Grants for marketing, product, business and regional event development are now open to help local businesses recover after months of Covid restrictions.The NSW Government will invest more than $8 million in a suite of grant programs to accelerate the recovery of the NSW visitor economy as the state reopens to visitors.  Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism Stuart Ayres said the funding would be a significant boost to the visitor economy as travel restrictions lifted.“This funding will create jobs, enhance the visitor experience, support the return of lifestyle and business events in regional NSW and promote our regions as ‘must-visit’ destinations, generating hundreds of millions in visitor expenditure,” Mr Ayres said.“These grants are all about assisting NSW tourism operators and event organisers to develop and deliver the best possible visitor experiences and ensure we are the number one state to visit as we reopen to the world post COVID-19.“Whether it’s to upgrade the standard of accommodation, develop an entirely new visitor experience, stage conferences and regional events, or deliver a compelling destination marketing campaign, these grants will ensure NSW remains top-of-mind for all types of visitors.“Supporting our tourism operators is a top priority. They are the backbone of the visitor economy – their passion and resilience and incredible diversity of offerings are key to the state’s success.”The $8.35 million will be delivered through the following programs:$4.1 million Tourism Product Development Fund – to support regional accommodation renewal and new visitor experiences$1.5 million Regional Event Fund – to support new and flagship regional events$2 million Co-operative Marketing Program – leveraging Destination NSW’s new Feel New marketing campaign$750,000 Regional Business Event Development Fund – to create, attract and support new business events for regional NSW The NSW Government, through Destination NSW, will deliver the grants and support recipients to best manage their project delivery.For more information on these funding programs and all other support available to businesses, go to http://www.destinationnsw.com.au/funding

While five new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) over the past 24 hours, none were in Lismore LGA.NNSWLHD chief executive Wayne Jones said the new Covid cases are in the Grafton area of the Clarence Valley Local Government Area (LGA).“The cases are household contacts, and the source of infection is under investigation,” Mr Jones said.The mobile vaccination van, however will be in Lismore LGA - in Goonellabah today and tomorrow. The van is a collaboration with Social Futures, and will move to Kyogle and Woodenbong next week.  “We continue to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are able to, and to be alert for any symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested immediately if symptoms develop.”There have now been 130 total cases in NNSWLHD since 16 June. “Even if you are fully vaccinated you should get tested and isolate immediately if you have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms - a slightly runny nose, a scratchy or sore throat or generally feeling under the weather,” Mr Jones said.There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic at COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP. Mobile vaccination clinic locations  Goonellabah: Goonellabah Football (Soccer) Club, Reserve Street, Goonellabah (near tennis courts) Thursday 4 and Friday 5 November, open 9.30am to 2.30pm. Kyogle: Visitor Information Centre, cnr Anzac Pde and Summerland Way Monday November, open 9.30am to 2.30pm.  Woodenbong: Woodenbong Park, Unumgar Street, behind Public Hall Tuesday 9 November, 9.30am to 2.30pm. These clinics are providing Pfizer vaccinations for anyone aged 12 and over. No appointment is needed. Please bring your Medicare Card if you have one.  Other NSW Health clinics in Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Lismore and Grafton are also providing walk-in and booked appointments. 

After numerous sightings of burnt-out cars and increased social media conversation reporting car theft and items stolen from cars, local police have provided some up to date information to the Lismore App. Read more on the Lismore App about recently sighted burnt out cars During the month of October, 12 motor vehicles were reported stolen in the Lismore area. Two vehicles were abandoned and seven vehicle fires were reported.Read more news: Police release images of burnt-out car after earlier carjackingRichmond Police District's Superintendent Scott Tanner and his crew from Richmond Police District have been dealing with these incidents.Despite the numbers looking high, Supt Tanner told the Lismore App they are actually decreasing - and most stolen vehicles are taken from people’s homes.“The majority of vehicles stolen from Lismore occur from residential addresses with the vehicles being unlocked at the time and keys in the vehicle. This makes it very easy for thieves to take the cars,” Supt Tanner said.“The crime of stolen motor vehicles is largely opportunistic, that is the thief walks along trying car doors until he finds one that is unlocked,” he added.“To make it harder for thieves a few simple steps is all that is required - lock your vehicle, never leave keys, even a spare set, in your vehicle. Don’t have valuable items such as phones, computerware etc visible within your car. This entices thieves to break in as they can readily on-sell such items,” Supt Tanner explained.The Superintendent said Goonellabah is the area most prone to stolen vehicles and that police don’t believe there is a link between these recent vehicle-related crimes.No arrests have yet been made.

