Bruce and Bev Supple have taken joy in setting up a Christmas lights display at their home for 42 years. They also love to stand out the front and say hi to people as they come driving or walking past to see their spectacular lights show.Before they came to live in Grevillea Grove in Goonellabah seven years ago, they lived in Modanville for 35 years.“In the early days, we did the milk carton trick, where we put candles into milk bottles to make a lights show,” Bruce said. “You don’t see that anymore.“Then there came the lights that needed the bulbs pulling out if they blew – but now with the new LED bulbs, the low wattage makes it a great for power bills.“In the past days, people would want to donate money toward the lights bills or to a cause, but noone is allowed to take donations any more.”Waterfalls, reindeer and kangaroosWhen you look at the roof of their Grevillea Grove home, you see there’s a waterfall of light that flows down the side of the house and across the path and over the front lawn, before becoming a lagoon on the grass. Then there’s two reindeer having a drink from the stream.There’s a musical Christmas lamppost out the front, containing a Santa with falling snow around home, that Bev brings in every night to keep it dry.They are not Catholics, but they have a Nativity scene with Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the lambs.This year, because of Covid, Bev said the only difference is that they can’t have a real life Santa on the lawn handing out lollipops to children.“Last year, we handed out 700 lollipops,” she laughed.Labour of loveBruce said he wasn’t even sure how many lights they have – but there are so many the couple start setting them up in early November, so that they are ready for the beginning of December.Bruce used to set up all the roof lights himself, but he’s getting older now and a neighbour helps the couple out these days.“It takes a day to lift the lights off the lawn and mow it,” Bruce said. “Then it takes five mows over the month to keep it all looking good.“Last year we put the lights up in the heat,” Bruce said. “We had bushfires and the dust, and this year, we’ve had Covid and the rain.”Last week’s extreme weather event last week stopped the couple from coming out and saying hi to people – but they love it when someone tells them their lights brought the magic of Christmas back into their lives.Christmas dayThis year, the couple said their Christmas day will the smallest they have ever had – with only six people at their home instead of the usual 20.“The border closures are affecting family coming down to visit,” Bev said,“We have children, four grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren now,” Bev said. “The lights have become the wow factor for the little ones.See the lightsIf you want to check out the couple’s lights, they will be switched on from 6pm to 11 pm until the end of Christmas day, so make sure you go and look before then.The Lismore App has a listing of Christmas lights show in the area, so if you have lights at your place, please let us know by emailing simon@lismoreapp and send us a photo!See the Lismore App’s Christmas lights location listings in our Christmas section: Christmas

For Crystal and Jason Balderi, the love of all things Christmas has grown every year. This year, the front of their Ballina Road house, lawn and driveway are lit up with hundreds of sparkling lights – and there’s Christmas carols playing from a speaker system.The couple have been lighting up their home for the past four years and this week, they were excited to add a two metre high Santa Claus to their spectacular Christmas show.“We love Christmas,” Crystal said. “We have two young children and my six year old loves the display.“My mum gave us the new Santa Claus because she knows we love it – now it’s our favourite decoration.”It took the couple three days to set up the magical light show and Crystal said since they have been lighting up, more and more people on their road have been decorating their houses too and she loves seeing it.“We had a few people stop and tell us how good it was and beep their horn as they go past,” she laughed.There’s little snowflakes and a rope light lining the footpath, Christmas boxes, a kangaroo and waterfall lights on two sets of windows.“The window lights are laser lights and they beat in time to the Christmas carols,” Crystal said.The Balderi’s lights turn on at 6.30pm each night and turn off at midnight, so if you take a drive by 173 Ballina Road, you can take a look at the Balderi’s spirit of Christmas.Send us your picturesThe Lismore App has a listing of Christmas lights show in the area, so if you have lights at your place, please let us know by emailing simon@lismoreapp and send us a photo!See the Lismore App’s Christmas lights location listings in our Christmas section: ChristmasChristmas lights display at Rosella Gardens, Goonellabah There are other Christmas light displays in Goonellabah and South Lismore. In Rosella Gardens at Goonellabah, the following lights display is spectacular.

