With domestic violence rates increasing after disasters (like fires and floods), a free workshop is set to help people identify what’s going on and understand how to deal with it.Run by Gender and Disaster Australia, the May 18 workshop is for all community members and disaster recovery workers.Gender and Disaster Australia director Debra Parkinson said the two hour, federally funded session is for all genders – and will also cover the effects of disaster on LGBTIQ+ people.“We want to facilitate a conversation so people can identify family and domestic violence and know what to do to respond constructively,” Debra said.Evacuation centres“In Lismore, after the floods, we heard about evacuation centre staff picking up on domestic violence and not knowing what to do to help.“Community members might have friends and family at home who are experiencing violence after floods and we can have conversations about what ordinary people can do.“Disaster is no excuse for family violence." “It’s for men as well - men don’t ask for help. So, we talk about ways to get help for men who might need it. “One of the workshop trainers, Steve O’Malley, is a firefighter. He’s spent more than 30 years working with us since we did our first research on how men respond to disasters like Black Saturday. The hero danger“There’s a gendered expectation applied to men and women in times disasters.“There’s a danger of expecting people to be heroes in disaster – and it’s damaging to men who find it hard to live up to that protector/provider role.“After the fires in 2018, we researched long term disaster resilience and interviewed 57 people.Aftermath of flood“Some people also had experience with devastating floods, where there’s a long hard aftermath and clean up.“It’s tough until basic government and private services like power internet and water service are back on. There’s the clean up mud and debris and asbestos. It’s a big task.Hierachy of grief“There are pressures not to talk about it. There’s hierarchy of grief – that someone else’s needs are higher than ours.“So, we put others’ needs first – and for women, there’s also pressure to be loyal to the man, making excuses like ‘he’s a good bloke, he’s suffering or traumatised’.“We all have a right to a safe environment."“There’s also pressure on communities, in the spotlight and pressured to be the resilient community that embodies the Aussie spirit.“People also don’t say anything because they are thinking about the children.”What to do?Debra said there are help lines to call, where people can safely speak about what’s happening to them.Workshop detailsThere will be two free workshops, but registration is essential because of limited numbers. Book here: Two-Hour Session: Lessons in Disaster Tickets, Multiple Dates | EventbriteTuesday, May 17, from 1-3pm, at Brunswick Valley Community CentreWednesday, May 18, from 1-3pm at Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre.

With no clothes or shoes, and flooded out of their innundated homes, the staff of Lismore’s St Vincent’s Hospital kept showing up to work after the February flood.Their dedication and resilience was recently rewarded when Lismore’s Presentation Sisters raised thousands of dollars to help 64 of the most flood-affected 64 staff from the devastating flood.  St Vincent’s CEO, Steve Brierley, said out of 600 staff members, about 200 of them were cut off from work when the February 28 flood happened.“I realized how many staff didn’t live in the immediate area, because they couldn’t get into the island that Lismore had become,” Steve said.“But a number of staff whose houses went under in North, South and East Lismore, or Corkai still came to work - many without clothes.”Borrowed scrubs“We could give them scrubs to wear, but they had no shoes, but friends and colleagues helped them out.“It was amazing the resilience some people showed.“Some were in shock in the early stages and still hadn’t processed what was happening to them. Some had lost all their possessions.“We wanted them to feel welcome to come back to work and realized it would help them to get back to some sort of normality to be with colleagues who loved them - not surrounded by the bleakness of flooded houses.”Sleeping at workSteve said some of the staff with nowhere to go would sleep at the hospital.“We have an old cottage here for accommodation with six rooms that we cleared for staff,” he said.“We also had staff sleeping in vacant beds on wards and in the admissions area.“Some of the renal staff also stayed so they could treat renal patients who had to board at the hospital too.”“Many are still not able to return home and some will never able to and are living on the kindness of families and friends as best they can.“We already had a housing crisis here and now it’s much worse.”Sisters come to helpThat’s when Sister Anne Jordan from Lismore’s Presentation Sisters stepped in. “They were aware of the plight of our staff and raised a substantial amount of money, which was divided between 64 staff. They each received about $250,” Steve said.“We are grateful for their kindness – and the sisters said it was from the it was from people who donated to the appeal.“They also had a three bedroom unit in Dalley Street that they made available for our staff to stay in.”Presentation SistersSteve said, said the Presentation Sisters set up their congregation on the Northern Rivers in 1886 – and had a long association with the hospital.“Until recently, they took over pastoral care at St Vincent’s 42 years ago when the Sisters of Charity handed over the hospital to the Diocese of Lismore,” he said.Each of the donations given to staff members came with the message:“Our foundress, Nano Nagle, worked during challenging times. Her family motto of ‘Deeds not words’ inspires us still at this time. Please know our prayers are with you.”The boardSteve said the board of St Vincent’s indicated it will supplement donations and other offers of help with in-kind and financial support as appropriate.“The board already unanimously supported a special wage and salary payment to flood-affected staff,” he said.Herosim “After the sudden impact of the floods, we witnessed great heroism from our flood-affected staff, and most have returned to work despite their losses,” he said.“It’s a testament to their dedication to patient and resident care, and their desire to reclaim a sense of normality and dignity through work.Collective trauma“However, the hospital is mindful this is just one phase of a long response to collective trauma.“The next phase, which is a sense of disillusionment, will need to be fully appreciated and sensitively worked through before the rebuilding and restoration phase can begin.”St Vincent’s program of assistance has included helping find ongoing accommodation for displaced staff, transport, supplying essential items, supporting their social, emotional and spiritual needs where appropriate, and providing a secure and stable work environment.

