Improving the future health of our waterways has taken a big step forward with the implementation of the LIDAR data that has become available with the release of the first-ever CSIRO Flood Mapping Study for the entire Richmond River catchment.Rous County Council are analysing the most vulnerable parts of the Wilson / Richmond Catchments system - approximately 5,500km of waterways, comparing it with any data previously available to determine the weakest points of the catchment. Anthony Acret, a project director at Rous has just awarded a tender to the Precision Erosion and Sediment Management Group from Griffith University, led by Associate Professor Andrew Brooks. A team will coordinate the data, including Professor Kirstie Friyars from Macquarie University in a joint effort.Anthony says, “It's going to be massive increase in our level of understanding of the nature of those issues across the catchment; it will then allow us to be much more strategic.”Prof Brooks outlines the basis for the project, “We're primarily interested in where all the sediment is coming from in the catchment. We're particularly looking at the channel network.“We're doing an analysis with repeat LIDAR data where you can measure actual erosion within the channels. We're also mapping all of the vegetation up the river corridor.”Lidar geomorphic change detection will highlight the areas subject to the worst erosion over time, and suggestions will be made as to the best way to remedy all areas of concern. This includes erosion and land slips. (What the Lidar imagery looks like. The blue line is where the waterway is on maps. The actual flow of the river is purple. Note: you can see other areas where water will pass over land, but these are either too small or not permanent and not included in the assessment. Image Credit: Andrew Brooks, Griffith University)The land being assessed is primarily the riparian areas surrounding waterways in rural/agricultural areas. Channel erosion is said to contribute more than 80% of sediment in floods. “We're looking at the third order waterways and above, which are the bigger channels," says Prof Brooks.(The study covers almost 5,500 km of waterways. Image Credit: Andrew Brooks, Griffith University)The waterways will be divided up into 1.5km segments for a detailed analysis. The vegetation making up the riparian zone will be assessed for adequacy and stability.Prof Brooks explains, “The great thing about LIDAR data is you can just remove the vegetation and leave it with the bare ground. Or you can have the vegetation in.“The first part of the job is to define the channel area. And what we're really focusing on is mapping all the channels, and then we work out what we can define as the riparian zone.” (Lidar imagery of vegetation in the riparian zone. Image Credit: Andrew Brooks, Griffith University)“That is based on the tree heights; they are referenced sites.“What we're trying to look for is what the forest used to be like on this bit of river. The best thing to do is to try to recover that.“In the past, trees might have fallen over, and some of the trees would end up in the channel. So those trees there have and have a potential influence on the channel, as well as their roots.“ We can even tell some places where the vegetation cover is going backwards, whether that is from flood or human influence at the banks.”To get a holistic picture, another team will be assessing the estuary - the tidal aspects of the river, which covers around 950km. The Wilsons River that runs through Lismore city is tidal and will be a part of this study.  Anthony is very pleased with this outcome, as it has been difficult historically to get funding and politics to align to get complete knowledge of our waterways.“Fisheries are doing a similar project in the estuary, which will really work together to get the whole picture. The meeting point will be around Boat Harbour, upriver from Lismore,” says Anthony.The upper areas of the catchment are vital to understand and make secure for all the waterways downstream.This is the first time the whole of the waterway will be assessed in this detail.“We're doing the analysis using the LIDAR data of erosion that's happening between different LIDAR surveys. There's LIDAR data going back to 2010 and so what we do is, we compare it with the most recent one, or we can look at different little slices depending on how much data there is.”(The extent of the study, left, and precious data available for comparison, right. Image Credit: Andrew Brooks, Griffith University)The information generated is used to determine areas that will recover with habitat regeneration. Some will need a lot of work and some, “areas that don't need intensive education, but with a little bit of additional help that will bring those areas back into better health.“We're adding to the knowledge base, and then it'll become a resource for future management.”Anthony speaks about what will happen with this information, “After this work, we set up a team program for the coastal management program. This work will allow us to be really on the front foot and much more strategic about the work to do.  “In the past, we've been criticised for being quite opportunistic and just going with what we can rather than being really methodical about it.”This interview was at the end of the Richmond River Collaborative Partnership meeting. Anthony talks about how this information will affect more than the decisions made by Rous. “The learnings that we get through this (project) are going to assist all catchment stakeholders. “It will be made public, though we aren't sure how that will happen at this stage.”Andrew is pleased about being involved. Although he lives in the Wilsons catchment, most of his analysis work has been in Queensland. He is happy with his part to play: “We've got 12 months to do this, and we'll do a lot in that time.”

After nearly three years of reconstruction due to severe flooding, the Lismore Regional Gallery is ready to reopen its doors tomorrow (Friday, 27 September).The sixteen-month $5.1 million refurbishment project, funded by the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements by the state and federal governments, has been completed to a higher standard and will feature five new exhibitions, a renovated cafe, and an artist studio space.The opening of the gallery is a milestone for the community, as it reflects the city's commitment to the arts and culture. The gallery, which is free for entry, offers a unique space for residents and visitors to enjoy local and international art.Newly re-elected Mayor Steve Krieg said, "It is truly a state-of-the-art facility, and worthy of the rebirth and reconstruction of a regional city like Lismore."It really is an honour to be here today to announce the official launch of the art gallery on Friday night. It's going to be an exceptional night, and it's really exciting to see another piece of Lismore's infrastructure coming back to life after the flood. It's another step in the right direction. Lismore is coming back bigger and stronger than ever, and the regional gallery is just a testament to not only coming back but coming back better."(Ashleigh Ralph, Director of the Lismore Regional Gallery and Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg)With the sheer scale of the 2022 floods to the wider Lismore area, the team behind the restoration of the Lismore Regional Gallery implemented several key measures to minimise damage and improve overall building flood resilience.  These effective measures were:Use Flood-Resistant Materials: Selection of materials that can withstand water exposure without significant damage. Examples include sealed concrete and epoxy floors, compact laminate joinery and partitions, and fibre cement sheets in lieu of traditional gyprock wall sheeting.Elevate Electrical Systems: Raise electrical outlets, switches, and appliances above the expected flood level to prevent electrical hazards and damage.Improve Drainage to the Quad: Ensure proper site grading and install a large sub ground drainage throughout to allow standing water to transverse the area as quickly as possibleSeal Gaps and Cracks: Apply sealants to walls, floors, and foundations to prevent water ingress. Lismore Regional Gallery Director Ashleigh Ralph said, "We're so excited to open the Lismore Regional Gallery. This has been a long time coming. Our whole city has been through adversity and challenges, and for me, I feel like reopening this gallery, which is free and for everyone, will be a real milestone for the community to engage in arts and culture and and feel what that means in terms of bringing people together, including not only the gallery, but the quad as well, which is open now for everyone.(The newly renovated Lismore Quad also looking a million dollars)"Come along on Friday night and see what we have on offer in our five new exhibitions and our ongoing program of exhibitions and public programs with many local artists and international artists as well. They'll be on till about mid-November and then we start our next new set of exhibitions. So we'll be bringing touring exhibitions from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, William Kentridge, as well as the Koori Mail indigenous art award. I'm excited to announce that we'll be bringing the Archibald to the gallery in 2025."Ashley explained a slightly different layout to the pre-2022 flood building."We have extended our reception area into a gallery shop, and it's a more dynamic space for the entrance of the building and opportunities for supporting local designers. We've moved the previous cafe space to the other side of the building, which has been extended with a seating area as well as a full kitchen. We also have the artist studio space, which is a new extension in the northern courtyard of the gallery. So, the cafe replaced the artist studio, and now we have a big, brighter space for artists to work in. We'll have artists workshops and kids programs that can spill out into the northern courtyard."Lismore City Council is looking for someone or a group to operate the new cafe. Expressions of interest are open now, so contact council on (02) 6625 0500 or email [email protected] you would expect, the Regional Gallery's emergency evacuation plan has been updated."If a flood is imminent, we would evacuate artworks that are inside the building to a safe storage location. We would also no longer store our permanent collection in the building, which was severely damaged in the last flood.""This has been a mammoth effort to get this building to the way it is today. So, I'd like to extend appreciation to the NSW government and the federal government, the builders, architects, project managers from Bennett's, BKA architecture, Lismore City Council, and, of course, the gallery team for their perseverance in helping make this possible."NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin said, “Another iconic cultural centre, the Lismore Regional Gallery, opens its doors, following on from the Uniting Church that is a social service and worship hub last Sunday, the Lismore Workers Club on Monday and now our much-loved and missed Gallery.“The Gallery reopening marks our social and cultural recovery. We have been the poorer with the Gallery not open as it ave,raged 150,000 visitors a year before the 2022 floods.“I want to thank Gallery Director Ashleigh Ralph and her team, Lismore City Council, the Friends of the Gallery for all the blood, sweat and tears they have contributed to ensure it is back with us.“Lismore’s CBD is on the move; it’s getting its vibe back and this just adds to it. I cannot wait.”The Lismore Regional Gallery will reopen this Friday at 6pm at 11 Rural Street, Lismore.The re-opening program:The ArtHitects Gary Carsley and Renjie Teoh: Hannah HalleUsing only an office copier and reams of A4 paper the ArtHitects create immersive installations at the confluence of their separate practices as artist and architect. Hannah Halle, a new commission for Lismore Regional Gallery, is confabulated from over 4,000 individual A4 prints to symbolically reimagine the prized Hannah Cabinet by Geoffrey Hannah OAM. The prints will be applied ritualistically to the gallery walls in the weeks leading up to the exhibition opening, providing a multi-perspectival mise en scène featuring works from a diverse group of invited artists and creatives in the Northern Rivers. Sponsored by Hurford HarwoodBuruugaa Garaa Buruu Garaa Budgeramgali (Saltwater people Freshwater people stories) Co-curated by Melissa Ladkin, Buruugaa Garaa Buruu Garaa Budgeramgali features Amrita Hepi, Joshua Lynch, and Djon Mundine OAM, with a live performance by Waangenga Blanco. This exhibition is a dynamic exploration of spiritual and customary living relationships with water. Through individual screen dances, spoken word and musical composition, each artist takes the audience on a journey, offering a fluid narrative that showcases the dynamic diversity of water and how it connects us.Nell Pearson and Matthew Brooks: Blue islandMeeting at art school in Melbourne, Nell and Matthew have since become life partners, sharing their home, studio, and, more recently, parenthood. They live and work in the Northern Rivers, where they continue a lifelong conversation about art and carry out their painting practices side by side and sometimes together. In the domestic space, small gestures of the everyday entangle with artmaking so that the making and the living happen on the same plane. This exhibition celebrates two distinct visual languages, which, like trees in a forest standing apart but whose roots are entangled, share a private intimacy.Sprung!! Ensemble: Sprung News Sprung News investigates how accessible/inaccessible media and emergency information can be to the disability community, using photography, video, and audio to express diverse perspectives and representations.Our news is not boring. We tell the truth and we wear what we want. If it’s breakfast news then we actually eat breakfast. It makes sense. You can understand it. We tell it in a different way. Did you know that floods have stories too? Or didn’t you bother asking them? Who else didn’t you ask?This exhibition is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, the Northern Rivers Community Fund, and the NSW Regional Arts Fund.Chloe Smith: Unbearable Incandescence.Unbearable Incandescence presents a series of works interrogating the paradoxical search for reality in a world of simulation and appearance. Through a series of hyperreal textile works, sculptor Chloe Smith unravels the cruel optimism of certainty and the truths we must ultimately craft for ourselves. A birthday cake awaits its single sumptuous moment. An absurdly large bunch of asparagus stands proudly phallic, valorised on a broken plinth. The lines between reality and the surreal blur beyond recognition, where the serious is suddenly silly, where memories become fiction and fiction becomes a memory.

