk Modern seems to describe the business well, but does it have its own back story?“The name came from our friend Jason Neville, who was saying, “Your style is folk modern. We thought that'd be a cool name for our shop.”Sarah also makes jewellery and gifts, which are available to purchase at the shop. It’s a beautiful, creative and cosy place to visit, and Sarah is friendly and happy to chat about the unique aspects of her wares. There is even a map on the wall where she can show you exactly where each rug is from.You can visit Folk Modern at 89 Magellan Street on:Wednesdays and Thursdays 12 noon to 5pmFriday 10am to 3pmSaturday 10am to 1pm

Driving along the Bruxner Highway between Lismore and Casino recently, you may have seen a sign up saying five koalas died in August around the area at the corner of Tatham Road.What to do about preserving this koala colony, so close to the highway, has been painstakingly debated, and one of the more popular solutions, a Koala Fence, is about to be installed.“Lismore City Council (LCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of a contractor to manage the installation of a koala exclusion fence on the corner of Tatham Road and the Bruxner Highway at Tatham to reduce the number of deaths and injuries at this roadkill hotspot,” a spokesperson for the Lismore City Council said.Ecoteam are the contractors who will manage the infrastructure to be put into place.  Lise Bolton from Ecoteam said they, "Are excited to be part of the project that will be beneficial to the community and environment." The first step is community and landholder engagement so they can finalise the design.LCC says the works will involve the installation of the following key components:1.5km of fencing along both sides of the Bruxner Highway, commencing at the Pelican Creek Bridge and including the intersection and 120m of Tatham Road.Safe crossing point under Pelican Creek BridgeKoala grids (similar to cattle grids) across three drivewaysA number of one-way escape poles which will allow koalas that accidentally enter the roadside to escape.Unfortunately, this design does not include dedicated under-road tunnels for koalas to safely cross from one part of their territory to another. Angie Brace, Regional Koala Officer at Friends of the Koala, says there is no simple single solution for protecting the koalas, but this is a good start."Koala fences prevent koalas from crossing the busiest sections of roads. It is very exciting that the koala fencing on this section of the Bruxner is back on track. But while we wait for construction to start, we are asking for the community's help to save this population of koalas by slowing down. "Koalas move around predominantly at night, which makes it hard to see them on rural roads. As it is breeding season, there is more activity than normal, which heightens their threat—especially from June through to the end of December.  "The koala fence will protect this important hotspot area, but they move around over large home ranges. Two more koalas have been hit in the last 24 hours at McKees Hill and Parrots Nest, highlighting the importance of staying alert and slowing down, especially at dawn and dusk." Research says that Koalas range as far as they need to, depending predominantly on necessity - habitat, food availability and other colonies. Home ranges range from around 5 hectares up to around 30 hectares for dominant males.  (Taken on Wyrallah Road, approximately 6km from Pelican Creek Bridge) "The best way to protect them is to keep a close eye out for them, and slow down an hour before dusk and take it easy on the roads until after dawn.  "That will help while the fence is under construction and at all places, koala colonies and other wildlife are found. "As the Bruxner is a state road, changing the speed limit is not easy, and threat to wildlife is not a priority for dictating speed, even though it is a threat to drivers if they hit an animal.   (Heeding these signs is your opportunity to help) "Not just physically, but emotionally - the knowledge of contributing to the death of an endangered species is unsettling. People understandably get very anxious and upset about it. One of the deaths last month was a mother and her joey. “It is very important that if you hit a koala or see one on the side of the road, that you call the Friends of the Koala Rescue hotline on (02) 6622 1233. Save that number in your phone so you have it on hand.”“Along the fenced section of road, drivers and koalas will definitely have better protection, but consider that the ends of the fence locations may be hot spots for koala crossings.”Council’s Environmental Strategies Officer, Jack Herington, said, “The project was strongly backed by the community when it went out for public consultation.“Unfortunately, it was delayed due to the 2022 natural disaster, then by project management constraints and availability.“However, Council never lost sight of the importance of the project and it is now going ahead and is expected to be completed towards the latter half of next year, weather dependent.”(An example of Koala Fencing. Image Credit: Lismore City Council)The project has brought together a range of stakeholders and specialists from Lismore City Council, Friends of the Koala, Transport for NSW and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to deliver this important project for conserving our local koala population.Lismore City Council received funding from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to deliver this project for the community.

