Local gyms were doing it tough following the initial COVID-19 restrictions that were put in place by the NSW Government in March. After a brief respite as restrictions eased in June they took a step back on August 1 when gyms had to have a COVID-19 Safety Hygiene Marshall present at all times the doors are open.While this does not affect some gyms that operate restricted hours it does adversely affect 24/7 gyms. To employ a person to be the COVID-19 Safety Hygiene Marshall or ask a staff member to take on that role during non-peak times is an added cost that a small business already under financial pressure can not sustain.The answer is shorter business hours so 24/7 gyms are having to adjust their trading hours to survive.George Stevens Manager at Anytime Fitness in Goonellabah said they looked at their most popular times and have made sure they are catered for.(George Stevens, Manager of Anytime Fitness in Goonellabah)"We are doing the best we can to staff the gym with our available staff", George said, "we're not 24 hours but we are doing our best to keep members happy".This has upset a small amount of members with most happy that they are still open.This was the sentiment at F-Fitness in East Lismore with Manager Casey Clark saying a few people were upset but the majority of people understand the situation."It has affected our business slightly", Casey said, "we have lost a few members but the majority have been very supportive".The main change to 24/7 gyms is the opening hours.Anytime Fitness are now open 6am to 12 midday and 4pm to 8pm Monday to Thursday, Fridays 8am to 4pm and weekends 8am to 12 midday.F-Fitness's opening times are 4am to 10pm Monday to Friday while Saturday's are 8am to 5pm and Sunday's 8am to 1:30pm.Switch 24/7 in the GSAC building has also changed its hours. Tony Duffy told the Lismore App: "Due to the requirement for a COVID-19 Safety Marshal, we have had to close the 24/7 GSAC gym. However we have extended operating hours at the gym. The new hours are Monday to Thursday, 5am to 8pm, Friday 5am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm."Spare a thought for a new 24/7 gym opening in Lismore Central Shopping Centre on August 18. It is hard enough opening up a new business and in a competitive field. Manager Sam Waller saying "the restrictive hours affects shift workers like nurses and police officers but we'll do the best we can by opening from 4am to 10pm".Any further restrictions could well see a few operators closing their doors for good.

COVID-19 has thrown some curve balls for everyone since March especially small business.This story proves that out of a place of adversity opportunities can arise, it just takes the courage and a little luck to make it a success story.Phil Evans has worked for three pool companies in the area, Profile Pools, Poolwerx and more recently Lismore Poolscene. COVID-19 meant that the doors of the business were reduced to opening two days a week and Phil was not sure the business would return strongly or when that might be.What makes it more difficult is that Phil has a young family with partner Amy and their two children Madeliene and Georgia. Amy is on maternity leave and looking to get back to her elderly care role early next year.(Phil Evans with partner Amy, Madeliene (5) and Georgia (8 months). Photo: Supplied)"I always wanted to do my own thing", Phil said, "initially COVID stalled me and we thought wait until this over but then the shop hours changed and we thought why not give it a go now"."This gives me the flexibility to get the kids up and take them to daycare when Amy starts work at 6am plus more freedom to make decisions to help people out and do some favours where I can, it's me calling the shots".Winter is the quiet time of year for pool maintenance so Phil is getting his head around the bookwork and accounting procedure he will face once the busy summer period is in full swing.Why the name?"It was a play on dependable and the deep end of a pool", Phil explained. You could add jumping in to the deep end opening a new business as well.Deepend Pool Maintenance offers pool maintenance, sales of chemicals and equipment parts as well as repairs and installations and according to Phil "great customer service".You can contact Phil via his mobile 0n 0429 510 303 or via email at [email protected]. As Phil has only just started his business you can guarantee you will be talking to the owner.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner after a man died while working on a property about 20km north of Lismore.Emergency services were called to the property on Cox Road, at Koonorigan, after the man was found trapped by a fallen tree last night about 7.20pm (Friday 7 August 2020). He died at the scene.Officers from Richmond Police District have been told the 67-year-old man was clearing trees on the property when the incident occurred.SafeWork NSW will be notified of the incident.The man's wife plays for Dunoon United Football Club in Football Far North Coast's women's League 5 side, who play at Alstonville tomorrow. The players will wear black armbands and the Dunoon United side will request a minute's silence prior to the kick off at 12:30pm. 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 crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Most locals would know about or have heard of the Lismore Community Gardens on the corner of Brewster and Magellan Streets in Lismore.However, most of us would not know of the amazing work that a group of hard working volunteers achieve each week which includes supplying fresh vegetables and herbs to food banks.Earlier this week Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan presented funding of $1,350 to Lismore Community Gardens to purchase new garden and power tools to help develop the gardens.Mr Hogan said "Volunteers are central to so many local organisations and provide important services in our community."Peter Luckett is coordinator of the Rainbow Region Community Farms which manages the Lismore Community Gardens. Peter said "This will allow us to purchase new gloves and tools to encourage more volunteers and support our great existing volunteers with the cost of fuel for delivery of produce."Peter told the Lismore App they are always looking for volunteers so if you have a green thumb, love gardening and have some time on your hands go and see Peter and the team at gardens on a Wednesday or Saturday morning between 9am and 1pm."This is very much a social thing, it's a place where friendships are formed", Peter said.The 'Mutual Obligation' system is also operational for the gardens. This is where people can volunteer 10 hours a week in return for social welfare instead of looking for a full time job.A new addition to the Lismore Community Gardens is offered by the Herb & Vegie Organisation each Saturday morning between 10am and 12noon. During the two hours you have the chance to swap produce seeds and drop off or pick up cuttings and plants. There are two tables to use that this Saturday will have strawberry runners, crucifix orchids, a bangalow palm, agarves and New Guinea bean seeds on offer.The next improvements for the gardens is the Indigenous Bush Tucker Garden which was planned by Phil Dudman and includes a smoking circle, bbq area as well as indigenous plants.Also in the pipeline is a waterless compost toilet that already has DA approval from council and will include wheel chair access.