The NSWRA (Reconstruction Authority) today announced it will start charging people a fee to stay in any of the 11 POD Villages in the Northern Rivers.In the aftermath of the devastating floods in 2022, the NSWRA established temporary housing villages in the Northern Rivers, with the assistance of councils and other landowners under crisis accommodation planning exemptions.The villages were always intended to be temporary, providing accommodation and support for flood-impacted residents to help them get their lives back on track.For the last two years, accommodation across the 11 villages has been provided free of charge.Now, as happens in the general community and in line with other housing programs managed by the NSW Government and Community Housing Providers, the RA will require residents to contribute to the cost of their housing. This will be done through a licence fee, advocated by the Northern Rivers Community Leaders Forum.The licence fee will be income-tested and set at either the average rate for accommodation of a similar type in the area or at a reduced rate based on an income assessment, which will be undertaken by the Community Housing Provider managing each village. The licence fee is in line with similar payments required under existing social housing programs.The NSWRA says its focus remains on ensuring residents across the 11 villages are transitioned into safe, long-term housing."We’re in discussion with councils and other landowners about the site leases and other arrangements for all villages, which progressively come to an end from mid-2025.""We’re also working with Homes NSW to see if some villages can be repurposed to meet ongoing housing needs in the region."This could help to provide more housing options while solutions to increase supply of social and affordable housing are under development.There has been speculation about the temporary villages being used for worker accommodation, which is in short supply due to the housing crisis as Lismore and the Northern Rivers move into the construction phase of the flood rebuild.Meanwhile, Community Housing Providers, with the support of RA, Homes NSW and local support services, are working closely with village residents on a case-by-case basis to support them into housing that is appropriate to their needs, such as private rental, aged care, assisted living or social and affordable housing.Any longer-term use of temporary housing sites will be subject to landowner consent, planning approval, community consultation and federal and state government agreement.

The NSW Government has passed new laws to better protect victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, including tougher penalties for breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) in certain circumstances.  The new offences target conduct that may indicate a high risk of harm to the protected person, including: An intentional breach offence directed at serious or harmful breaches of ADVOs due to the offender’s intention to cause harm or fear to the protected person. This offence will carry a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment. A persistent breach offence directed at repeated breaches of ADVOs over a short period of time, reflecting a clear disregard for the conditions of the ADVO. This offence will carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. These new aggravated offences will complement the existing offence for any breach of an ADVO, which has a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. A new civil protection order scheme targets serious domestic and family violence offenders. The Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Order (SDAPO) provides law enforcement with a tool to monitor and supervise very high-risk offenders, with the aim to keep relatives and former, current or potential future intimate partners safe from violence. The scheme allows the court to impose any conditions it considers appropriate to prevent the perpetrator from engaging in domestic abuse. Orders may include a requirement to report to a police station at an appointed time or to notify police when commencing an intimate partner relationship and a restriction on the use of social media and dating apps.  Breaching an SDAPO carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. Other legislative reforms passed include: Changes to the definition of stalking to expressly include the monitoring and tracking of a person’s activities, communications or movements through the use of technology, such as using GPS trackers or monitoring the victim’s online accounts.Allowing police to issue a provisional AVO electronically where the parties consent, instead of requiring police officers to take individuals to a police station to print out a physical copy of the order.An amendment to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act 1995 to allow a sole parent with an appropriate court order to change their child’s name.These new domestic violence laws further enhance protections for victim-survivors after the criminalisation of coercive control and stronger bail laws came into effect in July. They also complement measures announced in the 2024-25 NSW Budget, including an investment of $245.6 million to improve support for domestic and family violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children. $45 million of this package has been set aside to improve bail laws and justice system responses to domestic violence. Attorney General Michael Daley said, “The NSW Government is committed to a whole-of-government approach to preventing and eliminating domestic violence in our state. “These new laws will strengthen the justice system to better protect victim-survivors and support their safety. “We will continue to consult legal and sector stakeholders as we seek to improve laws and justice system responses to domestic violence.” Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said, “Too many lives have been lost to domestic and family violence, and these new laws are a vital step to improve the safety and security of victim-survivors. “The new laws complement other services we are delivering across the state, including homelessness and crisis support, early intervention and primary prevention programs, and activities to build and strengthen the sector.  “We want to ensure that any person fleeing domestic and family violence has a safe pathway to healing and recovery.”