The housing crisis in Lismore and the Northern Rivers is well documented, and solutions look likely to appear in two to three years.In the meantime, plans are slowly being released so residents understand what options are available, such as three NSWRA (Reconstruction Authority) Resilient Lands locations in East Lismore, North Lismore and Goonellabah.Another important, not well-known option is the first of the NSW Government’s low and mid-rise housing reforms, which have come into effect in all LGAs in the Lismore Electorate.Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the changes allow development applications for dual occupancies and semi-detached dwellings for more R2 low-density residential zones (R1 is general residential). “This is an important reform that provides more housing options suitable to people’s needs across our region.“For families needing more space and multi-generational families there are more housing options that could stop a generation of young people having to leave the area.“And for people wanting to downsize, well-designed dual occupancies can also open up opportunities to stay in their community.“Dual occupancies give people with suitable blocks the potential to double the housing capacity by adding a second dwelling or replacing one existing home with two dwellings.“Importantly, these reforms can lead to a broader variety of housing options in our flood-affected towns and cities, where we desperately need more housing to meet the huge demand.“More housing choice means more options for everyone, renters, families, empty-nesters and single people,” Ms Saffin said.The reforms which took effect on July 1 2024 require councils to consider greater choice and housing supply. Local councils will remain the primary assessor of development applications.

It has long been established that the Code of Conduct system in local government is broken; in fact, most councillors have described it as a "Toothless tiger."Time and time again, councillors would be deemed to have breached the Code of Conduct only for there to be no consequences or for a councillor to accuse the process of being trivial or biased. Not only that, the waste of council staff time and money to deal with the complaints runs into the tens of thousands of dollars each year.Finally, the NSW Government is proposing reforms to overhaul the broken Code of Conduct system for elected councillors, which is generating thousands of trivial complaints making it almost impossible to act swiftly and fairly on matters of genuine concern.A discussion paper released today proposes a complete rewrite and simplification of the Model Code of Conduct as well as a number of new pathways for addressing poor councillor behaviour.At over 100 pages long the current code of conduct framework is overly complex, distracts from robust democratic debate and is being increasingly weaponised for political reasons.  There were 4,289 code of conduct complaints lodged over the last three years alone, forcing councils to divert significant time and money from providing local services to resolve these complaints. Proposed reforms would streamline the code of conduct down to 2-3 pages, similar to the State Parliamentary code, and outline clear expectations of behaviour for 1,300 elected councillors. The new code of conduct system would see minor complaints about councillor misbehaviour dealt with by a councillor’s peers and leave serious matters relating to conflicts of interest to be examined by the Office of Local Government. The government is also proposing reforms to improve the transparency of council meetings and ensure that decisions are being made openly and in the best interests of the community as a whole. Key reforms outlined in the discussion paper, some of which would require changes to the Local Government Act 1993, include:Establishing a local government privileges committee of experienced councillors with mayoral experience to assess complaints made against councillors for misbehaviour, consistent with practices in other tiers of government (where the conduct does not meet the threshold for police or referral to another investigative body or tribunal)Removing private investigators from the councillor conduct process while strengthening the investigative capability of the Office of Local Government to investigate and prosecute legitimate complaints (such as issuing penalty infringement notices where conflict of interest declarations have not been made)Banning private councillor briefing sessions, except in very limited circumstancesStrengthening lobbying guidelines for local governmentGiving mayors more power to expel councillors from meetings for acts of disorder and remove their entitlement to receive a fee in the month of their indiscretionThe discussion paper is now open for community and sector feedback and can be viewed at: https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/councils/misconduct-and-intervention/councillor-conduct-framework/. Submissions close Friday, 15 November 2024.Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “The current councillor code of conduct system is fundamentally broken.“It is too open to weaponisation, with tit-for-tat complaints diverting critical council resources and ratepayer money from the things that matter most to communities.“The sheer volume of vexatious complaints being made is preventing the Office of Local Government from focussing its attention on getting crooks out of the local government sector.“The options presented in this discussion paper put the onus back on addressing and resolving issues of councillor misbehaviour at a local level rather than escalating complaints for the state government or private investigators to fix.“It also puts forward options to strengthen the role of the Office of Local Government as the sector regulator, including expanded investigation powers for serious conflict of interest breaches and the ability to issue penalty infringement notices."For far too long, the system has been abused. It’s time to restore public confidence in councils and ensure the dignity of this vital third tier of government is upheld.”

Police have arrested and charged three men and two women over an alleged brawl at Wardell last month.Police have been told fights broke out after 50-60 people gathered outside a property in Bath Street, Wardell, about 7:40pm on Sunday, 18 August 2024, with a further report that a firearm was allegedly discharged.The group dispersed before the arrival of police.Officers attached to Richmond Police District Proactive Crime Team commenced an investigation, and on Tuesday (3 September 2024), a 53-year-old woman was arrested in Ballina on an outstanding warrant.Following further inquiries, police arrested a 29-year-old woman, an 18-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, Wednesday, 4 September 2024.The older woman has been charged with affray and appeared before Ballina Local Court yesterday, (Wednesday, 4 September 2024). She has been conditionally bailed to appear in the same court on 10 October 2024The younger woman and two men have also been charged with affray.The 29-year-old woman has been granted conditional bail to appear before Ballina Local Court on Thursday, 17 October 2024.The 18-year-old man also appeared in Ballina Local Court yesterday.The 30-year-old man was granted conditional bail to appear before Ballina Local Court on Friday, 18 October 2024.A 36-year-old man was arrested and has been charged with firearms offences. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Ballina Local Court on Thursday, 12 September 2024.Inquiries are continuing.