It’s been a tough few months for Rainbow Wholefoods owner Tony Stillone. His north Lismore shop has been in danger of closing down and the stress of dealing with bureaucracy saw him admitted to hospital with high blood pressure recently.Tony said it was due to his healthy vegan diet and his naturopathic knowledge of herbs and nutrition that saw him quickly pull through what would have been called a heart attack in a weaker person.He said hospital gave him food poisoning and despite now having lost 10 kilograms in weight, he’s feeling stronger and he is “fighting to keep his shop open”.Read more news: Fine issued to woman supposed to be self-isolating in NimbinA string of events, including what he calls a “bureaucratic nightmare” of dealing with building fire and safety regulation codes, Lismore City Council and the building’s owner, fires, flood and Covid-19, lead him to announce he would close the shop in September.But, since then, he has rallied the local community for assistance and has now enlisted the help of legal representative Al Oshlak.Now, it seems Tony is intent on staying open – at least until March next year.At the heart of the issue is a dispute between the building’s owner and Tony - about who has to pay for a $150,000 fire safety wall at the back of the building.The background storyTony has been renting and operating Rainbow Wholefoods in the current Terania Street location for 16 years.A Lismore City Council spokesperson told the Lismore App that in 2006, Council compliance officers identified that there were Fire, Health and Safety problems in the building which needed fixed and notified the building’s owner, Wagner Farquar Property Pty Ltd.Then in 2013, compliance action was taken by Council - as the building was being used for commercial purposes without a relevant Development Application (DA).In 2014, the building’s owner then lodged a DA with Council, which was approved if the owner guaranteed to undertake work on the fire, health and safety issues.Council said that in 2015, no work had commenced and Council ordered the work to be done.Now, in 2020, Council said “after five years with no work, the Health Officer made a report that no work had been done and deemed the building not safe and a compliance action review was undertaken.”Council also reported that Council staff worked with Tony to help him apply for grants to get back on track after the 2017 flood.ResponsibilityTony said based on the legal advice of Mr Oshlak, he believes the responsibility for undertaking the work lies with the building’s owner.“Now we are telling the real estate rental agents we are staying until March and it’s up to them to deal with Council,” he said. “Al has also written to Council telling them this.”Tony said even though he was not directly responsible for doing the work, he had already spent $20,000 undertaking some of the health and safety work identified by Council (like providing Hazmats) - as it related to his business of selling food.Tony said he would be happy get a bank loan and undertake the work on the fire wall if he was the owner of the building.“I already made an offer of $150,000 to buy the building off the owner, but the offer has not been accepted,” he said.“And Council won’t let me submit another DA until Farquar’s DA is approved, or amended.”He said he recently stopped selling food from the shop’s café because he couldn’t submit the new, appropriate DA to Council because of the current dispute over the firewall DA.LegalsTony’s legal representative Al Oshlak said the issue surrounding the compliance DA was a technical one.“The DA for compliance construction of a fire wall is addressed to Farquar, the owner,” Mr Oshlak said. “That means he is the one who can legally deal with it. At the moment, Tony is not responsible.“If the owner would sell the building at reasonable price to Tony, he can bring it to a good compliant state – or do what Council request him to comply with. The other option is to wait until Council prosecutes.“If council tries to take Tony to court they would lose.”Mr Oshlak said after the 2017 flood, Council health inspectors visited and helped him fix things, but didn’t say anything about a compliance DA.“Tony never saw that DA until Council told him about it in March this year."Is it necessary?Mr Oshlak also said the building doesn’t actually need a fire wall, as there no neighbours.“There used to be an adjoining property shed that’s been removed,” he said. “The development compliance needs of the building need to be reviewed – and again that is Farquar’s responsibility.“Lismore City Council needs to issue a moratorium on this work and not harass Tony.“Tony stayed open six days a week through the drought, flood and he survived Covid – but he might not survive Lismore City Council.“So many others rely on his business - what about the organic farmers that sell 1.5 million a year in produce to him?”The futureTony said his family are helping him out in the shop now and his daughters are staffing the shop.He also hopes to get the current situation sorted so he can submit a new DA to get his cafe food business at Rainbow Wholefoods up and running again.“Life is good and I’m going to fight it - provided the pandemic doesn’t play out and destroy it,” he said. 