With a local council election fast approaching in flood-prone Lismore, the issue of how we prepare for and manage floods has been taken up by a number of election candidates, including Patrick Healy, Steve Krieg and Elly Bird.This week, Lismore City Council’s Flood Mitigation Plan received criticism from independent Mayoral candidates Patrick Healey and Steve Krieg – who both say that thecurrent plan which includes ‘nature based solutions’ is not enough to protect Lismore against future floods.Their criticism was refuted by current Lismore Councilor Elly Bird, who said their comments were based on incorrect assumptions.Engineering solutionsMr Healy criticised Council’s plan saying “we need a flood mitigation plan that is based on more than planting trees which is what our Council wants to do”.“All options should be on the table, including modern engineering solutions, otherwise, our community will once again be devastated by flooding,” he said.“To take engineering solutions off the table will inhibit our chances of gaining State Government grants and delay any flood protection for another 10 to 15 years.“South and North Lismore will be left particularly vulnerable, as will our industrial zones. We need to protect these areas to ensure that we can attract businesses that will create jobs in our community.“We believe that all Council decisions should be supported by logical, practical and non-ideological decision making."More criticismMayoral candidate Steve Krieg joined in with criticism of the Lismore Floodplain Committee and the Flood Mitigation Plan, saying “our town deserves a real plan, not an ideological driven agenda”.“Lismore is the most flood affected community in Australia, with over 130 floods in 150 years of official records,” Mr Krieg said.“Flooding is a very emotional topic for me, my business and my family’s livelihood were thrown into complete disarray because of the 2017 flood.”“It is close to five years since the flood, and nothing of value has been achieved by the Floodplain Committee.“After all this time, they are now saying the answer is to plant more trees up the river – it is simply ridiculous.”“We need a comprehensive, independent plan for flood mitigation across the whole catchment.”“Misinformed”Current Lismore City Councillor Elly Bird said Mr Healy and Mr Krieg were misinformed about the current status of the flood mitigation plan, saying that engineered mitigation solutions are not “off the table”.“The Lismore Floodplain Management Plan is not finalised and is still open for community comment and consultation,” Ms Bird said.Read more news: Our Sustainable Futures launch local election campaign Raise the levy wallMs Bird said while nature based solutions, including planting trees are part of the solution – she sees raising the levy wall as “the only option that will have significant impact in a major flood”.“However, doing so will greatly disadvantage North and South Lismore and may also have significant impacts downstream,” she said.“What nature based solutions can do is slow the water by holding it in the upper catchments for longer and giving more time for evacuations.“What they can also do is bring catchment wide environmental benefits in a changing climate. “These benefits include preventing significant loss of soil during our regular, moderate floods which will provide ongoing resilience and benefits for our agricultural industries.All flood events“The plan is not just about major flood events – we get moderate floods and too.“Each time we get minor or moderate floods we get silt coming through the waterways and need to manage this and include environmental sustainable nature options on the plan.”Flood modellingMs Bird said Council’s Floodplain plan is based on a modelling study that demonstrates the possible impacts of engineering solutions using accurate data.“Council is now moving into the preparation of the plan using the information that has been gathered during the study,” she said.Community consultation“Community consultation will occur in the next few months, which will highlight community preparedness and flood literacy, but it will also include the mitigation options that have been modelled.“The final plan will then be further developed and brought to the new Council for adoption sometime in 2023.“Council has prioritised improving community awareness and preparedness in the development of the plan which is absolutely fundamental.“Engineering alone is not the answer to flooding in Lismore.”“We are a flood city and as a community above all else we should know what that means and what to do when it floods. “Council has also decided to thoroughly investigate the potential of nature based solutions which have had significant uptake throughout Europe.“There is no suggestion that nature based solutions will ‘protect’ Lismore from a catastrophic flood. Nothing can do that, we live on a floodplain.”