Last week, the Lismore App asked the question, 'What is going on at Lismore Base Hospital?' after yet another poor statistical showing in the latest Bureau of Health Information report.Chief Executive Officer Tracey Maisey answered our call for an explanation so the Lismore community can fully understand why its emergency department is underperforming compared to neighbouring Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) hospitals and scoring below the NSW state average.Ms Maisey has been in the position of CEO for thirteen months. That's enough time to look under the hood and identify where the problems are; however, not enough time to create meaningful change, some of which are completely out of her hands.It should be noted that the Lismore Base Hospital (LBH) is performing well with surgery wait times and patient experience, as has been reported previously. This story focuses on the ED (emergency department)."I guess the first point, a lot of it is to do with the acuity (severity of illness) and the ageing population. I will just talk about the LHD (local health district) for a second and then sort of drill down on Lismore. "So, you know that we've got an elderly population. 17% of the population is aged over 70 years and the population is going to grow 11% between 2016 and 2036. In the aged population, there will be 70% growth in the age of 70 to 84 years and 85% growth in the 85-plus years. So, we're seeing an ageing population, and as you would know, with healthcare, that comes with an increase in acuity."Ms Maisey then compared the LBH ED numbers from April to June 2024 to the same period in 2023 and explained the different triage levels involved."Triage 1 is extremely unwell, so, resus (resuscitation), Triage 5 (T5) are those people that could potentially be looked after at urgent care or general practice? This is for walk-in patients now. It's not always black and white. Clinical conditions aren't black and white, but that's a general guide to triage."So, in the two periods that I referred to, we've had a 10% increase, Triage 1 to Triage 3 categories, another 499 patients. And we've had a 7.5% decrease in Triage 4 and 5, a reduction of 319 patients. Now, what that means is the likelihood of you needing to be admitted if you're a Triage 1 to Triage 3 case is obviously significantly higher than a Triage 4 to 5. So, just looking at the board, emergency department attendance numbers are interesting, but not probably nuanced enough. We've had a 4% increase in episodes of care. That's the admitted episodes of care."What's happening is we're getting an increase in acuity of patients presenting at our emergency department, which means we have an increased requirement for beds. When you've got a confined bed stock, and we've actually had all of the surge beds, that is, we open them for winter and close them for summer, we've had all the surge beds open for an extra month this year. And in fact, we've still got 14 surge beds open, and we'll probably keep those open now. I don't think we'll end up closing them."So, when you have an increase in acuity and, obviously, an increased bed stock, there are a few things you can do. You can improve your average length of stay, and ours has improved a Lismore, it has reduced from the previous year. And when you look at what's called the relative stay index, which is where you look at the complexity of the patients, if they were all staying at an optimal length of stay or a peer average length of stay, it would be a 1. Lismore is 0.98. So, the length of stay for the complexity of patients is pretty good."The challenge is that we have a far higher percentage of patients, even though we've got a good length of stay, staying longer than 20 days, and that's the elderly patients. That's because we haven't got enough aged care beds."In terms of numbers, across the LHD from 2019 to 2023 there was an increase of 28% of patients staying longer than 28 days. For LBH, in 2019 13% of patients stayed greater than 20 days, and this increased to 22% in 2023."We're seeing an elderly patient cohort presenting more acutely, taking up more bed days, and we're having more increasingly challenged times in discharging them because we've got a shortage of aged care beds."Ms Maisey provided more statistics to support these findings. Across the LHD aged care ratios are calculated at 60.1 beds per 1000 eligible population. Eligible population is defined as aged over 70 years for non-indigenous population aged over 50 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population."If you calculate that for our population, we're 477 beds undersupplied. And, if you looked at where we were, I used some information for the Special Commission of Inquiry, in the first week of September, we had 61 patients across the district who were medically ready for discharge but weren't able to be discharged because they were waiting for an aged residential care place. That's remained steady over the last few months, but it's certainly gone up in the last couple of years."With aged care places at an absolute premium, is it possible to look after some of these medically discharged patients at home?"It absolutely is. Our preference is to, obviously, look after the patient in their home so they don't need to come into the hospital, but also to be able to discharge home at an optimal time. And in order for that, you obviously need to invest in what's called Hospital and Home and Community Nursing."We're just restructuring that service across the district, and we're bringing our Hospital in the Home and Community Nursing teams together to increase our capacity and capability in that service. And I think you'll start seeing some results from that, particularly in the Lismore area, in the next few months. And using modes like virtual care and remote monitoring and all of those technologies that afford us to be able to keep people well at home."There's only so much capacity to do that, though. We still need residential aged care places."Residential Aged Care facilities in Australia are funded by the Federal Government and operated by approved providers.Back to the LBH ED, if patients are staying longer because there is nowhere for them to go, you have trouble getting people in. Ms Maisey said, of course, they are not okay with this scenario."We're as upset about this as you would expect us to be. So, what we did in July was the director of clinical operations and I convened a whole of Lismore Base Hospital patient flow group, which includes clinical representatives from the emergency department, the wards, the patient flow unit, Allied Health, Hospital in the Home, mental health and drug, a whole range of people, to look at this issue. We looked at the data and looked at what we can do to continue to try to improve our statistics."There's been a range of interventions put in place, and we're starting to see some of the benefits from that. I think that's going to take a few months to do that. We've still got a high level of activity coming through, another 5.5% ambulance arrival."We need to improve our performance. As I said, we would have had all the surge beds closed now; I've agreed to keep open an additional 14 beds. We're looking at the ED beds, beds adjacent to the emergency department. We may look at opening those on a permanent basis to try to move the patients through. But Lismore Base Hospital only has so many beds. That's a short-term response to a medium-term issue. It is one of ageing, and it is one of demand, and it is actually one of general practice. We're very fortunate to have had the Goonellabah Urgent Care Clinic open, and, as I said, we've had a reduction in Triage 4 and 5 cases. We think that is attributable to that urgent care service opening."When asked if having a clinic at the hospital is an option, Ms Maisey said she doesn't really want to bring primary care patients to a hospital."There's a range of models available. We have some co-located primary care and secondary care services; I'm not sure we need to have it at the hospital. I think what we need to do is have a comprehensive range of Primary Care Hospital and the Home Community Care Programs running so that they present to a general practice in a timely manner. And, they're able to be assessed and diagnosed in a timely manner rather than not being able to access primary care and therefore presenting to an emergency department in a more acute state. We need a strong primary care arrangement.So, if there were a simple answer to this, we would have found it. We've got a lot of heads on this. I think having those clinicians leading that patient flow program, keeping some beds open, looking at the emergency department and investing in Hospital and Home and Community Care, we can probably turn it around. But it's not something I can just sort of wave a magic wand over and suddenly fix it. It's far more complicated than that."Ms Maisey did offer another potential solution called 'Step-down capacity'."We need more subacute capacity. Ballina and Casino would be well placed to expand subacute capacity. As you know, those hospitals sort of work as a network now, and we'd have longer-stay patients at Ballina or Casino and our more acute patients at Lismore. But again, that's part of the planning conversations we need to have with our clinicians, our community and the government."It's a potential to look at, but we're far from putting those plans in place. We've got to have a lot more conversations with our geriatricians and clinicians and community before we do that. The reason I'm raising that is there is limited expansion space at Lismore, and as I said, there's already been quite a significant investment into Lismore. There just isn't the land, and there isn't the space, to be quite honest."The significant investment into Lismore was the $312 million update, which concluded in 2023 when Stage 3 opened. The project was co-funded by the State and Federal Governments.So, further expansion of LBH looks difficult, if not impossible. With an ageing population, health care for Lismore and the Northern Rivers situation will be a particular challenge for Tracey Maisey, the team at NNSWLHD, the Ministry of Health, and the Federal Government.People visiting the ED will have longer wait times unless solutions are found and acted upon to free up bed space at LBH. An increase in Residential Aged Care Facilities and more At Home Care are needed sooner rather than later.