A woman who was supposed to be self-isolating in Nimbin has been issued with a $1000 Personal Infringement Notice by police for breaching a Covid-19 Public Health Order.NSW Police reported today that the 31-year-old had been stopped last Saturday, August 1 at a border checkpoint in Albury, Victoria. She presented a permit allowing her entry to NSW, and was allowed under the provision that she self-isolated for 14 days at a Nimbin address.Subsequent checks by police revealed the woman was not staying at the address, and following inquiries, police found her yesterday, Thursday, August 6, in a vehicle at Nabiac. She was issued with a $1000 PIN for not complying with a noticed direction and instructed to return to Victoria.Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.auInformation is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

As I write this weeks Weekend Wrap, it is a cold 13 degrees with the promise of more rain tonight. That is where the bad news ends because the Weather Bureau have said the rain should stop over night leaving us with a cloudy morning that will clear in the afternoon and a warm top of 23 degrees. Sunday is looking good with a max of 19.This is good news for the return of the famous Channon Markets this Sunday.It is the first time markets other than fruit and vegetable markets (deemed essential) can operate. This was the excited message on their facebook page "We are so excited to return this Sunday, Coronation Park is looking smick, the regen work at the creek is amazing, the trees are blooming beautiful and the birds are chirping. All it needs now is YOU!"(The Channon markets in non-COVID times)The Channon Markets kick off at 8:30 Sunday morning and run until 3pm at Coronation Park. They will be abiding by NSW Government regulations so are COVID ready.The Lismore Farmers Markets are on again tomorrow morning from 8 as usual for your fresh fruit and veg at the Showgrounds while the Blue Knob Community Markets are on from 8:30am.Weekend sport will also benefit from clearer skies. The Marist Brothers Rams will be at home to Byron Bay on Sunday with Northern United away to last years premiers Ballina Seagulls. Ballina had a good win over the Rams at Crozier Field last weekend.Lismore Rugby Union club have a tough match away at Premiers Wollongbar/Alstonville while in the Presidents Cup the SCU Gold Rats take on Richmond Range at Lismore Rugby club ground at 3pm Saturday. In Far North Coast Football the Lismore Thistles take on Bangalow at Thistles Park on Saturday at 3pm, then on Sunday the Goonellabah Hornets head to Byron Bay and South Lismore tackle Richmond Rovers at Nesbitt Park at 2:30pm.Check your teams sporting results in Sport on the Lismore App.Neil Marks talks about the potential new dam in Dunoon tomorrow while the Sunday Profile is Lismore's new Superintendent of the Richmond Police District Scott Tanner.Cheap petrol is hotting up with 3 cents the margin between most stations near the cbd. United on Ballina Road is still cheapest for E10 unleaded at 112.9 while diesel has three stations at 117.9 including the locally owned Liberty on Ballina Road, United on Ballina Road and the Shell on Wilson Street, South Lismore.It's been a long week, here are some funny meme's;