Lismore City Council has repaired a major water main break at the Nimbin reservoir and is advising residents that water usage can return to normal.A severe storm that hit Nimbin overnight washed away part of the refilling line between the DE Williams dam and the High Street reservoir, cutting off the town water supply.Council has completed a temporary fix on the water main and the town water supply is now restored. Crews will undertake permanent repairs over the next few days.Lismore City Council would like to thank everyone in Nimbin for their cooperation today.ORIGINAL STORY:A severe storm at Nimbin overnight has led to a major water main break at the Nimbin reservoir, cutting off the Nimbin town water supply.Read more news: PM visits and declares Lismore a natural disaster areaNimbin residents on the town water supply are urged to only use water for essential purposes while Lismore City Council works to repair the break. The storm damage has washed away part of the refilling line between the DE Williams dam and the High Street reservoir.Storm damage in the Nimbin area is significant with major damage to a culvert on Blue Knob Road cutting the road north out of Nimbin.Council crews are now working to repair the water main break at the reservoir and are undertaking urgent repairs on the worst-affected roads such as Blue Knob Road.“We are keen for residents to report any other major road or storm damage such as trees over the road or places where access has been cut so we can schedule the most urgent works,” Scott said.Nimbin residents on town water should minimise water consumption and conserve water wherever possible.Council is working to temporarily fix the water main break this morning so there is access to water and more permanent repairs will be undertaken in the coming days. More information will be provided as it becomes available.To report storm damage, please phone Council on 1300 87 83 87.To stay up-to-date with the latest information from all local agencies, visit the Lismore Disaster Dashboard at: disaster.lismore.nsw.gov.au

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian have visited Lismore today to view flood damage and declare the Northern Rivers a natural disaster area.Deputy Mayor Neil Marks said it was terrific to see the Australian and NSW Government take swift action and the declaration opens the way for Lismore City Council to receive significant funding under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).Read more news: Health authorities advise people to avoid contaminated floodwater He said the severe weather in recent days has resulted in major damage to Lismore’s road network and city infrastructure that is expected to exceed $15 million.Read more news: Council closes a section of Kellas Street, Lismore after landslip“We would like to thank the Prime Minister and Premier for their quick action and I would like to thank federal MP Kevin Hogan and NSW MP Janelle Saffin for their assistance in lobbying for this speedy declaration,” the Deputy Mayor said.“We do not yet know the full cost of this weather event, but we know it will be very significant. It will take time for Council to properly assess the damage and have a clear picture of the total cost, but to know we can access disaster recovery funding is good news for the city.”Severe storms, heavy rainfall and flooding since last Friday has wreaked havoc on roads in the Lismore Local Government Area, with culvert washouts, landslips and major damage to both the sealed and gravel road network.Lismore City Council has commenced urgent road repairs and has mobilised all Council crews in a major clean-up and repair effort.Read more news: Nimbin water cut off after major storm hits the village