With three weeks to go until the gates open for the 2024 Elders Lismore Show, the official launch was yesterday at the Lismore Showgrounds.The Lismore Show has been running for the last 139 years and has been a mainstay event for our community every year since, with a couple of difficult years, war and Covid.North Coast National A & I Society President John Gibson said the popular Show would return with all the usual favourites, as well as what are sure to become new favourites, like Pop Zone.“Every year, the show evolves, and this year, I am happy to announce we will be hosting Pop Zone, including Cosplay, for the first time. It is where fantasy and imagination rule,” he said.(Cosplay will be a popular addition to this year's Elders Lismore Show in the new PopZone. Photo: Lismore City Council)“I am also happy to announce that this year, we will also host prestigious National and State Woodchop titles, attracting the best contestants from across the country and state.“This year, we also have a Chill and Charge zone, which is a quiet zone for people to relax and recharge themselves and their phones.”“It is not long until October, so now is the time to get ready for the return of our regular popular competitions and exhibitions. We already have some great attractions booked, including the Ashton Circus that will perform throughout each day and Monster Trucks.“The very popular FMX bikes will return, along with a petting zoo, a Lego competition for schools, reptiles, jet packs, fireworks and a community stage with a range of local acts.“The Show has been at the heart of our community since 1885 and is where memories are made. I invite everyone to come along this year to catch up with old friends and make new ones.“Once again, I would like to thank our naming rights sponsor, Elders, and all our sponsors. Without them, the Show could not go on.”Another integral event of the Lismore Show is the North Coast National Young Women and Teen Showgirl Competitions.Nominations are now open. So, if you're between 13 and 25, this is your chance to step into the spotlight and make a difference. The Young Woman competition is for those aged 18 to 25, and Teen Showgirl is for girls aged 13 to 17.(2023 Young Women runner-up Tegan Maluta, winner Lilly Munce and 3rd place Eliza O'Toole)This is your chance to be an ambassador for your community, showcase your passion for agriculture and promote Lismore and the Lismore Show.For more information about how to apply for the Young Woman and Teen Showgirl competitions, go to https://northcoastnational.com.au. Entries close on 4 October.

Coinciding with World Cancer Research Day today, the NSW Government is committing $2.1 million in research grant funding to support the work of the state’s cancer researchers, including world-renowned Professors Georgina Long AO and Paul Timpson.Co-Australian of the Year Professor Long and the team at Melanoma Institute Australia and The University of Sydney have been awarded almost $700,000 for an imaging system that will allow researchers to better visualise and understand tumour cell interactions across various cancer types, via the Cancer Institute NSW funding.It is hoped an improved understanding of the tumour microenvironment will assist with cancer diagnosis and treatment.Professor Timpson and the team at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research were awarded almost $700,000 to purchase a system that will provide unprecedented insights into cell-to-cell interactions, treatment responses and cancer dormancy to enable more effective treatment for cancers, including pancreatic, breast, and prostate cancer.Three clinical trials grants, valued at $250,000 each, have also been funded to support projects focused on improving access to cancer clinical trials, including:The Building Capacity in Cancer Clinical Trials across Maridulu Budyari Gumal project aims to address enrolment challenges in clinical trials by targeting populations with lower trial participation rates. This includes socioeconomic disadvantaged, culturally and linguistically diverse and rural and regional communities.The Sydney Cancer Partners Clinical Trials Support project aims to increase recruitment from priority populations to trials, including Aboriginal, culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBITQ communities.Targeted Cancer Clinical Trials Support for Regional NSW project aims to deliver targeted initiatives such as increased trial sites and education and training to boost clinical trial participation across the Central Coast, Hunter, New England, Mid North Coast and Northern NSW areas.The NSW Government, through Cancer Institute NSW, is one of the largest funders of cancer research in NSW, having invested more than $470 million in the past 20 years across nearly 100 competitive research awards and grants.Minister for Medical Research David Harris said, “Targeted research is vital to delivering better treatments and interventions that reduce the impact of cancer and ultimately save lives."Our researchers strive every day to improve the lives of people in NSW and across the world, and we're proud to invest in them to continue their work and help improve cancer outcomes for all.”NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM said, “While significant progress has been made in understanding and treating cancer, it remains the leading cause of death in NSW with sadly one in two people set to be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.“Investing in and accelerating research and innovation is key to improving our understanding of a disease that continues to devastate communities across NSW.”Professor Georgina Long AO said, “Technologies that provide a clear large-scale and detailed view of tumours and enable us to see how cells interact with each other are critical to move the cancer field forward.“The imaging system, called the Phenolmager HT 2.0, which we have been able to purchase through the research equipment grant, provides the ability to better understand tumour cell interactions. “This will enable researchers at Melanoma Institute Australia and The University of Sydney to bridge cancer research to clinical use and ultimately deliver more effective cancer treatments.”Professor Paul Timpson said, “The cutting-edge Akoya-PhenoCycler Fusion system will concurrently detect and visualise 100 proteins, providing unprecedented insights into cell-to-cell interactions, chemotherapy and immunotherapy responses, cancer dormancy, and novel therapies for cancers like pancreatic, breast, and prostate cancer.“Proteins drive functional outcomes within cells, and constitute drug targets, yet existing technologies do not accurately reflect protein activity at a specific location or time.”

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has today released the seventh annual report on deaths by suicide among permanent, reserve and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).The report, Serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members who have served since 1985: suicide monitoring 1997 to 2022, provides information on deaths by suicide among ADF members who served at least one day since January 1985 and died between 1997 and 2022.‘Every life lost to suicide is a deep tragedy, and the impact on their loved ones is profound and far-reaching, including on Australia’s defence and veteran community,’ said AIHW spokesperson Paul Pham.‘This ongoing body of work aims to inform improvements in suicide awareness and prevention for ADF personnel and their families.’There were 1,763 deaths by suicide between 1997 and 2022. The majority (1,464) occurred among ex-serving members, followed by permanent members (174) and reserves (125).According to preliminary data for 2020–2022, the suicide rates (deaths per 100,000 population per year) for the most recent 3-year period were 27.6 for ex-serving males, 18.5 for permanent males, 13.4 for reserve males and 12.6 for ex-serving females. As deaths by suicide are often subject to lengthy coronial processes, the most recent period (2020–2022) uses preliminary deaths data that are subject to change.The suicide rate for ex-serving males has tended to be slightly lower each 3-year period since 2014–2016, including 2020–2022. However, it is difficult to identify a trend as preliminary data may be revised upward as death records are finalised for the most recent years.Rates have fluctuated with no consistent trends for permanent males, reserve males and ex-serving females throughout the monitoring period of 1997–2022.Suicide is the leading cause of death for younger ex-serving ADF members, the report also shows. For ex-serving males and females aged under 30, suicide accounted for 42% and 44% of deaths, respectively, between 1997–2022.Consistent with previous years, the suicide rate for ex-serving males who left the ADF voluntarily was similar to Australian males. The suicide rate for ex-serving males who separate involuntarily for medical reasons is almost 3 times the rate of those who separate voluntarily (62.7 compared with 22.0 per 100,000 population per year). For ex-serving females, there was no statistically significant difference between those who separated involuntarily for medical reasons and those who separated voluntarily.The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released its final report on 9 September 2024, concluding 3 years of inquiry into issues relevant to suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving ADF members. The final report contains 122 recommendations and over 3,000 pages of evidence, commentary and findings across 7 volumes.‘The AIHW looks forward to playing its part in the government’s response to the Royal Commission,’ Mr Pham said.For advice on how to report on mental illness and suicide responsibly: Mindframe guidelines - Mindframe - external site opens in new window If the information presented raises any issues for you, these services can help:Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling 1800 011 046, or www.openarms.gov.au - external site opens in new windowOpen Arms Suicide Intervention page https://www.openarms.gov.au/get-support/suicide-intervention - external site opens in new windowDefence All-hours Support Line 1800 628 036Defence Member and Family Helpline 1800 624 608Defence Chaplaincy Support 1300 333 362ADF Mental Health Services https://www1.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/health-well-being/garrison/adf-mental-health-services - external site opens in new windowLifeline 13 11 14, or www.lifeline.org.au - external site opens in new windowSuicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467, or https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au - external site opens in new windowBeyond Blue Support Service 1300 22 4636, or www.beyondblue.org.au - external site opens in new window

