The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) local mapping tool was released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, outlining opinions on alcohol, smoking, cannabis and illicit drugs in the Richmond/Tweed area for those 14 and over..The NDSHS is a national study conducted every 3 years on behalf of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The survey is part of the National Drug Strategy 2016–2027, which aims to reduce and prevent harms of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.Findings from the survey are used by a range of stakeholders, including policymakers and researchers to shape and regulate reform measures. While these latest results are from 2022/23, the next survey will be in the field in the coming weeks, starting on 16 June.The summary of national report findings between 2019 and 2022/23 was:TobaccoThe proportion of people in Australia who smoked tobacco daily decreased to a historic low of 8.3%.Support increased for some policies aimed at reducing the problems associated with tobacco use, with the biggest increases occurring for policies aimed at premises that sell tobacco and banning additives in cigarettes to make them less attractive to young people.E-cigarette useE-cigarette use increased between 2019 and 2022–2023, particularly among young people.Support for all policy options addressing problems associated with vaping increased substantially.Alcohol39% of people believed that alcohol was responsible for the most deaths in Australia in 2022–2023, up from 34% in 2019.31% of people believed excessive drinking of alcohol was the drug of most serious concern for the community, up from 26% in 2019.From today's interactive mapping release, we can learn about local attitudes and perceptions about tobacco smoking, alcohol, cannabis and other illicit drugs for the 2022/23 survey. The data collected was from the Richmond/Tweed area, which includes Tweed Heads in the north to just past Evans Heads in the south and west to Tabulam and up to Woodenbong near the Queensland border. So, Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Casino, Kyogle and Mullumbimby are all included.(The Richmond/Tweed area for the NDSHS mapping tool)ALCOHOLWhen asked what measures should be taken to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, 72% of people supported stricter enforcement of the law against supplying alcohol to minors. Forty-seven per cent (47%) of people opposed increasing the price of alcohol. This was the most opposed measure.The biggest difference in support was related to restrictions on where zero alcohol products with an alcohol brand can be displayed and sold in stores. Australia rated that measure 35%, NSW 36%, while Richmond/Tweed was 26%.The largest change in support over the last 12-13 years was reducing the trading hours for pubs and clubs. This fell from 58% in 2010 to 22% in 2022/23.If people were given $100 to reduce alcohol use, they would spend it on:Education $39Treatment $37Law Enforcement $24TOBACCO SMOKINGWhen it came to measures to reduce tobacco use, 80% of people supported prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes/vapes, including those with nicotine, to people under the age of 18.The measure with the most opposition was increasing the tax on tobacco products to discourage smoking, which was 23%. Seventy-two per cent (72%) of people approved of restricting the use of e-cigarettes in public places.The biggest difference in opinion related to banning the sale of tobacco products is where people are consuming alcohol. Fifty-three per cent (53%) of Australians thought it was a good idea, 54% of NSW people and 41% in Richmond/Tweed.In terms of attitude towards a regular tobacco user in 2022/23, 59% disapproved, 11% approved, and 30% were indifferent.The largest change in support over the last twelve years was increasing the tax on tobacco products to discourage smoking. In 2010 68% of people favoured that measure, that dropped to 50% in 2022/23.CANNABISUnsurprisingly, 86% of people in Richmond/Tweed believe personal possession of cannabis should not be a criminal offence. That compares to 78% in NSW and 80% in Australia.When asked if cannabis should be legalised for personal use, 56% were in support, compared to 44% in NSW and 45% in Australia.When it came to someone being caught in possession of cannabis, 73% said nothing should happen or a warning given. Sixteen per cent said they should be referred to a treatment or education program.If cannabis were legal, 13% would try it, 21% would use it about as much as they do now, while 63% would not use it.Over the past dozen years, attitudes towards cannabis have definitely shifted.ILLICIT DRUGSWhen it comes to illicit drugs, 66% supported checking for drugs. If given $100 to spend on reducing the harm of illicit drugs, people would spend it on Education $39, Treatment $34 and Law Enforcement $26.If people were found in possession of ecstasy, hallucinogens, heroin, methamphetamine/amphetamine, how many thought referral to a treatment or an education program was the best action:Ecstasy 37%Hallucinogens 41%Heroin 55%Methamphetamine/amphetamine 55%In terms of people's attitudes towards ecstasy, 66% opposed legalising the drug, while in 2010 the percentage was 81.In summary, the Richmond/Tweed participants have a more relaxed attitude to cannabis than the rest of the population in NSW and Australia, yet they also believe strongly that selling alcohol, e-cigarettes and tobacco to minors should be protected and that increasing the price of tobacco and cigarettes is not the preferred deterrent to discourage use.The results of the 2025 survey will be very interesting.

In Mayor Steve Krieg's Talking Lismore podcast he spoke about Lismore's vision. "We actually, as a community, have to embrace people that want to have a go and support them in their journey to succeed," the mayor said.Enter Luke and Jessica Palmer, two young people who have set up a new business in Woodlark Street, in the CBD, to have a go at establishing themselves in the business community.Luke and Jessica opened Lismore Second Hand Furniture at 123 Woodlark Street, next to the Converge store and the tyre company.As well as secondhand furniture, they also sell collectables, mid-century antiques, bric-a-brac and records.Luke isn't new to the furniture game; he told the Lismore App he has been involved in it for all of his life."My grandfather owns Summerland Antiques in Ballina. So I've just grown up around the whole industry. I don't go for antiques as much, but we do a wide range of everything, really, and we particularly like the retro stuff."Luke has run his own business for about ten years, but mostly online sales. "It's smaller collectibles and that kind of stuff," he said.Why the change from online to a bricks-and-mortar business?"We have a passion for it, I guess. And I think there's a demand for it, for good quality second-hand furniture. We want to support Lismore too."The items that are on sale in store come from people who have made contact with Luke and Jessica, people wanting to downsize, or we items they pick up from auctions."We go from up to the Sunshine Coast, down to the Bathurst sort of area, so we travel a bit. But yeah, we're definitely getting a lot of people locally just ringing us who want to downsize. So, we try to help them out as much as we can."As all locals know, that end of Woodlark Street can flood easily, not just from a minor flood but from stormwater. Being local, Luke and Jessica know what they are getting into."Look, we have a plan. We've got a company that will help us with trucks if we have to. We've got the mezzanine, which most floods won't get up there. Only one flood has got up there, the '22 flood."People are saying, what if it floods? But it may not flood for a good five years or so, and there's more. Autobahn had a 10-year lease here before we were in here, so they must have been fairly confident."With the help of family and friends, Luke and Jessica could move out and up in five or six hours."Look, some things will get left behind because there's just nothing you can do about it. But the majority we'll get out, especially the special pieces. They will be the first to go."Pop in and check out what Luke and Jessica have for sale at Lismore Second Hand Furniture. You will find them at 123 Woodlark Street, Lismore CBD.They are open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday's 10am to 2pm.Their website will be active very soon, but in the meantime, have a look at their Facebook page.

