Covid case numbers are reducing across the State – with only 283 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 reported in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.State statisticsWhen it comes to vaccinations, across NSW 92.3% of people aged 16 and over had received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 81.6% are fully vaccinated.In the 12-15 year old age group, 75.5% have had their first dose, and 38.2% are fully vaccinated.Local casesOne the local Covid front, one new case of COVID-19 has been reported for Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) to 8pm Monday.NNSWLHD acting chief executive Lynne Weir said the case is in the Lower Clarence area of the Clarence Valley LGA, and the source of infection is under investigation.  “Initial investigations indicate this case was infectious in the community, and our public health team has already been in contact with a number of close contacts,’ she said.  “Contact tracing is underway to determine any venues of concern, and further information will be provided as soon as possible.”Local statisticsThere have now been 100 total cases reported in NNSWLHD since the Delta outbreak began in Sydney on 16 June. Mr Weir encouraged anyone with even the slightest symptoms should get tested as soon as they feel unwell. There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic at COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP. If you have not yet received your COVID-19 vaccination, please make a booking or attend one of the walk-in clinics operating at various locations throughout the region.Find available bookings at the Commonwealth Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder or you can also call Health Direct on 1800 57 11 55 for assistance to book.

While housing options for the living are few and far between in the Lismore area, it seems housing for the dead is a growing business.The Lismore Memorial Gardens, Crematorium and Cemeteries Office in Goonellabah has reopened to members of the public looking to discuss options for burial.Run by Lismore City Council, the office, on Skyline Road, provides a respectful space to discuss burials at the Lismore Memorial Gardens - as well as and rural cemeteries options, cremations, memorial services and memorisation and plaques. Commercial Services Business Manager, Kevin Trustum, said that over the past few years it was identified that a dedicated space was required for customers, their families and loved ones to discuss burial and service options, organise a cremation, reserve burial plots and arrange memorialisation. The new office showcases the range of memorial and plaque options and offers a new range of memorial and commemorative products. Mr Trustum said families can now purchase cremated remains urns, keepsake urns and cremation jewellery at the office, with a range of the products on display.These urns do allow the family to retain a portion of the cremated remains, while still having a formal memorial gardens interment site. Council is currently constructing a special plaque-only memorial area, called the Brushbox Memorial Garden, to allow a memorial site where ashes may have been retained or scattered elsewhere.It is also bringing online a new outdoor post-service wake area to allow families and friends to celebrate the lives of their loved ones in the beautiful setting of the Memorial Gardens. Lismore City Council's cemeteries and crematorium honour residents who've made Lismore and its Villages the diverse and vibrant community it is today.Council manages six cemeteries and a crematorium catering for burials, cremations and memorials for cremated remains.Lismore Memorial Gardens is the largest cemetery offering a range of burial and memorialisation options and is the location of the Lismore Crematorium.Council provides a number of other cemeteries in urban, rural and village settings that give residents the option to be buried and memorialised closer to their homes.The new office is open for Monday to Thursday 9am to 3pm. Bookings are recommended and can be made by calling the office on 6625 0500. Bookings can be made by phone on Fridays.