Allowing tens of thousands of people to drain their superannuation for medical and dental treatment each year is driving up costs for all consumers and should be stopped, the peak body for health funds says.  The trend is lining the pockets of some doctors and dentists, and unscrupulous agencies that assist people to access their super for nose jobs, tummy tucks, weight loss surgery, IVF, and expensive dental implants, among other services. These agencies charge a fee for navigating the paperwork, which most people can do themselves.  Private Healthcare Australia is calling for the Government to tighten the rules for early access to superannuation so people can only use it for terminal and life-threatening conditions.  PHA CEO Dr Rachel David said Australian Taxation Office data shows more than 142,000 Australians have raided their superannuation early to fund healthcare over the past five years. In 2022-23 alone, $730.5 million was taken out of super for medical treatment or transport – about 5% of the combined total of total lost (fund-held) and ATO-held super for that year.  Since the pandemic began, there has been a 71% jump in people applying for early release on compassionate grounds, and a 67% increase in payments made. The super funds most affected are those covering miners, builders and transport workers.  “This is robbing people of their retirement savings, and it is driving up the cost of healthcare for all Australians. When people access big lump sums of money like this, surgeons and dentists think they can charge more. That’s exactly what’s happened over the past five years. We’ve seen the cost of some procedures skyrocket in line with the release of this money,” Dr David said.  “We know an increasing number of people can’t afford to go to the dentist or see a medical specialist. We need to address why this is the case rather than creating another problem for the future. When a 40-year-old takes $20,000 out of their superannuation, they will be at least $100,000 poorer in retirement.” PHA data from people using their health insurance in the private hospital system shows the out-of-pocket cost of a tummy tuck after major weight loss and nose surgery for medically necessary reasons has surged 80% and 72% respectively over the past four years in line with this trend. Over the same period, the out-of-pocket costs for non-cosmetic removal of breast implants have risen 89%. This far exceeds the 14% increase in health inflation over the past four years.  To put downward pressure on medical and dental costs, we need:All medical specialists’ fees to be added to the Government’s Medical Cost Finder website under an opt-out system. It is currently voluntary for doctors to add their fees. An independent website for dentists’ fees so consumers can shop around. ​​Mandatory price displays for individual dental clinics, with fees for common services published on their websites and windows.PHA also recommends the Federal Government tighten rules for early access to superannuation for medical treatment by restricting it to terminal and life-threatening conditions. Until this can be achieved the Government should:Require more than one quote for the cost of treatment before access is granted.Insist a patient receives a second independent medical opinion from someone other than the treating practitioner and the patient’s general practitioner.Ensure health professionals are not providing financial advice to their own patients, including distributing materials promoting early access to super in their rooms or online. Only allow release of funds based on reasonable fees, which can be judged by Medicare benefits and private health insurance rebates.Ensure informed financial consent includes explaining the lost value of funds at retirement age.

Business NSW hosted the 2024 Northern Rivers Business Awards over the weekend in Ballina with strong representation from Lismore businesses.The Norco Cooperative took out 2 of the 23 category wins, Outstanding Business Leader (21 employees and over) and Excellence in Sustainability, before winning the overall accolade.The region’s 100% Australian farmer-owned dairy co-op began in Byron Bay in 1895. Now an iconic landmark in Lismore, Australia’s largest and oldest dairy cooperative was lauded with the award.  The independent judges praised the Norco Co-operative team for its passion and commitment to business excellence and for their dedication to continuous improvement and approach to sustainable business practices. The 2024 Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Southern Cross University, was presented by Associate Professor John Haw from the University’s Law and Arts Faculty to the Norco Co-operative team.“Norco Cooperative was a well-deserving winner of individual categories and recognised as a business that is dedicated to achieving results for their farming partners and has achieved outstanding results for business performance and demonstrating all-round excellence in business,” said Jane Laverty, Regional Director Northern Rivers, Business NSW. There were several category winners for Lismore, including Joel Jensen Constructions (JJC) for Excellence in Small Business and Excellence in Trade, Construction and Manufacturing. JJC won the Young Builder of the Year at the Masters Builders Association of NSW Awards held in Ballina in July.Joel and Britt Jensen have been blown away by the acknowledgement they have received. “It’s special for our JJC family that always strives to go over and above for our clients. Special for our family who have been there and supported us from the start and special for the many amazing mentors and friends we are so lucky to be surrounded by that have helped or guided us on our business journey,” says Joel.“JJC is 10 years old this year and we are still learning and still trying to improve wherever we can. We love what we do, love our team and really appreciate all of our clients for trusting us with their special projects.“It's great recognition for the amazing work every single JJC legend smashes out day in and day out.”(JJC Awards. Image credit, Joel Jensen)In other awards, Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion was won by Social Futures, Excellence in Large Business was won by Cumulus Visual Effects and Outstanding Community Organisation winner was Women Up North.Jillian Nightsmith, the CEO of WUNH is brimming with pride on receiving this award, "This award honours the trust of the over 900 women and children that sadly needed support through the Women Up North Domestic Family and Sexual Violence teams and Board. "It honours the women and children at risk and in housing crisis, with above and beyond hardwork, dedication and heart."We are a Charity and give a big heart felt thanks to individual donors, the philanthropic❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 community and the state, local, federal and charitable funding bodies that backed this trust and enabled us to support many more people than our core funds would have allowed. It is a privilege and what this Award is about."Many other Lismore businesses were acknowledged with a highly commended award, including the Lismore Lantern Festival for Excellence in Tourism, Recreational and Visitors Services. The full list can be found below.“The Northern Rivers Business Awards are all about celebrating and showcasing the diverse talent we have in the Northern Rivers business community, and this year’s finalists and winners should feel incredibly proud to be named as the region’s leading businesses and leaders for 2024,” said Mrs Laverty.“It was a wonderful night of celebration. You could feel the connection between everyone and the sense of comradery amongst a group of truly dedicated regional business leaders.” (All the winners from the 23 categories and Janelle Saffin MP at the front)Winners of state-aligned categories will now represent the region at the State Business Awards to be held on 30 October in Sydney“I am very much looking forward to seeing Team Northern Rivers, our regional winners, represent our broader business community on the state stage,” Mrs Laverty said.“It’s been a tough few years for many businesses, so these awards are a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on the ingenuity, strength and resilience of all the finalists who also represented over 30,000 businesses now in the Northern Rivers.”Northern Rivers 2024 Regional Business Awards - Winners & Highly Commended RecipientsExcellence in Retail & Personal Services, sponsored by Ballina FairWinner: Dinner is Served, Ballina ShireHighly Commended: Studioeleven Hair & Beauty, Tweed ShireHighly Commended: Hartleys Fresh Market, Ballina ShireExcellence in Trade, Construction & Manufacturing, sponsored by WinslowWinner: Joel Jensen Constructions, LismoreHighly Commended: Highline All Electrical, Tweed ShireExcellence in Business & Professional Services, sponsored by Clarence PropertyWinner: Collins Hume, Ballina ShireHighly Commended: Barefruit Marketing, Ballina Shire Highly Commended: Effective Workplace Solutions Tweed ShireExcellence in Health, Care & Wellness Services, sponsored by ACE Community CollegesWinner: Summerland Support Services, Richmond ValleyHighly Commended: Pure Health Therapies, Tweed ShireExcellence in Agriculture & Primary Industries, sponsored by Sourdough Regeneration ConnectionWinner: Woodland Valley FarmHighly Commended: Five Sixty Farms, Lismore Highly Commended: Honey Bee Hives, Clarence ValleyExcellence in Tourism, Recreational and Visitor Services, sponsored by Ballina Coast & HinterlandWinner: PotagerHighly Commended: Lismore Lantern Parade Outstanding Employee, sponsored by Commonwealth BankWinner: Paul ‘Bluey’ McDermott – Cherry Sports Group, Ballina ShireHighly Commended: Suzie Slingsby, Zepto, Byron ShireOutstanding Young Business Leader, sponsored by TAFE Winner: Paul Baker, McGloin Baker, Tweed ShireHighly Commended: Grant Sinclair, Northern Rivers HealthOutstanding Business Leader (20 employees or under), sponsored by Ballina Byron AirportWinner: Cate McQuillen, Mememe Productions, Richmond ValleyHighly Commended: Claudia Lawrence, Dinner is Served, Ballina ShireHighly Commended: Peter Burr, PotagerOutstanding Business Leader (21 employees or over), sponsored by TURSAWinner: Michael Hampson, Norco Cooperative, LismoreHighly Commended: Damian Chapelle, NDC, LismoreExcellence in International Business, sponsored by Northern Rivers NSW BrandWinner: Cumulus Visual EffectsExcellence in Diversity & Inclusion, sponsored by TAFEWinner: Social Futures. LismoreHighly Commended: Autism Camp Australia, Tweed ShireHighly Commended: Winchester Farm, Tweed ShireHighly Commended: Summerland Support Services, Richmond ValleyOutstanding Local Chamber, sponsored by Business NSWWinner: Byron Bay Chamber of CommerceHighly Commended: Business MurwillumbahOutstanding Community Organisation, sponsored by Northern Rivers HousingWinner: Women Up North, LismoreHighly Commended: Autism Camp AustraliaEmployer of Choice (20 employees or under), sponsored by ACE Community CollegesWinner: Potager, Tweed ShireHighly Commended: Barefruit MarketingEmployer of Choice (21 employees or over), sponsored by ACE Community CollegesWinner: Southern Cross Credit Union, Regional officesHighly Commended: Cyrstalbrook Byron, Byron ShireHighly Commended: Newton Denny Chapelle, LismoreExcellence in Innovation, sponsored by Southern Cross UniversityWinner: Christie & Christie – The Nail Snail, Tweed ShireHighly Commended: Local Sounds Radio, LismoreHighly Commended: Cherry Sports Group, BallinaHighly Commended: Moneysmith Group, TweedExcellence in Sustainability, sponsored by Social FuturesWinner: Norco Co-operative, LismoreHighly Commended: Mememe ProductionsHighly Commended: ENV Solutions, BallinaHighly Commended: Summerland Bank, RegionalOutstanding Visitor Experience, sponsored by Ballina Shire CouncilWinner: Farm & Co Restaurant, TweedHighly Commended: Ballina RSLOutstanding New Business, sponsored by Ballina RSLWinner: Terania ConsultingHighly Commended: Better by BikeExcellence in Micro Business, sponsored TelstraWinner: Off the Rails, Byron ShireHighly Commended: 2020 Smokehouse BBQExcellence in Small Business, sponsored by Commonwealth BankWinner: Joel Jensen Constructions, LismoreHighly Commended: Mememe Productions, Richmond ValleyExcellence in Large Business, sponsored by TURSAWinner: Cumulus Visual Effects, LismoreHighly Commended: ENV Solutions, Ballina