UPDATE MAY 28 10AM41-year-old Nicholas Cantwell has been located.ORIGINAL STORYPolice are appealing for public assistance to locate a man reported missing from Lismore.Nicholas Cantwell, aged 41, was last seen on Uralba Street, Lismore, about 1pm on Wednesday, 30 April 2025.When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Richmond Police District were notified and have continued to make inquiries into his whereabouts.There are concerns for his welfare as he requires medication.Nicholas is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, of medium build, with blond hair above the shoulder and blue eyes.He was last seen wearing navy blue track pants, a dark blue and white check long sleeved button up shirt and no shoes.He is known to frequent the Lismore, Nimbin and Byron Bay areas.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis.The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

More than 7,000 Year 1 students across 165 NSW public schools will take part in a new Number Screening Check over the next two weeks, as part of a trial to screen students’ grasp of numbers and provide teachers with the opportunity for early intervention.  The screening check is part of the NSW Government’s plan to lift numeracy outcomes, and is also a key component of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement signed with the Commonwealth in March, which delivered full funding for NSW public schools.NSW is developing its own number screening check and will be sharing its resources with other states once the trial is completed.The teacher-led check takes 10-15 minutes to complete for each student and assesses core foundational learning skills key to later success in maths and numeracy.Teachers will use the results to provide students with targeted assistance in areas such as counting, ordering numbers, addition and subtraction.The check tracks student progress and examines their understanding in three main areas:Numbers - knowledge of whole numbers, for example being shown the numeral 13, recognising it and saying ‘thirteen’.Number relations - knowledge of relations between whole numbers, for example, 5 comes before 6, which comes before 7.Number operations - knowledge of how numbers can be taken apart and put back together, for example, adding 2 and 4 makes 6.An earlier pilot tested the content, structure and mechanics of the screener across 19 schools, with initial feedback showing participating schools are already using insights from the number check to plan for targeted teaching.The expanded trial will help further refine and validate the check ahead of its rollout to all public schools in NSW.The Year 1 Number Screening Check supports the existing Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, providing teachers with an early view of an individual student’s capabilities.Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “The Minns Labor Government is determined to lift outcomes for students after the Liberals presided over years of declining results amid a teacher shortage crisis they denied and ignored.“The Year 1 Number Screening Check will be a key resource for teachers, enabling them to assess essential numeracy skills and intervene early to help lift education outcomes for our young learners.“By identifying at-risk students early, we can ensure that they receive the necessary support in time to get them back on track and reach their full potential.”Stanmore Public School principal Ben Heinecke said, “We know students who develop strong maths and numeracy skills early are better equipped to achieve success throughout school and into later life. “These checks are a great way to help us identify students who require support in time for our teachers to make a difference.”

The NSW Government will make it cheaper and easier for people to access life-changing treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by allowing general practitioners (GPs) to treat and diagnose people with ADHD. Currently, most people seeking a diagnosis, management and ongoing prescription medication for ADHD must see a specialist. This is often extremely expensive, and many patients wait months or years to get a diagnosis, or can’t access treatment at all.The state government will enable GPs to provide ongoing ADHD prescriptions for children and adults on stable doses of medication without a formal arrangement.  A smaller number of GPs will be enabled to diagnose and initiate medication where appropriate.Once fully implemented, these reforms will save patients both months of waiting as well as significant costs in accessing treatment. Premier Chris Minns said, “By safely training more GPs to treat and diagnose ADHD, we are hoping to break the cycle of people having to wait years for, what can be, a life-altering diagnosis.“Not getting diagnosed and not being able to access treatment can have a particularly big impact on a child getting the most out of their life, whether that’s academically or socially. “These reforms help tilt the scales in favour of fairness, reducing the cost of getting treatment by hundreds of dollars, removing red tape for thousands of families and young people, and giving people the support they need to live happier, healthier lives.”In both instances, GPs will be required to undertake accredited training and will receive support. Expressions of interest for GPs to undertake additional education and training requirements will be sought in coming months. Interested GPs will be able to choose between two tiers of accredited training or registration, with each providing differing levels of capacity to diagnose, treat, prescribe or manage ADHD. Up to 1000 GPs will be supported to complete additional training to allow continuation of prescriptions once a patient has been stabilised.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “We’re making it easier for children and adults to receive a diagnosis as well as prescription medication for ADHD by allowing GPs to manage this condition.“We know that people endure long wait times as well as significant expenses just to see a specialist to receive a diagnosis.“We’re not going to stand idly by while people struggle to access life-changing treatment.“The option to see a GP to manage ADHD will provide a timely, safe and appropriate pathway to care, while relieving pressure on in-demand specialists.”NSW Health will fund these training packages, mentorship, and access to resources to implement the reforms.These reforms will be implemented in a staged approach, with an initial focus on prescriptions for children.This is because a delay in diagnosis can have a significant impact on a child’s development, such as poorer academic progress, employment opportunities and mental health.Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said, “For families who’ve been waiting, worrying, and paying too much, this is the much-needed relief they’ve been hoping for. Now families won’t need to reach for their credit cards to get the help they need.“This is about fairness — saving families hundreds of dollars and giving them quicker access to the help they need, without the long, expensive wait for a specialist.“Too many families are stuck waiting, paying, and struggling to access basic ADHD support, especially in the regions. That’s not just frustrating, it’s fundamentally unfair.“For kids and families dealing with ADHD, the difference between getting help now and waiting years can be life-changing.“This is what a fairer mental health system looks like — more choice, less red tape, and support that meets people where they are.”NSW is the third state to implement reforms to make it easier for people to access treatment for ADHD. In Queensland, GPs can prescribe certain ADHD medications for children without a prescribing approval, and Western Australia has proposed to allow patients to receive a diagnosis and treatment from specialist GPs with specific skills and additional training in ADHD diagnosis and management.GP training will commence in the coming months, and the ability for GPs to provide ongoing prescriptions for children is expected to open up in early 2026.RACGP NSW & ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman said, “As I travel across New South Wales, I hear from my colleagues about families in rural areas who travel more than seven hours to see a paediatrician, and of families in Sydney spending more than $5,000 on assessments and diagnosis for ADHD.  “This announcement will have life-changing impacts when it comes to accessing timely and affordable ADHD care for families across the state.“We know when it comes to ADHD that early intervention is vital, and being able to access appropriate therapy and medications from a young age helps kids thrive at school and at home. So, enabling GPs with specific skills to initiate prescriptions for ADHD medications will stop many children from languishing on outpatient waiting lists.  “GPs in many parts of Australia, and around the world, are already diagnosing ADHD and prescribing medications. Our colleagues in Queensland, for example, have been safely prescribing ADHD medications since 2017.  “We thank the Minns Labor Government and our non-GP specialist colleagues for working with us to deliver safe, accessible, affordable care for children with ADHD. In the years ahead, we look forward to working constructively with the Government to go even further and train up more GPs to diagnose and initiate medication so that all families can access the care and treatment they need.”

On Saturday night, the Casino Food Co-Op Beef Week 2025 was officially declared open as ten days of events kicked off with the crowning of Beef Week Queen at the Casino RSM.Charlie Murray was crowned 2025 Tursa Beef Week Queen, with Mishayla Hayes as runner-up from nine entrants.Casino will be buzzing this week with multiple events on each day, in the lead up to the massive Super Saturday Street Festival this Saturday, May 31 from 7am to 4pm, where there will be a Stud Show, Craft Market, Orchid Show, Jillaroo and Jackaroo Competition, Wood Chopping Competition, Airtime FMX Motorbike Displays, Whip Cracking Competition, Street parade, Rodeo, Mr Beef Competition and more.Check out the list of daily events at Casino Beef Week 2025.You have six more days to purchase tickets in the World's Largest Meat Tray.Tickets start from as low as $5 for a Basic entry of 10 tickets, or you can purchase a Gold ticket for $60 for 400 entries.If you win, what you get could feed your family and probably the neighbourhood for quite some time.200kg Meat Tray: Brand New 500L Westinghouse Chest Freezer (Valued at $1200)20 KG SIRLOIN20KG T-BONE15KG FILLET25KG RUMP8KG BEEF RIBS2KG BEEF KIDNEYS2KG BEEF TAIL5KG STEW MEAT2KG BEEF SHANK14KG BEEF MINCE15KG BEEF SAUSAGE10KG BLADE STEAK10KG TOPSIDE BEEF9KG CORNED SILVERSIDE8KG PORK BELLY5KG CHICKEN BREAST5KG CHICKEN THIGH5KG CHICKEN WINGS5KG CHICKEN DRUMSTICKThe winner of the World’s Largest Meat Tray Raffle will be drawn live at Casino Beef Week on Sunday, 1st June 2025, at 12:30 PM on the Westpac Bank Stage on Walker Street.To purchase a ticket, click here.