Receiving abuse from customers wasn’t something that Stepz Fitness manager Alyce Benson was prepared for when she reopened the Lismore CBD gym this week.After a series of lockdowns kept the gym closed for weeks, reopening was a bittersweet experience.With the State Government’s new double vaccination rules for patrons now in place, it’s put extra pressure on business owners who now have to deal with irate customers who are not vaccinated, or have only had one jab.“I’ve had abuse over the phone and been called names,” Alyce said. “They are blaming me for discriminating against them coming to the gym, when it’s not my decision – it’s the government's.  “A lot of gym members are really unhappy - but we also have some great and understanding customers.“I’m just trying to do the right thing by the rules.“The first few days were the worst. It’s dividing everyone when we should all be one community.”Even though she feels uncomfortable asking, Elise said Stepz staff members have to ask each gym to show proof of vaccination.“The ones who are unvaccinated or only have one jab have had their memberships put on hold, until they have their second jab,” she said. Losing money“Holding memberships means we are losing money – we have lost about 50% of our membership because of this.“We are also losing new customers who want to sign up to get fit and healthy, but they can’t because they haven’t yet had two jabs. “It would be amazing if the government would allow people in regional areas with one jab to use services.“We haven’t had the same vaccine supply here and we have a lower vaccination rate than city people who are well ahead of us.“The government needs to be more lenient.”IronyThe irony that a staff member with one jab can go to work but can’t enter the gym as a patron is not lost on Elise. She sees the withholding of entry to fitness facilities as a blow to people’s mental health.“So many people are crying out to come in and use the gym to release their anxiety and stress and go home refreshed. “Some personal trainers have adapted and are training one on one outside.” Alyce Benson and others at Stepz Fitness.Fitness Manouvers At Dawson Street’s Fitness Manouvers, personal trainer Kate Cairnduff said she has not copped any abuse from customers, but that she has lost about one-third of her clients because of the vaccination rules.“I’ve lost 16 clients every week who are not yet double jabbed and can’t come to the studio,” Kate said.“I’ve given them free access to my client online program so they can keep moving and I can keep engaging with them.“I don’t want there to be a ‘them and us’ division within my own communityKate said she witnesses the client's vaccination certificates the first time, then doesn’t need to see them again.“Then we don’t talk about it any more and just get on with it,” she said. “I want it to be as uncomplicated as possible.”Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre (GSAC)At the Council-run Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre (GSAC), restrictions are also in place for people depending on their Covid-19 vaccination status.A Lismore City Council spokesperson said, “Council acknowledges that some people may not have had the opportunity to get their first and/or second vaccination, while others have chosen not to get vaccinated”.“Those wanting to access GSAC must show proof of double COVID-19 vaccination or hold a medical contraindication certificate.”GSAC operating hours will be from 10.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Switch FitnessFor Switch Fitness, to gain 24-hour access to the gym facility, members are asked to visit the front reception desk first during operating hours to show proof of double COVID-19 vaccination or a medical contraindication certificate. Access will then be granted.No group fitness classes will operate however this will be reviewed weekly.SwimmingRecreation swimmers will be allowed to use the pool during the normal operating hours of the centre.Learn to Swim classes will not open until Monday, 1 November and will resume with limited lessons in the afternoons only. Anyone wanting to confirm Learn to Swim classes from 1 November onwards are advised to contact GSAC on 02 6625 5370.CafeThe GSAC café will re-open and creche will be closed until further notice.“The next stage of the NSW Government Roadmap is due to commence on Monday, 6 December and normal operations are expected to continue unless any changes from the NSW Government occur,” the spokesperson said.“We will continue to keep our community up to date with any changes and please continue to practice COVID-19 safety protocols, including the mandatory wearing of a mask, signing in and out with a QR Code, using hand sanitiser and practising social distancing.”

Three new Covid cases have been reported in our local Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) - including one in Lismore Local Government Area (LGA).NNSWLHD acting chief executive Lynne Weir said the case in the Lismore LGA is under investigation. A second case is in the Casino area of Richmond Valley LGA, and linked to an existing cluster.  The third is in the Grafton area of Clarence Valley Local Government Area (LGA) and is a household contact of a previously reported case. "Contact tracing is underway to determine any new venues of concern related to cases infectious in the community, and Public Health has been in contact with a number of people identified as close contacts," Ms Weir said."There have now been 92 total cases reported in NNSWLHD since the Delta outbreak began in Sydney on 16 June. "Anyone with even the slightest symptoms should get tested as soon as they feel unwell.""There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic at COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP. "We encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are able to."You can find available bookings at the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder (previously eligibility checker), or you can also call Health Direct on 1800 571 155 for assistance to book.New venues of concernNew Covid venues of concern were reported overnight across the health district.Most were in Grafton, none were in Lismore, but one was closer to home at Aldi in Ballina on Friday, 8 October from 6:30pm to 7:00pm.State wide statisticsNSW recorded 406 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. There were also six Covid-related deaths. Three people were not vaccinated, two people had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and one person had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.Vaccination statistics Across the State, there are currently 711 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 143 people in intensive care, 75 of whom require ventilation.In NSW, the State average vaccination rate is 91.1% first dose and 76.5% double dose.