In the countdown to the December 4 Lismore City Council elections, the Our Sustainable Future party, led by current Councillor Elly Bird, has officially launched its campaign today.Councillor Bird is running for Mayor of Lismore City Council with a team of long term locals, business owners and environmental advocates on her ticket.“As Mayor I would lead our community to face our challenges head on, focusing on working together with councillors, staff and our community, to find practical, positive and sustainable solutions," Ms Bird said.“Our priority focus for the next term of Council and beyond is climate resilience and disaster preparedness; affordable housing; financial sustainability for the organisation; and prioritising roads, infrastructure maintenance and efficient waste management into the future."We are totally committed to sustainable economic development and supporting our business community to grow and to establish new initiatives that will enhance and improve our unique community identity.” “Our positions on key policy areas of interest to our community are:we oppose the Dunoon Dam and support resilient system wide water efficiencies and solutions like purified recycled water;we will prioritise CBD revitalisation and business recovery from Covid;we support development on North Lismore Plateau which has been a long term strategic goal for Council for many years, and which has been through a detailed and thorough consultation process with Traditional Custodians;and we support the Rail Trail because of the economic benefits it will bring to Lismore.”“I've been on Council for five years, I was elected in 2016 after five years working on the successful campaign to make the Northern Rivers Gasfield Free. "Since then I've proven that I am an active and responsive Councillor - I led our flood recovery with Lismore Helping Hands, supported our community through the bushfires, and I have consistently advocated for local businesses. I am experienced, diligent and committed. I show up, I work hard, and I listen. “I have the right balance of experience and passion required to lead a new Council with many new faces following the upcoming election."I have the skills, the dedication and the commitment to be the next Mayor of Lismore and I am looking forward to working in partnership with our community to build a future we can all be proud of.” “Gwen Trimble is a long term resident of Nimbin and is on our ticket as number two. We are working hard to have Gwen elected to Council alongside me as a sorely needed Nimbin representative. As our largest village and our most significant tourist destination Nimbin needs dedicated representation on Council.”  “Gwen is active in the community, she is a member of Lismore Council’s Nimbin Advisory Group; actively campaigned against coal seam gas mining; and drove the campaign for Nimbin’s rural water consumers to retain their town water supply.” Other candidates on the Our Sustainable Future ticket are Carlos Vieira-Silva and Deborah Ray, who are both business owners in the Lismore CBD, Jyllie Jackson the driving force behind the Lismore Lantern Parade, and Simon Clough previous Deputy Mayor and long-term community campaigner.

One new case of Covid-19 has been reported in our local health district, with the person being located in the Casino area.This news comes as Covid fragments have been detected in sewage in Byron Bay and Mullumbimby - and NSW records 268 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) acting chief executive Lynne Weir said the new, local case is linked to a cluster of cases in the Mid North Coast associated with a funeral held in Lions Park, Nambucca Heads on 23 October.  “Anyone who attended the funeral is asked to isolate immediately, get tested and remain isolated until they receive a negative result or are contacted directly by NSW Health,” Ms Weir said. “The North Coast Public Health Unit is working to assess whether people who attended the funeral will be classified as close or casual contacts.”The total number of cases in NNSWLHD since 16 June is now 123. Sewage detections in Byron Bay and Mullumbimby Residents and visitors in the Byron Bay and Mullumbimby areas are asked to be vigilant for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested if any symptoms develop, following the detection of fragments of the virus in sewage samples taken from both sewage treatment plants on 26 October.  This is the second consecutive detection for the Byron Bay treatment plant. The last recorded case in the Byron Shire LGA was on 7 October. “Even if you are fully vaccinated you should get tested and isolate immediately if you have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms - a slightly runny nose, a scratchy or sore throat or generally feeling under the weather,” Ms Weir said.The Byron Central Hospital testing clinic on Ewingsdale Road is open seven days a week, from 9am – 5pm. There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic at COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP. Walk-In Vaccination ClinicThe Lismore vaccination clinic is now providing walk-in and booked appointments and is located at Shop 13, Lismore Square Shopping Centre, Cnr Brewster and Uralba Streets, Lismore. Open seven days 7.30am – 4pm This clinics is accessible and inclusive for people with a disability, and reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate access if required. Northern NSW Local Health District is reminding our community to be mindful of the current public health orders which require a person to be fully vaccinated to attend certain premises and public outdoor gatherings.  You can find the current requirements for both individuals and businesses on the NSW Government website at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/rules These public health orders are in place to reduce any transmission of COVID-19 in our community, thereby reducing the chance that we will see future large outbreaks, and reducing the likelihood that people in our community, particularly those who are vulnerable, may become severely ill or require hospital admission