Nearly two weeks ago, Lismore City Councillors voted to put a host of documents on public display for 28 days as the start of the new 2025/26 financial year nears.The list of documents is extensive, such as the Community Strategic Plan, the Delivery Program, the Operation Plan, the draft Budget for 2025/26, the Long Term Financial Plan, the Community Engagement Strategy and the Community Participation Plan.While the next twelve months are important to all residents in the Lismore LGA, plans for the next ten years are vital as they require a vision that outlines what Lismore will look like in 2035. This is in terms of population, housing, industry, and the environment.The Lismore App sat down with Mayor Steve Krieg to understand the two long-term documents that deal with Lismore's future growth in a Talking Lismore podcast.In the past decade, for various reasons, Council's Community Strategic Plan (CSP) was not updated; it was simply adopted. So, it was hopelessly out of date, and, as Mayor Krieg said in the podcast, didn't even include a vision statement.The new vision for Lismore is:Lismore, the Heart of the Northern RiversWe envision a vibrant community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, supported by strong economic foundations for meaningful employment growth and wealth creation in a thriving economy - all while celebrating our culture, fostering the arts, promoting sports and protecting our natural environment.When asked if Lismore is still the heart of the Northern Rivers, Mayor Krieg said he didn't want to judge previous terms of council for their direction, but focus on what he and his team can do during this council term."Our direction for Lismore moving forward over the next three years, left in our term, and hopefully longer, is to see Lismore return to that central heart of the Northern Rivers that we all know."I remember back when the Northern Star was in print form, the big heading that Ballina had overtaken Lismore for the first time in history, population-wise. That was a little deflating, and we've seen through various natural disasters and different events, Lismore has not achieved everything that it could achieve as a city and as a region."So our goal, and if you keep reading through that vision, it was very important to us as a group of councillors to highlight that everyone should have the opportunity for success in Lismore. Lismore needs to return to that place where it is a commercial hub. A lot of things are done online now. We can do all of our banking online, we can talk to our solicitors and those professional-type industries online. But there's still an occasion where you need to be face-to-face. And we want those offices to be in Lismore."We want the state agencies to come to Lismore and set up. We want Lismore to return to that core place, geographically. And I've said it many times since the flood, Lismore is far too big to fail for the state, but in some cases, it's been a little bit too small to warrant that major investment. Well, we're trying to change that. We are trying to generate major investment in the city."We are trying to build a population probably greater than the state average, to be honest with you, because we haven't seen exponential growth in Lismore for a number of decades, sadly. So, I do get excited when developers want to come in and open up housing estates. When we do talk to different companies that want to reform and change the way they do business in Lismore, that excites me, because growth leads to success for everybody in Lismore, whether you are a salary earner that has a property in Goonellabah, or whether you live in Nimbin or one of our other outlying villages."We all complain about the state of the roads. We all complain about the expense of our rates every quarter. How do we tackle those big problems? The simple answer is to encourage population growth. The more growth we have, it eases the burden across the whole LGA. We spread the load."The smaller the pool of people that are here, the bigger the load that everyone has to carry. So if we want to keep all of the nice things, the Memorial Baths, the art gallery, the library, all of those essential services that we all know and love and cherish, we need a greater population to share the load. Otherwise, we're going to be faced with rate rises and the like and increased fees and charges across the board. None of us wants to see that.When asked about what Lismore is famous for, Mayor Krieg talked about our natural wonderlands."We have got some of the most beautiful world heritage-listed national parks on our doorstep. You only have to go 20 minutes out of Lismore, and you can be at Rocky Creek Dam, you can be at Minyon Falls, or Whian Whian. There's places with utmost natural beauty that, unless you get off the beaten track and take the time to explore, you would never know existed."If you look at any of the council's promotions at the moment, it's all about those natural wonders that we possess, the Nimbin Rock, for example, driving out to Nimbin is one of the most beautiful drives in New South Wales. But we don't take the time when we go to Nimbin to actually stop and take a look at that sort of thing. So I think we really want to enhance and encourage our natural assets.""We can't have the most beautiful rainforests in New South Wales if our community don't have employment and don't have jobs, and so we've got to look at how we do business and why we're doing business. At the end of the day, those opportunities are critical to the success, the overall success, of the whole LGA, and we've got to embrace that as a community, and I don't think we have in the past."I think we've found it too easy to be knockers of success. It's the tall poppy syndrome. If someone sticks their head up and does well, we want to chop it off. We actually, as a community, have to embrace people that want to have a go and support them in their journey to succeed."The community scorecard showed three specific areas where council needs to vastly improve its service: they were vision, roads and stormwater."I don't want to sit here and knock previous terms, but our former CSP didn't even have a vision statement in it. So, the reality is we've been directionless for a long time, and recovering from a flood as well has not been easy."It presents new challenges every single day that the broader community are not aware of, and that's in a lot of ways, a good thing. I don't want everyone to be worrying about issues that are beyond their control, but for the general population, every single day presents new challenges to our flood recovery team and to our general purpose."For Council staff and the employees of Rous County Council as well, who are involved in a lot of ways, there are ongoing challenges, but for the first time in a long time, we've actually been able to sit down, take a breath and develop a vision statement to guide where we want to be, and inherent around that vision is providing opportunities for success, and we've got to embrace it. I say it again. We can't knock people for having a go. We've got to build them up. We've got to encourage businesses to come and to set up in Lismore, because that's what's going to provide the employment opportunities for our kids to stay here, to be able to afford to buy their first house in our LGA. That's what we're aiming to do."The Lismore App has covered Lismore roads a great deal over the last four years to give our readers a better understanding of the issues that face council. The LGA has about 1,200 km of road network, 420km of which is gravel. When it rains, water seeps into the existing weak spots on a road creating potholes, which are patched, only for more rain to fall, seep and recreate the same pothole, only bigger and deeper.For council to fix the road network not only takes a huge amount of money and staff, but also a period of no rain. Something that hasn't happened since March this year, until the middle of last week.Mayor Krieg said, "I was only talking about this again this week, we've achieved a lot in the road space that you don't necessarily get credit for, and I accept the fact that potholes are a pandemic in Lismore at the moment. They're everywhere. But it's not just about the roads. Things that haven't, again, been done for 20 or 30 years."While we're fixing roads, we're cleaning drains, because clean drains mean that water is not coming up over the road base and getting into the road infrastructure. So, we're taking a whole new approach."I don't read social media comments too much, to be honest with you, but someone tagged me in something the other day and said how useless I was at fixing the roads, and I take that on the chin. But, this is a whole new way of doing things, because not only are we going to completely restore the roads, but we're cleaning the drains as well, which is a critical piece of maintaining your road infrastructure. It's making sure that water is not getting in and under all of those road bases."For the first time in a long time, in our long-term financial plan, in our yearly budgets, we're actually allocating a significant amount of money into drain cleaning. We've got an urban stormwater management plan up for review, which we are updating as we speak to make sure that our drains are not cleaned once every 30 years, but have a regular maintenance cycle."If we can get through the bulk of the work, then that enables us to then go back and do that preventative maintenance on a much more regular basis, and that will, in turn, protect our road network."We don't want to be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to repair the roads after the '22 flood for them only to fall apart in five years. We need a much broader and different scope of works to be able to make these assets last for their life expectancy, which is 30 to 40 years."Everyone knows Lismore City Council has been battling financial issues for the last two decades. It is a sea of red ink. Not much black ink has been seen on financial statements in that time.Council is forecasting to get back in the black in 2035. Of course, there are a lot of variables in that forecast that could change those forecasts, but is the Mayor comfortable with those numbers and that timeframe?"To be honest with you, and I talk to the executive staff regularly to keep ourselves informed of what's going on, you should never really be truly comfortable in this role. You should always be pushing yourself."One thing, if you look at the budget, for the first time in a long time, is our budget surplus. The minimum requirement is a $200,000 surplus, and we've achieved that in my term and in many, many terms previous to me. Our new finance team has come in, and we've got a $683,000 surplus. To the average household, that's a lot of money. In a council budget, it doesn't sound like a hell of a lot, but it's a step in the right direction, in my opinion."We're not settling for that $200,000 because that's what the OLG (Office of Local Government) tells us we have to have. We're actually pushing ourselves to try and make savings in other areas and to try and reallocate funds to places that it's needed."The long-term financial plan, again, I mentioned the fact that our CSP didn't even have a vision statement in it previously, when I first got elected. We didn't have a long-term financial plan for the council. How can you set direction without having a rough guide of where you want to head? So, as fluid as that document is and subject to change every single year, at least there is a direction, and a vision and a target to work towards, and that's why I am comfortable with that document to answer your question."I make the point that it is subject to change based on variables, but I can hand on heart, say that council is doing everything in its power to give our ratepayers the best value for money that we can. We are looking at savings across the organisation as we speak, as to how we can make some more sustainable economic decisions, and that, again, will impact the long-term financial plan. If we can hit those targets, then that's going to have a more positive outcome and help us achieve that positive cash flow sooner rather than later."You can read all or some of Lismore City Council's documents and have your say in Lismore's future before they get adopted by council in the June 10 meeting. Simply click here for a list of the documents.To easily listen to the full conversation with Mayor Steve Krieg, click Talking Lismore podcast via the App or click here for the website version.