Due to the State Government’s COVID-19 roadmap, all Richmond Tweed Regional Library (RTRL) branches and the Mobile Library will be closed to the public, this includes both the Lismore and Goonellabah libraries.However, a free Click and Collect and other online services are now available and can be accessed via www.rtl.nsw.gov.auActing Regional Library Manager Lucy Kinsley said this decision to offer Click and Collect from today was to ensure equitable access across the entire community.“Due to the NSW Government’s COVID-19 roadmap, it was a difficult decision to make but one that provided the most equitable service to all community members,” she said.“We will be monitoring the NSW Health guidelines and review any decisions as necessary to ensure the best outcome for everyone.”The free Click and Collect can be used to access a range of different services that are designed to ensure an easy and smooth process.You can order your items by visiting the RTRL website or via a smartphone app that can be downloaded from the website, or you can contact your local branch and have a staff member arrange your order.RTRL staff can assist anyone needing help selecting the right theme, topic or genre of reading material.The Online Library is always open, providing access to thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and more.All other library services, such as access to PCs, library programs, printing services, will not be available, and the Family & Research Centre will be closed.To access Click and Collect and the online library service, or find your local branch phone number, please visit www.rtrl.nsw.gov.au.

The father and son who travelled from Sydney to the local region and sparked a lockdown, have pleaded guilty to most of the charges they face.Read more Covid news: Covid update: 12 new cases in the local districtNeither Zoran Radovanovic, 52 and his 19-year-old son Kristian appeared in Lismore Local Court this week on Monday, when their cases were mentioned.Instead of personally appearing, Mr Radovanovic’s lawyer emailed through Mr Radovanovic's guilty pleas to four charges of failing to comply with electronic registration (QR codes).He is also charged with three counts of not complying with COVID directions, but as yet he has not entered a plea.Local police have alleged the pair violated public health orders after going to Byron Bay in late July to look at real estate - and failed to use QR codes to check into venues.In August, the LGAs of Byron, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina were all plunged into a seven day lockdown, after Mr Radovanovic tested positive to Covid. He was then treated in Lismore Base Hospital.The lockdown was then extended, effectively keeping the region in lockdown until September 10.Zoran’s son Kristian entered guilty pleas to all four charges against him: two of not complying with electronic registration, one of not complying with directions and one of not wearing a face mask in public transport or a taxi..Both remain on bail, with the father’s case to be mentioned again at Lismore on November 15 and the son’s matter to be mentioned in Waverley Local Court on November 8.

In today’s Covid update for our local health district, 12 new cases of COVID-19 were reported, but none in Lismore.Three cases are in the Ballina LGA, and the source of these infections is under investigation.Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) acting chief executive Lynne Weir said the initial investigations indicate these cases have all been infectious in the community.  Nine cases were reported in the Grafton area - five of them were household contacts of previously reported cases or linked to the existing cluster and four cases are under investigation. “Four cases are being cared for in hospital, with one of these cases in Intensive Care and all are in a stable condition,” Ms Weir said.There have now been 89 total cases reported in NNSWLHD since the Delta outbreak began in Sydney on 16 June. Ms Weir said contact tracing is underway to determine any new venues of concern related to cases infectious in the community.“Public Health has been in contact with a number of people identified as close contacts,” she said. “Where cases are reported in school communities, Pubic Health works directly with the Department of Education and Training who in turn liaise with the affected school, and communication is provided through existing Education channels to members of the school community.  “Teachers, parents and students should follow the health advice provided by the school as well as any further advice they may receive from the Public Health Unit.  State-wide statistics Across NSW, there were 444 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night and four people died.Two were not vaccinated and two people had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.Lismore LGA vaccination statisticsWith a population of 35,892 people aged 15 years and over, Lismore’s vaccination rate average is still below State average, sitting on 80.8% one dose and 47% double dose vaccinations.Healthy North Coast NSW Covid-19 vaccination rate by LGA.According to Healthy North Coast, across the wider North Coast region, 88% of those aged 16 and over have now had their first dose, ahead of the national average of 82%.Healthy North Coast chief executive Julie Sturgess said 60% of people in the North Coast region are now fully vaccinated, almost on par with the national average of 62%.“I want to personally thank the whole community for their strong support for getting vaccinated and health providers for making it possible,” Ms Sturgess said.“With the recent easing of travel restrictions, and having people visit our region again, we can feel confident that the majority of our residents will have been vaccinated."While this doesn’t mean people won’t get COVID, they are better protected from serious disease and the risk of hospitalisation.“We’re certainly moving towards being a “community with immunity”.’  