Dunoon will not be getting a new dam, after Rous County Council councillors voted against it in a meeting on Wednesday afternoon.The three and a half hour meeting saw the local water authority discuss how best to secure a regional future water supply into the future to 2060.Rous councillor Vanessa Ekins said she had worked for days to prepare a motion to see the dam option removed from the proposed integrated water management strategy - and was excited that other Councillors voted to support her motion. Read more news: PM visits and declares Lismore a natural disaster areaCouncillor Cook, Richardson, Ekins, Cameron, and Williams voted for the motion, while Crs Cadwallader, Mustow and Humphreys voted against.“The motion stated we should cease all action on Dunoon dam and acknowledge all of the consultation we had done,” she said.“It also said we should report on what we do with the land and look at Aboriginal Traditional Owners accessing land with significant cultural heritage value.”Cr Ekins said the way forward now was to progress groundwater options at Marom Creek and Alstonville for the next ten years on water security. Then to adopt recycled water options for future development.“We need to change how we use water and all the experts say recycled water is the future. We need more than 50% of our water supply not to rely on rainfall.“Recycled water options will be for the people who come to live here later,” she said.“Using recycling water means we always have a supply of recycled water.“Even when we are in drought, water use never ceases – it just goes down the toilet or shower and is treated as waste - but it shouldn’t be. We can process it and use it.“This is happening all round the world, except in NSW – so we will be heading the and demonstrate to the State Government how we can do it.”Cr Ekins has been a part of the Rous County Council since 2008 and said the dam option had been on the agenda and discussed for a long time.“The water plan we looked at in 2014 after two years of community consultation came up with the preferred options of groundwater and recycled water – so we have just now reinforced the decision we made then,” she said.The next stage is now to talk with the community over the next ten years. “We are giving ourselves lots of lead time lead time to consult with the community and overcome many fears people have about recycled water,” she said.With over 1300 public submissions made to the Council about its proposed water strategy to 2060, Cr Ekins said the level of engagement showed how important the issue of water was.“Today is a pivotal day,” she said.

To add to a chaotic day, Live Traffic NSW is reporting a two car crash on the Bruxner Hwy near Nielson Street heading out of the Lismore CBD.Traffic is down to one lane and an already congested traffic flow is worse.Richmond District Police and the Lismore City Council are advising people to stay out of the CBD.Dawson Street between Leycester and Magellan Streets remained closed in both directions.Lismore has received 174mm since 9am.More news as it becomes available.

Lismore City Council is asking people to avoid the CBD as flash flooding affects most roads near The Square and the main block.Council has also closed the Recycle and Recovery Centre on Wyrallah Road due to the flash floods.Police close Dawson Street as flash flooding affects the CBDThe Bureau of Meteorology has reported Lismore received 149.2 mm since 9am this morning with 92mm in 2 hours as at 2:30 this afternoon.The BOM has released a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for heavy rainfall for the Northern Rivers.Traffic is at a crawl on Ballina Road as people head into the CBD from Goonellabah with reports of a 30-40 minute journey.Live Traffic NSW has the route as 'very slow' in the map below.The NSW SES are also asking people to stay well clear of floodwaters and remember to not drive, walk or ride through floodwaters.If you require assistance from the NSW SES contact 132 500. If it is a life-threatening emergency, dial 000.

A number of roads in the Lismore City Council area are currently closed due to flooding, so take care on the roads and make alternative plans if you need to travel to affected areas.Wilsons River peaks with minor flooding and weather warning liftsThe following list of closed roads is accurate as of this morning:Boatharbour Road, between McKinnon Road and Cameron RoadBoatharbour Road, between Richmond Hill Road and McKinnon RoadHensley Carpark (Lower Level - Free Parking)Molesworth Street, Between Zadoc and Orion Streets, LismorePitt Street, North LismoreRowing Club Car Park (Paid Area)Simes Bridge, North LismoreTown Bridge, Town Road (off Terania Creek Road) The ChannonWoodlawn RoadWyrallah Road (RR742)Exercise caution on the following roads:Bice RoadBoyle Road, GoolmangarCorndale RoadJiggi RoadKeerong Bridge Road, KeerongKeerrong RoadNimbin RoadTerania Creek Road, Terania CreekTuntable Creek RoadThis picture shows the flooding over the road on Nimbin road, on the Lismore side of Goolmangar School at approximately 12pm yesterday.The NSW SES advises people not to walk or drive through floodwaters as this is the main cause of death and injury during flooding.If you need to evacuate from where you are due to flooding, the SES also advises you toRaise belongings by placing them on tables, beds and benches.Put electrical items on top. You may be able to place some light-weight items in the roof space.Collect together essential medicines, important documents, mementos and photos to take these with you.Make arrangements for care of pets or other animals or take pets with you to an evacuation centre.Turn off the electricity and gas.Take three days’ supply of clothes with you.Continue to listen to a local radio station for updates.For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately.For more information:• Radio: Listen to ABC North Coast radio 94.5FM and your local radio station• Lismore Council Disaster Dashboard: Go to https://disaster.lismore.nsw.gov.au/• Social Media: Follow NSW SES Northern Rivers and NSW SES Lismore City Unit on Facebook or monitor NSW SES website - www.ses.nsw.gov.au• Latest Weather, Warnings, Rainfall and River heights: Go to both www.bom.gov.au/nsw/ and www.bom.gov.au/qld/• Road Closures: Go to www.livetraffic.com.au or www.myroadinfo.com.au• Rural animal and livestock assistance: Contact Local Land Services 