Now the weather has cleared across the NSW north coast and the extent of the damage caused by the recent weather event becomes apparent, the NSW Government has released a range of immediate support measures for individuals and families in flood-impacted communities across the state, with more to come in the following days, as early recovery commences.Now that the peak of the emergency response has passed, the NSW Government’s focus is on ensuring that impacted people can access food and shelter, medicine and animal welfare support.Immediate Health and Welfare supportIndividuals and communities that have become isolated and are in need of food or medical supplies should contact the NSW SES on 132 500 for assistance. In life threatening situations, call Triple-Zero (000). Food, accommodation, and connections with social services are available at evacuation centres. A list of evacuation centres is available at: ses.nsw.gov.au/during-an-emergency/evacuation-centres.People who have lost their prescriptions or prescription medicines, or can’t access their GP, can visit their local community pharmacy for a replacement for most medicines. For more information speak with your local pharmacy, GP or call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.Landholders needing urgent animal welfare assistance should call the Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Area on 1800 814 647. Operating hours have been extended from 8am to 6pm daily. Clean Up and Returning HomeAs flood waters continue to recede, we understand people will be keen to inspect their properties, but we ask that they remain patient and await advice from NSW SES that it is safe to return. Strike teams are on the ground completing rapid impact assessments and coordinating a clean-up blitz.Following safety assessments, roads will begin to reopen, supporting resupply to communities and returning home. If roads are blocked, please do not drive around barricades even if you cannot see water, as it may not be safe. The M1 has now reopened, with one lane in each direction. Please check livetraffic.com for the most up-to-date information on road closures before heading out.Returning home to flood impacted properties poses a number of health and safety risks. NSW Health has important advice about safe household clean up after a flood at: health.nsw.gov.au/emergency_preparedness/weather/Pages/household-cleanup.aspx.A coordinated plan to manage waste is being rolled out. Residents should leave waste at their kerb. Emergency services will be on hand in some areas to help move waste from homes to the kerb. Residents are encouraged to separate white goods and mattresses from other flood debris. Please wear protective clothing when cleaning or touching flood-damaged items or material. If there is any risk that waste contains biological or chemical hazards or asbestos contamination, please contact the NSW Environmental Protection Authority on 131 555 for advice.Before people start clean up, they should also take pictures of their properties to assist with insurance claims. Legal Aid NSW is providing free legal assistance to NSW flood victims through the Disaster Response Legal Service and can be contacted on 1800 801 529.Recovery Assistance, Grants and DonationsRecovery Assistance Points and Phase 1 of Commonwealth and State Government grants will commence shortly. More information will become available soon.If you want to help, the NSW SES partners with communities during a crisis to respond where help is needed most. In large-scale disasters, spontaneous volunteer groups and individuals are an integral part of supporting our communities with the right help at the right time. Find out more at: ses.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/spontaneous-volunteerPlease donate responsibly to flood impacted communities. Unsolicited donations often end up warehoused or in landfill, making clean-up operations more difficult and costly for communities. GIVIT is working in partnership with the New South Wales Government, local councils and recovery organisations to help people in NSW affected by storms and flooding get the essential goods and services they need. To find out what is needed, visit: https://www.givit.org.au/take-action/ways-to-give/give-against-an-appeal/new-south-wales-flooding.Mental Health SupportImportantly, take care of your mental health and encourage those around you to do the same. This a challenging time. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, contact:Lifeline on 13 11 14 for crisis support any timeBeyond Blue on 1300 22 46 3613YARN, run by Aboriginal people, on 13 92 76Transcultural Mental Health Line on 1800 648 911Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (if you’re aged under 25)NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 to speak to a specialist mental health service.Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin MP said, “We’re working to roll out the support that people need through Evacuation Centres now and Recovery Centres as they open. This is about making sure that people get a helping hand in these challenging times.“One of the most important steps in early recovery is the initial clean-up. That’s why the government is rolling out a plan to manage waste. Public Works, the EPA, and local Councils are working together to collect flood waste from homes and businesses.”Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said, “As the severe weather subsides, we urge the community not to become complacent. Please continue to heed warnings from the NSW SES, monitor the Hazards Near Me app and always follow the advice of emergency service personnel. “The SES is working with emergency services and recovery partners to carry out rapid damage assessments and cleanouts as we continue to support NSW communities starting on the road to recovery.”Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said, “Transport for NSW is working with local councils and emergency services to restore road access to isolated communities as quickly as possible.“Communities are reminded to not drive through flood waters, and comply with all roadworks speed limits as we work to restore access.”Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said, “The priority right now is that flood-impacted people have access to food and shelter. Both can be found at our evacuation centres in addition to connections to social services where required. They will also continue to be available at Recovery Assistance Points.“The NSW Government is committed to supporting people across the state when disasters hit; We work closely with emergency services and community leaders to understand what locals need and provide help to those impacted.”

You never know when you or a loved one will need medical help. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter is arguably the most well-known charity organisation in the medical transport space.Little Wings is another not-for-profit charity that supports families in regional NSW with sick children to access lifesaving treatment.Little Wings provides free air and ground transportation to medical treatment for children living in rural and remote areas. Little Wings also transports clinicians to rural and remote areas to provide health services to children in those areas.This week, Little Wings received a major boost after Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park announced $600,000 in funding. This is in addition to $600,000 provided in 2024.In 2024/2025, with the support of the state government, Little Wings has to date:Transported 439 children from regional, rural and remote NSW to receive medical treatmentTransported 64 medical specialists to rural and remote NSW who have delivered 170 clinics which have assisted an estimated 3,250 children.Flown to 51 locations across rural, regional and remote NSWLismore families have used Little Wings' services in the past. Three-year-old Emily Kirkland was the first Lismore patient to be transferred to Sydney for specialist medical treatment in 2013, and seven-year-old Mahalia was transferred to Westmead Children's Hospital in 2020 after being diagnosed with a neurological disorder.Services provided by the charity are available to eligible families living in rural, regional and remote NSW whose children are receiving treatment or support at health services, including:Sydney Children's Hospital, RandwickThe Children's Hospital at WestmeadJohn Hunter Children’s HospitalRoyal Far West in Manly.Children are referred to the Little Wings service by hospital staff with consideration to the child’s medical condition, geographical location and regularity of travel. For more information , visit: https://www.littlewings.org.au/. Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “I am so pleased to support Little Wings in their work, which is helping to ease the emotional and financial strain placed on families when they are accessing lifesaving medical treatment for a sick child.“This important service supports families living in rural, regional and remote areas of NSW to more easily attend ongoing medical appointments, and also offers a welcome break to children during their treatment, by bringing them home for some much-needed quality time with family and friends.“Little Wings is staffed 100 per cent by volunteer pilots and drivers, and I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to those dedicated staff for their ongoing commitment to supporting these families in their time of need.”Clare Pearson, CEO Little Wings said, “Little Wings has been operating for 13 years, working in the background to support regional families caring for a seriously ill or injured child in accessing lifesaving medical treatment that is only available at tertiary hospital.“With the changing landscape of regional health, it is the support and funding of the NSW Health Minister, Ryan Park, and his vision to partner with purpose to ensure equitable care for families, that will transform healthcare for NSW.“Little Wings is a proud and deeply grateful part of this vision, providing FREE air and ground transport for regionalfamilies, this grant will allow our team to work with urgency and to increase services in line with community needs and to ensure that children in regional NSW have the access to healthcare that they need to thrive.”