Applications for Early Childhood Education and Care Flood Recovery Grants (ECEC) are now open to Lismore and surrounding Local Government Areas. State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is encouraging eligible early childhood education and care (ECEC) services impacted by major flooding to apply for grants of up to $30,000 to help rebuild. Ms Saffin said she hoped ECEC services in Lismore City, Tweed Shire and Kyogle local government areas would get their share of $9-million in funding from the NSW Government. Services in the neighbouring LGAs of Byron Shire, Ballina Shire, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley can also apply for funding by the closing date of 30 May 2022. “Many early childhood education and care operators in the Northern Rivers were severely impacted by the catastrophic flooding we experienced a few months ago, and any financial help is welcome,” Ms Saffin said. “I hope and trust that this application process runs smoothly so that eligible services receive funding quickly to undertake repairs or replace valuable resources. “Many local families rely heavily on ECEC services so the sooner they return to normal, the better it will be for our local communities.” The ECEC Flood Recovery Grants are available to community preschools, mobile preschools, long day care services, multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services, Aboriginal Child and Family Centres, family day care services, occasional care services and out-of-school hours care services. For more information and to apply, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-support/businesses 

STORY UPDATE: 2.16pmNSW Ambulance staff have confirmed that a woman in her 70s was taken to Lismore Base Hospital, following a car accident on Ballina Road this afternoon.A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said the woman was in a stable condition and had some abraisions.She said the accident involved a single car that had collided with a power pole.The Lismore App understands that the power was out on High Street, and surrounding areas following the accident, but is now restored.ORIGINAL STORY: 1.42pmNSW Ambulance staff were called to the scene of a car accident on Ballina Road this afternoon.A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said at 1.20pm this afternoon, the NSW Ambulance Service was called to the scene where a car had crashed into a power pole.The spokesperson said he was still waiting for more details on the transported patient.Traffic is still backed up and moving slowly on the busy road, near Rotary Drive. The Lismore App will keep you updated as more information comes to hand.Read more traffic news: Pacific Highway roadwork brings traffic changes from todayTraffic is backed up on Ballina Road.Traffic traffic conditions change on Bruxner Highway at Uralba

In anticipation of possible severe weather later this week, the NSW SES is holding a Lismore community preparedness meeting tomorrow, Wednesday May 11.The meeting will be a briefing for the possible weather and is based on preparedness for such weather, should it occur.Read about the Lismore SES, the February flood and new members: Floods see Lismore SES innundated with new members All Lismore residents are invited to attend the meeting at 6pm at the Whitebrook Theatre, Southern Cross University.A NSW SES spokesperson said the aim of the meeting is to ensure the Lismore community has timely and direct communication with the NSW SES Lismore City Unit and are receiving information that may assist in preparing themselves and their homes."The SES is encouraging people to get ready and ensure that their property, family, friends and loved ones are prepared for severe weather, should it eventuate," the spokesperson said."We are asking that the community keeps up-to date with the latest information from the NSW SES, the Bureau of Meteorology and LiveTraffic NSW."For further information on the current forecast, please visit the BOM website at http://www.bom.gov.au/.

When the big floods hit Lismore this year, it was the State Emergency Service (SES) that the people of Lismore looked to for help.So it might come as no surprise that since the floods, more locals than ever have signed up to join the local SES unit.Read about the community meeting tomorrow: SES calls community meeting ahead of potential severe weather Lismore City SES unit commander Lacy Loloa recently ran an induction training course for new SES volunteers, but made it clear that you don’t need to be out in the field to help out in the SES.Lacy wants even more people to get involved, so the local SES has more members to respond effectively in future disasters and extreme weather events.“There are so many roles to be filled, from being scribes, or in catering and logistics - we need all help we can get,” she said.“Having more boots on the ground means we have more people who can go knocking door to door when emergencies are happening.”With 40 new applicants ready to help out, Lacy said the recent SES induction included vehicle familiarization training in how to use sirens, radios and light bars.“They also learn about different types of vehicles - some are for storms and rescues,” she said.“Some of the new volunteers signed up after the February flood and then assisted in second major flood in March, helping as gophers.“You can apply online to the Lismore unit, or to the Goonellabah incident management unit - where computer, media and logistical support teams help to keep everything running.“Smaller areas like Coraki and Broadwater have smaller SES units - and they need more volunteers too.”To volunteer, visit https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/volunteer/Lismore HQ’s futureWhile the Lismore City SES Headquarters on Brunswick Street is not yet fully operational, the Lismore staff are back in the building and working, while waiting for contractors to repair things (much like the rest of Lismore).“In previous floods, like the 2017 and the second March flood, the water only reached the road in front. But the February major flood was so high we were innunated about 50mm – it was enough to do some damage,” Lacy said.“Even though building was built up fairly high, we evacuated because of the uncertainty about the water level rising.“Fortunately, our shed with its equipment and vehicles were higher and safe.“We’d love to build another level on top of the building but we don’t have the funding."February flood and InquiryWhen the February flood hit, the SES staff moved their operational equipment up to the Lismore Heights Bowling Club and left a few staff at the SES HQ to assist with evacuations, triage and sending vessels.“We normally launch our boats from Brunswick Street in front, but in the February flood, we were dropping evacuees at the front door,” Lacy said.As a result of the recent flood experience, Lacy said the local SES has made a number of recommendations to the NSW Flood Inquiry.“We definitely need more resources,” she said. “The severity of it took us all by surprise."What happened?The role civilians played in rescues is something that Lismore City SES unit commander Lacy Loloa has the utmost respect for.“We have so much respect for the civilians who put their lives on the line to help,” she said.When the February flood came, the Lismore City SES had five of their own SES vessels, as well as two from Southern Cross University, and two others from other SES units.In total, the SES had nine boats on the water and three inflatable ‘archangel’ vessels.“Even if we had 100 boats, we didn’t have enough members to man the boats – that was where the community stepped up,” Lacy said.“During the 2019 bushfires inquiry, Commissioner Fitzsimmon said ‘we can’t have a fire truck at every house’. It’s the same with the boats during the flood.“At first, we were encouraging civilian members to help, but had to withdraw that. It was about the potential liability of asking them for assistance.”ChangesLacy said a number of changes are needed to make Lismore streets safer to navigate in times of floods.“Civilians were found trapped on one side of railway line and we’ve made recommendations to change the train lines – they stop boats from being able to cross to access North and South Lismore to evacuate and ferry people out.“It will take one massive inquiry to make it safe.”