At 6 o'clock last night we learned of the shock resignation of Councillor Gianpiero Battista.Today we have confirmation from Lismore City Council that Councillor Greg Bennett has also resigned, leaving the total number of councillors at nine (9).In a press release this afternoon Lismore City Council thanked Councillor Gianpiero Battista and Councillor Greg Bennett for their service to the Council and the community.As a result of COVID-19, the current term of all NSW councils was extended by 12 months to September 2021. In normal circumstances a councillors term is four (4) years which ended in August, 2020. Councillors then make an individual decision to extend their term of resign at the end of their elected term.Councillor Battista and Councillor Bennett have decided to stand aside now rather than wait another 12 months.Councillor Battista, whose resignation is effective as of 6 August, has served the community as a Councillor for the last 12 years.Councillor Bennett, whose resignation is effective as of 13 August, has been a councillor for eight years."Lismore City Council management and staff thank both councillors for their leadership over their years of service and wish them well for the future", the press release said.The NSW Government’s Office of Local Government has previously determined that due to COVID-19, no by-elections will be held to replace any councillor who resigns before the rescheduled Council elections on 4 September 2021.The big question now surrounds which remaining councillors will continue to work until the new elections next year.Mayor Isaac Smith along with current Deputy Mayor Darlene Cook and Councillors Elly Bird, Neil Marks, Vanessa Ekins and Bill Moorhouse have all confirmed they remain committed to serving their extended term at council. Bill Moorhouse saying "I'll keep turning up until it gets silly".When the council elections were postponed in March a few councillors were undecided about their extended term, this included Councillors Nancy Casson and Eddie Lloyd.The Lismore App has been trying to contact all councillors for a response.The next few days, including next weeks Tuesday's council meeting should reveal all the details.

Northern Rivers residents now have more time to comment on the proposed Future Water Project 2060 after Rous County Council today extended its public exhibition period. Public submissions on the proposed Future Water Project 2060 will be accepted until Wednesday 9 September 2020 – giving the community an extra 28 days on top of the current six-week exhibition period. “We’ve always appreciated how important the issue of water security is for our community as well as the level of interest a new Dunoon Dam would generate,” Rous County Council’s Chairperson Keith Williams said. “During these challenging times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we must ensure residents are provided ample opportunity to better understand the viability of various new water source options that were investigated. “The response so far has been pleasing and we hope an additional four weeks will allow more residents to let us know their views on the future water project’s preferred option,” Councillor Williams said. Due to ongoing COVID-19 precautions, Rous County Council is continuing to conduct the proposed project’s public exhibition mainly via online platforms. The 28-day extension means Rous County Councillors will now consider a report on the public exhibition period’s outcomes at their meeting scheduled for December 2020. Rous County Council’s General Manager Phillip Rudd encouraged residents to use the extra time to take a virtual tour of the region’s proposed water supply system. “Our online 3D water catchment model is a unique way for the community to engage with key aspects of the future water project including the proposed Dunoon Dam’s location, use of groundwater aquifers and significant issues with desalination and recycled water,,” Mr Rudd said. “We’ve invested in this cutting-edge technology developed by the Queensland University of Technology to make sure our residents have better access to the information they need."Rous County Council’s virtual drinking water supply catchment tool can be viewed here. It can also be accessed by visiting the dedicated Future Water Project 2060 webpage – where the community will find various other information resources as well as details about how to provide feedback via one of the available submission methods. In Neil Marks' weekly Blog tomorrow, he discusses the new Dunoon dam following a council briefing on Tuesday night.