In the ongoing search for answers to Lismore’s mystery explosion and bright light on Tuesday night (October 5), more enigmatic clues keep appearing. Read more: North Lismore's 'explosion' mystery reveals aliens, fireballs and starlinksOne Lismore App reader said he heard on the ABC news this week that a number of people had sighted something in the night sky that was believed to be a Chinese rocket.Unfortunately, no link to the news story could be found online.Chinese rocket launch?However, there was mention in various online news sites of a September 28 launch of the China Long March 3B rocket – which was then seen over Sydney - and sparked a number of UFO sighting claims.On Tuesday night, at least two Lismore residents spotted a bright light moving east to west in the sky, but they did not hear the explosion, or experience the electricity outage.Could the bright light in the sky have been another Chinese rocket launch?China has been periodically launching rockets to construct a new space station.In May this year, fragments of a rocket launched as part of the space station floated in orbit for more than a week before crash-landing back to Earth.Power linesAnother Lismore resident told the Lismore App that as a ‘delinquent’ child he would make powerlines touch each other and that would trigger an explosive sound and bright light.Could the gathered group of young people in North Lismore on Tuesday night have done a similar thing?The Lismore App visited Terania Street in North Lismore to investigate - near the Bakers Corner and Liberty service stations – as well as the railway bridge.In places, the power lines could potentially have been close enough to be forced to touch.But questions arise like: How does the person making the powerlines touch avoid being electrocuted? And why didn’t Essential Energy notice it?In an ongoing search for answers, the mystery continues.The truth is out there.Let us know if you have any more ideas by emailing liina@lismoreapp.com.au

Nine new cases of Covid were reported in the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) yesterday – but none in Lismore.There were also new venues of concern listed on the NSW Health website, including Lismore Fundies on Thursday, September 30. (For a full list of local venues listed on the website, see the end of this story.)The nine new local cases were among the 646 new cases recorded across NSW.NNSWLHD acting chief executive Lynne Weir said three of the local district cases are in Ballina LGA and linked with an Alstonville cluster.“One case is a household contact of a previously reported case and as been in self-isolation, while two cases are under investigation,” she said.“Two cases are in the Casino area of Richmond Valley LGA. Of these, one case is linked to the Kyogle cluster and one case is under investigation. “Three cases are in the Kyogle LGA, all household contacts of previously reported cases, and have been in self-isolation. “One case is in the Byron LGA, a household contact of a previously reported case, and has been in self-isolation.”There have now been 57 total cases reported in Northern NSW since June 16 when the current Delta outbreak in Sydney began.  “Three cases are being cared for in hospital, and all are in a stable condition,” Ms Weir said.Read more Covid news: Local jabs rates rising as NSW hits roadmap vax targetContact tracing“Contact tracing is underway to determine any venues of concern, and further information will be provided as soon as possible.  “Contact tracing teams spend time talking with confirmed cases, checking history of whereabouts and assessing any exposure risks of public venues, including reviewing QR codes, COVID-safe business plans and CCTV footage where appropriate.”Stay at home ordersStay-at-home orders are in place for Lismore LGA, Casino, and Kyogle LGA until 11 October due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk. Everyone in these areas must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if you can't work or study at home. Anyone with even the slightest symptoms should get tested as soon as they feel unwell. There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic at COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP. Lismore venues of concernThese can be found on the website https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/nsw-covid-19-case-locations/case-locations