Behind the new Lismore Floor Coverings shop on Woodlark Street is a home grown love story of two close-knit Lismore born and bred sisters and their husbands.The new retail shop opened two weeks ago (in the old locksmith shop) and is the family business of Megan and Jeremy Marsden - and Melissa and Travis Johnston.“We are such a close family,” Megan said. “We all get on so well and we know we are here for each other and will make this business work,” Megan said.The two couples went to school in Lismore – where Melissa and Travis met as students at Lismore High School.Travis said he has been working in flooring for 21 years (since he was 17) and he brings his expertise to the new business.Now, between the four of them, they bring a combined expertise in laying flooring, with sales and admin to the brand new business.With the catchphrase “we have your carpets covered”, Travis said they provide service from flooring sales to laying of the carpet. “We offer a free measure and quote and can even pull up the carpet if the customer wants," he said.Jeremy comes from a sales background and said people can come in or “give us a call and we can help them with what they want”.“You can come in and touch and feel the flooring options - and see what you can afford,” he said.“We can also order online anything you have in mind and get it in."Megan said choosing carpet or flooring is a very personal choice for everyone.“Every carpet has a different feel and texture and people often choose for comfort,” she said.Travis said when he started in the flooring business, wool carpet was popular - but now it’s more nylon based.“Grey tones are also very popular now, but they are always changing with the fashions," he said.The shop stocks the latest in vinyl flooring planks, which Melissa said are easy to maintain and very similar to timber flooring.Contact and visitYou can visit the shop and browse the showroom at 113 Woodlark Street, Lismore.You can also call 56291189, email admin@lismorefloorcoverings.com.au and visit the website http://www.lismorefloorcoverings.com.au

As Covid case numbers across NSW continue to fall, the good news for Lismore is that no new cases were reported in our district yesterday. Across NSW however, 293 were reported.Read more news: Mobile vaccine delivery van on its way to Goonellabah Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) acting chief executive Lynne Weir said now, the total number of cases in the District since June 16 remains at 122. “As restrictions continue to ease in NSW and we transition to living with COVID-19, it is vital that people continue to practise COVID-safe behaviours,” she said.“This includes coming forward for testing, wearing a mask where required, maintaining physical distancing, particularly in indoor settings, washing hands regularly or using hand sanitiser, and always checking in using the Service NSW app.  “Even if you are fully vaccinated you should get tested and isolate immediately if you have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms - a slightly runny nose, a scratchy or sore throat or generally feeling under the weather.”We encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are able to. Find bookings at the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder, or you can also call Health Direct on 1800 571 155 for assistance to book.There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic at COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP. 

This Sunday, October 31, small ghouls and witches will roam the streets of Lismore searching for treats. Instead of randomly knocking on doors, the young trick or treaters will be following a Lismore Halloween Hotspot map - and the map still needs more trick or treating venues.According to Lismore local, Donna Louise Walker, the Lismore Halloween Hotspot map means people are not put in the awkward position of having to turn away children empty handed.For the past three years (through the difficulties of living under Covid restrictions) Donna created a centralized ‘Halloween Hotspot’ register (on Facebook) for households who want to take an active part of giving out treats for kids.“It’s about creating a safe way for kids and families to dress up and get out into the community on this special day,” Donna said.“It’s one of the only nights in the year that the community walks around the streets safely.“It’s also about the community recognising the time taken by kids to look cute and have fun too.”Why Halloween?While some people might wonder why Australians want to celebrate the American tradition of trick or treating, Donna said it’s not just about that.“October 31 is a pagan tradition of All Hallows Eve – and we can also celebrate the Mexican day of the dead,” she said. “It’s about recognizing and celebrating the cycle of death and life.”Trick or treating in Covid style  Donna said following the Halloween Hotspot map means families can get in the car and drive to areas where there are lots of participating households.“People can hang outside in their yards and get to know their neighbours while the trick or treaters come by,” she said.So far this year, Donna said East Lismore is looking like the “best pickings” for trick or treaters.TipsExpect people to turn up after school from 4pm to just after dark.If you are participating, put balloons or a poster on your letterbox to show you have candy to share. Individually wrapped candy is recommended – but only put small amounts in the bowl for the children to grabAlso put some hand sanitiser out for them to use.Groups are recommended to stay 1.5 metres away from each other and not all enter at once.To registerVisit the Facebook site Lismore Halloween Hotspots and register your name and address and the map will be updated with your place as a venue.There will be giveaways of props and costumes through the Facebook site, leading up to Halloween.\