This morning, the Wilsons River peaked at 6.78 metres and is falling, with minor flooding in parts of North Lismore and flooding on some low lying rural roads.The NSW SES expects that people upstream of the Rowing Club River Gauge should allow for a level at least half a metre higher than the gauge reading - due to the flood slope. Read an updated list of local road closures: UPDATED list of Lismore's flooded road closuresThe Bureau of meteorology has also cancelled the Severe Weather Warning for the Northern Rivers forecast district.The SES advises that if you are in an area and your property or business is likely to be impacted by flooding, consider raising moveable items, such as furniture, as high as possible onto benches or tables and place electrical items on top.You should also secure outside belongings and before leaving; turn off the power, water and take essential medicines and clothes with you.Monitor emergency warnings and severe weather updates.Never drive, ride or walk through flood water.Monitor equipment and livestock and move machinery, livestock, pumps and fodder including waste and chemical containers to well above predicted flood levels.For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500. In life threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately.Please stay safe as water recedes and remember to never drive through floodwater.For more information:• Radio: Listen to ABC North Coast radio 94.5FM and your local radio stations• Lismore Council Disaster Dashboard: Go to https://disaster.lismore.nsw.gov.au/• Social Media: Follow NSW SES Northern Rivers and NSW SES Lismore City Unit on Facebook or monitor NSW SES website - www.ses.nsw.gov.au• Latest Weather, Warnings, Rainfall and River heights: Go to both www.bom.gov.au/nsw/ and www.bom.gov.au/qld/• Road Closures: Go to www.livetraffic.com.au or www.myroadinfo.com.au• Rural animal and livestock assistance: Contact Local Land Services www.lls.nsw.gov.au

One of our first businesses to suffer from the recent rains is Rollerworld in Bridge Street, North Lismore.Owner Craig Newby is in desperate need for some storage space as they remove all their skates, cups, plates and anything else that can be removed before the water rises tomorrow morning.Rollerworld needs to take precautions because their car park goes under at 7.5 metres and with a predicted level of 8.2m early tomorrow morning, that means 20cm of water inside his premises.Craig is after 30-40 square metres of storage for the short term. If you have a storage shed or some spare footage in your business or at home, please call Craig on (02) 6621 6565.It's time to lend a helping hand Lismore.

With the Wilson River set to peak at 8.2m at 2am Wednesday morning and the water already near the car parks on Molesworth Street, Lismore City Council has asked everyone to remove their cars from CBD car parks tonight.Council is shutting all CBD carparks on the river side of the CBD from 6pm today. "Do not leave cars overnight as we may not open these carparks tomorrow," a council spokesperson said.Rollerworld on Bridge Street, North Lismore has evacuated their business and houses on the riverside of North Lismore may get some minor flooding as the river reaches its peak.The rain is forecast to make a return in the early hours of Wednesday morning with 20-30mm predicted from the Bureau of Meteorology for the day and 4-10mm on Thursday.Keep up-to-date at www.ses.nsw.gov.au.

Minor and moderate flooding is nothing new to Lismore residents, so when Lismore Council workers closed the levee gates on the river this afternoon, it was just another flood event for those seasoned to it.Levee operations update: move cars from riverside carparksThe rain has eased, the sun is out and the humidity is high - but with water still arriving in the catchment from areas north of Lismore, the river is tipped to peak later today.Wilsons River may peak at 8.2m early Wednesday morningThe Lismore App will keep you updated on any changes to weather and flood warnings as issued by the authorities as they come in - and please send us any updates and photos of flooding on roads, in parks, in your area. We love your contributions.The Rowing Club carpark is under water - not an unusual sight if you've been in Lismore for a while.Riverside Park is looking very wet this afternoon.