The local Northern Rivers region is set to benefit from new social housing and new urgent medical care clinics - if local Labor candidate, Patrick Deegan’s party wins the upcoming Federal election.HousingIn a press conference held today, Mr Deegan said Labor’s $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund would build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties.“The electorates of Page and Richmond will be first cabs off the rank to get these new social residences built,” Mr Deegan said.“Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness will prioritise assessing our housing needs - working out which buildings need to be repaired or rebuilt in new locations.“He will work with local community housing providers to create social housing stock and get people into new homes as quickly as possible.Crisis “Our region already had a huge shortage of affordable housing before the floods, but now the housing situation is a crisis“We know it’s not an immediate solution – and part of the fund will be for repairing current social housing properties. “People need hope now and the solutions being rolled out as part of the disaster response are happening too slowly.”Mr Deegan said it was important for the Federal Government to work closely with the NSW Government in order to see local issues addressed in a timely manner.“We have already been speaking with the reconstruction corporation and working closely with local State Government representative Janelle Saffin in local communities,” he said“We want to make sure any obstacles are overcome in order to get speedy results for the community.”Urgent Health CareNew Medicare Urgent Care Clinics run by existing GP clinics and Community Health Centres are also planned if Labor wins the election.Mr Deegan said the clinics would provide bulk billed services for minor injuries including sprains, broken bones, stitches, wound care, insect bites, minor ear and eye problems. “The clinics will help people with time-critical treatments and relieve pressure on our already overburdened Emergency Department at Lismore Base Hospital,” he said.“The new clinics will be open during extended business hours – at least 8am to 10pm – seven days a week. No appointment will be needed. All patients will need is their Medicare card.”Mr Deegan said funding for the new clinics will be through grants, so existing GP-led clinics can open longer and increase the number of doctors, nurses and allied health staff.“One-off grants will also be provided to improve equipment and facilities, like x-ray machines.“Urgent Care Clinics have been successful in other countries such as New Zealand, where they provide 2.5 million consultations a year. “The New Zealand experience shows Urgent Care Clinics can work for families and take the pressure off emergency departments.”NeglectMr Deegan said the current shortage of nurses and doctors working in regional areas was due to “nine years of National and Liberal Party neglect”.“We haven’t seen enough in terms of training new doctors and nurses,” he said.“Labor plans to attract more GPs to the new urgent care clinics and give them more option to practice as GPs rather than move into specialty focus areas.”When asked how he thought Labor would fare in the upcoming election in a region long held by the Nationals and Liberals, Mr Deegan said “the voters of Page will make that decision on the ground”.“There’s a mood for change and people are unhapppy with the current government,” he said. “Voting Labor is the way to change that.”   

With 17 musical acts on the bill, and loads of enviable raffle prizes, this weekend’s Flood Aid fundraiser is set to be fun for the whole family. Flood Aid organizer Brent Skimmings said the two day event will take place at Lismore Heights Sports Club – Saturday and Sunday May 7 and 8, from 2 to 9pm.Brent was born and raised in Lismore, but was living in Brisbane and working for a  brewery when the devastating floods hit Lismore in February and March.“I couldn’t get here to help but I wanted to do something to help,” Bent said.“I have a lot of music, sporting and brewery contacts and thought I could come up with a music festival and give the proceeds back to Lismore flood relief.“So I talked to the mayor Steve Krieg and chose the Lismore City Council Flood Appeal as the recipient for the money.”Brent said the Lismore Heights Sports Club was a great venue as it had an indoor and an outdoor space for music acts.MusicThe gig will see an indoor stage and an outdoor marquee hosting local musical acts throughout the weekend.Music acts include the popular bands Pink Zinc, Hot Dog and Bush, the Lismore Pipe Band – as well as the Cath Simes band.“Cath Simes runs Mary Gs as well and she and her band were directly affected by floods,” Brent said. “All the bands are donating their time for free.”FoodFood and drinks will be available in both areas throughout the weekend – and there will be a slush puppy stand for the kids.Raffle prizesAmong the goodies to be given away as prizes will be sighed jerseys, game tickets and other sporting memorabilia from the Matildas, West Tigers, Gold Coast Titans, the Socceroos and the Brisbane Broncos.There’s also a prize night away at the Crystalbrook Byron Resort.Tickets are available at the door, and cost $20 per adult per day or $30 for both days. Children can enter by donation.

