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

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

Applications for Personal Hardship Assistance Grants are now open, helping cover out-of-pocket expenses incurred following the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred across northern NSW. The jointly funded Commonwealth and NSW Government package provides emergency financial assistance of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family to cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation. Applications can be made online through your MyService Account on the Service NSW website (https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/nsw-support-cyclone-alfred-march-2025) or on the Service NSW mobile app.  To be eligible for a Personal Hardship Assistance Grant, you must reside in one of the 18 declared affected Local Government Areas, and you must have been either subject to evacuation orders (Category red emergency warning) or experienced power outages of more than 48 hours.NSW Government staff will be available onsite at Recovery Assistance Points to help residents and businesses access a range of essential government services to aid their recovery. Impacted community members are encouraged to visit the Recovery Assistance Points which will open tomorrow, Thursday, 13 March: Tweed Heads – Tweed Heads South Community Hall Cnr Heffron St and Minjungbal Dr, South Tweed Heads, open 9am - 5pmLismore – Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore Room V1.19, open 9am - 5pmCoffs Harbour – C.ex Coffs 2-6 Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour, open 10am - 6pm Ballina - Ballina Surf Club Lighthouse Beach Parade, East Ballina, open 9am – 5pm Reconstruction Authority and Service NSW teams will also be available to help at mobile recovery outreach locations across the region running between Thursday and Saturday, including Dorrigo, Mullumbimby, Coraki, Nana Glen, Byron Bay and Murwillumbah. While people do not need to attend a Recovery Assistance Point or Service NSW Centre to access a Personal Hardship Assistance Grant, staff can assist those who are unable to apply through the Service NSW website or app. People can also contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 for assistance.The NSW Reconstruction Authority is working alongside other government agencies, local governments, non-government organisations, and community groups to repair essential infrastructure, assess social recovery and mental health impacts, understand the needs of small business and primary producers, and coordinate any additional support that may be required to help the community recover.To find out about support available to communities following Tropical Cyclone Alfred visit www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecoveryMinister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “The impacts of an event like ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred are far reaching and as we shift to recovery, we hope these payments can help ease the immediate financial burden being felt by families and individuals.  “The NSW Government is here to lend a helping hand in restocking your fridge, replacing damaged goods and other essentials.  “These payments have a proven track record of offering relief in times of hardship and have previously helped the residents of Broken Hill to recover from the recent power outage.   “This is just the first step in recovery that the NSW Government and the community will navigate together.” Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said, “We are on the ground, delivering vital support to communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred and providing residents and businesses the assistance they need. “Whether it's applying for Personal Hardship Assistance payments, accessing essential services or receiving in-person guidance, the NSW Government alongside support organisations is here to help. “We are continuing to assist communities affected by this natural disaster and moving quickly into recovery by offering a range of support services. Whether you’re an individual or family, business or farmer, or someone who requires health or mental health support, I encourage you to reach out.” Minister for the North Coast Rose Jackson said, “As we move from response to recovery, the NSW Government is making sure people across the North Coast can get back on their feet.“These personal hardship payments offer immediate assistance, so that individuals and families can get the essentials like food and medicine, or cover a range of other out-of-pocket costs. “I want to assure these communities that we’re here for the long run as we begin to take stock of the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and shift our focus to repair and recovery.” Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said, “I encourage people to check their eligibility and apply for a range of disaster assistance being offered by the Minns and Albanese governments.“Thousands of Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands residents have been impacted by the now Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the damage left in its path, prolonged power outages and isolation from flooding. “I thank the NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, together with responsible ministers, for moving quickly to ensure timely disaster declarations and early assistance. “If you live in any of the 18 disaster declared Local Government Areas, check your eligibility and apply for financial support to get back on your feet.”

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

More than two weeks after the draw, Lismore’s newest multi-millionaire has come forward to claim their $3.3 million Saturday Lotto division one prize, halting The Lott’s search for the mystery winner. The New South Wales player held one of the 14 division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Lotto draw 4549, drawn Saturday 22 February 2025. Each division one winning entry pocketed $3,333,333.34. Officials from The Lott and people of Lismore had been eagerly waiting for the ticketholder to check their ticket and come forward. However, how the winner plans to enjoy life as a multi-millionaire will forever remain a mystery as they have chosen to remain completely anonymous and celebrate in private. The winning entry was purchased at Lismore Square News, Shop 78, Lismore Shopping Square, 95 Diadem Street, Lismore. Lismore Square News owners David and Kristin said they were over the moon to have sold their second division one winning ticket in less than two months. “We can’t believe our store has done it again! This is our second division one winning ticket in two months, and we can imagine the winning streak will continue,” David said. “The store will be buzzing with excitement, and we can just imagine all our customers will be so happy for us and the mystery winner. “It’s a wonderful time for the Northern Rivers region, which has seen quite a few big wins as of late!“Congratulations to the fortunate winner! We couldn’t be happier for you.” The winning numbers in Saturday Lotto draw 4549 on 22 February 2025 were 5, 39, 26, 2, 28 and 31, while the supplementary numbers were 7 and 8. 

As communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred begin clean-up and recovery efforts, there are warnings today to remain vigilant against potential fundraising scams to ensure you’re not wasting your donation.The great Aussie spirit that sees many people want to dig deep to help others in a time of need can be taken advantage of by scammers.NSW Fair Trading is warning donors against scammers who often seek to exploit this goodwill by setting up fake fundraising pages or posing as legitimate charities.Top tips to avoid fundraising scams:Check credentials: Only donate to registered charities with a charitable fundraising licence. Avoid unsolicited requests: Be wary of phone calls, emails, or social media messages asking for donations.Research before you donate: Use official channels like the ACNC Charity Register and Verify NSW.Report suspicious activity: Visit Scamwatch and NSW Fair Trading.To check if a charity is legitimate and holds a charitable fundraising licence, visit Verify NSW here: https://verify.licence.nsw.gov.au/home/Charities or use the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Charity Register here: https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities.To report a scam or express concerns about illegitimate fundraising activities, visit Contact Scamwatch here: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/ and NSW Fair Trading here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/fair-trading/complaints-and-enquiries or call NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20.People looking to make a financial contribution or to donate other goods such as food or clothing are encouraged to visit the GIVIT website (a non-profit organisation partnering with the NSW and Queensland Governments to support communities impacted by Cyclone Alfred) here: https://www.givit.org.au/tropical-cyclone-alfred.GIVIT lists essential goods and services required by people and recovery groups in specific communities and allows people to donate the item or contribute financially towards it.The list of items is regularly updated as recovery efforts progress.For more information and support on how to donate responsibly, please visit the NSW Government website here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/recovery/donations.Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said, “It’s inspiring to see the outpouring of support to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred victims from NSW communities, but we want to ensure donations reach those in need rather than unscrupulous scammers.“That’s why we are urging everyone, before donating, please take a moment to verify that the charity or fundraiser you intend to donate to is licensed and legitimate.“Unfortunately, scammers will take advantage of people’s goodwill during a natural disaster like ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.“Scammers can be very convincing, often using emotional appeals, fake social media pages, or crowdfunding platforms so please be scam-aware and contact NSW Fair Trading if you are in doubt.”Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib, “Thank you to the thousands of volunteers across the NSW State Emergency Service and other emergency agencies who worked tirelessly to assist Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast communities this past week.“It speaks volumes that people that want to help, but please consider donating to help those in need through GIVIT or another reputable charity you feel comfortable with.“These charities will ensure people get exactly what they need when they need it.”