Lismore City Council has delivered a $7 million sewerage pump station on Pineapple Road, Goonellabah, on a site that could accommodate 600 future homes.The flood-free land was unable to be developed due to wastewater issues, but the new infrastructure permits Development Applications to be processed.Mayor Steve Krieg said, “Lismore City Council declared a housing emergency in May 2021, and the situation was exacerbated by the natural disasters in 2022.“This significant public investment opens up the potential for 600 new housing lots.”(Mayor Krieg is on the verge of being confirmed as Mayor serving another term but is hesitant to confirm until all the votes are in - he was very pleased to cut the ribbon for this, one of many projects he hopes to unveil in the next term of office.)The DA process has faltered at times, and Mayor Krieg admitted the DA lag at one point was unacceptable, but for general DA processing, the council are now averaging an 8-day turnaround.“A development of this size will take more than eight days, but we have teams to prioritise important sites. Graham Snow has done a great job reducing delays.”Mayor Krieg said the land was not encumbered by any other restrictions, including Koalas, “Not a eucalypt in sight!” he confirmed.The surrounding land is rural and held by landowners and a developer who has started marking out lots.  The infrastructure is mainly underground, leaving a minimal visual impact on the surroundings. The tanks are sufficient to hold an entire day's worth of wastewater and have an additional emergency tank.Developers will be providing services to the area, such as electricity, so the two pumps were commissioned using generators.  The project was jointly funded by Lismore City Council ($5.6 million) and the State Government via its NSW Regional Housing Fund ($1.4 million)MP Janelle Saffin said, “I am pleased that the NSW government can make a contribution to this important project that now has the potential to deliver more housing stock, desperately needed, and with the necessary infrastructure in place.”This project was completed in conjunction with BASEC engineering, DGP Water and Ledonne Constructions. (The wastewater pump station is north of Summerland Christian College at the end of Pineapple Road, Goonellabah)

The Mt Pleasant Estate in Goonellabah held another community meeting on Saturday. About 40 local residents turned up to hear about and see the new plans that the NSWRA (Reconstruction Authority) team had put together since their first meeting in May.The Mt Pleasant Estate land was purchased by the NSWRA and announced in March this year. One of the plans was to relocate four flood-affected homes into the estate and offer them to flood-affected residents, and those not purchased would end up on the open market.The announcement also said that up to 50 homes would be built in the estate, a number that the local community felt was too high during the first community session. Traffic volume, walking paths, the value of housing around the neighbouring area, and the surrounding bushland around Tucki Tucki Creek were local residents' concerns.Of course, some residents left with not happy faces; however, Kristie Clarke from the NSWRA said they were happier than the first session."We'd made some adjustments to the master plan. So, we had taken on board the community feedback from the last community session that we had, we'd reduced the overall development size from 50 lots to 39. But also, there were some consistent themes that people were concerned about around traffic. We were able to myth bust around homes being relocated and ensuring that they're in a presentable and finished state when people move in. It's not going to be an extended time of development and refurbishment of those four relocatable homes, and that's part of the first stage."Kristie and Jamie Simmonds explained that the four homes were from Molesworth Street, East Lismore and would be relocated before Christmas.When you looked at the homes on the prepared poster, neighbours on Just Street were worried they would be presented in the same condition. Kristie and Jamie mentioned a couple of houses down the hill on Just Street that have been finished to a high standard and are on the market for sale.(An example of a traditional Lismore-style house in pristine condition on Just Street)"We're trying to get them relocated before Christmas. There will be work that will continue on them post-Christmas to get them into that refurbished state with landscaping, but our aim is to get them relocated before Christmas.""We're prioritising people who've been impacted by the 2022 floods in the first instance, and we've run some expressions of interest through those impacted buyback homeowners to see who's interested in relocating to this development in Mount Pleasant. There's approximately 30 to 40 who have registered an interest. So, they'll be prioritised first before we go out to an open market. We've run two focus groups this week, on Wednesday at The Living Lab, and there is interest already in relocating to Mount Pleasant."What has the change in the number of dwellings, 50 to 39, made to the master plan?"There's been some changes to the size of the blocks, but also the level of density in the overall master plan. In terms of aesthetics, you saw on the plan that there's some open green space. There's a commitment to also look at this back reserve area in Tucki Tucki Creek."We had some reps from the local Landcare group attend today, and the RA are keen to work with them into how we can preserve and make some enhancements to that reserve area as well."Medium-density housing is still on the table but now totals three townhouses in the estate. One of the interesting changes to the master plan was having some communal land shared by about three or four houses. This is not common in Lismore, but it is not new either.(The NSWRA team at Mt Pleasant Estate on Saturday)"This concept is not as common to Lismore, but it's not; I don't think it's a new concept. This was some of the feedback that's come through from earlier sessions, but also feedback from the community that the Living Lab has been running. People still want green space, particularly if there's higher-density living. Not everyone wants to be living on top of their neighbours. They want to have some green space there, too."In essence, the residents would purchase and own their own houses and the land it sits on. But they would co-own or share a parcel of land at the rear of each house. This works in a similar way to a strata title for units and townhouses, where owners pay a certain amount of money for the communal space to be maintained.As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Residents will wait and watch as the four relocatable homes are moved and renovated in the next six months.