As visiting restrictions at our local hospitals ease, there is also one new reported case of Covid-19 in Lismore Local Government Area. The new case adds to the five new cases in Lismore LGA which were reported yesterday by the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD).NNSWLHD acting chief executive Lynne Weir said the new case is linked to a known case and is under investigation. This brings the total number of cases in the district since June16 to 122. Ms Weir said anyone with even the slightest symptoms should get tested as soon as they feel unwell at a COVID-19 testing clinic  - or contact your GP. Changes to hospital visitor restrictions  Visiting restrictions at hospitals across Northern NSW Local Health District are again being eased in a staged approach. A patient may now have two fully-vaccinated visitors once a day for one hour, between the hours of 1pm and 6pm.  Visitors must be at least 12 years of age, and must comply with entry screening requirements and wear a mask while on site.  People must not visit if they have any COVID-19 symptoms, are a close contact of a confirmed case (or are within their isolation period), live in a household with a person who is currently isolating, if they are waiting for a COVID-19 test result or have visited any case locations. Exemptions will continue to be managed at the site level on a case by case basis for compassionate or extenuating circumstances, for example in the case of palliative care.  There are no changes to existing support arrangements for women accessing birthing services.  For more information, please visit the website. State-wide statisticsNSW recorded 304 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night – and three deaths were reported. One person was in their 30s, one person was in their 70s, and one person was in their 80s. Two were not vaccinated, and one person had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine shortly before testing positive. 

A new research report which says logging forests does not harm koalas has been met with disbelief from environment protection group, the North East Forest Alliance.The research from the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) claims that the timber industry’s forest protection practices are working well. It also claims that koalas are “safe and sound living and traversing the hardwood forests where highly regulated harvesting occurs”.The three year research has been welcomed by Timber NSW.NRC commissioner Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte released the research saying, “koala density was higher than anticipated in the surveyed forests and was not reduced by selective harvesting.”Timber NSW chief executive Maree McCaskill said “this very significant finding totally vindicates the skilful ability of the forest managers to care for the land under their responsibility and protect koalas”.“Not only do koalas successfully coexist with selective forest harvesting, but the research found no difference in koala density between National Parks and the state forest harvest areas on the North Coast,” she said.“That finding will upset the eco-warriors but will not surprise the forest industry.”LudricrousNorth East Forest Alliance campaigner Sean O’Shannessy said the findings were “ludicrous”.“It’s absurd to say that chainsawing down trees and removing koala homes is not bad for them,” he said. “It’s the latest in a long line of Forestry’s claims that they don’t have to care for native forests.“What we need is an end to logging native forests and moving the timber industry into a sustainable plantation basis as soon as possible.Extinction“The NSW parliamentary enquiry last year found koala populations in NSW are on a trajectory to extinction by 2052.“Before that, we already knew koala populations have slumped by 50% in the last 20 years.“There’s no doubt this research report has faulty methodology. For them to say there’s no impact flies in the face of evidence we have.Quantum koala conundrum“I call it the quantum koala conundrum.“The koalas are found when loggers want to say logging has no impact, but they don’t find them when they go out to do pre logging surveys.“How can we believe what they say is credible?“Our public native forests need to be protected for koala habits. They are also valuable carbon sinks and water catchments.“The economic value of forests for eco tourism is more value than all the others combined.”Research methodologyThe report claims the research included tracking GPS-collared koalas.  “Even at old intensively harvested sites (which pre-dated modern selective harvesting practices) koalas were present,” the report said.“Koalas were found to be using the full range of the available habitats five to 10 years post-harvest, including regenerating forest.“As the NRC pointed out regulation mandates the retention of priority koala browse trees as well as other habitat protection within working forests.“There is of course disruption in the short term after harvest and that is why feed species trees are retained on the harvest sites to support koalas along with substantial areas of conservation reserves inside these working forest areas.CriticismNEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh said using koala recordings that indicate the presence of a koala somewhere in the vicinity is not appropriate for detecting the impact of logging on koalas.“It’s a fundamentally flawed study,” he said.“This is contrary to the EPA’s 2016 study that found “areas of higher activity positively correlated with greater abundance and diversity of local koala feed trees, trees and forest structure of a more mature size class, and areas of least disturbance”.“The NRC’s pretence that the Forestry Corporation can log the large trees that koala’s are preferentially feeding on and have no impact on koalas maintains a dangerous fallacy that is one of the reasons why koala populations on the north coast had declined by 50% in the 20 years before the 2019/20 fires.“The NRC confirms that the 2019/20 fires had a significant impact of Koalas, yet it proposes nothing to mitigate impacts.“Surely there should at least be a moratorium on logging in or near burnt high quality koala habitat until Koala populations have been assessed as recovered from the fires.“The NRC are playing ‘Russian Roulette’ with koalas as many of the minimal trees retained may not be suitable for feeding.”