From aliens, to falling stars and fireballs, the search is on to find answers to the mystery ‘explosion’ in North Lismore at 7pm on Tuesday night. Read more: Mysterious explosion rocks parts of Lismore last nightAs the cause of the loud boom and bright light baffles Essential Energy and local service stations, Lismore App readers have been keen to share their experiences of the event and what they think might have happened. Shooting star?Two Lismore residents told the Lismore App they saw a slow moving, very bright shooting star – moving from east to west, not long before dark.Geoff O'Malley said the light was low in the sky and moved in a descending trajectory toward the west.“I was in the northern end of Diadem Street, looking south,” Geoff said. “The light seemed to be not much above the line of Girards Hill.“If it was shooting star it would have been much further away than other parts of Lismore. Drone?“It could conceivably have been some kind of flying object, perhaps a drone, that crashed, and Terania Street would potentially have been on its path. “The light did look more unnatural, like a LED, than a shooting star and it seemed to be moving more slowly.”Starlinks?Another Lismore resident, William J Goode said he thought the brief shooting star he saw might have finally burnt up over South Lismore.“We’re gonna have all Elon Musk’s little starlinks coming back like that one day,” William said. “I think he (Elon) said five years, but he’s putting them up at the rate of 60 a fortnight.”Another North Lismore resident said her power went out at exactly 7pm, when she heard a noise that she thought was the power box blowing up.“But within two seconds the power turned back on again,” she said.Aliens?“This was very weird and I would like to know what it was: Aliens? A spacecraft falling? Maybe even just a power breaker blew up.”Twilight Zone?Lismore resident Neville Feltcha said he noticed the power go out briefly after a loud bang and a bright flash near the old rail bridge crossing over Terania Street.Neville said it was not the first time this has happened – that the same thing has happened “at least four or five times in the last two years or so”.Fireball?The Lismore App did some research and discovered that falling meteors and fireballs are common space objects that can enter the earth’s atmosphere and cause noise and light.The main difference between them is that a meteor is commonly heard as a crackling or sizzling sound, while a fireball makes a ‘sonic boom’.According to Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory senior scientist, Don Lincoln, fireballs are generally not dangerous and usually burn up in the atmosphere. Apparently only a few actually land.Mr Lincoln said a fireball is a meteor with a brightness of the planet Venus, or greater - and can make a loud bang. In 2019, a fireball caused a loud bang over central New York.He said sonic boom sound released from the fireball is caused when an object travels faster than the speed of sound (about 767 mph at sea level). “Because of their speed, they emit sound in an unusual way. Rather than producing sound waves in a spherical way like the ones that are created when a pebble is tossed into a pool of water, an object moving faster than the speed of sound emits waves in a cone-like pattern. It's similar to the wake of a fast motorboat as water is pushed to either side,” he said.“When that cone of waves passes over an observer, they hear a sharp report, like a very loud and brief explosion. “Since objects from space can hit the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 mph, which is far faster than the speed of sound, sonic booms are inevitable.”The truth is out thereIs this the end of the quest for answers into Lismore’s mysterious explosion? The truth is out there.

Lismore’s lockdown means we can’t visit the beach, but we can still visit the Lismore Memorial Baths in the CBD.Stay at home rules for Lismore LGA residents mean we can still leave home to exercise.So, the Memorial Baths on Molesworth Street will be open for lap swimming and hydrotherapy only.Perhaps swimming in a 50 metre outdoor pool can become your new favourite exercise.The pool is open Monday to Friday, from 6am to 7pm and on Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 5pm.

A mysterious loud boom accompanied by a bright light rocked North Lismore last night – and was heard by residents in South Lismore too. A Terania Street resident (who wants to remain anonymous) said she heard the “explosion” and saw a “big bright light” at about 7pm on Tuesday.She also reported that the electric lights in her house went out briefly – and the same was reported by some South Lismore residents. “My first thought was ‘someone’s in trouble’,” the North Lismore resident said. “I ran outside with my mask, but no shoes on because I was worried someone was hurt.”The resident, who lives close to the Liberty service station on Terania Street, said the light was bright enough to light up the sky and be seen over the top of houses.“When I ran outside I could see a group of young people standing around near the service station. But I didn’t want to hang around.“I thought at first the noise was from the service station, but couldn’t see anything. Then I thought it might have been electricity related because there’s a power line pole with lots of infrastructure on it near there too.”The Lismore App investigated the cause of the explosion and checked in with each of the service stations in North Lismore – and Essential Energy. An Essential Energy spokesperson said there were no call outs or reports of any problems last night.The Liberty service station has two venues in North Lismore – and neither of them knew anything about it either. The North Lismore Bakers Corner (Lismore Fuels) service station also had no idea. The source of the noise, light and brief electricity interruption still remains a mystery to local business owners and residents.If anyone can help us work out what caused the mysterious noise, please let us know here at the Lismore App. You can email liina@lismoreapp.com.au