With an increase in winter illnesses expected over the coming months, people across the Northern Rivers are being reminded that free and instant health advice and treatment is available 24/7 by calling Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.A new campaign, launched by NSW Health this week, is encouraging all NSW residents to save 1800 022 222 in their phone, to be ready for when illness strikes over winter.An increasing number of people are turning to the service to get the advice and reassurance they need to recover quickly.Last winter, nearly 20,000 people across NSW called Healthdirect seeking care for their cold and flu symptoms, almost double the number of people from 2023.Of these, four in five people avoided an unnecessary trip to the emergency department, instead managing their symptoms at home with virtual care or through an appointment with a GP or at a local urgent care service.When people call Healthdirect, a registered nurse will ask some questions about their health. Depending on their condition, the nurse will recommend the right healthcare option. This may include a nearby doctor, pharmacist or urgent care service, connecting them with specialist virtual care, or calling an ambulance if it is life-threatening.If you need support in your language, you can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask to be connected to healthdirect.If you or someone you are with is experiencing a medical emergency, please continue to call Triple Zero (000) immediately. For example, you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding, sudden collapse or are seriously injured.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “If you or someone you care about needs health advice, treatment or care Healthdirect should be your first call. “Whether it’s a tumble in the playground or a bad bug keeping you up through the night – free, instant health advice is only a phone call away.“Have the number handy for those times when you need professional and reassuring health advice.“Don’t wait, save the Healthdirect number 1800 022 222 today and share the number with those you love. This simple call has saved thousands of people a needless trip to the ED and has ensured people can access the right care at the right time – and fast.”

In December last year, the Northern Rivers, and arguably Australia's best regional theatre company, NORPA, announced it had found a new home in Lismore's CBD.The iconic Hampton & Larsson building on Hampton Street (off Magellan Street) was up for sale, and co-CEO and Artistic Director Julian Louis saw it and fell in love with the venue.The stumbling block was raising the $600,000 asking fee.Julian Louis sat down with the Lismore App in a Talking Lismore podcast to talk about NORPA's journey since the 2022 big flood displaced them from their then-home at City Hall.After the initial flood clean-up, with help from the community, NORPA had a short stint in Byron Bay."We were offered some space in Byron and at SAE, where we set up a really nice little office there. We did the hard work of kind of cancelling everything and talking to our funding bodies, our audiences, our board, our team, and doing that hard work of kind of just working out what to do next, and that wasn't straightforward."But what did galvanise us, actually, and bring us hope, and joy, and determination was a show that I directed called Love For One Night, which we created at the Eltham. I think it was eight or nine months after the flood, and that show really was planned to do before the flood anyway, so it wasn't something that was in response to the flood, but we brought it on earlier.""That moment of bringing people together, that show played about three and a half thousand people, it was sold out after, I think, four nights of opening the three-week season. There was a real hunger to be back seeing work, because, of course, COVID times made us quite isolated from each other, so there was a demand and a hunger for theatre."But we were a little lost in the woods or out at sea, floating about in Byron, which was lovely and nice to get out of Lismore during that chaotic and difficult time, just psychologically, but it wasn't our place. And I think we inevitably sort of long to come back into Lismore and work out how to play a role in recovery, and of this place, and also get back to our roots."The return to Lismore City Hall was uncertain, plus it was a shared space, so not controlled or run by NORPA as an artistic entity. Wild Skin was another production that was a site-specific work in one of the industrial sheds at the top of the Lismore Showground."It was a difficult time to be thinking about what to put on where, but also the cost of that, so the cost of hiring spaces to rehearse each time we wanted to set up. But also you set up, and then you got to pull it down that night because there's a yoga class coming in, or, you know, some meetings. The logistics of this region are so hard to make professional theatre that it's almost hard to explain, but in short, the spaces aren't fit for purpose. They're not proper studios. The floor isn't right, the schedule doesn't allow full-time bump-in and bump-outs, and they can be expensive, or they're too small."So what we missed most about losing Lismore City Hall was not the theatre upstairs, where we put theatre in, often touring works, but it was that studio downstairs that allowed artists to get together and groups to come together and workshop ideas. It was just a bit more low-key, and I think that's the space that we were longing for."Enter The Joinery, as it will be known. It was love at first sight."I just knew that this was the right place for NORPA, and not just for NORPA, but for the audiences to come together in the future. It's not that kind of theatre that has the stairs up into the foyer, the construct is different here. The contract will be different for audiences. You're coming to a factory, you're coming to an old industrial space that has a history of its own, and we're meeting that with the work we're going to be doing. And I think that collision, or even that dichotomy of imagery, already creates something for our imagination."When you walk through The Joinery, you know it has potential, but it is still a flood-affected industrial building that has been cleaned out, so very much a blank canvas. When you ask Julian what he sees, you immediately understand this project of passion was in his head as he was shown through the building for the first time."We want this to be a place of making. So, what better place could there be than a joinery? They used to make doors, windows, tables, and they used to use wood and make things with their hands. We do something similar, except we make it out of our imaginations, out of writing, out of movement collaboration, acting design, sound design, projection design, all of that stuff comes together in this making space now."I imagine this huge studio full of workshops, so young people and adults training and making, and international exchanges. We've got companies coming from overseas or individual artists coming from overseas doing workshops in the beautiful studio here."This space has got another couple of theatre companies, or dance companies, or First Nations companies in residence. There's other offices of companies that make work, that are funded and that are creating excellence, maybe a community org (organisation) as well. There's a bar, there's a cafe, there's a place to come and have a really cool bit of live music."And then at night, everything shifts and changes, and the lights change at the front, and it becomes a performance space for, you know, some incredible theatre in that outdoor space, and people come together and make noise and enjoy theatre."The initial cost of $600,000 has all but been raised. Julian said NORPA is only $50,000 shy of the target."We need to do that within the next, say, month, and we're confident we'll do that, and we've got the rest secured. So now it's looking more than likely we'll exchange later in the month.Julian, and the Board are seeking any donations to make this vision become a reality."Donations at the moment are so appreciated, and it doesn't matter how much it is. If it's a large sum, we'll love you as a cultural hero. If it's a small sum, we'll love you as a cultural hero, because you're believing in something and you're getting behind us."You asked me earlier, are we tired? I think it's an understatement. We're exhausted from the experience of everything that we've gone through, but to also find the energy to kind of imagine something new, it energises us. Those donations and even if you just went onto the website and click to support, it's very easy to do, you can just support it by name."We are really excited. And I think this is the thing that I think Lismore could really do with. It's a hero project for the arts and cultural scene. It's a place that actually embraces the narrative of the flood. It says to the world, it's a place that floods, but we're innovative enough to tackle it. I know it is in the heart of the CBD, and there are plans to make it flood resilient. We don't come back in here naively. We know it will flood again."The whole downstairs is concrete and hardwood pillars, and no walls, so water just tracks through there freely. We aim to lift the main studio up a metre and a half. It's just chocking it up, it's not rocket science, and we look to have a flood plan that gets us out and evacuated in a smart way."But also when we renovate it, we've got power boards up high, we've got our computer systems, our servers up high, we've got a plan, and we've got learnings, and I think those learnings, our intellectual property in a way, not that I want to keep it to myself, but I'm saying that we kind of learn stuff as a community, and then we can share that further afield. So, how we recover in Lismore has got relevance nationally and around the world."As we mentioned earlier, the building is nearly secured, and in even better news, the first round of funding for what Julian calls "stage zero" has been secured thanks to the NSW Reconstruction Authority and the state government. The expected renovation budget is about $7 or $8 million, but that is proportionate for a regularly flooded CBD. It is not a $40 to $70 million new performing arts centre that would be at high risk of damage."Stage zero is basically getting us into the office up here and also starting to operate in this outdoor shed area. And then we'll wall up this space, and we'll wait, we'll sit on this bigger studio for a renovation funding source, and also more giving, more philanthropy."What we want to do is be a significant project for the state in regional Australia that has a big vision, that people like philanthropists can get behind, or foundations can get behind. If we can raise a million in foundation money and philanthropy, and then if we found a couple of grants in different stages through federal and state sources of around, let's say around six or seven million, we will have the full vision realised.'"We have attracted this funding because our vision for The Joinery contributes directly to Lismore’s CBD vibrancy, benefiting the local economy, our support for our artists and our community’s recovery."You can listen to Julian's full chat on the Talking Lismore podcast via the app or through the Lismore App website.If you wish to donate to NORPA's new home, visit their website by clicking here.The Lismore App will follow the NORPA journey closely over the next five years as Julian's vision becomes a reality.