With rain predicted every day for the next week, it’s understandable that Lismore residents might be feeling a little anxious.So, the Lismore App contacted the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to get the lowdown on what we might expect over the coming days.BOM forecaster Jake Phillips said that while rain is predicted, at this stage there are no signs of severe thunderstorms or large rainfall totals for Lismore in the next few days. Jake said it’s more likely that thunderstorms will develop further to the west in the tablelands.“The potential rain and weather instability is being caused by a low pressure system hanging around the region,” he said.“If we do get a storm here, we might get 20-30 mm of rainfall, but it’s more likely it will be less than 10mm of rain.“Tomorrow will be similar – most likely rain of 10-15mm unless a storm comes.”Thankfully, Jake said the storms we could get here in the next week are not like the storms we saw earlier in the summer.By the weekend, cooler conditions will arrive – with less rain likely on Sunday.Jake said there’s no need for people to get alarmed at the weather predictions for this week, but that we should keep an eye on the weather next week. “Our computer weather modeling suggests Northern NSW may get more rain next week,” he said.“We are keeping an eye on it. Parts of Queensland are likely to see significant rain as the week progresses – we are not sure but will get a better idea as the week goes on.”With change and unpredictability being the only constant in life, the predictions of a weather forecaster have become exceptionally important to people living in fire-prone - or flood-prone towns like Lismore.“We always give a lot of attention to weather predictions – but with such unpredictable weather patterns, you will never get perfect forecast -there are so many variables in weather systems,” Jake said.With the world currently in a La Nina weather pattern, Jake said this means storms have more humidity in the atmosphere, leading to an overall increase in the likelihood of storms with rain.“But this is not the sole reason we are getting them,” Jake said.“The number of significant weather events in the region are consistent with what climatologists are seeing on a wider scale – more severe weather and shifting climate patterns overall.”

In Lismore’s cultural heart, the fire is still burning. At the back of the Quad, library and art gallery, the Trees Not Bombs Community Recovery Café has become Lismore’s unofficial cultural centre.  It not only serves free food and drinks at a sit down café and library, but this Sunday will spice up Lismore culture with a feast of entertainment. Café volunteer coordinator Annie O’Shannessey invites the community to come along from 3 to 5pm and join some of the stand-up poets crew for a Spoken Word open-microphone event. Any donations raised at the event will go towards Lismore Library buying a new audio book collection.“People can read out stories, poems and creative musings on the theme of ‘recovery’,” Annie said. “After this at 5pm will be a fireside jam, supper, nightcap and singalong.”At the same location at 4.30pm on Friday afternoon, choir master Peter Lehner will also hold a choir workshop by donation – and all are invited.Sit down mealsThe café has been serving between 200 to 400 meals a day since Susie Russell and Greg Hall set up the tent on March 8. “It’s not just about food - it’s a safe calm place to relax, breathe and chat with other people,” Annie said. “There’s nowhere else for people to a sit down for a meal in Lismore – it’s an important service.“As other food outlets reopen, we will pare down the food and by keep going as a safe space offering drinks and maybe simple soups.DonationsAnnie said the café has been operating on public donations since Susie’s initial gofundme fundraising kicked off the café venture.“Now we need to buy a new marquee, as the old one Suzie brought up from Elands is falling apart.“The circus-style marquee is leaking at the moment – there’s a bucket tied to the top of the poles to catch leaking water – and an umbrella above the poles on top.Farewell“This weekend we farewell and thank Susie and Greg who are finally returning home to Elands after months of generous service to our community. “We’d love to see people come along and bring instruments or singing voices and make music to send off Susie and company after months of incredible work helping our community.“They knew setting up a café here in Lismore after the floods was an effective way they could help Lismore.“Elands is near Taree – and they were affected by the big bushfires. At that time they found that having a community kitchen really helped their community and people could go there and eat and talk.“So they pulled out the old Liberation Café tent from the 1990s, rallies a grew and came to Lismore.”Volunteers neededAs Susie, Greg and some other long standing café volunteers leave Lismore, Annie has taken up the reins as volunteer café coordinator – and now she needs more volunteers to help out.“Now it’s up to Lismore locals to keep the café running,” Annie said. “We have a roster system and lots of jobs if anyone can help out in any way.“They can chop vegetables, make tea and coffee, serve people, stir pots and keep the cooking running smoothly.“The sexiest job the dish pig role“We always need help washing dishes.”To find out more about the event, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/361427429284054/?ti=ls

When former Lismore tattooist Stevi Lee Alver saw the devastation caused by the recent floods, she was inspired to draw a political cartoon - and she sent it to the Lismore App.Stevi Lee originally a nurse, opened 'The Ink Atelier' tattoo shop, in Goonellabah in 2020. Read more: New tattoo shop brings Stevi Lee's ink to GoonellabahStevi Lee then sold her business late last year before she went travelling around Australia. The Goonellabah shop then became Hinterland Ink, which was set on fire in January this year. Read more: Tattoo Parlour set on fire on Ballina Road Stevi Lee said her cartoon was inspired by the recent actions of the Federal Government in spending money on buying submarines, but showing very little action on climate change."It's a joke," Stevi Lee said. "The tag line for my cartoon should be:'Australia is taking real action on climate change and getting results', Scott Morison tells current world leaders. 'Future generations will thank us. Thank us not for what we have promised, but what we deliver.'"