With some blue sky present and rainfall ending for the time being, the picture for Lismore is becoming clearer as most tributaries have peaked.See the list of Lismore's flooded road closures todayFlood peaks have been observed in the upper tributaries. Nashua peaked at 4.9m around 6am today, The Channon peaked at 7.2m around 5am today and Corndale is currently near its peak at 7.2m.The main flood peak is expected to reach Lismore overnight tonight.Minor flooding is occurring at Lismore. Rises to the moderate flood level are expected at Lismore later today.While the rain has eased today, showers and thunderstorms are predicted for the rest of the week and will continue to bring the risk of flash flooding.What we are expecting:Lismore is expected to exceed the moderate flood level (7.2m) around 6pm Tuesday.The Wilsons River level may peak near 8.2m around 2am Wednesday, with moderate flooding.Based on the prediction provided by the Bureau of Meteorology it is expected the following locations may be affected:• Properties in Lower North Lismore may be affected.• A number of low lying rural roads may be flooded.• People upstream of the Rowing Club River Gauge should allow for a level at least ½ metre higher than the gauge reading due to the flood slope.• Residents and businesses in the Lismore Basin may experience localised flash flooding prior to river rises.What you need to do:People in areas likely to be impacted by flooding need to consider the following:• Residents and businesses in areas likely to be impacted by flooding in North and South Lismore and the Lismore CBD should relocate immediately to family or friends outside the impact area.• If you are advised by an emergency services officer to evacuate, please do so.• If your property/business is at risk of inundation, please raise moveable items, such as furniture, as high as possible onto benches or tables, placing electrical items on top.• Secure outside belongings and before leaving; turn off the power, water and take essential medicines and clothes with you.• Monitor emergency warnings and severe weather updates.• Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater.• Farmers are advised to monitor equipment and livestock and should move machinery, livestock, pumps and fodder including waste and chemical containers to well above predicted flood levels.For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately.For more information:• Radio: Listen to ABC North Coast radio 94.5FM and your local radio station• Lismore Council Disaster Dashboard: Go to https://disaster.lismore.nsw.gov.au/• Social Media: Follow NSW SES Northern Rivers and NSW SES Lismore City Unit on Facebook or monitor NSW SES website - www.ses.nsw.gov.au• Latest Weather, Warnings, Rainfall and River heights: Go to both www.bom.gov.au/nsw/ and www.bom.gov.au/qld/• Road Closures: Go to www.livetraffic.com.au or www.myroadinfo.com.au• Rural animal and livestock assistance: Contact Local Land ServicesThe Lismore App will continue to provide updated information as it comes to hand.

With the current wet weather event continuing, Lismore City Council has been out checking the levee infrastructure and reports it is all in good condition - and said everyone should have a flood plan.See the list of Lismore's flooded road closures todayWilsons River may peak at 8.2m early Wednesday morning"Council staff have been actively monitoring the current weather system and activating our levee operation processes since last Friday," a Council spokesperson said."All of our flood gates, pumps, and other infrastructure associated with the levee was recently checked as part of our normal maintenance programs and found to be in good working order. "We do not have a prediction for a flood that could overtop the levee as yet, but with the ground throughout the catchment now fully saturated, any further rainfall will run-off straight into our creeks and rivers, and they could rise far more quickly than what has happened during this event so far. We urge businesses to be ready to act quickly should they need to."Any businesses with employees parked in carparks located inside the CBD levee should remove their vehicles this afternoon. There is no urgency until the end of the day, but we ask people not to leave cars overnight as we may need to close these carparks from this evening."See the video of the car stuck in river moderate flood waters in February 2020The main floodgates on Browns Creek and Gasworks Creek are currently closed with the pumps operational and pumping stormwater from those creeks over the levee and into the Wilsons River. Staff will continue to monitor the situation and respond. Business owners in the CBD are encouraged to make sure they have their flood plans ready to implement.We urge you to be ready to pack up at short notice should the need arise. Make sure you have your flood plan ready to go. Listen to the ABC Radio, monitor the SES and Bureau of Meteorology websites, and check in on your friends and neighbours to make sure they are okay.You can access up to date information from a range of sources via Lismore City Council’s Disaster Dashboard via the following link: https://disaster.lismore.nsw.gov.au/