As a new walk in Covid vaccination testing clinic offering Pfizer opens in Goonellabah, five new Covid cases have been reported in the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD).Read more news: Lismore's vaccination rates rising, but still second lowest in the regionNNSWLHD acting chief executive Lynne Weir said two cases are in the Kyogle Local Government Area (LGA), and are both linked to previously reported cases. They have been in isolation throughout their infectious period. One case is in the Clarence Valley LGA, and is a household contact of a previously reported case who has been in isolation while infectious.  Two cases are in the Tweed LGA, both linked to a previously reported case, and are under investigation to determine any possible public venues of concern.  There have now been 111 total cases reported in NNSWLHD since the Delta outbreak began in Sydney on 16 June. Of the total cases, two are being cared for in hospital and one is in Intensive Care.  Ms Weir urges people to check the NSW Government website regularly as the list of venues of concern and relevant health advice is updated as new cases emerge and investigations continue. “Even if you are fully vaccinated you should get tested and isolate immediately if you have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms - a slightly runny nose, a scratchy or sorethroat or generally feeling under the weather,” she said.Read more news: Virtual care supports locals with Covid to stay at home State statisticsNSW recorded 345 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.There were five deaths reported, with one person not vaccinated, two had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and two had received two doses.New walk-in vaccination clinics Extra walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics are operating across the area in the next few days for anyone who is yet to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.A new clinic will open at Lismore Workers Sports Club, Goonellabah on Monday, October 25 and Tuesday October 26 for any members of the public aged 12 and over.It is located at 202 Oliver Avenue and is open 10am – 4pm. Other clinics are open in Ballina on Friday 22 October at The Kentwell Centre, 20 Bangalow Road, Ballina. Open 10am – 4pm. Casino on Saturday 23 October at Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation, 153 Canterbury Street, Casino. Open 9am – 3pm. No appointment is needed. Please bring your Medicare Card if you have one.  These clinics are accessible and inclusive for people with a disability, and reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate access to the clinic if required. To book a vaccination at other clinics throughout Northern NSW, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder or you can also call Health Direct on 1800 571 155 for assistance to book.

Nimbin local and cannabis law reformer Andrew Kavasilas has been growing hemp under permits since 1999. As a hemp industry pioneer, he has his finger in lots of hemp pies - from growing industrial hemp for seed, to working with Southern Cross University cannabis research scientists.But now, Andrew wants to see the Australian hemp industry expand into producing new hemp products.He has just lodged an application to get the Australian Food Code changed to allow the use and sale of low-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) hemp leaf, seed sprouts and roots for human consumption.“Hemp leaf food is a new step,” he said. "It took 17 years to get hemp seed approved for consumption, so let’s not waste another decade on getting the leaf and sprouts approved too.”Hemp foodsAndrew said the low-THC hemp leaf can be used in the same manner as dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale or even used as an adjunct to hops in beer. The fresh leaves can be used as a micro-green ingredient in salads and smoothies and can be juiced and cooked. Just like other similar produce, cannabis leaf contains folate, iron, calcium, vitamin K and vitamin C, magnesium and phosphorus.It's a good source of dietary fibre, enhanced flavonoids and unique terpenes which produce favourable tastes.Low-THC hemp seed sprouts can be used in the same way as other bean and seed sprouts that are commonly sold in Australia and New Zealand. Low-THC hemp roots can be prepared and used in a similar manner to ginger. The dried root can be used as an ingredient in tea blends, herbal infusion products and coffee substitute products in a similar way to roasted dandelion root.ProductionAndrew said most of his hemp seed crops are grown under contract in Tasmania, not in NSW.“It’s because the Tasmanian government was more progressive than NSW in law changes to support the industry,” he said.“They also have the right varieties, conditions and machinery to handle the extraction of the fragile omega oils in hemp seeds.“It’s ludicrous that Australia is so far behind overseas countries, where we can buy and sell all parts CBD over the counter - but in Australia, you have to go to the doctor for a prescription.” Changing codesAndrew said he is encouraging State Governments to support his application to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FZANZ) to have the code changed.He also wants to see Australian farmers given the opportunity to catch up with the rest of the world when it comes to the various uses of hemp. Olivia Newton JohnAfter a long career in growing hemp products, Andrew has made some big connections with famous people. “Olivia Newton John has been my business partner for years,” he said. “She has been using high THC and CBD cannabis for pain.“She’s in California and her husband grows it for her. “She’s had three bouts of cancer, and it’s a combination of chemo, surgery, nutrition and diet, combined with doses of cannabis that have kept her alive.”Job creationOn the path to commercialization, Andrew joined forces with Hemp Fields, a leading industrial hemp producer, who operates one of the largest low-THC cannabis (hemp) research anddevelopment facilities in Australia.He hopes that the economic impact of utilizing the whole plant will lead to job creation in rural areas, exponentially increasing the value of the hemp food industry in Australia.“This won’t be like hemp seed production,” he said. “Australian producers can be market ready for domestic and international trade within months, we just need Australian Food Regulators to make the necessary approvals.” 