Lismore City Council has given an update to areas of the community that are still affected by water over the road for residential kerbside collection.For Bexhill and Clunes residentsDue to road closures, Council was unable to access the Bexhill and Clunes areas today, Tuesday, 11 March.Please place ALL BINS on the kerbside next Tuesday, 18 March.For Wyrallah, Tuckurimba and Woodburn residentsDue to road closures, Council will be unable to access properties in the southern areas of Lismore Local Government Area today (Wednesday, 12 March).Please leave ALL BINS on the kerbside and Council will arrange a catch-up collection as soon as possible before your next scheduled collection on Wednesday, 19 March.We will advise as soon as this additional collection has been scheduled.Thank you for your continued patience as we resume regular services.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred tested all parts of our community, from residents and businesses to all levels of government. The question most asked was "did we learn anything from the February 2022 big flood"?The answer was an emphatic yes. Is there more to learn? Sure. When you cast your mind back to the chaotic rescue and recovery days of three years ago, we have come a long way.The Lismore App will chat to those who played a significant role throughout the traumatic last seven days in our Talking Lismore podcast.Brendan Logan, Lismore City Council's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is the first cab off the rank.Council planning and preparation started on Sunday, March 2, when Mr Logan was looking at a number of weather sites and realised that another weather event was going to hit the Lismore LGA."We got together on that Sunday, I mean, a couple of the other executives, and started to put a plan in place, one on how we communicate within the organisation, on what to expect and how we would mobilise the teams and what we needed to do. The whiteboard behind you, that's all the different things we needed to do on day one to get ready for this. It came down to that it's highly likely an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will be set up."We needed to confirm who our LEMO's (lead emergency management organisations) were, who the backup LEMO's were, how we are going to attack the implementation of the levee plan, all those different things. How are we going to stand down our outdoor works? How are we going to secure those sites? How are we going to move our plant to higher ground? What are we going to do if we need to send people home or give work from home orders? Which of our assets need to be evacuated sooner rather than later, such as the art gallery, library, Lismore Memorial Baths, and then how we communicate that, both internally and externally."Then, obviously, the state legislation kicks in once they get to a point that they think there's something serious happening. The local LEOCON (local emergency operations controller) Mr. Scott Tanner sort of takes over from there. But we'd done just about everything we could in terms of preparation well before that was stood up this time, so we were able to just slide into that process and work from there."Mr Logan was also happy with the execution of the prepared plan."Most of the execution for us is around the levee. And sure, there's a lot of things you should just do pragmatically, look after your site, secure them, make sure you're looking after your assets. That was all pretty straightforward. Everyone just followed the plan and got on with it."But in terms of the role we have at that sort of local and regional level, it's actually quite small compared to the combat agencies. We got to do that levee implementation really well, and we started getting updates through the EOC on the Monday, and then Tuesday morning, we received our first sort of modeling and data through that process. I think it came from SES into that process that said Thursday afternoon, which is Thursday last week, is when things are going to get really difficult in terms of wind and rain, and that modeling was quite alarming."That was Tuesday morning. So we came up with a plan that had us done by 2pm Thursday in terms of levee implementation and everything we needed to do with their own sites, and most importantly, keeping everyone safe while we went through that. We knew how to prepare and roll out everything so that we were ahead of that curve."One of the lessons we could learn from this event was dealing with a cyclone and not just a lot of rain."I think all agencies, ourselves and all the state agencies, probably didn't know how to grapple with that properly. I wouldn't say anyone got anything wrong, and I'm certainly not being critical of anyone, but we should review this and look at what information was provided and what decisions were taken with that in mind. Because I know what was front and centre for me. It wasn't the cyclone, it wasn't the levee, it wasn't the water, it was the safety of our staff, because at the same time the data was forecasting a flood, it was forecasting 120 to 150 kilometer hour winds."So we had to negotiate with the SES and all those things to be getting our tasks around the levee and everything we needed to do outside well ahead of when we normally would, because we didn't want anyone outside exposed to those dangers while that was ramping up."The SES had told Mr Logan they were going to make earlier calls given forecasts and modeling data anyway, let alone with a cyclone bearing down on Lismore and the Northern Rivers. Was there a time when you felt the flooding was going to be bad?"I would say, I was on the fence all week. I could see the data. But I've been in the area 25 years, and you chuck those two things into the pot. I probably got most concerned on Saturday, just gone, when we had a river that was approaching a major flood, and you still had that rain event, that there was a lot of uncertainty about. And I said it could go north, it could go west, it could go south. And, you know, I think that was somewhat justified. I'm not sure how much was forecast for Hervey Bay, but I know they got 350 mil that they weren't really expecting. If that 350 mil had come this way, we probably wouldn't be talking now, but if we were, we'd be having a very different conversation.As for assessing the damage in the Lismore LGA caused by TC Alfred?"We're starting to assess a small amount of damage, but I was just driving around then, and we've still got quite high water in a lot of places. We've done a lot of work over the weekend on that, and we've been lucky enough to have the flood restoration team under Josh Hartcher, who have been living in that world for a couple of years. So we got them together with Josh Smith, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, over the weekend, to come up with a system to one, make sure we capture everything, and two make sure we account for everything properly."And most importantly, the message I gave the team this morning was we don't want to rush this. I think there was a tendency after the 2022 event that we needed to rush through this and get everything restored as quickly as possible. And I wasn't here at the time, but my sense is that that's not the way to do these things regardless of the urgency, it needs to be measured."You need to understand your damage, and most importantly, you need to track your costs as a small regional council, because if you don't get that right, if anything's not eligible, suddenly Council's the one that's got to pay for it. So, I've asked the team to be thorough and proactive, but make sure they're not rushing and make sure they're measured in the way they do this.""The other thing I've asked them to do is don't go straight to outsourcing or don't go looking for people to do this on your behalf. We've got a lot of staff here, a lot of talented staff, and we've got a lot of plants, so where we can just self-deliver and look after our own LGA, I've asked the staff to make sure that happens before we worry about external people coming in to help.Mr Logan gave an average cost to council for each flood. A minor flood causes about $1-2 million damage to council assets, while a major flood causes above $10 million of damage. As Alfred arrived three years after Lismore's worst ever flood, we have a recovery on top of a recovery."I imagine we'll be north of $10 million in terms of damage from a flood of this magnitude, maybe more, because when you approach that major line versus the minor one, you're bringing into a lot of assets that don't get hit by the minor, like footpaths and barbecues and just a whole heap of other things that don't normally get damaged. So it's way too early to assess that, because the water hasn't dropped. But give it a day or two, and we'll have teams out there starting to look at that.Probably the most talked-about topic after a flood is the road network and the many potholes that appear. What is your advice to residents?"The guidelines say you've got to have it done in 90 days, and that doesn't mean you can take 90 days. So we're working to a 90 day period. The advice would be, certainly today, that we do require a little bit of patience. But, I guess what we want to do is get through that assessment phase, accurately, rather than quickly, but still as quick as we can. And then just be honest with people, here's what we've assessed, and here's the schedule of how we're going to do it. So, for better or worse, people can see where certain things are supposed to occur in terms of the time frame going forward."Lastly, Mr Logan wanted to praise his staff."I do want to call out the staff, particularly the core team, that have been working on this for the last 10 days. You're talking sort of minimum 12 hour days, back to back for about 10 days for a lot of people. We have started to stand people down to give them a rest. Everyone loved helping their community. I don't remember a raised voice. I don't remember any ego, everyone just checked all that out at the door and said, we're here to do a job."I was really, really proud just to sit back and watch the team get on with it like that. So I've got to call them out and, a call out to our state government partners. Post 2022, I felt we had to fight for what we're eligible for, and I'm probably on record for being a bit bullish about that, but I'll give the Matt Fullers, the James Bolton, the Mal Lanyon's credit. They came straight to us and said, Okay, we're on this. How can we help?"So it's fantastic to see everyone's grown out of that last one, and things are happening a lot quicker. There's, dare I say, a lot of trust building between us and the state agencies on how we deal with that."To listen to the full podcast, click Talking Lismore podcast or go to the Lismore App website under the News tab https://talkinglismore.buzzsprout.com/.