Lismore's community cultural festival with an Italian twist - LisAmore! - has been postponed for the second time.Due to go ahead in April this year - and originally in August last year - the 2022 festival will now take place sometime later this year.Festival organiser Ros Derrett said the decision postpone the festival was in response to the circumstances facing regional residents and visitors."We are preparing to reschedule our popular celebration of all things Italian till later in the year," Ros said."We are determined to regroup with our faithful patrons, outstanding entertainers, stallholders of authentic Italian fare, steadfast partners, loyal suppliers and investors."Like many who make a contribution to the city’s rich cultural life, we expect to return revitalised and ready to share the good times with pizazz, good humour and inclusivity. "We hope to enjoy your company when we have finalised the location and date."While our festival may be pushed back, we look forward to welcoming your involvement with renewed vim and vigour for the Italian flavoured revelry we plan to share with you."You can find out more about the future festival plans on social media.Read more: Lismore Italian Film Festival set to return this year and LisAmore! and Italian Film Fest rescheduled

Australia Post has released a new stamp to celebrate 100 years of advocacy and community work by Country Women’s Associations across Australia to improve the lives of rural and regional women, children and communities.The stamp, designed by Stacey Zass, features the CWA of NSW’s foundation president, Grace Emily Munro MBE (1879–1964).She lobbied government to build and staff maternity wards, hospitals and schools, raised funds for bush nurses and a Royal Flying Doctor’s Service base at Broken Hill, and was the first woman to serve on a hospital board in rural NSW.  The first Country Women’s Association (CWA) was formed in April 1922 in New South Wales, and today it is estimated there are more than 21,000 CWA members nationally in more than 1,100 branches Australia-wide.Guided by the long-standing motto “… Service to the Country, Through Country Women, For Country Women, By Country Women”, each not-for-profit association creates a support and social network for women, particularly in remote areas, advocating on key issues including access to medical and education services, and undertaking fundraising including through sales of iconic scones and cookbooks.  CWA of NSW President Stephanie Stanhope said: “The celebration of our centenary is an important milestone for our association and our members, marking 100 years of advocacy on behalf of NSW country communities and the provision of assistance across a wide variety of programs and initiatives.“The release of this stamp acknowledges the work of all CWAs, but as the first association, it is a particular highlight and honour for the CWA of NSW as we embark on the next 100 years of representing the interests of rural and regional NSW.”The CWA of Queensland was founded in August 1922 and the rest of the mainland states had formed associations by 1929. A branch was created in the Northern Territory in 1933, an association began in Tasmania in 1936 and a branch formed in the ACT in 1946.The $1.10 stamp and associated collectables are on sale from 26 April 2022 at participating Post Offices, online, and via mail order on 1800 331 794 while stocks last.For more information visit auspost.com.au/stamps or australiapostcollectables.com.au

With so many locals in trauma and needing legal help after the devastating floods, today’s announcement of funding for Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre (NRCLC) was welcomed by local lawyers – some who have also lost their homes.Attorney General Mark Speakman came to Lismore to announce the $680,000 funding for the centre - to deliver critical legal services to locals recovering from the flood crisis.“We know legal assistance is important - and lawyers here have been working tirelessly for clients - and are exhausted,” he said.“They don’t have huge salaries, but have their clients’ interests at heart.“We know recovery is a long road ahead and having legal professionals to help the most vulnerable in our communities is important.“So many are impacted by homelessness and domestic violence and need help.“Many people will require legal help to navigate insurance and property matters after NSW’s recent catastrophic weather events.”Mr Speakman said the funding from the NSW Government is from the Commonwealth’s $5.45 million package for existing legal services providing advice to flood affected communities in NSW and Queensland.NRCLC chair Jenny Nielson said the centre staff had been helping community, despite their own offices being impacted by the floods.“The NRCLC office sustained extensive damage during the Lismore floods, with significant damage to premises and equipment destroyed,” she said.“The money will help us to acquire a new office space to continue to work with community.”NRCLC chair Jenny Nielson and NRCLC manager Nicole Jenkins with the Attorney general.Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the funds will enable several additional full-time staff to relieve NRCLC staff“This funding will also cover the cost of a van so that NRCLC can provide legal services to wherever they are most needed across the Northern Rivers region.”Executive Director of Community Legal Centres NSW, Tim Leach aid the NRCLC covers a large area, stretching all the way up to Tweed Heads.“It’s important that the CLC is accessible to the entire community,” Mr Leach said. “This funding will enable Northern Rivers CLC to bring on support staff to assist its team.”NRCLC manager Nicole Jenkins said in future - once the Disaster recovery centres in Lismore close – the legal centre staff will continue to get out into community and “we are here with you in the long term. 