A new online portal gives NSW residents the ability to quickly and easily notify fire services when they’re planning to use fire on their property. The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) portal means residents can use their mobile phone or desktop computer to lodge their notifications about planned hazard reductions or burn offs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NSW RFS Inspector Boyd Townsend said by using the new tool at http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify, users can help us better manage emergency calls. “As we approach the bush fire season, many landholders are taking the opportunity to burn off – but it’s important they do it safely and let us and their neighbours know," he said.“Landholders need to make sure they’ve obtained any required permits and permissions, as well as notifying neighbours and fire authorities 24 hours before lighting up.“This tool makes it easier to notify the NSW RFS before conducting your burn.“If fire services know about it, we then have a good awareness of burning activities across the landscape. This assists us with managing emergency calls that we receive on a daily basis more effectively."By using the new tool, landholders will be notified of any Total Fire Bans and will be advised to not proceed with their burn. NSW RFS Inspector Boyd Townsend said while landholders are encouraged to reduce fuel loads on their property, it is imperative that it is done so safely and legally. “Before lighting any fire you need to have adequately prepared fire breaks and have firefighting equipment on hand to ensure the fire does not escape," he said.“Every landholder has a responsibility to prevent fire spreading from their property and there can be serious consequences for people who light fires and leave them unattended."The Bush Fire Danger Period for the Local Government Areas of, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore. Richmond Valley & Tweed is expected to commence on 1st September 2020. To notify of your intent to burn off, use the new online burn notification tool at http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify. Landholders can still notify the NSW RFS by contacting their local Fire Control Centre. 

The advice for today is to take an umbrella or raincoat to work because we will get rain according to the Bureau of Meteorology.The likelihood of rain is close to 100% so you can plan with confidence but the amount to fall is 2-5mm so there is no reason to fear any flash flooding or the closing of sporting fields for the weekend.Speaking of which, the rain should stop by Saturday morning to what should be a pretty good weekend with Sunday the pick of the days although Saturday will be warmer with 23 degrees (Sunday 19).Next week is also looking good with temperatures warming each day to a spring like 25 on Thursday.

Gianpiero Battista has resigned his position as a Councillor on the Lismore City Council.On his facebook page late this afternoon, Mr Battista released the following statement;Dear residents of Lismore and VillagesIt is with mixed feelings that I announce today that I have resigned from my position as Councillor on the Lismore City Council.I am very proud of my achievements in Council including stopping a 17% SRV increase, funding for the Museum lift, changing to 20% the local content criteria for Council’s tenders over $150,000, proposing a 20% reduction and freeze in CBD rates for at least the next 2 years, the backing of the re-development of the Lismore Regional Gallery, and finally unwavering support for NORPA which I believe is, together with our sporting events, one of the unique selling points of Lismore.I have enjoyed most of my last 12 years as Councillor representing our ratepayer, but feel I can no longer effectively be the change which is why I have made this decision.The mixed feelings are both sadness and relief.This was not a light decision and it has been on my mind for the last couple of months with origins since the last election 4 years ago. The sadness comes as I will not be able to represent the views of my community, and those who have supported me throughout my tenure. However I am relieved as the frustration and emotions after each Council meeting will no longer be present.Since the appointment of the new GM, I have found it extremely hard to perform my duties and I know this is also the case for some of my fellow Councillors. Trying to deal with a bureaucratic machine that is bent on making some of us redundant and disconnected from the decision making process has taken its toll.Some examples of this are; continuous and unanswered requests for meaningful information; deliberate exclusion from important decisions such as the $2m offer to refurbish the Lismore Lake Pool; being excluded from accessing Council’s emails and information; and finally and probably the issue for me that has ‘broke the Camel’s back” the incredible resistance and opposition to my Notice of Motion which was trying to raise funds to improve the Lismore budget and also save jobs.Spending ratepayer’s money for legal advice on whether Council should ask their employees to donate 10% to save some of their colleagues' jobs is just one example that has impacted my belief in council’s management capacity of good reason. The leadership vacuum of the last 4 years has allowed others to “run the organisation” as their own forgetting that the ratepayers are the customers and principal stakeholders who ALWAYS have to foot the bill when things go wrong.I have served this community well and in normal circumstances we would be now in ‘caretaker mode’ due to a pending election. Unfortunately due to COVID our tenure was extended for 12 months which I have decided not to fulfil. One last positive outcome of my resignation from this current council will be that of saving ratepayers $20,000 in Councillor’s fees.Again, I would like to thank everyone for their support for the last 12 years and finish by leaving this advice to both my colleagues and the ratepayers: do not let anyone stop you asking questions and keep asking for the information as you cannot make an informed decisions without it.Thank you to those employees at Lismore City Council who have supported me and the elected Councillors. I wish you all the best and much success in the coming years. GianpieroMore to come....