Essential Energy crews have brought the number down to 5,200 homes and businesses without power in the Northern NSW as they work through a large volume of faults and complicated repairs.There are still locations that crews are unable to access due to flood waters or road closures. Estimated times of restoration are being updated (when known) on the website outages page.Areas like Eureka (212 properties), Federal (36) and Nashua (4) are still without power.To assist customer recovery from the impacts of ex-cyclone Alfred and the extended periods of time without power, Essential Energy is offering the following: Pausing estimated meter reading for uninhabitable houses and buildings Reimbursement of up to $350 for the costs charged by an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) to a customer to disconnect and reconnect a property due to flood damage (note this excludes reimbursement for the cost for repairs or inspections) Pausing all Disconnections for Non-Payment (DNPs) in flood affected areas while the Natural Disaster continues Pausing of customer communications for Private Asset defects in flood affected areas Repairing or replacing any private assets which have been damaged or destroyed by flooding on a like-for-like basis at our cost Waiving the Certificate Compliance of Electrical Works (CCEW) cost for ASPs for flood affected post codes Contributing $600 towards supporting customers in the cost to re-connect to our network (e.g. if their house is a total loss) for flood-impacted customers within our network for a period of two yearsWaiving the daily access charge for customers for the period they were off supply. This amount will be reflected via a reduced access charge on customer bills sent by retailers.The community is reminded to please stay at least 8 metres away from fallen powerlines and 150 metres from lines submerged in water and should report the location to Essential Energy on 13 20 80.From tomorrow (12 March 2025), updates will be provided twice a day before 11am and before 5pm.

More NSW schools are resuming normal operations after the NSW Department of Education proactively closed schools last week to ensure the safety of teachers, staff, and students during the ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred emergency. More than 60 public schools are expected to re-open tomorrow, Wednesday, 12 March, after being closed due to increased risk of damage from possible flooding and winds last week.Trinity Catholic College and St Carthage's Primary School will also reopen tomorrow; however, St John's Woodlawn College will remain close until flood waters have receded and it is deemed safe to reopen.Currently, less than 20 public schools are expected to remain closed tomorrow, while further clean up and repair work takes place.On that list is Lismore South Public School and Coraki Public School.Lismore South is expecting to reopen for staff and students on Thursday. That is also the advice for Coraki Public School. At 4:30pm today, the Richmond River was still at major flood level of 5.71m.The number of closed schools is down from 335 NSW school closures across the state at the peak of the response.The full list of NSW public schools remaining non-operational will be published on the NSW Department of Education website, which will be regularly updated. Families are encouraged to check the website for updates.As the Department carries out its safety assessments, some damage to schools has been reported, along with multiple instances of fallen trees, which need to be made safe before students and staff can return.  Access to a small number of schools is still not possible due to flood impacts and road closures. Once it is possible to safely access these schools, the Department will carry out damage assessments and start any required clean-up and repair works to enable them to reopen.Catholic and Independent schools are also carrying out assessments of their schools and reopening facilities, and families should check their local school websites for further information.Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “Each day we are getting closer to having affected schools reopened and returned to normal, and all our Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast students back in classrooms.“Once again, I am grateful to our North Coast communities for their patience during this disrupted period.“It has been heartening to see our regional communities come together, with many of our frontline volunteers being teachers, who have continued to work for the good of those around them.”

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has encouraged those affected by Cyclone Alfred to check their eligibility and apply for a range of disaster assistance being offered by the state and federal governments.“Thousands of Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands residents have been impacted by the now Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the damage left in its path, prolonged power outages and isolation from flooding,” Ms Saffin said.“I thank the NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, together with responsible ministers, for moving quickly to ensure timely disaster declarations and early assistance.“If you live in Lismore City, Tweed Shire, Byron Shire hinterland, Kyogle or Tenterfield Shire (disaster declared local government areas within the Lismore Electorate), check your eligibility and apply for financial support to get back on your feet.”For updates on all facets of recovery go to www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/tropical-cyclone-alfred.Key disaster support includes:The Personal Hardship Assistance Grant of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family to cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation, open from tomorrow (Wednesday, 12 March 2025) until Tuesday, 8 April 2025. Payment will be made to your bank account – this is not an in-person cash payment. Go to www.service.nsw.gov.au.The Disaster Relief Grant (DRG) Program supports those most in need and those least able to return their homes to a safe and habitable condition after a natural disaster, such as low-income earners and where the damage is not covered by insurance, subject to eligibility requirements. Also go to www.service.nsw.gov.au. For those who don’t have a Service NSW account or struggle with technology, support will also be available at their nearest Service NSW centre, Mobile Service centre, Recovery Assistance Point or Recovery Centre.The Disaster Recovery Allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders, depending on their personal circumstances, who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Go to www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-support.The Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) is currently providing the following assistance measures under Category B declaration that allows impacted small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profit organisations and sporting and recreational clubs and associations in declared LGAs to access concessional loans and subsidies. Go to www.raa.nsw.gov.au/loans/ndrl.Primary producers:     Concessional loans up to $130,000    Transport subsidies up to $15,000    Small businesses:     Concessional loans up to $130,000    Not-for-profit organisations:    Concessional loans up to $25,000    Transport subsidy for donated fodder Sporting and recreation clubs and associations: Concessional loans up to $10,000 The declaration applies to 18 Local Government Areas: Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glenn Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, MidCoast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed. Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline - 1800 814 647. For farmers seeking assistance with emergency fodder to veterinarian assistance. Landholders can move stock to Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) when safe to do so and locate TSRs by using the Travelling Stock Reserves –State Classification Map. Livestock owners may use a TSR free of charge for up to 7 days during a declared emergency.And importantly,Lismore City Council, Kyogle Council, Tweed Shire Council, Byron Shire Council and Tenterfield Shire Council are among the 18 LGAs which can apply for up to $1 million under a $15-million Community Recovery Support Fund once full impacts are known. This proactive support for communities to undertake essential immediate clean-up and restoration of community assets such as pre-schools, senior citizen centres, libraries and community halls. The Fund has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