The Book Warehouse on Keen Street has temporarily ceased all trading, following advice from NSW Health that a Covid-19 positive person had entered its premises.The news comes as Lismore records one new Covid case, as reported this afternoon by the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD). Two new Covid cases were also reported in Casino.Read more Covid news: Two new venues of concern listed in LismoreThe Book WarehouseThe Book Warehouse will remain closed until further notice for store cleaning and until all staff have been tested and are clear.The closure comes after the Covid case visited the shop on Thursday, September 30, between 11.15am and 11.25am.“If you were in our business at that time, you need to get tested and isolate until you receive a negative test result,” a shop Instagram post said.“The Lismore shop is currently closed to the general public due to the LGA Lockdown and staff will not be available to supply click and collect services or to answer phone enquiries until negative test results have been returned and the shop has been deep cleaned.“Our website is still running and staff will be back o deck to process orders as soon as possible.“We thank you for your patience and encourage anyone with even the mildest symptoms to get tested.”At the time of publication, the shop was still not listed on the NSW health website as a venue of concern.Local district Covid casesNNSWLHD Acting Chief Executive Lynne Weir said yesterday, October 5, three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in the local health district.“Two cases are in the Casino area of Richmond Valley Local Government Area (LGA), and one case is in the Lismore LGA,” Ms Weir said.“All three are household contacts of confirmed cases. Two of the cases had been self isolating and one had been infectious in the community for 24 hours. “Two cases are now being cared for in hospital, and both are in a stable condition.”To 8pm 5 October, there have now been 41 total cases confirmed in Northern NSW since 16 June when the current Delta outbreak in Sydney began. “NNSWLHD can confirm there have now also been four positive cases in the Grafton area reported since 8pm,” Ms Weir said."These cases are under investigation, and will be reported in NSW Health’s figures tomorrow.”TestsFor the week of 19-25 September there were 10,562 tests conducted among local residents of Northern NSW Local Health District. In the four days to 30th September a further 6,372 tests were conducted.  “Thank you to everyone who has come forward for testing. If you have had a negative test and then develop new symptoms at a later date, please come and get another test,” Ms Weir said.“It’s important that we keep testing numbers as high as possible, to identify any new cases among our community.”

As Lismore LGA enters its third day in the latest lockdown, two more new venues of concern in Lismore have appeared on the NSW Health website.The latest two venues are the SPAR on Wyrallah Road in East Lismore on October 1 and the Healthwise Multicare Chiropractic Centre on Orion Street on September 24.Read more Covid news: CBD shop ceases trading after Covid case visits the venueAs the NSW Government leadership is changing, so too is how NSW Health reports Covid case numbers, venues of concern and definitions of close contacts.Statewide and local reportingIn this morning’s NSW Health Covid update, Dr Marianne Gale reported there were 594 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. There were also ten deaths.When it comes to our regional, local area, some Lismore App readers have asked us how NSW Health makes decisions regarding what information to report to the community – particularly with regard to the source of infections and where any venue of concern might be.The official answer from our health authorities is that if you are considered a close contact and have visited a venue of concern, you will be contacted by NSW Health and asked to get tested and isolate. While there has been no NSW Health media release today reporting the two new venues of concern, the Lismore App visited the NSW Health website to discover the details of the two local venues. The details are listed as follows, along with a list of all other currently listed Lismore 2480 postcode venues.At the moment, the take-home message is to check in with the NSW Health website for the latest details in order to keep yourself up to date with Covid cases. You can visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/nsw-covid-19-case-locations/case-locations for more information.