North Coast Veterinarians are encouraging cattle producers to be on the lookout for the disease Yersiniosis. Cases of the fatal bacterial disease, also known as mud scours have been seen in the Lismore area in recent weeks. Phil Kemsley, North Coast Local Land Services District Veterinarian said the bacteria Yersinia multiplies in decaying plant material in cool, wet soil.This can occur in swampy area, dam edges and in depressions in pasture; often known as melon holes. It can occur seen when hay is fed out and becomes contaminated by mud. Outbreaks can also happen after floods in winter when flood mud sticks to pasture. "The bacteria Yersinia likes low temperatures and low oxygen levels typical in poorly drained paddocks and grows in dry grass material contaminated with mud," he said. Dr Kemsley explained that Yersiniosis often presents as an outbreak with several cattle in the herd affected, making it critical to identify the disease early. Adults are usually affected, and the disease can be seen in any breed, with Brahmans and Brahman crosses being more susceptible. “Signs of Yersinia can vary from fever to severe diarrhoea resulting in dramatic weight loss.” Dr Kemsley said. “In some cases, affected cattle can be found dead despite having good body condition. Others have diarrhoea for several days, which results in dramatic weight loss.” It is crucial to have suspicious cases investigated by a veterinarian as the infection responds well to treatment with an antibiotic. If cattle loose body condition from the disease, the period of convalescence can be long, with animals needing supplementary feed to regain the weight. To help prevent further Yersiniosis cases, cattle should be moved to another paddock, preferably one that is better drained. Yersiniosis usually stops once spring and warmer conditions arrive.  “Human Yersinia infection from cattle is rare. As long as people wash their hands after handling cattle affected by the disease, it is not a threat to human health.” Dr Kemsley said

A youth anthem tackling how Indigenous youth can keep their communities safe from Covid-19 has just been released.Recorded by Aboriginal artists Mi-Kaisha and hip hop artist Nooky, the song’s video clip, recorded in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Redfern, features choreography by Bundjalung, Yuin, Munanjali, Gamillaraay and Murray Island nations man, Darren Compton. Aboriginal people in New South Wales are at greater risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 and the track ‘One Point 5’ speaks to Aboriginal youth about their role in keeping their communities safe. This heightened risk makes it essential for frequent and reliable information to reach and circulate within Aboriginal communities. Darumbal, Murri and Tongan woman Mi-Kaisha said “I was motivated to be part of this project because I knew how important it was to amplify Indigenous voices and the message of keeping mob safe during the pandemic”.“I knew how greatly COVID-19 had impacted the wellbeing of Mob and wanted to create music with a message of encouragement,” she said.Key themes in the song include keeping a safe distance from others, keeping in contact with people during isolation, and drawing strength from the Aboriginal cultural sense of family and community connectedness.“I hope it reassures people and encourages Mob to continue to stay COVID safe. We encourage everyone to keep social distancing, washing hands, even wearing a mask in public spaces and doing what we can to stop the spread,” Mi-Kaisha said. Nooky said “I know our mob want to hang out with family but we’ve got to think of other people during this, especially our Elders, I know things are tough but we’ll get through it together”.You can see the music video here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=635622850689835The track and music video are part of NSW Health’s COVID-19 Aboriginal Communications Strategy, developed in partnership with First Nations agency, 33 Creative, and forms an important part of the multi-pronged approach the NSW Government is taking to communicating about COVID-19. If you need social and emotional wellbeing support, call the COVID-19 mental health line: 1800 512 348. For the latest information on COVID-19, visit http://www.nsw.gov.au. 