This week the NSW Government released its new ‘roadmap’ Koala Strategy - but some local campaigners say it doesn’t go far enough to ensure the preservation of habitat, which is critical to the survival of our threatened koalas. Backed by nearly $200 million in funding, the new Koala Strategy is set out in a five year plan, with more than 30 actions to conserve and double koala population numbers in the wild. Environment Minister James Griffin said the NSW Koala Strategy is the biggest financial investment ever made, to conserve any single species in Australia. “It demonstrates how committed we are to conservation and achieving our goal of doubling koala numbers by 2050,” he said. “We know there are multiple threats to koalas, including loss and fragmentation of their habitat, compounded by the impact of the devastating 2019–20 bushfires, as well as vehicle strike and dog attack.” This strategy is set to better secure 10 climate resilient koala stronghold locations from the Southern Tablelands, to Campbelltown and Lismore. Mr Griffin said these areas will receive “intensive action” in the next five years to support the existing populations there – and includes partnerships with community conservation groups. “Some of these actions include preventing vehicle strike and dog attacks, and restoring and protecting 47,000 additional hectares of habitat,” Mr Griffin said. Conservationist criticism Koala conservationist and ex-president of Friends of the Koala Ros Irwin said it was good to see the government allocate “impressive funds” for koalas, and that the strategy is for five years rather than three.“It’s also good to see support for wildlife carers and community groups that carry out koala-related activities,” she said. Habitat and corridors “However, yet again the strategy ignores the fact that protecting our forests from logging and important existing koala habitat and corridors from development are the only ways to prevent koalas heading for extinction in the long term. “Planting their food trees is great, and as a person whose property has a Biodiversity Conservation Agreement over it because of koalas, I know how important these activities are. “But it takes years for koala food trees to reach the maturity that koalas prefer, and in the meantime we see huge amounts of trees being removed and important colonies being impacted by development. “As the experts have said consistently, loss of their habitat is the critical factor in causing chlamydia and retrovirus, and in pushing them towards the tipping point that, once passed, will mean the end of koalas except in select areas.” Koala Strategy details The NSW Koala Strategy focuses on conservation actions under four themes:$107.1 million for koala habitat conservation, to fund the protection, restoration, and improved management of 47,000 hectares of koala habitat $19.6 million to supporting local communities to conserve koalas $23.2 million for improving the safety and health of koalas by removing threats, improving health and rehabilitation, and establishing a translocation program$43.4 million to support science and research to build our knowledge of koalas.A key part of the Koala Strategy involves establishing partnerships with conservation groups and communities. Projects funded by the new Koala Strategy include: Partnering with Taronga Conservation Society Australia to restore more than 5,000 hectares of Box Gum grassy woodlands around the Western Slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Koalas will be translocated to the site once the woodland is re-established. Partnering with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia to protect 500 hectares of high quality koala habitat on private land under conservation agreements across the Northern Rivers region through the Biodiversity Conversation Trust.Working with volunteer wildlife rehabilitators, vets and other partner organisations to enhance co-ordination of emergency response for koalas and other wildlife due to bushfire or extreme weather events. Minister Griffin said “we all want to see koalas thrive in the wild for generations to come, and everyone, including land managers, local councils, wildlife carers, citizen scientists and the NSW Government needs to be involved". “Protecting and restoring habitat will also support other threatened and endangered species, such as powerful owls and glossy black cockatoos,” Mr Griffin said. “The Strategy will help to fill key knowledge gaps and fund priority scientific studies to support koalas, including chlamydia vaccine trials. “The new Strategy builds upon the previous $44.7 million NSW Koala Strategy, which protected more koala habitat, invested in fixing koala roadkill hotspots, provided wildlife care training and funded scientific research, among other things.” To read the Koala Strategy, visit: environment.nsw.gov.au/koalas 