The NSW Government is celebrating the volunteering efforts of 74 women from across regional, rural and remote New South Wales by including them on the Hidden Treasures Honour Roll, including Lismore's Jenny London.The Hidden Treasures Honour Roll has been launched as part of National Volunteer Week, 19-25 May. This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week is “Connecting Communities”, and it is about how volunteering creates lasting relationships and strengthens communities.Our Hidden Treasures embody the spirit of volunteering with their invaluable contributions. Whether it is in health and medical research fundraising, volunteer firefighting or coaching students as a volunteer, they have, through their efforts, created vibrant, connected and inclusive communities. Jenny London is the Lismore Electorate 2024 Local Women of the Year Award and is now on the Honour Roll as a Hidden Treasure in NSW.Jenny was one of the key stakeholders to establish Lismore’s Red Inc, an organisation servicing and advocating for people with disabilities. Jenny has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of people living with disabilities, after recognising a need locally for support services when her own daughter was born with a disability in 1976. She is passionate and tireless in working towards equal rights and recognition for people living with disabilities. Not only this, but she also donates her time to the community on many levels to friends and strangers alike. Hidden Treasures is a NSW Government initiative coordinated by the NSW Rural Women’s Network. Honourees receive a certificate and letter of acknowledgement for their service, a Hidden Treasures digital Credly badge for professional use and listing on the online Honour Roll for their achievement. There is also a booklet that includes the volunteers’ stories, outlining why they volunteer and who they volunteer with. In the 15 years since its launch, more than 1,300 women have been recognised on the Hidden Treasures Honour Roll. Individuals and groups, charity organisations, and Local Members of Parliament nominate women throughout the year.Nominations open for 2025Nominations are now open for the 2025 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll. Whether you are a family member, friend, colleague, community leader or nominating yourself, now is the perfect time to nominate unsung heroes who go above and beyond.Apply to nominate a volunteering woman for the 2025 Honour Roll here https://hiddentreasures.awardsplatform.com/.To find out more about the program and read the digital 2024 Hidden Treasures booklet, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/women-nsw/rural-womens-network/hidden-treasures-honour-roll.Minister for Women and Minister with responsibility for Volunteering, Jodie Harrison, said, “Thank you to the inspirational women who selflessly volunteer their time in our regional, rural and remote communities. You truly are the glue that connects us.“Your efforts do not go unnoticed. The Hidden Treasures program is our way of shining the light on your immense contributions and elevate the otherwise unseen work you are doing to drive social connection, strengthen and build resilience in regional communities.“The NSW Government is committed to strengthening the volunteering sector through initiatives that help grow participation, supports for volunteers and recognition of your valuable contributions.”CEO of the Centre for Volunteering, Gemma Rygate said, “Women who volunteer in regional communities play a particularly important role in strengthening local networks, and supporting essential services, which often lack the resources of the same services in the city. “Our research shows that women contribute approximately $87 billion to the state’s economy through volunteering, and they are generally driven by a desire to help others.” “National Volunteer Week is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the vital efforts of the more than 4.3 million volunteers across NSW. The week is a perfect time to give volunteers the thanks and recognition they deserve.”