Crime Stoppers is helping police make a significant impact on crime across NSW, with more than $13m worth of drugs and over 305 arrests in 2024, due to information provided directly by the community.In the 2024 year, NSW Crime Stoppers received over 93,000 tips equating to around 250 contacts each day (phone and online), helping Police enforce the law and prosecutors to ensure people are held accountable for their crimes – with most reports now made online.Crime Stoppers has been assisting in the safety and security of the New South Wales community for more than 35 years.With the community critical to ensuring information is provided, Crime Stoppers is visiting communities across NSW to highlight why information should be provided and how it’s used.Crime Stoppers NSW recently commissioned research relating to the reporting of crime tips with residents of NSW. This research shows how critical it is for the community to have confidence in the system. Conducted in February 2025, the key findings were:More than 55% those surveyed have never reported a tip and 21% of those considered doing so but ultimately did not.50% said they would provide a crime tip if the crime directly affected themselves or a family member.A smaller group (9%) are motivated to report a tip when it affects others beyond their immediate circle (stronger, local community or friend) representing individuals who are still willing to act for the broader good but may not feel as strong a sense of responsibility as those reporting for themselves or family or those who will report regardless.A significant proportion (37%) report they would be equally likely to report regardless of who is affected, indicating a generally strong sense of civic responsibility or belief that reporting is important regardless of personal connection.Uncertainty was the highest barrier to providing a crime tip and this was followed by fear then a lack of confidence.When it comes to types of criminal activity, those involving harm to individuals are most likely to be reported, followed by property theft. The top motivators for reporting are personal and family safety, followed by preventing it from happening again. Other reasons include protecting the community, doing the right thing, seeking justice, and confidence that justice will prevail.While 64% of NSW adults know they can report to Crime Stoppers in confidence, 36% are unaware.While fear and uncertainty are some of the major barriers to providing information, Crime Stoppers is reminding the community that information is provided in confidence.“All phone calls and online reports made to Crime Stoppers are made in confidence. There is no caller or computer ID when you make a report. This is reassuring for those who don’t want to be identified, don’t want the person to know they had made the call, particularly if it is someone they know, like a family member or colleague. Our message to the community is we don’t need to know who you are, just what you know,” said Crime Stoppers NSW CEO, Mr Peter Price AM.In the last 12 months we have seen a significant increase in online reports, and we want to encourage the community to continue to use our online portal, particularly if they have images or video footage relating to that tip.“We want to assure the community, reporting even the smallest piece of information may be a key piece of evidence needed in solving a crime. It may seem small but with information from other sources, it could be what Police are looking for to solve a crime. If you See something, hear something or know something, say something. Ultimately it means safer communities and that’s our aim,” added Mr Peter Price.There are so many good reasons to provide a tip to Crime Stoppers:It can keep you, your family and your community safe.It can stop the offender from committing further crimes and prevent others from being harmed.It can stop behaviour before it escalates.Reporting a crime tip means a higher chance a crime gets solved, or property gets recovered.Information can often lead to solving multiple crimes by the same offender.The Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism, Yasmin Catley, has emphasised the vital role Crime Stoppers plays as a bridge between the community and the police.“Public intelligence is one of the greatest assets the NSW Police Force has, which is why information given to Crime Stoppers is so important“Crime Stoppers reporting is quick and easy—and remember, we don’t need to know who you are, just what you know.“If you see something, hear something, or know something, speak up. Your tip could be the missing piece of a much larger puzzle, potentially helping to solve a crime and making New South Wales a safer place for everyone.”Crime Stoppers and NSW Police are fully aware of the crucial role tips to Crime Stoppers plays in preventing and solving crime.Many investigations are supported – and sometimes even solved – through the assistance of information received from Crime Stoppers. Examples of these include:-  Strike Force Roslyn: In 2022, Zachary Davies-Scott was fatally shot during a home invasion in Heddon Greta. Multiple separate Crime Stoppers reports helped in corroborating evidence against one of the accused. Three men were ultimately charged and remain before the courts.-  Strike Force Zygon: In 2024, the bodies of Zhoujun `Sally’ Li and Jai-Bao `Rex’ Chen were located in Botany. A number of online reports made to Crime Stoppers greatly assisted investigators in understanding the circumstances around their deaths. While no one has been charged, police have identified two people offshore they believe to be responsible and are currently working with Commonwealth agencies and Taiwanese authorities.-  Strike Force Ajo: Public assistance was sought by way of Crime Stoppers tips to help locate and apprehend those responsible for break-and-enter offences at Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum in August 2024 during which 27 firearms were stolen. As a result, police charged three people and recovered 20 of the stolen firearms. -  Strike Force Harthouse: Information was received at Crime Stoppers in relation to cannabis crops at a remote location. Several weeks later, multiple crime scene warrants were executed at various locations. Cannabis plants were located and seized from rural areas along with a large amount of cannabis leaf, and over $50,000 in cash and firearms. Multiple people were arrested and charged with their involvement. The estimate street value of the drugs seized by police was in excess of $5 million. Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, Commander of State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, said tips from the community can sometimes be the missing piece in solving a complex case.“We often rely on the eyes and ears of the community to help us piece together the puzzle of a crime. Crime Stoppers allows members of the community to share crucial information in confidence, which can be the key to solving a case,” Det Supt Doherty said.“Crime Stoppers helps bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community. By supporting Crime Stoppers, the community plays a direct role in making our streets safer. It's a partnership that benefits everyone.”Commander of the NSW Police State Crime Command’s Drug & Firearms Squad, Detective Acting Superintendent Richard Puffett, said Crime Stoppers tips can often set crucial investigations in motion. “When you ‘dial in a dealer’ or report suspicious firearm activity, you’re helping police stop crime in its tracks,” Det A/Supt Puffett said. “Crime Stoppers isn’t just a hotline; it’s a lifeline for safer communities.”Newcastle City Police District Commander, Superintendent Kylie Endemi APM: "Every tip, no matter how small, can make a significant difference. The valuable information shared with us through Crime Stoppers has led to numerous breakthroughs, and by working together and sharing information, we can create a safer environment for everyone."Crime Stoppers will be visiting around 10 locations across Sydney and regional NSW to talk to the community about reporting and how important it is in preventing and solving crime.To assist the community, Crime Stoppers has compiled information to help the community with reporting what they know as well as crime prevention tips to keep themselves, their family and the community safe. The information can be downloaded https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ZFold_Crime-Reporting-Roadshow-Campaign-Flyer_A4_WEB.pdf.