Two teenage boys have been charged following an alleged police pursuit that started in Casino.About 1:55am yesterday (Sunday, 22 September 2024), police were patrolling Simpson Parade, Casino, when they located a four-wheel drive that had allegedly been stolen from a home at Goonellabah on Friday (20 September 2024).Officers activated their lights and sirens and attempted to stop the vehicle; however, when the vehicle allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated.The vehicle drove through Ellangowan and Myrtle Creek before entering Grafton.One male was seen running from the vehicle on New Street before two males allegedly abandoned the four-wheel drive on Jubilee Avenue, Grafton, and it crashed into a fence.Both males allegedly attempted to run from the scene, with a 15-year-old boy arrested.The 17-year-old was arrested a short time later on Little Armidale Street, Grafton. `Both teenagers were taken to Grafton Police Station, and the 17-year-old was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, and unlicensed.The 15-year-old was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.Both teenagers were refused bail and appeared before a children’s court yesterday (Sunday, 22 September 2024).The 17-year-old was refused bail, while the 15-year-old was given conditional bail, with both due to appear before a children’s court today (Monday 23 September 2024).Investigations into the incident are ongoing.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

The highly anticipated reopening of the Lismore Workers Club was met with an enthusiastic crowd at 9am this morning.It has been two years and nearly seven months of painstaking cleaning, stripping, designing and rebuilding the Lismore Workers Club. Staff were pleased to see a small crowd waiting for the doors to slide across so they could see the new look for themselves.Gwen Smith has been a member of the Lismore Workers Club since 1970. Gwen and her daughter, Linda Irons were impressed by what they saw."I think it's really lovely. It's good for Lismore," Linda enthused.The amount of light coming from Keen Street streaming inside the new building impressed Gwen and Linda."It's very welcoming, with more natural light coming through the windows. I love the carpet. I love the decor. It's up a notch.""It's just so great for Lismore. I'm impressed."For Gwen, who turns 93 next week, the Lismore Workers Club was her "second home"."I've been eight years living up at Chauvel Village. I used to live where the courthouse is now, so it was just a little stroll. It was my second home, as I always called it."This is unbelievable. It's no comparison to what was here before. They've done a wonderful job."(From left: Robyn Churchill, Linda Irons and Gwen Smith)Robyn Churchill is another long-time member, having joined in 1989."I love the atmosphere, and I will be glad when the Bingo comes back though."Dudley was enjoying a coffee and reflected, "It's really clean. It was a slack-looking joint before. I love the big screens."The Lismore Workers Club have opted for a soft reopening in order to get the operational and technical side of the business running smoothly.The Workers Club is open until 8pm tonight with the Bella Vista Cafe, Cook to Order Eatery and the Oven Pizzeria serving food.(The new Oven Pizzeria open for lunch and dinner)For anyone new to town, the Lismore Workers Club is at 225-231 Keen Street, Lismore.

Lismore City Council is inviting the community to the CONVERGE Open Day this Saturday, 28 September 2024 – where you can meet all the artists and engage with art in the making. CONVERGE is Lismore’s temporary artist-in-residency space and professional development program. As a disaster recovery initiative, CONVERGE aims to bring life and energy to the CBD and support the continued growth of the city as a thriving cultural hub, celebrating its unique character, community, and world-class creative industry. Over the past three months, it has transformed a large, high-profile, vacant space in the heart of the CBD into a hub of colour, textures, creating, making, connection and learning. The Open Day is part of a weekend of arts and culture in Lismore, with the highly anticipated reopening of the Lismore Regional Gallery from 6pm on Friday, 27 September 2024. Come and join the 11 phenomenal local artists in the CONVERGE space. Connect with Lismore’s vibrant makers and creators, immerse in the behind-the-scenes experience of a working artist’s studio, and enjoy tunes, performance art, installations and conversations. The CONVERGE Open Day program features Paul Walker performing ‘Dance and Draw’, Adrienne Kenafake with her performance piece fresh from Cementa Festival, Chris Lego behind the screen-printing carousel and the decks, mix mud with Matt O’Brien, clay play with Antoinette O’Brien, celebrate subtle textures with Michelle Gilroy, digital dreaming with filmmaker Karenza Ebejer, mingling in mosaics with Stefanie Mirkilis and more. Located between Woodlark Street and Larkin Lane, CONVERGE sits bold and bright in the bustling hub of the ‘arts block’, positioned amongst the Lismore Regional Gallery, The Quad, Northern Rivers Conservatorium, Elevator ARI and the brand-new Tinnie Army Mural on Larkin Lane. The CONVERGE program is led by Lismore City Council and funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority to support the arts sector in the wake of the 2022 floods. Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said it was exciting to see some of the results of this artistic pop-up. “At the launch of CONVERGE in June, I spoke to the artists about the creative projects they were about to dive into," she said. “As well as supporting the business and general community in their flood recovery, it’s important to see the artistic community flourishing again.” CONVERGE Studio Open Day (123 Woodlark Street, Lismore: 10am to 3pm this Saturday, 28 September 2024

The Government is making it easier for renters in NSW to get the best deal with a new, free tool they can use to help check whether the rent they’re being asked to pay is fair.Rent Check, developed by the NSW Rental Commissioner, delivers new transparency to renters and owners by providing updated, current data on rent prices for comparable properties in their suburb. While some online real estate apps and websites are available to paint a picture of the rental market, they rely on advertised rent prices.Rent Check uses the latest bond data to provide a more accurate and comprehensive breakdown of market prices.This transparency helps renters better understand the market to make more informed decisions, while owners can set competitive, fair rents to attract and retain tenants.Rent Check compares up-to-date weekly rents by NSW postcode across metropolitan and regional locations using rental bond data, ensuring the tool provides a realistic indication of rent prices.Users enter a postcode and answer questions about whether the home is a unit or house, how many bedrooms it has and the current rent, or price they are willing to pay for a property.The result will give them the median market rental range for a particular location and if the price is above or below the median price for that suburb.The new website will help renters compare pricing and identify excessive rent while also helping owners better understand the range of rent being charged for similar properties in an area.The free-to-use tool complements the NSW Government’s commitments to modernising the state’s rental market and making it fairer, including by ending no-grounds evictions.The website will also provide links to further advice and resources for renters, owners and other users on the NSW Fair Trading website.Rent Check is available at www.nsw.gov.au/rent-checkMinister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said, “We’re getting on with building a more modern and transparent rental market in NSW.“One in three people in NSW are renters and many spend a large chunk of their weekly budget to pay for the roof over their head.“Rent Check offers renters the only option to compare rent based on bond data rather than advertised rents and understand if it is in market range. For future renters, it may help them find a location suited to their budget.“It also empowers owners to understand the market rent for similar properties to make the best decision for their investment.Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said, “Rent Check provides benefits for both owners and renters.“With transparent market information, renters are empowered to make informed decisions and negotiate better rental agreements while owners can use it to set competitive and fair rent prices by understanding market trends, ensuring they attract and retain tenants.”

For the last nine days, the focus has been on who will be the mayor of Lismore and which ten councillors will make up the Lismore City Council.As we now know, Steve Krieg has been returned as mayor, and the council will consist of 6 Krieg, 2 Greens, 2 Labor, and Big Rob.Counting is a lot closer in other councils, such as Ballina and Byron Bay as preferences look to decide the final outcomes.Those results will have an effect on the councillor make up of Rous County Council (RCC) and the future of the Dunoon Dam.RCC is made up of 2 councillors from each council, so two from Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay and Richmond Valley.The balance of RCC determines if Dunoon is on or off the table. During the previous term of council (pre-2021), councillors voted to remove it as a water security option. Then, after the 2021 elections, councillors voted to include the Dunoon Dam in the available options.Lismore and Richmond Valley look likely to vote for two conservative councillors to sit on RCC. Byron Bay is looking likely to have two Greens or 1 Green and 1 Labor as the councillor counting looks to be 3 Greens, 2 Labor, with 2/3 Independents. That would generally mean a vote against any Dunoon Dam option. However, last term The Greens Sarah Ndiaye did vote for the inclusion of the Dunoon Dam and land acquisition when it becomes available for sale.Ballina has returned Sharon Cadwallader with an increased majority as mayor. The rest of Ballina Council is made up of three different wards: A, B, and C. In what looks to be a close battle that will go to preferences for Ward A and B, The Greens look likely to have three seats, Labor one, and five Independents.The Ballina vote for its two RCC representatives may well decide the Dunoon Dam outcome for the next four years. The scenario could even become ridiculous because if there was a 4/4 vote to see who becomes Chair of the RCC meetings, each name would go into a hat, and a draw would take place—that is, if the same practice continues as the previous term. The Chair, like the mayor, would have the deciding vote if votes were split on any particular issue.The results of which councillors are endorsed to be on RCC will be decided at the first council meeting in October. For Lismore, that is Tuesday, October 15.To be clear, all recent votes just put the Dunoon Dam back on the table, so one of four options. The other three options include a desalination plant on the coast, recycled water (or toilet-to-tap as some call it) and aquifers (underground water). It does not mean that the Dunoon Dam will definitely be built.Water security will be a much talked about topic in the next four years. It may even be mentioned in the same breath as the CSIRO Flood Report in June 2025 and when the various flood mitigation options are released in 2026.Watch this space.