The first government subsidies to flow through to households and businesses in the energy sector were solar panels, and they have been successful.In NSW, data from the Clean Energy Regulator showed that there were over 1.04 million small-scale solar systems installed in NSW to late 2024. That represents about 31.5% of households in the state. However, 1 household in 60 has a solar battery.Following the 2025 Federal Election won by the Albanese Labor Government, those subsidies have shifted focus to solar batteries.Australians can receive 30% off an installed solar battery, which means batteries are now worth the average household seriously considering the investment. That is on top of an average $1,600 rebate from the state government.Mike Haydon, from Off The Grid, recorded a Talking Lismore podcast outlining his thoughts on energy use, battery effectiveness and brands, as well as how you can sell your excess electricity to local businesses, keeping our money in the Northern Rivers."With the two rebates combined, if you're in the situation where you're allowed to get both rebates, and there are some complications around it all, but a $10,000 battery installed could end up costing the end user $4,500 less. So, they're paying like $6,500 for something that would have cost $10 grand 12 months ago."While the savings are attractive to families, does it make financial sense? After all, the upfront cost of solar panels took 5-6 years to pay off."The reason solar always took so long was because everyone was paid the feedback tariff, whereas now people are getting charged to send energy back to the grid. So, most people put a big solar system up, go to work all day, and then they feed back for three cents or six cents. Now, it's dropped, and you start getting charged to feed back to the grid. That's why it took such a long time to pay back."Where, if a commercial customer would put solar up, and you'd use all that solar of a day. Solar was about an 18-month payback period, or for a really good quality system, or less than three years. You put solar in, you've got your money back in three years, and everything after that is a free sandwich.""With batteries, though, most people use all their energy of a night. So this is where batteries now really make sense, because people can, instead of getting charged to feed it back to the grid, they can put it in their battery, and save it for later on. Energy prices are actually continuing to go up, and they will get more expensive just for that nighttime usage. That's when people could really save money on a battery.""People who have a high energy demand between the hours of five and seven o'clock at night will be the people who benefit the most from having batteries installed."Mike said the average NSW household uses 22 kilowatt hours over a 24-hour period. Coming into winter, solar production starts to fall from 3pm, so people should start to think about their electricity usage from 3pm to 10pm."If you want to be self-sufficient, you're going to require enough batteries from sort of three in the afternoon all the way through to about 10 in the morning. And what we recommend for most people, as a minimum, is to put 16 kilowatt hours in, and generally that is two batteries as they come in eight kilowatt sets, if you like. The size depends. Most of the cheaper batteries will sell five kilowatt-hour modules."When they get bigger than that, they're just too heavy for the guys to move around and install. So five does make sense. They're a lot lighter and easier to install. But also, the bigger the battery, the more cost-effective those batteries are to get in. So we get a quality battery at a better price."As with everything in life, you can buy a cheaper solar battery or a top-of-the-range one. Mike mentioned he received a mail-out from a solar company addressed to the Essential Energy Connected Homeowner, in which you could get one battery fully installed for $2,950, 50% off.What does Mike recommend you look at?"Warranty is only as good as the company that's providing that warranty. It's one of the biggest things we've had issues with over the years, with getting companies to actually pay and cough up the warranty. So it's really important that you choose a company, not just on the price."The smaller the battery, the longer the payback period, because it's going to run out at some stage during the night. Most people will use that in the first hour they get home. So they get home at six o'clock, when the energy prices are expensive, they're going to use that up. That one five-kilowatt battery won't get people through the peak period.Mike explained that, on average, households are charged about 50 cents a kilowatt during peak hours, which in winter are 3pm to 8pm.As for brands to look out for, Mike recommends Sigen and Noark."Signenergy is a new player on the market. They're a really high advanced battery, just state-of-the-art technology. You can actually plug your car into the Sigenergy stuff. So if you're someone that's thinking about getting an EV, then in the future, you can take that car battery and run your house off it, power your house, and sell the energy back to the grid."The other product I like to use is a product called Noark. The thing with Noark, it's got a lot of smarts. A lot of the companies, when you sign up for energy trading and wholesale energy prices, that want to charge you a subscription fee. What I love about the Noark range of products is that it allows you to choose batteries. In Brisbane, there's a company called Volta, they make their batteries up in Brisbane, and then we've also got Power Plus, which is an Australian-made battery down in Victoria. "Using a product like Noark allows you to choose to support some Australian-made products and buy the batteries from Power Plus in Victoria, or want to buy my batteries from Noark. The other really good thing about using a separate inverter and separate batteries is that they don't look as good, but what that allows you to do is that if one part of that inverter fails or that company goes out of business, you've still got half your system."If you can afford an extra battery, you can sell excess energy to businesses in the Northern Rivers, which will earn you money and save them money, making it a win/win for everyone involved. Mike explained that everyone needs to be with an electricity retail provider called Local Volts. Local Volts allows Mike and his team to set prices and buy and sell energy."We've got some really great results for businesses around town. Some of the local companies are paying less than 20 cents a kilowatt hour for their energy prices by buying and selling from local mums and dads. That is one thing I love showing our business owners on their bill. It's to say, hey, look, this money here is actually going to a mum and dad within the Northern Rivers community.'"Miller's Bakery down on Molesworth Street, we've got them probably the best results out of anyone, because they shut and go home at three o'clock. So we get them the cheapest energy in the middle of the day."Fair Dinkum Motel, down there across from the PCYC on Dawson Street, those guys pay about 27 cents a kilowatt hour because they have a lot more nighttime usage than the daytime stuff. So that's where we're buying our customers at night with batteries and selling it more expensive to the motel. And then there's also Chicken Mania."Chicken Mania has been a really good supporter of us. They've let us do a lot of experiments with what they're doing. They've got four stores, and they have solar on some, not on the others. We share that solar from one store to another. And they've been a really big supporter of local energy. They're willing to pay more for the cost of energy if they're buying it from a local person than buying it on the wholesale open market, which is great, because, look, sometimes we get the energy cheaper on the wholesale market. And Chicken Mania have been like, I'd rather pay that little bit extra if it means that money is going to a local, someone that lives in the local community."Their rough savings are about 20%. So this year already, we've saved Chicken Mania $20,000 on their energy bills through peer-to-peer energy that we get these guys. What we've been doing this year, we're probably on track to save them about $30,000 on their energy bills. So, from $100,000 we knocked their bill down to $70,000."A recent arrangement is with the Living School. Mike explained that the Living School is selling cheap electricity to its student's families.As you can read, there is a lot to learn about energy and how to best utilise your energy usage to have zero energy bills, and perhaps, make money by keeping the money in the Northern Rivers.You can contact Mike Haydon through the Off-Grid website https://www.theoffgridshop.com.au/ and fill out an enquiry. Mike says there is a questionnaire, but that is to help them understand your situation so they can give you the best advice.There was more covered in the Talking Lismore podcast, so click on the link to hear the full chat, or click here for the website version.

As was the case following the devastating 2022 big flood, when there were animal carcasses spread across the Northern Rivers, the NSW Government is supporting farmers and community members in the North Coast, Mid-North Coast and Hunter Valley during the difficult process of deceased animal disposal.It is difficult to forget video footage of cows being swept away in a fast-flowing current, a dead cow on the AZNU awning or the lucky horse on the top step of the Celtics soccer clubhouse. Our neighbours down south will be experiencing similar sights.Through the Agricultural and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA) emergency hotline, landholders and community members can request carcass disposal and report deceased livestock on their properties or that have been transported by floodwaters off their properties and into community spaces.The AASFA hotline is 1800 814 647 and is currently operating seven days a week with extended hours between 8am and 6pm.Farmers and community members can also contact this number with urgent animal welfare concerns. There is currently a high voulume of calls, with those related to emergency animal welfare being prioritised.AASFA will work with landholders, local councils, contractors and other government agencies to locate and safely remove any carcasses as quickly as possible.The correct management of deceased or unwell livestock after a natural disaster is important to minimise the impact on the environment, distress to owners and the public, and to reduce the risks to human and animal health through the spread of disease.  Assistance available through AASFA includes:   animal assessment and veterinary support   euthanasia of animals on welfare grounds   emergency fodder (up to three days where there is an immediate animal welfare concern)  emergency stock water (where there is an immediate animal welfare concern)   livestock feeding and management advice   aerial support for isolated or stranded livestock.   Landholders can stay updated with the latest flood warnings by visiting www.ses.nsw.gov.au or downloading the Hazards Near Me App. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Director Emergency Management Leigh Pilkington said, “The discovery of deceased livestock and pets can be very distressing to the community, and especially livestock owners,” Mr Pilkington said.“We have already seen examples of where livestock have been transported by floodwaters onto beaches and other community spaces where you’d never expect to see them, as well as significant on-farm losses.“While it's tragic and challenging circumstances, we thank landholders and community members for their reporting of these deceased animals so our team can make the appropriate disposal arrangements.

Finker Bubble owner Wen Chua was relieved to finally open her bubble tea shop on Keen Street a week ago. Wen arrived in Lismore about a year ago – and this It was her second attempt at trying to open the shop.In February, she was only three days away from opening - when Lismore’s biggest flood arrived and destroyed the new business.But, Wen knew she was not going to give up. Now, after months of renovations, she is now finally serving bubble tea to the Lismore community.“I always knew I would try and open again, I put a lot of money into the shop – and I had friends who helped me,” Wen said.“I love bubble tea – I know many people here haven’t had it before, and I want everyone to try it.”So, what is bubble tea?Bubble tea is a sweet drink, based on mixing milk with tea and adding toppings like coconut jelly, and popping balls – as well as fruit flavours such as strawberry, lychee and mango.Bubble tea is often referred to as a ‘chunky’ drink – because of the chewy pearls of tapioca that sit in the bottom of the cup – and you suck them into your mouth through a thick straw.It’s a drink that’s been popular with kids and adults all over Asia – and it’s a drink that Wen has grown up with.“As a child in Malaysia, nearly every day after school I would gather with my friends to drink bubble tea,” Wen said.“We would stand around in school uniform at the bubble tea stall on the street and drink bubble tea.”Wen said her favourite bubble tea is the one made with matcha tea, but the most popular one that’s sold in the shop is the brown sugar with fresh milk, cheese foam and boba (bubbles, or pearls of tapioca).“When you drink the cheese foam, you taste it first, then sip the tea, then combine it and the balance should be perfect,” Wen said.Finker Bubble will be open six days a week, Monday to Saturday from 11am to 8.30pm.This photo of the shop was taken by Wen just days before the flood arrived to destroy the shop.