There’s a welcoming light shining from a lone shop window inside the Strand Arcade.Lismore hairdresser Nick Wright has reopened his hair salon, Bobby’s, after two floods.Inside, it looks like business as usual – products on shelves, black chandeliers hanging from the roof and the signature water feature cascades with clear water.Nick’s customers sit in comfy chairs and look into shiny mirrors, as Nick chats with them and colours their hair.After the first flood, Nick opened quickly and had a generator running to power the salon. At the time, there was no hot water, but it didn’t matter to Nick’s customers, because they were happy to have their favourite hairdresser open again.Then the second (lesser) flood came a month later. Again, Nick evacuated the salon and had to mop up the mess.Now, with power finally restored to the salon, Nick has been repainting the walls and the phone has been ringing hot with customers booking in.Nick said getting the salon open again so quickly after the first flood, was largely due to the fact that he camped in the Strand Arcade through the flood.He and his mum spent three nights and four days living on the mezzanine level of the arcade.Nick said they had water and food and waited for the flood waters to recede. When they came down on Wednesday morning, Nick was armed with a big ladder, a broom, some exit mould and a fire hose.He worked in his jocks to clean the shop walls, because he knew he needed clean, dry clothes to put on after being in the cold, muddy water.Now, after two floods, Nick is happy to be back to business as (almost) usual and is open from 9am to afternoon, Monday to Saturday.Nick’s flood storyOn the day of the February 28 flood, Nick was working in Bobby’s on the Saturday, the day before the flood began.He didn’t think a flood was going to be problem until that afternoon when his visiting mates said ‘I don’t like how this is looking’.By Sunday morning, Nick had a ‘gut feeling’ it wasn’t going to be good and with his mum’s help, moved all the furniture up high onto the mezzanine floor and the stock onto high shelves – where he thought it would be enough.“But then I went out the front of the arcade (onto Molesworth Street) and I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I saw water flowing in rapids. “My shop is about two feet higher than the front of the arcade. The building was built on a slope and the rear is on a higher level slab.“So I went back inside to move stock with buckets and scooped the products up.“Other businesses in the arcade were also moving things. The picture framer helped me lift heavy things onto the landing with a trolley.”Then he and his mum went up to the mezzanine level to wait it out, with food and water supplies. They had done it before. “We were upstairs watching as the water was getting higher and higher, creeping up step by step,” Nick said.“In the 2017 flood, it only covered three steps. This time it came to the second step from the top.“The amount of stuff that floated through the arcade was incredible – big sofas and front counters, sailing by really fast.“I saw electrical items like rice cookers and frying pans and realized the electrical shop across the road must have broken its windows.“When the water started getting higher, I looked up and saw the front roller door bowing out from the water. “The electricity was still on so I was able to get there and open it.“Through the night the lights were still on I could hear loud bangs like guns going off. It was a combination of things hitting the front door before bobbing around inside“Many glass windows in the arcade were broken. Ours were ok because the water cold come in through the roller doors.“Shops with doors closed had three feet high water outside and lots of pressure inside.“When the water got up to the second step from the top, I got a message saying another two metres is coming, so our escape plan was to get out through an upstairs landing onto the roof“But, the painters had been painting and I couldn’t get the door open. II was using everything to try to get it open.“I rang one of the owners and told him we were trapped and couldn’t get out. I asked if I could smash the bottom of his door to get to his office and out to the roof.“He said use the fire escape and I told him it was 13 foot under water. I was shocked at his response.“I eventually got the door to the roof open“I was really concerned because my mum was stressing. Knowing we could get out gave us hope that the SES would come and see us on the roof.“It gave my mum hope and it helped calm her down. We realized later that the SES would not have come.”The flood level went to 14.32 metres and Nick eventually came down after three nights.

If your garbage bin has been on the roadside since late last week, you are not alone.The Lismore App has received queries from locals asking why their garbage was not collected as usual last Friday. So we contacted Lismore City Council to find out what was happening.A Council spokesperson said some disruptions have occurred to normal services, even though "regular kerbside collections have resumed to non-flood affected areas".People are asked to leave their bins on the kerb and they will be collected as soon as possible.The delay in garbage collection comes after a fire began last Friday (April 1) at the Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre.The cause of the fire was a pile of flood-affected mattresses that were transported to the site as part of flood clean-up activities.Recycling & Recovery Centre openThe Recycling & Recovery Centre in East Lismore has now re-opened to the public for NON-flood affected waste only.Council asks people to keep the two streams of waste separate – non-flood affected and flood affected."We ask those with flood affected waste to continue to place it on the kerb for collection by the Public Works Advisory or use the free skip bins in Union Street and the corner of Magellan Street & Diadem Street," a Council statement said."The NSW Government’s EPA fee exemption for flood affected wastes does not apply to non-flood affected waste. This means normal weighbridge fees will be charged."The Earn and Return Bulk Drop Off has also reopened to regular hours, as has the Lismore Revolve Shop."The Nimbin Transfer Station has also re-opened with usual hours."To assist with the second round of flood waste collection, we ask businesses and property owners who still have flood waste that needs to be collected to contact Council on 6625 0500."

If you are hungry for cooked food or some staples, there's a few places now open again in Lismore, after the second flood in a month – and some that are not.If you know of any other places to get food that are open and not listed here - please let us know!Supermarkets and shops openedWoolworths and Chempro in Lismore Centre Shopping Centre are open.Benchtop Expresso on Keen Street is open.Lismore Pie Cart is open on Magellan Street.Spar and Lucky’s takeaway are open on Wyrallah Road – and the Pie Shop on Dalley Street in East Lismore is open.Lombardos in Goonellabah is open, selling fruit and veges.At Southern Cross University, in the Plaza, there are two cafes open providing hot cooked meals and coffee and tea.Also at SCU are the mobile banking tellers, as well as the Lismore Recovery Centre. This provides a range of services including accommodation advice, replacing lost documents, mental health and well-being services, support for businesses, clean-up services, financial assistance and insurance and legal support.The distribution centre at the Showground opened again this morning now that power has been restored to North Lismore.What’s not open yetThe Wyrallah Road distribution centre is closed until Friday, but will then reopen 9am to 5pm to provide staples of food and other donated items.Community centres open: food, clothes and healing needs The Trees Not Bombs café is open in the carpark behind the library (at the Quad) and serves free vegetarian breakfasts, curries, tea, coffee and cakes throughout the day. There’s also a free library operating next to it. Donations of books are welcomed.Koori MailManager of the Koori Mail Naomi Moran, said volunteers spent three days cleaning up after the second flood to get the community hub on Molesworth Street opened again yesterday.There’s plenty of donated fresh bread, water, vegetables and fruit on offer. There’s a free BBQ and vegetarian curries on offer. There’s also a coffee van set up offering free barista-style coffees.The Food Bank is operating from the garage of the Koori Mail building where you can get pasta, rice, tinned veges, pet food, cleaning products, sanitary items, camping gear and tools like shovels and brooms.“We’ve restocked the shelves of the Food Bank and we are calling out for additional supplies that are getting low,” Naomi said.“Sometimes people come in and say they need something like WD40, so we write it on the board and people can look at it daily and hopefully donate needed items.Upstairs at the Koori Mail is also a clothes distribution area – with a section especially for infant supplies - such as nappies, toys and car seats.HealingIn the Koori Mail building, there's a fitted out medical centre there where you can receive triage treatment for things like flood water cuts and other minor injuries.Near the Food Bank is a healing tent, where people are invited to have a chat or get a free massage.“After two floods – mental health is important too,” Naomi said. “People can get social and emotional support here.“People are experiencing varying levels of trauma and might not have been able to access formal support yet.”Borrow equipment Naomi said you can also register to borrow equipment like pressure cleaners, gurneys air purifiers and dehumidifiers.“You can book it out for 48 hours and then bring it back so the whole community can use it."VolunteersVolunteers are always needed to help out in any way – not only at the Koori Mail, but also with Resilient Lismore. Read more: A cry for help comes to make houses safe and warm before winter “Volunteers can help clean properties or remove rubbish,” Naomi said.“They can also help out to sort food, cook or do food and donation drop-offs to people. You can come in and register with our volunteer coordinator to do jobs, or offer support on the ground.”To volunteer or donate goods and money, visit the Koori Mail or contact Resilient Lismore at http://www.floodhelpnr.com.au