Four new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) yesterday.NNSWLHD Acting Chief Executive Lynne Weir said three cases are in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area (LGA) and one is in Tweed.Ms Weir said the Tweed case acquired their infection elsewhere in NSW, and initial investigations indicate this case has not been infectious in the community.  Of the three Clarence valley cases, one is in the Lower Clarence area, has been in isolation and is a household contact of a previously reported case.Two cases are in the Grafton area, one is linked to a previously reported case and the other is under investigation. Case statisticsThere have now been 106 total cases reported in NNSWLHD since the Delta outbreak began in Sydney on 16 June. Two cases are being cared for in hospital, one in Intensive Care.  Venues of concern Two new venues of concern have been also reported at Yamba Coles, Yamba Fair on Saturday 16 October, from 9.05 – 9.50am and Yamba Priceline Pharmacy, Yamba Fair on Saturday 16 October, from 9.00 – 9.15am. (Find out more https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/case-locations/exposure-sites).While all close contacts are contacted directly as part of normal contact tracing processes, anyone else who has been these venues below at the date and time listed is considered a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.Casual contacts should also get a test on day six after exposure, but do not have to isolate while waiting for this result, if they are well.Please check the NSW Government website regularly as the list of venues of concern and relevant health advice is updated as new cases emerge and investigations continue. "All new cases are investigated, and contact tracing is continuing to identify close contacts who are most at risk of exposure," Ms Weir said."These individuals are contacted as a priority, and asked to get tested and self-isolate immediately to reduce any risk of transmission in the community.  "NSW Health also works directly with potential exposure venues to provide advice and assess the level of risk to staff or members of the public," "NSW Health does not disclose details about venues unless there is a public health reason to do so. 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. Additional walk-in vaccination clinics open this weekend Extra walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics are open in Casino and Grafton this weekend for anyone who is yet to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. These clinics are open to any members of the public aged 12 and over, and are providing the Pfizer vaccine.  The Casino clinic is located at  Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation, 153 Canterbury Street, Casino. Walk-in clinic open Saturday 23 October from 10am – 4pm  