Premier Chris Minns has gone hard on illegal Pine Street squatters at today's media briefing in Sydney and a solution is now imminent as he declared the houses will be removed.The Premier said he was unaware of the illegal squatters moving into reclaimed NSW Government properties."Now the government has spent $900 million of taxpayer funds to remove people from very flood-prone areas of the Lismore region. These are flood-prone low-lying areas where the household elected to move out, to move to higher ground, and the house would effectively be condemned so that the community could be safe and we could reduce the exposure of affected communities and families in the event of a natural disaster."Look, unbeknownst to me in all candour, I wasn't aware that we were currently in court trying to execute eviction notices on some members of those communities when Tropical Cyclone Alfred emerged in the last week. This is a completely unacceptable set of circumstances. It's not tolerable to have so many people located in flood-prone land still in danger, and have SES personnel volunteers have to go and check on those households, check on those communities to keep them safe."We bought those houses so that we could keep communities safe, so that no one would live there, and to have squatters move in off the back of that is completely unacceptable. So I've made a decision in conjunction with the Reconstruction Authority, that we are going to demolish those houses."We're going to make sure that these communities are safe and we can't have an intolerable situation where large numbers of people are in harm's way after New South Wales taxpayers have spent millions of dollars trying to make the community safer. I can't have a situation where, when a tropical cyclone or the next flood hits Lismore, we are checking on houses that should be vacant as a result of millions of dollars that we've already spent that will take place in the coming weeks, but it's absolutely necessary that we do it."We're not trying to exacerbate the housing issues in the Northern Rivers. Indeed, we've spent millions and millions of dollars on homelessness services in the Northern Rivers, as well as emergency accommodation and social housing as part of the New South Wales government's budget. But the housing problems are not going to be solved by moving people into flood-prone land. We have to draw a line in the sand here, and that means demolishing those houses and ensuring that we can get on with life in the Northern Rivers."As most of the Lismore community knows, this has been an ongoing situation that has escalated in the last twelve months.The Premier was asked why he was not informed of the situation by Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, his response was:"We have many conversations with Janelle. You'd appreciate that when you've got a massive natural disaster in the community, you're talking about all kinds of things, financial assistance, you're also speaking about recovery programs, ou're also speaking about businesses in downtown Lismore getting back on their feet. I mean, I'm just being candid about what I was aware of. I had no idea there was such an extensive network of squatters in the community."It's subsequently been brought to my attention that there were meetings that took place between the squatters collective and government officials about how to get them out of these houses, including having them jump the queue for social housing and jump to the front of the queue. And that's completely unacceptable.(A Pine Street squatter meeting on February 12 this year when the RA was to turn the water off)"I can't have a situation where we're putting people in harm's way who are on the flood plain after New South Wales taxpayers have paid money to get them out of those houses. We have to take action."As locals know, the NSWRA (Reconstruction Authority) had met a number of times with the illegal squatters, and even tried to turn the water off permanently with police in attendance, with no result to remove the squatters.Premier Minns said he thought the meetings were with the RA, and ultimately accepted blame for the situation."But you have to understand the RA is responsible for thousands of things, particularly when you've got a complicated natural disaster like we've seen in Lismore. So you know, it's about a balancing act, but also about information flows. It's not their responsibility. It's my responsibility to be on top of the latest information from Lismore."I know that Mal (Lanyon) and the team would have been working hard to get that community up on their feet, but look, if I had my time again, we wouldn't have a tropical cyclone where we've got so many squatters who are in harm's way. It's obviously ridiculous."As we know from previous meetings and unsuccessful execution of plans to remove the illegal squatters, there will be more than likely a confrontation between the NSW Government and the illegal squatters on Pine Street.