The antiquated rule that prevents people living within five kilometres of a Club from signing in without first becoming a member is being torn up as part of the NSW Government’s ongoing crusade against pointless red tape strangling our nightlife.The 5km rule has been responsible for countless head-scratching moments and unexpected paperwork over the years for people just wanting to enter their local Club or RSL for a meal or beverage.Removing the rule is expected to encourage more locals to enjoy their nearby Clubs before choosing whether or not to become a member.Consigning the 5km rule to history is part of the next tranche of commonsense Vibrancy Reforms to be introduced to Parliament next month. This includes the removal of the outdated restrictions that prevented patrons from standing while drinking outside a licenced premises.The first round of Vibrancy Reforms:Permanently relaxed the rules for outdoor dining, allowing venues to make the most of their outdoor spaceEnded single noise complaints from shutting down pubs and other licensed venuesMade it easier to activate streets for festivals and events (Open Streets program) and a regulatory model that allows streamlined approvals for repeat events (Permit, Plug, Play)Expanded Special Entertainment Precincts that empower local councils to change the rules around noise and opening hours in a designated area to support live entertainment and nightlife Increased incentives for live music and live performance, with two hours extended trading and an 80% reduction in liquor licence fees for licensed venues offering live music and performanceCreated easier pathways for extended trading hours for major events like the Olympics and World Cups.Under current legislation, residents living within 5kms of their local club must sign up as a member and typically pay a membership fee, demonstrate membership of a similar club elsewhere, or attend as the guest of an existing member.The current restrictions reduce the likelihood of people regularly attending their local Club, or even trying it out for the first time - while those living beyond 5kms can freely sign in as visitors. Clubs will still be able to attract new members with member-only incentives and access to their many facilities, such as gyms and swimming pools.Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham said, “Red tape that gets in the way of people in NSW enjoying themselves for no discernible benefit will continue to go into the shredder under the Minns Labor Government.“It has been an unwanted rite of passage for so many to be stuck in bureaucratic limbo over membership at the entry to a Club when all you want to do is go inside for a drink and a meal.“Scrapping the 5km rule is just the start of our next round of reforms to reboot the nightlife and vibrancy of the state, which are all about boosting the night-time economy, treating adults like adults and stripping back redundant red tape.”   Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said, “This proposed change will free people up to visit their local club without the obligation and cost to sign up as a member. “Of course, clubs will still attract members like they always have, with the benefits of belonging to a club, but this change will mean locals can visit and enjoy a meal, a drink and maybe a gig, without having to join.“Our reforms are about streamlining processes so businesses can focus on delivering a great experience for their patrons while giving people greater access to venues in their local community.”ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant said, “We have long advocated for this change, so this is a fantastic outcome for our industry.“It’s about providing clubs with the choice, and for many clubs — particularly golf and sailing clubs who have social membership caps — this will make a huge difference.

The Benevolent Society’s Disability Services – Far North Coast team is smiling from ear to ear as its free 10-week Inclusive Swimming & Water Safety Trial Program comes to an end this week. The program was designed by a team of therapists at The Benevolent Society to increase the water safety skills of people with a disability who are unable to access mainstream swimming lessons. Run in conjunction with Lismore City Council, 20 participants signed up for the lessons at the Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre (GSAC), and 15 have finished the program with some amazing results. The aim of the program was to increase water confidence and teach essential water survival skills, which is vital given research shows that children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are three times more likely to drown than children without ASD.  There were two GSAC Swimming Teachers and one Benevolent staff member in the water during the lessons. Each participant required a support person to be in the pool to assist them with activities or, depending on their ability, is able to get in the water quickly.     Nicole Gallpen is a Team Leader and Clinical Supervisor at The Benevolent Society, who helped develop the pilot program. Nicole, who worked as a swimming instructor whilst studying at university, was inspired to create the program after seeing the challenges her five-year-old son, George, faced. George, who is Selectively Mute and is currently going through an autism diagnosis process, found mainstream swim lessons overwhelming and struggled with the noise.  "My son is autistic and has had trouble engaging in mainstream swim lessons, not due to any physical capacity; he can actually swim quite well, but in the group environment, the lights, the noise, the colours, all the sensory stuff that is around the pool, meant that when we walked into the pool, he was so overwhelmed that he just couldn't bring himself to be a part of a group."His disability means that he really struggles to be verbal in social situations. So, in a group of mainstream peers, it was really overwhelming."I wanted to create a programme that wasn't exclusionary in terms of private, one-to-one because our goal for him is to be able to be part of a group and have that social connection that everyone else experiences going to a swimming lesson. So, the group is designed to sit in that gap where it's not one-to-one, but it's not mainstream. It's a group environment for like-minded peers. The environment is sensory-friendly, so the lights are dimmed. It's a quiet time at the pool."It's a program that is lower in expectations. Children or people with disabilities often have trouble following lots of instructions or lots of demands. So, it's a lower-demand environment that enables increased participation."The program was for all ages, in this instance from 3 to adult. The results were extremely positive as participants could save themselves if they fell into a pool."I think the biggest outcomes going in was largely focused on water safety," Nicole explained, "And I said going in if children or anyone that attends the program can learn, that if they fall in the water, they reach to the side and climb out and that's the only outcome we achieve, I think that was a success because people experiencing disabilities are 170% more likely to drown in our waterways in Australia. That's a horrifying statistic when that demographic is largely unable to access water safety and learn to swim lessons."We have had amazing success from people that, on the first lesson, were a staunch no, I'm not getting in the water, absolutely not, you can't make me, to now treading water in the deep end of the big pool for over a minute. Our adult participant actually has learnt to swim. He can swim a lap of the 25-metre pool with his eyes in."But I think the most heartwarming outcomes have been the social connection. We had a little boy last week who can't physically write; his disability means he can't actually hold a pen; he had typed out a letter on the computer and got his mom to print it out for another peer in the swimming that says, 'I love swimming with you'. One girl who was enrolled in the program was really largely about social connection. She's been really struggling with being in a group with other peers. She gave everyone a high-five last week. So, it's those kinds of connections and the joy of wanting to be in the water together."For Nicole, the rewards are deep."It's lovely. The program was designed so that there are three teachers in the water. I wasn't meant to be there every week, but I've gone every week because it just fills your cup. It just makes you feel really happy to see their happiness and joy when they come through the doors, especially after week one, when there were quite a few that were really apprehensive about getting in the water."The success of this trial has led to an NDIS-funded program in term four."In conjunction with Lismore City Council and GSAC, we are in discussions of continuing it in term four as an NDIS-funded program because it is designed by therapists. So, it's not swimming lessons; it will be a therapy-based program ongoing."Part of the program that we've designed actually starts out of the water. It starts with some sensory stuff that we do out of the water on the deck work before even getting into the pool so that they're calm. We have to meet their sort of sensory needs. So, rather than just racing and jumping in the pool and then that overwhelms them, we start calm."There are lots of breaks during the program. We have ones that pop out. We use the iPad for demonstrations as well because it can be a real connection piece. We've had kids that have monster trucks in the pool because that's their special interest. I think, one week, we had 15 monster trucks in the pool with one kid because he wasn't able to separate from them. So, we just incorporated them into the program, and we're able to do that because we don't have the mainstream time frames of the next lesson is about to start, or we've got three other kids where parents are paying to learn to swim and things like that. It's all the same expectations."If you want your child or you know someone who will benefit from the program, you can contact Nicole via email [email protected], call the Benevolent Society on 1800 236 762 or reach out through their Facebook page.