After 15 years of showing art exhibitions in North Lismore, Serpentine Community Gallery will be closing its doors.The gallery’s treasurer and founding member Corrine (Rin) Batt-Rowden said it’s not the end of the community gallery - but she doesn’t know where the gallery can relocate to - and is calling for community help.“The building has been sold and the new owner needs accommodation for his family,” Rin said.“We are in the middle of a rental crisis and there’s not many places available at the moment.“The building is zoned for residential and business use, so his mother will live there.“He has offered us free rent until we find somewhere else to go to.OptionsRin said the gallery’s program of exhibitions will continue while the committee looks at real estate options.“We are hoping to move into the Lismore CBD into a bigger space and be able to provide more services to members,” she said“We have lots of digital artists at the gallery and would love to offer Artificial Reality (AR) workshops.“We have also talked to the Mayor to see if council has a venue we can use.”ReinventionRin said Covid restrictions and lockdown challenges meant the gallery had needed to reinvent itself to survive.“We created an online gallery with merchant facilities, so we could still show and sell work,” she said.“It was all about being creative and coming up with new solutions in a new world to transform and create a space for the community.“We are all still excited and the team is positive and upbeat about the future.”HistorySerpentine Community Gallery opened in November 2006.Rin said she signed the lease after walking by one day and thinking the building would make a good gallery.“I was inspired and I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” Rin laughed.“It’s been a challenging a 15-year commitment, working as part of a volunteer team and holding space for the community and member artists.“I’ve learned, grown and met some awesome people.”Community galleryAs a community gallery, Serpentine Gallery is a not for profit incorporated organisation, owned by and for the community.Rin said as a financial gallery member (for $50 a year), artists get to participate in members and group shows - as well as sell items in the gallery gift shop - and have voting rights on management committee decisions.HighlightsRin said a highlight for her has been working with high school students to exhibit their Year 12 artworks.“I love seeing their parents and community come and support the young artists - and seeing the pride and sense of accomplishment they had.“There’s not a lot of places they can exhibit their art and it happened in such a supportive way at Serpentine.Lowlights Even after the 2017 floods inundated the gallery, Rin said the community donated so much and helped clean it up after the flood.Ironically, it was the gallery’s current exhibitors – the Lismore Art Club - who had their exhibition on when the flood-hit in 2017. Read more: Lismore Art Club exhibition celebrates 61 years of art“At the time, they lost some work in the floods,” Rin said. “They have been sharing their stories about it, some artists remembering having to throw out mud-covered artworks.“There are so many good and sad stories of strength and community support here. When an artist dies, their friends put on an exhibition of their work for the community“It’s been a place where all walks of life connect and share creative inspiration.”HelpIf you have any ideas of where the gallery can relocate to, email gallery@serpectinearts.org

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall for the Northern Rivers.As severe thunderstorms continue to develop throughout the State, winds, hailstones and rainfall may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours.See more pictures of the fast moving front at the end of this story.The next warning is due to be issued by 5:40 pm and the State Emergency Service advises that people should:* Move your car under cover or away from trees.* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.* Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.* Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.* Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.* Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.* If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.* Be aware that run-off from rainfall in fire affected areas may behave differently and be more rapid. It may also contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks.* After bushfires, heavy rain and the loss of foliage can make the ground soft and heavy, leading to a greater chance of landslides.* Unplug computers and appliances.* Avoid using the phone during the storm.* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.

With neighbouring Kyogle now under Stay at Home Orders until October 11 - and Southern Cross University closed for deep cleaning following new Covid cases - will Lismore continue to escape lockdown? Read more: SCU closes Lismore campus after positive COVID-19 caseWhile we are still free to travel, the changing map of where is okay to travel to on any given day can be frustrating for Lismore residents.Especially if you have avoided Byron and Tweed because of their recent lockdowns – only to discover that your recent visit to Kyogle means you now have to isolate and get tested.See the map and read more about which areas you can and can't travel to in NSW: Police urge motorists to slow down and stay safe over long weekend Covid statisticsThe latest report from the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) shows reported five new confirmed Covid cases in our district to 8pm yesterday, bringing the total number of active cases in Northern NSW to 14. Across NSW, there were 864 new locally acquired Covid cases – with 210 in intensive care and 104 requiring ventilation.There were also 17 deaths across the State yesterday - of those, nine were not vaccinated.Local casesNNSWLHD Acting Chief Executive Lynne Weir said of the five new local cases, one case is in Casino, two in the Kyogle region, and one in the Tweed region. They all are linked to the Kyogle cluster.“One new case is in Byron Bay and is a household contact of the previously reported case in Byron Bay,” Ms Weir said. “Contact tracing and investigations are currently under way, and information about any new public exposure venues will be provided as soon as possible.”Ballina sewage concernsSewage surveillance has detected fragments of the COVID-19 virus in samples taken from the Ballina sewage treatment plants. “This is of concern as there are no confirmed cases in the Ballina area,” Ms Weir said.“The Ballina sewage treatment plant serves around 31,000 people in the Ballina region. There were 7,990 tests in the week ending 28 September. We continue to encourage residents and visitors to be vigilant for symptoms and get tested as soon as they feel unwell.  Symptoms of COVID-19 can include a runny nose, scratchy or sore throat, cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, tiredness, loss of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhoea or muscle aches. 