The federal and state governments are today announcing emergency financial assistance to help residents in the State’s northeast severely impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.The jointly funded package will provide emergency financial assistance of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family to cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation.The Personal Hardship Assistance Grant for individuals and families is part of a range of support aimed at helping people recover.To be eligible for the grant individuals must reside in one of the declared affected Local Government Areas of - Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glenn Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, MidCoast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed.Further, individuals must have:Been subject to evacuation orders (Category red emergency warning) orExperienced power outages of more than 48 hours.Applicants must demonstrate they have suffered hardship as result of the disaster, making them unable to meet immediate needs.Applications will open on Wednesday 12 March and will be open until 8 April 2025.These payments are part of the Albanese and New South Wales Governments' ongoing commitment to helping residents rebuild their lives following the severe impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.Impacted community members are encouraged to visit New South Wales Government Recovery Assistance Points which will be operating in key locations from the end of this week.To find out where these will be and about other support available go to www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery to find out supports and assistance available.In addition, the Albanese Government has activated the Disaster Recovery Allowance for communities directly affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.This allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders, depending on their personal circumstances, who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the event.For more details on the Disaster Recovery Allowance go to Services Australia website at: servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-support.Other support available to communities as a result of Tropical Cyclone Alfred can be found www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “We are working with the Minns Government to get this money out the door as quickly as possible.“My message to those affected is my Government has got your back.”Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said, “It has been tough going for the communities impacted by TC Alfred. In particular those families who have been without power for days or required to leave their homes under evacuation orders have faced huge challenges.“We know these communities are concerned about the cost of re-stocking the fridge, or replacing damaged goods.“This payment will go a bit of the way to providing some immediate relief for hardship experienced.” Minister for Emergency Services Jenny McAllister said, “This payment will help provide some immediate assistance after a very tough week for Northern New South Wales.“We’re acting quickly to make financial assistance for impacted individuals and families available.“We know recovery will take some time, but we are here for the long haul.”New South Wales Minister for Planning Paul Scully said, “Through this financial assistance, we aim to ease the burden of immediate costs like food, clothing, and accommodation, helping individuals and families get back on their feet as quickly as possible.“Eligible residents in the affected areas can apply for the financial assistance package starting Wednesday, March 13."We encourage those in need to apply through Service NSW online or in person, and we are committed to making sure this support reaches those who need it most, as soon as possible.”New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said, “Our hearts go out to the people of this region who have done it particularly tough but continuously shown their resilience and spirit in recent years.“These payments in partnership with the Albanese Government will help the community by ensuring we get immediate financial relief to where it’s needed.“We will continue to work alongside our agencies and service partners to provide the community the help and support they need to recover.”

North Coast residents are encouraged to check the Healthdirect Service Finder for any changes to localhealth service opening hours in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, if your normal general practice orpharmacy are not available.The severe weather event has caused significant disruption to local infrastructure, including health services, which may be operating under revised hours or limited capacity. Residents are encouraged to verify the availability of their local healthcare providers before attending in-person.CEO of Healthy North Coast, Monika Wheeler, said the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been widespread, with many health services having to alter their hours or close completely:“So far, more than 70 local health services have advised changes to their opening hours to Healthy North Coast, due to the impact of flooding, damaged premises, power outages and staff being unable to travel,” explained Ms Wheeler.“We want to ensure the community can access the care they need without unnecessarydelays or travelling to providers that are closed.”The Healthdirect Service Finder is the most up-to-date public source of information for health service availability across Australia. It provides real-time details about medical centres, pharmacies, hospitals, and other essential healthcare providers, including changes to opening hours.Healthy North Coast worked with Healthdirect, South-Eastern Queensland Primary Health Networks and the Australian Government to ensure real-time updates are available in preparation of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.To check the status of a health service, visit the Healthdirect Service Finder at healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services or via the Healthdirect app.“As part of our role in supporting the health response with the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts and Australian and NSW Government agencies, Healthy North Coast has been in regular contact with local primary health practitioners, offering assistance, and communicating service closures and opening hours,” Ms Wheeler said.“We have also coordinated GPs and other health professionals to attend evacuation centres in collaboration with Local Health District services. Thank you to the clinicians who put their hand up to help with the coordinated response,” added Ms Wheeler.Bettina McMahon, CEO of Healthdirect Australia, also encouraged the community to utilise the platform:“People can’t just put their health on hold - even in times of severe weather events. Health leaders on the North Coast, in particular, have deep experience ensuring their communities can access the care they need during storms, floods, and fires. Often this is as simple as finding out which local services are still operating. Other times it is by having a telehealth appointment. Healthcare providers across the rest of Australia are ready to support the North Coast through telehealth to address urgent care and mental health needs when local services have reached capacity.“We are working closely with local health service co-ordinators like Healthy North Coast to ensure Healthdirect’s Service Finder has up-to-date information about which local services are operating, including GPs, pharmacies, allied health and hospitals. While a general internet search will only show opening hours during normal times, Healthdirect is getting daily updates on current operating hours.“Healthdirect also has information on staying safe in flood affected areas. We see certain types of injuries and infectious diseases rise in flood-affected areas, and we have advice on what people can do to stay well. Our website has practical information on health risks and other tips like storing essential medicines.”For further updates on health service availability, please visit the Healthdirect Service Finder at healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services.Additional info:Extreme weather events can be stressful and create anxiety, low mood or increase the severity of existing conditions. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone.Mental health support is available at:Medicare Mental Health (formerly Head to Health) 1800 595 212. Call Medicare Mental Health and be directed to the right information or service that best suits your needs, including referral to in-person and telehealth services. There are also in-person Medicare Mental Health Centres in Lismore and Coffs Harbour. Walk-ins are welcome and no referral is needed.Safe Havens are community support and wellbeing hubs that offer free on-the-spot services and advice. There are four Safe Havens on the North Coast: Woodburn, Lismore, Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah. Keep an eye on their Facebook for current opening times and contact numbers.Help in a crisis:If you require immediate 24/7 help, contact:Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters 13YARN (13 92 76)Mental Health Line 1800 011 511Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636Lifeline 13 11 14MensLine 1300 78 99 78Lifeline Text 0477 13 11 14Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (children under 12 years)Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467In an emergency, please call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.Health advice:If you are in NSW, you can speak with a registered nurse 24/7 by calling healthdirect on 1800 022222.