While we have had 96.2mm of rain in the last 24 hours (to 8:30am), spare a thought for our neighbours in the north who have been hit hard.Murwillumbah received 227mm and Mullumbimby 231mm in the last day.That does not mean we are out of the firing line with a severe weather warning still issued for the north coast.Sunday is expected to be relatively wet with the heavy rainfall expected later tonight or more likely in the early hours of Monday morning. Already you can feel the increase in wind from the south, this is predicted to increase to 60-70kmh by tonight and gusting to 90kmh.The Bureau of Meteorology is saying Lismore can expect between 50 to 120mm on Monday which is why there is still a minor to moderate flood warning for the Wilson River and minor warning for the Richmond River.The Lismore App will keep you up to date if there is any breaking news.You can stay in touch with the BOM via the App (Weather) and the Weather Radar (Weather Radar).

NSW SES has said the last 6 hours has produced no more than 22mm in Nashua across our catchment area.Average rainfall remains below 5mm per hour at all gauges. Streams in the upper catchment at Nimbin, Repentance and Upper Wilsons Creek are showing small increases of between 30cm to 50cm. This water will take at least 24 hours to reach Lismore City.NSW SES attended a total of 7 jobs today and yesterday with an almost even split between leaking roofs and trees down. SES saying that the small number is good to see as it tells them the community has been preparing well for the coming rain."We’ve had some really good rainfall over the past 24 hours to 9am. There may be water laying in low lying areas so take it slower on the roads," was the warning from NSW SES. The Flood Watch is still in place so just be aware of that. Intense periods of rain can lead to flash flooding so take extra care around drains, causeways, rivers and creeks.Lismore (Dawson St) had 62mm to 9am this morning in the last 24 hours a far cry from Bellingens 161mm in the Mid North Coast which was hit by the offshore trough first as it heads slowly north.The Bureau of Meteorology is now saying the heaviest rainfall should occur late Sunday or more than likely early Monday morning with an increase in winds especially along coastal areas.The flood warning is still listed as minor to moderate for the Wilson and Richmond Rivers.

While we can’t all gather to sing Christmas Carols in town this year, tomorrow (Sunday, December 13) we can still join together online for the Virtual Carols in the Heart from 7pm to 8.30pm.With a host of performers lined up to sing our favourite carols through the event, the final virtual community choir song is set to be a beautiful collaboration.Event organiser Virginia Waters said she had received a number of video submissions from members of the community singing ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ for inclusion in the community choir video.Virginia said some of the cutest submissions were from groups of children in preschool and a dance group. There were also submissions from council employees and family groups (and even the Lismore App sent in a submission).The video has been put together to include all the submissions, showing a community of people all singing the same song on screen.So, make sure you tune in via Lismore City Council’s Facebook page from 7pm tomorrow to hear this year’s virtual carols – and see Santa and Mrs Claus visiting at Santa’s Wonderland.While Santa is a bit exhausted from having his photos taken with his visitors this week in Santa’s Wonderland, he will still be in fine singing form.Join the virtual carols here: https://www.facebook.com/LismoreCityCouncil