After a long break due to constant Covid lockdowns, the Thursday night Musical Bingo showdown is back on at Marigold’s Kitchen at Lismore City Bowls Club - starting tonight.If you’ve never played musical bingo before, it involves receiving a card with a list of song names. Then you listen to the bingo master play snippets of songs - and you tick them off your list. The first one to tick off all the songs is the winner.The brainchild of the fun night of dinner and bingo is local cook, Marigold. She wants the event to become a regular Thursday event at the Molesworth Street venue.Marigold said bringing patrons back to the CBD bowls venue was important – as the club has been affected by the past year of Covid restrictions and lockdowns.“Even if people don’t want to eat, they can play bingo and have a drink,” Marigold said. “It’s free to play and there are dinner vouchers, bottles of wine and chocolates as prizes.Marigold used to be a cook at the Italo Club and has lots of experience with buffet style food – she hopes to bring back the buffet once a week at Marigold’s Kitchen.“We first opened up Marigold’s Kitchen in the bowlo in April,” she said. “It’s been a struggle with Covid, but we are keen to get back to a regular thing.”Bingo starts at 7pm, but people are encouraged to arrive at 6pm and order dinner.Until the buffet comes back, it will be a cook to order menu with steak, cutlets, schnitzels, roast meat, nachos and a vegetable stacker. These are also vegan options available.  Marigold’s Kitchen will operate at the Lismore City Bowls Club every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night, from 5:30 till 8:30pm. To book a table, call 0432291824.You can also visit https://www.facebook.com/Marigolds-Kitchen-109558647879558/

As new venues of concern are announced in Lismore, Kyogle, Casino, Tweed and Byron, the question of whether or not another lockdown will be called is on many people’s minds.The new venues were announced overnight after a number of new Covid cases were discovered in Byron and Kyogle – and who had visited multiple venues across the Northern Rivers.Read more: Two COVID cases in Kyogle today plus 22 venues of concern in the NR's including LismoreIn the NSW premier’s press conference this morning, NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant was asked if the extra cases meant another lockdown would be called.Dr Chant said the Northern Rivers may not go back into lockdown if locals and businesses were following all the rules to limit the spread of Covid.“All of the extra protections we now have will be kept in consideration,” she said. “Having businesses with strong Covid protections and vaccinated employees may change the how the close contact definition is looked at.“Vacccination status will be a key factor about whether you are a close contact - and this will change what the recommended actions are.”Covid testing drive thru relocates from LismoreThe new cluster of Covid cases in Kyogle has prompted Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) to relocate its drive thru Covid testing clinic to Kyogle from Southern Cross University.A spokesperson for SNP said “it’s been extremely busy at Kyogle today and the local council have been supporting it greatly.”If you need Covid testing done in Lismore, the SNP main procedure collection room is still open at Wyrallah Road in East Lismore from 7am to 5pm and you can phone the office on 66201200.The Kyogle Covid Drive through testing site in Kyogle is located at the corner of Summerland Way & Anzac Drive and is open from 9am to 3pm.Covid statistics NSW recorded 941 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 yesterday There were six deaths - four of them were not vaccinated and two had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.Schools return earlyThe NSW Government also announced this morning that schools will return earlier than the previously announced date of October 25.Face to face learning will now resume on 18 October for kindergarten, year one and year 12 students, as part of a three-week staggered return.Other grades will return to face-to-face learning on 25 October and 1 November.Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the original plan changed because NSW was tracking towards the 70% cent double-dose vaccination coverage target faster than anticipated.Jobsaver support phased outThe Government also announced this morning that Jobsaver support will begin to phase out as NSW reached the 70% and 80% vaccination targets.The Jobsaver amount will change to 50% once the 80% double dose vaccination rate has been reached and NSW “opens up” again on December 1. It will be $750 a fortnight."Now $8 billion is being spent by the NSW Government to keep people in work,” a government spokesperson said.“We want to keep a sustained cash flow as people come back into work, until we fully open up again into a bright summer."A 30% reduction in turnover will still be one of the necessary criteria."