“We will rebuild Lismore” was the message given by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet when he visited Lismore today to announce new Back to Home Grants for flood-damaged properties.As he toured a city that has been flooded twice in a month, the Premier said the grants are to help people get back into their homes by contributing towards the cost of replacing appliances, reconnecting utilities and making necessary repairs.Read the earlier story: Back To Home $20,000 grant releasedWhile the grants have not yet officially opened for applications, Mr Perrottet clarified who is eligible to apply and what the money can be used for. “Under the Back Home grant scheme, households that have been declared as damaged or destroyed and are unable to claim on insurance or natural disaster relief will be eligible for up to $20,000 cash grants,” he said.Not means testedUnlike the Disaster Relief Grants administered by Resilience NSW (of up to $50K), the Premier said these grants are not ‘means tested’.“This gives an opportunity for every person - regardless of their income - to access help,” he said.“I don’t want anyone left behind.“If you have received the federal government $3,000 Centrelink payment, you qualify for this payment as well.“If you are owner occupier, you can get up to $20K. If you are in a landlord/tenant relationship, the landlord can receive up to $15K and the renter can get up to $5K in support.Priority“Our overriding priority is to get people into safe housing, and we are looking at every possible avenue to do that,” Mr Perrottet said.“For those people who have properties or homes that can be repaired, this grant can be the cash that they need to make urgent repairs such as fixing roofs, making properties watertight, connecting back to electricity and replacing furniture and fridges.” “Getting people back to work and businesses back open again - as well as rebuilding homes - is a massive challenge and I’m confident that we will get it done.“It’s absolutely devastating and as the flood water subsides, we will be here to support you.”Flood inquiry submissions open The Premier also said submissions to the enquiry into the February flood also opened today and it was intrinsically “connected to the response and rebuild of Lismore”.What can you use the grants for?The new grant funds can be used towards any clean-up costs to restore housing to a habitable condition. Some of these costs are:Inspection and safe reconnection of utilities, such as electrical, gas, water, hot water and sewerage equipment not otherwise the responsibility of utility companies;Necessary replacement or repairs to damaged essential household goods such as refrigerators, ovens, washing machines and microwaves;Necessary replacement or repairs to damaged equipment such as computers and tools;Making necessary structural repairs including roof, flooring, walls, fittings (owner-occupier/owner).When will the grants open?The Premier expects the grants to open for applications in the “coming weeks”.He said he wants to the money be made available “as soon as possible” to local communities.Unlike the lengthy waits experienced by some people applying for grants with Resilience NSW, he said the process would be “more streamlined through the Service NSW online application process.”“We have learned from what’s already happened and we are here to do what’s right and if mistakes have been made - to improve them,” he said.He also acknowledged that more work was needed on small business grants.Apply for a grantThe government is investing $112 million in the Back Home grants, which are available across the Hawkesbury, Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore,Richmond Valley and Tweed Local Government Areas.The grants will go live in the coming weeks. Applicants can register to be notified via www.nsw.gov.au/floods.The Back Home grants are in addition to a series of other clean-up programs and work under way. Waste levies have been waived for flood-affected local government areas, about 17,000 truckloads of waste have been removed, and free structural assessments are being conducted under the Property Assessment and Demolition (PAD) program.Grant Eligibility:Eligible owner-occupiers and landlords will receive up to $15,000 through the Back Home grant program, to repair and refit damaged homes;An additional payment of up to $5,000 per property can be accessed for the replacement of essential household items. This is only available to renters and owner/occupiers;A maximum of $20,000 will be available for any one property;Those who have received the means tested Disaster Relief Grant are not eligible for this package;The property must be assessed as damaged, destroyed or uninhabitable by the SES.The owner or renter must be uninsured or unable to claim insurance.