If you have been dying to legally move your feet and groove your body on a dance floor, your chance has finally come. This week, the NSW Government changed the Covid restrictions and now 50 people are allowed on indoor dance floors. This is great news for local DJ Sista Ray (Deb Ray), owner of Lismore music shop – Music Bizarre. Tonight, from 6 to 10pm, Deb is putting on Lismore’s first official dance event since Covid stopped the dancing fun.The free gig at the Civic Hotel on Molesworth Street is called Chapter 2 - The Dancefloor Re-Infection.Deb said there’s a line up of four local DJs playing bass-heavy music. There’s DJ Numbskull, Iki-jima, Rangi, then Sista Ray – playing everything from hop hop, to dance, dubstep wobble, and glitch hop.Deb said although we are one step closer to full dancing freedom, we still have to observe the social distancing where applicable, QR code and rules. The past nine months have affected the entertainment industry pretty hard, and Deb welcomes the easing of Covid restrictions on gatherings. “There’s been a heavy toll on mental health of DJs, live musicians and people who work in music and arts because so many jobs have been lost or put on hold for nine months,” Deb said. “That’s huge. “I’m lucky - I also work in a music shop so I still talk to people and have that connection with people around music. “But for some people, partying is how they socialise and it’s not the same just playing dance music by yourself at home. “It’s important to have an audience who connects with what you are doing – the energy and the chemistry it creates is crucial and streaming music is not the same as being on a dance floor with a bunch of people and feeling the bass through your body – it’s a whole body experience and nothing can replace that.“I’m super excited that we are able to start again at the Civic Hotel tonight in the back garden space.”To find out more about the free event, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/670254220306864New Covid gathering rulesAs of Monday, 7 December 2020, the NSW Government has eased the following restrictions allowing:1 person per 2 square metres (with 25 people permitted before the rule applies), except for:gyms and nightclubs (1 person per 4 square metres, with a maximum of 50 people allowed in gym classes or on the dancefloor at nightclubs)Stadiums and theatres:outdoors: 100% seated capacity, and 1 person per 2 square metres rule for unstructured seating areasindoors: 75% seated capacity.Gatherings in outdoor public spaces:up to 100 people for outdoor gatherings (up from 50)up to 5,000 people for outdoor events that are fenced, ticketed and seated (subject to the 2 square metres rule)up to 3,000 people for other organised outdoor events i.e. community sport and outdoor protests (subject to the 2 square metres rule).Dance floors:up to 50 people indoors. Singingup to 50 performers indoors, no maximum cap outdoorsadvice is for congregation/audience to continue wearing masks if singing. Under the changes, maximum capacity caps will be removed subject to the 2 square metres rule for:bookings at hospitality venuesweddingsfuneralsregional agricultural showscorporate eventsreligious services.Read more news: Bitchez on Bikez take to the streets with compliments

Police closed down Ballina Road bridge for almost 15 minutes this morning just before 9am when climate change protestors staged an action there.Extinction Rebellion climate change activists Rebel Dylan and Locky said they successfully hung a ‘climate crisis, act now’ banner on top of the bridge, before local police arrived.“The idea was to create a powerful act of civil disobedience in our hometown of Lismore because of climate change,” Dylan said.“I wanted to find a way to create protest in Lismore for what’s going on in the world. We have been suffocated by Covid because we haven’t been able to protest.“So, we got up on the bridge and strung a big banner over the cars so everyone driving in could see what we wanted to say – that we need climate action.“To give attention to that banner. we though we would stand up there with it and dressed up as well.“We put on masks and bandanas and eye make up and brought attention to the cause using powerful theatrics.“We were keen to stay up there for as long as possible, but we knew eventually the police would come.”When the police arrived, they closed the bridge to traffic by staging a road block at either side of the normally busy bridge. The bridge was closed for almost 15 minutes before the protesters climbed down, and traffic resumed.“When we got down, the police got my name and address and said we were putting ourselves in danger and we can’t have that,” Dylan said.“Because got down quickly, we didn’t get arrested or fined . It felt like we made enough of a statement in that time to negotiate with police and move off.”Dylan said other spontaneous protests would be a definite possibility in the future.Following the climate change protest, another local group Bitchez on Bikez staged a ride through town to compliment the bridge action.Read more about the ride here: Bitchez on Bikez take to the streets with compliments