Applications are now open for community infrastructure projects to seek funding under the second round of the Albanese Government’s $600 million Growing Regions Program. For Round 2, $393 million in funding is available to invest in community infrastructure projects across regional and rural Australia. The program provides funding for capital works projects such as libraries, parks, multi-purpose community centres, and sport and cultural facilities that enhance liveability, bolster social cohesion and support local amenity.As with Round 1, local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations are able to apply for funding of between $500,000 and $15 million through the program, with lower co-funding requirements in place to support First Nations Community Controlled Organisations and low rate-based councils.Round 2 will have a single-stage application process, unlike Round 1 which had two stages. Feedback from the Australian National Audit Office review into the design of the program has also been incorporated into this new round. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said, “As a regional MP, I understand the impact that community infrastructure projects such as parks and town halls can have on building connection among locals, and how vital funding is to making them a reality.“It’s why I’m proud to deliver the Growing Regions Program, funding 40 projects under our first round and now taking applications for our second.“We’ve taken time to overhaul Commonwealth grants funding to make it a fairer, more transparent process, and I encourage local councils and not-for-profits to apply."Potential applicants can check their initial eligibility to apply for the program by viewing the eligibility checklist published on my department’s website.    "The program is open, competitive and merit-based, with a continued focus on integrity, transparency, accountability and collaboration – to ensure a fair process for Australia’s regions."The Albanese Government is committed to investing in our regions to create jobs and boost economic growth and productivity."Further information about the program and application process are available on my department’s website. Applications open at 9am, Thursday 5 September, 2024."

The access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in and around Lismore improved by nine (9) this week thanks to the Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise. AEDs are used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. They are described as sophisticated yet easy-to-use medical devices that can analyse the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock or defibrillation to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.The Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise in Lismore received enough funding for 10 AEDs to install in businesses in Lismore; however, the tenth has been allocated to the Lismore Library and will be installed when it reopens.Over the last week, the following businesses had an AED installed: The Red Dove CaféThe Winsome HotelThe Lismore Croquet ClubNorthern Rivers Community GatewayResilient Lismore F-Fitness East LismoreBlooms Pharmacy on Wyrallah Road, East LismoreChempro Woodlark StreetLifeline Shop on Magellan StreetA Summerland Sunrise Rotary Club spokesperson said each business will receive training in the use of the AEDs through Workforce Skills and Training."These AED donations have been made available to the community through the generous support of Bendigo Bank Community Fund, Cisco Systems, and with help from St Johns Ambulance and local fundraising by the Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise."The goal is to raise more money so more AEDs can be made available to more businesses throughout the Lismore LGA so that immediate help is close by if someone suffers a cardiac arrest. The Heart Foundation says that every year in Australia, more than 26,000 people have a cardiac arrest out of hospital, and only about 10% of these people survive.Summerland Sunrise Rotary has set up a ‘Return and Earn’ donation option at local recycling centres to raise more funds. They are calling for help from the people of Lismore to support this project."Fundraising is ongoing as many more defibs are needed. The community is encouraged to register with ‘Return and Earn’ online, choose 'Defibrillator for Red Dove' project, and then simply scan your unique QR code at the “Return and Earn” machine when returning cans and bottles," said the Club spokesperson.More information about this project is available at the Summerland Sunrise Facebook page or by emailing summerlandsunrise@gmail.com."We would like to do more if we can, but each unit has an average cost of $2,000, so we really need the community's help to raise more funds."

Spring is the time of year that leads to an increase in outdoor family events.The 2024 Elders Lismore Show is scheduled for Thursday, 17 to Saturday, 19 October, and now the Newcastle Permanent's Cinema Under The Stars event is returning in 2024.Last year was not a successful season as rain events postponed the January screening to April and a further rain event forced the Minions: The Rise of Gru movie to be cancelled.Everyone will be looking for a change of luck when Wonka (PG, 2023) hits the big screen at Hepburn Park in Goonellabah on Friday, November 8 from 5:30pm.There will be no need for a golden ticket as this family-friendly event will, once again, be free to attend.Newcastle Permanent Chief Distribution Officer, Paul Juergens, said there will be plenty of fun on offer again this year before the film begins at sundown.“Our free Cinema Under the Stars events have been a staple within the community for more than 15 years, which is something we are incredibly proud of as a customer-owned organisation,” he said.“This year’s events are set to be jam-packed with local music, good food and fun activities before we settle in to enjoy a family-favourite flick.“The adventures of Willy Wonka and his magical chocolate factory have been a childhood favourite for more than 60 years, so it is fantastic to see the characters come to life again.“This year’s film is set to ignite your sweet tooth, so pack your favourite snacks, gather your loved ones and join us for a wonderful evening under the stars.”Put in your calendar now, Friday, November 8 from 5:30pm at Hepburn Park, Goonellabah.