 Mourners wearing black veils and pushing ‘ghost’ prams with no children, took to the streets of Lismore today in a symbolic protest to mourn the future.When the protestors arrived at the office of MP Kevin Hogan and found his door locked, they chained themselves to their prams – unable to deliver their letters demanding government action on climate change. At the protest outside Mr Hogan’s office, the 'Red Rebels' gave a silent and emotional mourning for the future performance, until all were eventually asked to move on by the police.Lismore local Miriam Torzillo was at the protest and said bringing the ghost prams to the streets was about acknowledging the duty of care the government in protecting the future for young people. It’s something Miriam said our leaders, including Federal representative Kevin Hogan, are not currently doing.“Our mission is to get the government to change its policies on climate change and make sure we continue to have a livable climate,” Miriam said.“Today is the day when ruling will be announced on Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s appeal against the Federal Court’s finding that she has a duty of care to protect young people from climate harm. “That’s why the prams with ‘Duty of Care’ messages today are so symbolic – they reflect that our leaders do have a duty of care for the future of our unborn children and grandchildren – and they need to take it seriously.“It’s about time our government earned some respect by acting on climate change like the emergency it is. “We need massive subsidies to move out of fossil fuels and into renewables. We also need urgent protection of old-growth and State forests.” With the United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) about to get underway at the end of this month, Miriam said she hoped Australia’s COP26 delegation would take on more ambitious targets “to meet the challenge before us”.“We need more immediate action on climate change to stem emissions and protect Australia’s biodiversity.”To find out more about Extinction Rebellion, visit https://www.facebook.com/extinctionrebellionnorthernrivers

East Lismore resident Susannah French was relieved when she heard that a new Telstra mobile phone tower development in East Lismore was not going to go ahead.Read more about the issue: Fire at new Telstra tower development site sparks locals’ concerns Susannah hails the recent decision by Lismore Councillors to not allow the controversial development as a “win for people power”.“It’s a win for koalas and a win for native species,” she said.Susannah lives close to the 4G/5G transmission tower’s proposed site location in Crawford Road.ThreatsSusannah had been campaigning for months to stop the development. She had even received threatening messages from others for expressing her concerns about the tower’s negative effects on human health - from 5G electromagnetic transmissions.“People get angry about not having towers and technology,” she said.Corridor“The proposed tower site is actually part of Lismore City Council’s environment corridor which allows biodiversity access for animal species to travel east from Rotary Park to Goonellabah ridge."At the last Council meeting when Councillors voted on the development application, there was no mention of the potential health issues from the tower – only the impact the tower would have on koalas and the zoned nature corridor.“Councillor Lloyd quoted from a submission from Ros Irwin who knows about koalas and the land's environmental zoning,” Susannah said.“Councillor Guise also said the NBN network we now have is fast, reliable and secure - and that we didn’t need the tower.Inconsistencies“There was discussion about the gross inconsistencies in the environmental impact statement lodged by the Telstra consultant.“The consultant said there were no koalas there, but the site is where Friends of the Koala release koalas that have been in care.“There has been lots of koala activity since the lockdown and there’s lots of koala joeys there now.Aboriginal site“The site is also an Aboriginal funerary site and there were concerns over the site’s significance for local indigenous communities.“So now we still have a preserved wildlife corridor, instead of a tower, roads, fences and an electromagnetic facility.”Susannah said she sees the current federal, state and local government narratives being strongly about human health, safety and precautionary measures.“Safety is far more important than having faster downloads,” she said.

This afternoon, the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) reported two new cases of Covid in the local health district.NNSW acting chief executive Lynne Weir said one case is in the Ballina Local Government Area (LGA) and one is in the Clarence Valley LGA."Both are under investigation and contact tracing is underway to determine any venues of concern, and further information will be provided as soon as possible," she said.There have now been 102 total cases reported in NNSWLHD since the Delta outbreak began in Sydney on 16 June. Two cases are being cared for in hospital, one in Intensive Care.  Ms Weir said 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.

If you haven't been double vaccinated by December 3, you won't be allowed to enter Queensland on December 17.Read more news: Two new local Covid cases, none in Lismore This morning, the Lismore App reported on the Queensland Government's COVID-19 Vaccine Plan To Unite Families. Read more: Queensland border reopens for the fully vaccinatedWhile we reported that double vaccinated people will be allowed to enter Queensland on December 17 (when the Queensland population reached 80% vaccination) , a Lismore App reader alerted us to a potential spanner in the works that could put your Christmas plans in jeapoardy.It seems that poor planning or bad luck in the timing of your second Covid vaccination jab will delay when you are allowed to cross the border.The Lismore App rang Queensland Health to confirm the details because it was hard to find this information on the official Queensland Health website.A spokesperson for Queensland Health confirmed that a two week waiting period after your second jab is necessary before you are allowed to cross the border.So, in order to cross to Queensland on December 17, you will need to plan your second jab by December 3 at the latest.If you want to be in Queensland for Christmas Eve (December 24), you will need to make sure you have your second jab by December 10.So, the message is, plan ahead and drop into your Covid vaccination clinic to book your second jab in time for Christmas.

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.