Arts Northern Rivers want to hear YOUR BIG IDEA. If you are passionate about the arts and have proposals for ambitious ideas ready to be developed into contemporary arts projects, send them to Arts Northern Rivers. The winning idea will receive $5,000 seed funding and a tailored project development package. The concept must be original and at the cutting edge of visual arts, experimental, performance, theatre, live art, music, sound, dance or interdisciplinary contemporary arts practice.The winning project will work closely with Arts Northern Rivers to hone their project ready for funding.YOUR BIG IDEA needs to have a public outcome at a site within the Northern Rivers and be led by a Northern Rivers based artist, team or company. Project partners are encouraged and can be sought locally, nationally and internationally.To be eligible you must be passionate about your big idea and committed to delivering the project if successful for funding. Applications will be assessed by a panel of highly regarded industry leaders. During the inaugural Your Big Idea project in 2018, the selection panel selected two winning ideas from Caroline Wales and NORPA. Caroline’s big idea for Ballina’s Pop Up Festival of The Arts, Ballinale, was to convert self-storage units in the Ballina Industrial Estate into immersive interdisciplinary spaces. Arts Northern Rivers Executive Director Peter Wood said Caroline’s Storage-Space Festival idea “was exactly the sort of innovative thinking we were looking for”.“This year it’s great to be encouraging artists to keep producing experimental work and support new creative developments, particularly during COVID-19 and its impacts on the arts and cultural sector,” he said.“We’re looking for a boundary pushing concept, something original and something at the cutting edge of contemporary arts practice.”Applications close on October 12. To apply, visit yourbigideanr.com

Since the Lismore Chamber of Commerce moved to its new office location last week, the organisation’s executive officer Emma Wallace has been smiling.It’s a fresh start for both Emma and the Chamber of Commerce - as the organisation begins its new lease on life in a new Molesworth Street location at MP’s The Meeting Place.Emma too has a new lease on life after a journey through cancer treatment.Read more news: Missing person: Danielle Lander“People were wondering what was happening with the Chamber for a while,” Emma said. “The Chamber’s activities slowed down during Covid, as the committee tried to keep their own businesses afloat.“I was also on a journey of healing and I took a step back as I went through chemotherapy and stem cell treatment for Myloma (a type of blood cancer). It was pretty hard.“The Chamber really supported me through it – but now I love having a workplace in a shared location with other offices in a central location.“I’m back in better health now and I want to bring 100% of my passion for the role of helping local businesses in this beautiful new location. It’s a fresh start to springboard from.”Not only is MP’s a secure space where anyone can rent a room to hold a meeting, or rent an office space when they need it, the building has an accessible ramp at the entrance.Emma said she often sits on the chairs in the shared space and had a meeting with Janelle Saffin on the front lounges last week.“This place is progressive for Lismore,” she said. “This type of space is quite typical in cities and it’s something Lismore needs to be up to date with and the Chamber wants to support that.“Businesses can send their representatives and consultants here too.“It’s a professional place to be in and representative of the level of work we do.“A lot of people ask me: what is the chamber? Now only do we network and hold business events, we also network, advocate and lobby for local businesses.”With the overheads like electricity and internet included in the rent, Emma said the move to the new space was “more effective for us because we work off members’ dues and we wanted to do what was best by them”.Emma is looking forward to MP’s café opening next week and she intends to hold meetings there too.So, what’s coming up in the future for the Chamber of Commerce?“We scaled back our After Hours Business Events because of Covid, but we are looking to hold a business event in October with take home tools for local businesses,” she said. “We also want to highlight the stories of local businesses.“Hopefully it can be a face to face event, it will depend what happens with Covid.”The Lismore Chamber of Commerce is now located at MP's Meeting Place, at 9/105 Molesworth Street (PO Box 1312) Inside MP's kitchen space.

A pilot was taken to hospital with minor injuries this afternoon following a light aircraft crash at the Lismore Regional Airport earlier today.Around lunchtime, a bi-plane landing at the airport was impacted by a cross wind, pushing it off the runway. This caused the aircraft to sink in soft soil and flip.Emergency services attended the scene and the pilot was immediately taken to hospital.The aircraft has been removed from the site and the Lismore Regional Airport has now reopened.

Making good decisions is an artform. A workshop to help rural women with holistic decision-making calls to women on the land in the local area. The workshop is part of a series designed to empower local women, and is run by North Coast Local Land Services in conjunction with Women on the Land.The next workshop takes place in Casino on August 25 and 26, but a prerequisite webinar for the workshop happens tomorrow – August 6 – so you still have time to register and take part.The registration fee is reduced to $44 Through a combination of online and face-to-face training, the two day workshop will introduce participants to the concepts of holistic decision making. You will learn how to apply a holistic framework to your decision-making process.Making good decisions is an artform - and doesn’t come naturally to all people. The process can leave you doubting your choices, feeling uncertain, or incapable of moving forward. Once you’ve made a decision, your choices can go on to impact your family, your farm and your community. So how do you know which decision is the right one for you? Through a combination of online and face-to-face training this 2-day workshop will introduce you to the concepts of holistic decision making. You will learn how to apply a holistic framework to your decision-making process. Empower yourself to make grounded, sound decisions that consider all the influences in your life, leaving little room for ‘decision paralysis’ and resulting in a more confident, capable you. To enrol, visit: https://www.trybooking.com/BKKYG For more information email [email protected] or phone 0405352320