The CBD was a mixed bag of activity yesterday afternoon. Some shops showed no sign of activity, while others had owners, managers and staff working on shelving, stock or moving fridges and freezers back into place.There were a limited few that were open and trading.Two elements of the Cyclone Alfred event that stood out were that Flood Plans worked, and the support of the community was incredible once again.A number of businesses reported community help. For some it involved family and friends, and for others it involved complete strangers.Once again, the people of Lismore, both young and old, stood up to lend a hand when needed. That help will turn to spending hard-earned dollars to support local businesses that have yet another challenge to overcome in what has been a very challenging five years.Rollerworld in North Lismore is situated on low-lying land near the Wilsons River. Floods of this recent size are nothing new, the floodwaters were about waist deep. It will be a massive week of cleaning for owner Craig Newby and the team.(Rollerworld in North Lismore, under again.)"We had about a dozen people turn up today and help us with the clean up," Craig told the Lismore App, "Which was really good. They're pressure cleaning the floor and furniture and then using sugar soap to get us ready for, hopefully, a Saturday reopening."(Rollerworld after a clean)Most of the businesses the Lismore App spoke to said it was a good exercise to test their Flood Plans. Everyone said their flood plans worked well, with some more lessons learnt so that they will be further improved during the next flood.Another learning was the time it takes to restock shops after it is safe to return. Many reported four to five hours to pack up and move, while it took a minimum of eight hours, in some cases two shifts of eight hours. This is why most businesses are reopening later than most people expect.A quick walk around the CBD block discovered the different reopening days.WOODLARK STREETThe Boys Hair & Makeup will open today. Millers Bakery will open Wednesday or Thursday.Toyworld will be open on Wednesday.(Toyworld on Woodlark Street)Indian Mumtaj is hoping to open today for takeaway but it could be Wednesday.MOLESWORTH STREETBi-Rite Home Appliances & Furniture Court are open to do business over the phone and doing home deliveries. They are looking at reopening Wednesday with floor stock.The Furniture Court will hold a sale on floor stock that has been damaged during the move out of the store last week.Sportspower may be open on Thursday. Inka & Co will reopen on Wednesday.(Annette Adams out the fron of her Inka & Co shop on Molesworth Street)Brands Pharmacy is open for medication and scripts although they are still re-stocking from 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 8:30am to 12:30pm.Laubman & Pank opened yesterday for eyewear and eye tests.(Optometrist Millur Gao waiting for customers at Laubman Bank on Molesworth Street)MAGELLAN STREETLittle Polli & the Blackbird will reopen next Monday.Intersport opened yesterday.KEEN STREETUncle Lims will probably open on Thursday.Thai Satay Hut were serving meals yesterday.SOUTH LISMORESouthside Pharmacy is open for all scripts, medication and mobility items from 8:30am to 6pm.The community has supported our local businesses physically, and now it is time to support them financially by visiting the CBD and making a purchase.After speaking with some business owners, this will give you an understanding of the losses they have incurred in the last seven days. As a rule of thumb, the larger the business, the larger the loss. All business owners spoken to kept paying their staff.One owner lost around $200,000 in lost trade and wages, another $100,000, and a smaller business $30,000.Most have debt from the 2022 flood, ATO debt that is accumulating interest and lower consumer spending for the last twelve months because of the high cost of living.All were disappointed there was no Business Grant announcement yesterday from the PM for small businesses across the board, not just sole traders."Not really ideal. We can’t rely on them to fix our problems", "It would be nice to get loss of wages" and "They seem to forget the little guys", were just a few comments.Most said, "We're just happy it didn't flood". The damage bill would have been so much higher if the levee wall was overtopped.

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.