For aromatherapist and holistic bodywork practitioner Anne Walker, finding a new space to open in since the floods has been tricky. But now, Anne’s business, Le Petit Aromatique Apothecary, has found a new home in Lismore’s Club Lane.In her new second floor premises, Anne has set up her massage clinic. But unlike her pre-flood shop location in the Star Court Arcade, she doesn’t yet have a shop front to sell her essential oils from. It’s something she hopes will change over time. For now, she’s just glad to be open again. ‘The little aromatic pharmacy’Anne first opened ‘the little aromatic pharmacy’ in 2019 after she visited the South of France and loved it.“Aromatherapy is very affiliated with French culture and I’d always dreamed of having an apothecary,” Anne said.“Usually an apothecary (pharmacy) is associated with herbal medicine but I wanted to open one dedicated to aromatherapy.“So, when I came back, I moved my massage clinic from Nimbin to Lismore and opened a shop front dedicated to selling over-the-counter aromatic medicine.“People would drop in and I would mix oils, creams or lotions on the spot. I would also do massages using essential oils.”The shop lasted three years, until the February flood destroyed her business.Like many other business owners, she had moved her stock up high, but it wasn’t enough.“I saved a few things that I’d put in the Star Court Theatre, but not much,” Anne said.“It was the second time I’d lost a business to flood – it happened to my previous business in 2017 as well.“Reopening this time took a while because I wasn’t emotionally ready for a long time. I needed to be in a good space to look after other people.“Then I found the Club Lane place when I was visiting the naturopath next door.“It’s a nice room with lots of light and a good affordable starting point for me.“I’m taking massage bookings and will have some apothecary items for sale and some flood stock is also available.“People can book in for consultations – I’ve been practicing remedial massage and reflexology for 20 years and bio-dynamic craniosacral therapy for ten years .“I also do aromatherapy massage and facials or feet treats.”Anne said she loves the essential oil single vetiver for grounding - but also likes to use rose, for grief and loss.The new Le Petit Aromatique Apothecary is located at Level 1, Suite 4 Club Lane, 71 Molesworth Street. If you would like to book in for an appointment, you can phone 0408 490 385, or visit Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lepetitaromatiqueapothecary   

When Serpentine Community Gallery volunteers were cleaning up after the February flood, they lamented the lost artworks of Lismore. Not just for the art that was lost from the gallery’s walls – but for all the artworks lost in local houses and businesses.That’s when the idea to put on a free art exhibition was borne - to gift ‘free’ art to Lismore’s empty walls and damaged homes.Now, in a show of good will from Lismore’s art community, an exhibition of free art will be held at Two Mates Brewery on October 8, and the community is invited to get some free artworks – or swap over ones they already have.Exhibition coordinator Cassie Can is now calling local artists to donate some artworks to go into the exhibition. Art is not a luxury“As we rebuild in Lismore, art can be seen as a bit of a luxury, but it’s important to bring beauty back to our homes and businesses too,” Cassie said.“So, we want to make art free to everybody in Lismore – because as a town, we all lost something.“So if you have any artworks you don’t want anymore, you can donate them to this free art exhibition - and give them new life on someone’s walls.“Kids can donate art too – and people can also swap any works they already have for new ones.“You can just show up on the day with art, or donate artworks prior to the event. Then, people can take home the art they like on the day.Uplift spirits“It will be a beautiful gesture of generosity and a part of the vision to uplift the spirits of the people in Lismore.”Cassie said some of the Lismore Art Club members were keen to donate artworks.“They are passionate about holding this event in a region where we have so many artists and art appreciators,” she said.Cassie said the local brewery was donating the exhibition space out of goodwill to help rebuild the local community.Local face painter Rachel Creamer will be at the free day, painting faces.Family friendly day“We can all mingle and it will be a family friendly event with activities too,” Cassie said ““There’s a lovely grassy space out the back with a kids playground and gazebo.“Rachel, a local face painter will be there and we’ll have a needle felting workshop run by Nimbin Textiles – but there are limited spaces in this workshop and you need to prebook for it.“Kyogle gelato cart and Sam’s burgers will be there providing food – and we are also looking for donations of cake for morning tea.”There will also be live music performances from 11am to 4pm, followed by more music until 8pm.On the day, people can also donate money toward helping Serpentine Gallery rebuild the local community gallery space.Serpentine Gallery president, Susan, said the rebuild of the gallery is slowly happening - and it is expected to be open for 'Ink and Mud' - an exhibition by local printmakers in December.Cassie said it’s hoped this networking event can be the beginning of local artists connecting again after the flood.“We can put this community back together and start working and inspiring each other again,” Cassie said.If you would like to get involved, donate art or cakes, contact Susan on 0409 056 976.The exhibition will be held from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, October 8 at Two Mates Brewery at 8 Engine Street, South Lismore.  

The Gilchrist Foundation is a new charity supporting educational and sporting scholarships for students of all backgrounds and disadvantage.The Foundation has been established by the Gilchrist Family, with the mission of identifying eligible students and young sportsmen and women and assist them to further their education or skills through financial assistance together with active engagement and mentoring.The inaugural Gilchrist Foundation Dinner is set to be an entertaining and educational experience and will be held at the Ballina RSL on Friday 7 October.The dinner will give guests an opportunity to learn about the Foundation, meet current students being supported and hear from former Australian Soldier Anthony “Harry” Moffitt and his story of Eleven Bats….combat, cricket and the SAS. More information can be found about Harry Moffitt at https://www.elevenbats.com.au/ The night will include a unique raffle where attendees can purchase a personally signed Adam Gilchrist cricket ball as a raffle ticket and be in the draw for some fantastic accommodation and experience prizes.There are also a large number of unique prizes on offer in the online Gala Auction. Bidders do not need to be present on the night for the auction as all prizes are online and can be bid on at anytime in the countdown to the night.Prizes include a range of interesting items including a vintage-style bespoke cricket bat replica as used by Adam Gilchrist during his stellar career, the opportunity to brew your own beer and holiday packages. Bidding is open at https://app.galabid.com/gilchrist/itemsGo to the Gilchrist Foundation web site https://gilchrist.foundation/ for all dinner and ticket details or phone Julie on 0431 764 776.

U-buds and Doobers (not Ubers) were on duty last weekend, driving hundreds of people to and from Nimbin’s annual MardiGrass drug reform rally and festival.Nimbin HEMP Embassy president Michael Balderstone said having the drug free drivers was great – allowing people to enjoy the pro-cannabis drug reform celebration without having to worry about the usual police roadside drug testing.“Thousands of people were in Nimbin over the weekend and they came from all over Australia,” Michael said.“There was lots of passion for the roadside drug testing laws to change. Cannabis users are frustrated about not being heard and the lack of reason that goes with police saliva testing.“It has nothing to do with being impaired, it’s just about the presence of weed.”“The police told me they got more people this year with saliva testing than last year,” he said. “But we will have to wait for the official figures to come out.“Were any of those drivers actually impaired? It’s a huge impact on country drivers if they lose their licences – they need to be able to drive around.”“The frustration is also about not being allowed to grow our own cannabis – and then have to pay high prices for the legally prescribed stuff – and then still not be allowed to drive while using it.”Despite the police drug testing van being present on the side of the road on the way into Nimbin, Michael said there were not many arrests this year.“But I’m still waiting for the official numbers from police – we’ll know by next week,” he said.The annual MardiGrass is normally held in May, but was postponed due to flooding earlier this year. Michael said crowd numbers were still good, despite the change of dates. “People seemed to have a good time,” he said. “They enjoyed the weather and it wasn’t too crowded.”“Next year, I’d like to hold it in May again. That coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Aquarius Festival – a week after MardiGrass, so we might do something together.”One of the highlights of the festival were live DJs in Mingle park from 5pm each day – and the spectacle that is the law reform rally parade (complete with the big joint) on Sunday afternoon.“This year, Ponyland made a fantastic float for the parade – it was best rally we’ve had in years,” Michael said.“At the HEMP symposium, speakers included West Australian HEMP party politician Dr Brian Walker who spoke about drug law reform.“The Kombie convoy on Saturday was great, so was the 420 and the HEMP Olympix.“This year was the first time we had the MardiGrass marijuana music awards – and the winner was a Gold Coast reggae group.“Gary the bullet proof monk won the pot art competition with his banner ‘The law is the crime’ that hangs outside the embassy.”