Two patients with Covid-19 are now being cared for at Lismore Base Hospital. Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) director of clinical operations Lynne Weir reported today that one patient, a man in his 60s, is ventilated in Intensive Care, while the other patient, a woman in her 60s, is in a stable condition on the ward. Read more news: Light plane crashes at Lismore Airport“If there are any locations which a confirmed case may have visited that pose a risk of transmission for the community, we will alert the public,” Ms Weir said.The total number of cases in residents of Northern NSW Local Health District remains at 58, with 53 known to have recovered. Of these, only the two cases in hospital are still requiring isolation. All earlier-reported cases are no longer infectious and have been released from isolation. Of the reported cases, 53 acquired the virus overseas or interstate, four from contact with a confirmed case or in a known cluster, and one is unknown. Read more Covid-19 news: Covid patient in Lismore ICU and strict rules for Victorian flightsQueensland closes border to NSWThe news comes on the same day that the Queensland Premier has announced Queensland will shut the border to NSW to control the spread of coronavirus, as of August 8.Exceptions allowed to still cross the border include essential workers such as truck drivers, and those who live in border towns like Tweed Heads. Ms Palaszczuk said exemptions on compassionate grounds would be limited. Queenslanders returning home will be forced into a two-week hotel quarantine and they must return by plane.Stop the spread, wear a mask Ms Weir advised people to wear a mask in situations where it is difficult to stay 1.5 metres away from other people. The advice from NSW Health specifically recommends: The use of face masks in indoor settings where physical distancing is hard to maintain, such as on public transport or in supermarkets; The use of face masks (where practical) in indoor settings with a higher risk of transmission, such as for the staff of hospitality and customer-facing venues i.e. cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs; and During attendance at places of worship. "Wearing a mask in any of these settings is not mandatory but is highly recommended, especially in areas where there has been community transmission," Ms Weir said."Visitors to hospitals and other public health facilities will be asked to wear a mask upon entering. Masks help us protect ourselves and each other."NSW Health staff are required to wear masks if they are within 1.5 metres of patients to protect the patients. "A mask is not a substitute for physical distancing, and should be used in conjunction with other measures."For more information on mask wearing visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/face- masks Get tested if you have symptoms Ms Weir said more than 40,000 Covid tests have now been done in the NNSWLHD since the pandemic began. “We thank everyone who has already come forward for testing and also those who are taking their personal responsibility seriously by keeping a safe distance from others to help minimise any transmission of the virus,” she said. “We’re reminding the community that anyone with even the mildest of symptoms, such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, should come forward for testing. “You must self-isolate until you receive your test result. Stay at home, and do not go to work or catch public transport until you are cleared of Covid-19.”The Covid-19 testing clinic at Lismore Base Hospital has new opening hours of 9am to 5.30pm daily.There are also GP and pop up clinics in the region. A full list of testing clinics can be found at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/clinics.aspx CoronavirusSelf-isolationMs Weir said anyone directed to undertake a 14-day self-isolation period must stay in isolation for the full period, even if they test negative. This is because early testing may not detect an early infection, and release from self- isolation based on a negative test could allow an infectious person to infect others in the community. The self-isolation period is 14 days as most people who are infected and develop symptoms will develop symptoms within 14 days of infection. Restricted visiting hours at Lismore Base HospitalMs Weir said while the NNSWLHD has seen relatively low case numbers, “restricted visiting hours remain in place across our facilities to help keep the community and vulnerable patients safe”. “There is currently a limit of one (1) visitor per patient in all our hospitals,” she said. “This person is to be identified by the patient in consultation with their family or carer.”The visiting hours are restricted to between 1pm – 6pm daily. Visits occur in the patient’s room, and are limited to one (1) hour only, once per day. Upon entering a facility, as a precautionary measure, visitors are asked some basic screening questions to make sure they have not been to at-risk areas or in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. “We appreciate that these measures may cause inconvenience for some hospital patients and visitors, but we thank you in advance for your cooperation,” Ms Weir said.