Due to the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, including a heightened risk of flooding, public schools in the affected areas that were closed on Friday will remain closed on Monday, 10 March as the Department of Education assesses the damage to school infrastructure and overall safety.The full list of non-operational schools, TAFE colleges and early childhood education centres is available on the Department of Education website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/school-operational-statusWe request families in these areas do not send children to school on Monday. The safety of students and staff is our highest priority as the full impact of this weather event continues to unfold and the risk of flooding continues to pose significant danger to life, especially on roads.While so far there have not been reports of major damage or flooding to schools, there will be further assessments made tomorrow as debris including fallen trees are cleared and the clean-up is underway.   Non-government schools in affected areas have been advised to remain closed on Monday but parents should check individual school websites for any updates.The Department of Education will issue further communication on Monday regarding the resumption of school operations from Tuesday, March 11. It is expected that most schools will be able to resume, but it is too early to confirm the operational status for all schools.  As schools outside the affected areas prepare to begin NAPLAN testing from Wednesday, 12 March, the NSW Education Standards Authority will work with affected schools to start testing later if needed. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis and NESA, in conjunction with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, will provide advice to schools as they become operational.We want to do everything we can to ensure our school communities are well supported and our staff and students are as safe as they can be.Download the Hazards Near Me App to stay across the latest warnings and information. If you need emergency assistance in floods or storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “As the full impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to unfold and clean-up efforts begin to get under way, our priority is ensuring the safety of students and staff.“While thankfully, we have not had reports so far of major damage to our schools in affected areas, that does not mean staff and students are safe to travel to and from schools tomorrow and we are asking that parents keep their children at home.“I want to thank parents for their understanding during this difficult period and give special thanks to the many teachers who have volunteered their time in evacuation centres and with the SES and other organisations during the emergency and clean up.  “As we conduct more detailed assessments of the impacts of this weather event on our schools and their local communities tomorrow we will be able to confirm which schools will be able to open from Tuesday, and provide an update on the likely testing window for NAPLAN.”

Not every Lismore resident got the message that kerbside pickup was suspended last week as Cyclone Alfred approached the coast. There was quite a bit of confusion on social media.Well, if Monday is your collection day, put your bins out as Lismore City Council has advised that kerbside collection will resume tomorrow (Monday, 10 March 2025), including business waste collections.Residents whose bins were not collected on Wednesday 5, Thursday 6 and Friday 7 March are asked to place all bins on the kerbside for collection on their regular scheduled bin collection day.The Return and Earn will be open tomorrow between 10am and 3pm, with the Lismore Revolve Shop reopening on Wednesday, 19 March (9am to 2pm). This extended closure is due to staff being redirected to completing inspections of the expected higher volumes of green waste.The Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens will remain closed until further notice.The Nimbin Transfer Station will reopen on Tuesday, 11 March, 8am to 3pm.As was the case after the 2022 big flood, residents of the Lismore City Council area can dispose of their flood waste for free at the Recycling & Recovery Centre at Wyrallah Road in East Lismore, which reopens tomorrow.Initially, residents can drop off their flood waste for free from tomorrow until Close of Business on Sunday, 23 March.Council will then reassess demand and inform the community if any extension is required.Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg made the announcement following the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.“We really dodged a bullet with this one, but there is a lot of damage, including downed trees,” he said.“Our residents shouldn’t have to bear the cost of this weather event.“Council will provide free drop off for waste generated as a consequence of the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, including general waste from flood-affected properties and green waste from storm damage.”Council asks residents to ensure green waste is free from general waste. If any load is found to contain asbestos not properly double-wrapped and sealed in plastic, it will be rejected.During this period, community members attending the facility should expect longer wait times and we ask that you please be patient as Council resumes operations.

District Commander of the Richmond Police District Scott Tanner gave further details about what occurred at yesterday's ADF accident on Tregeagle Road at today's media briefing at the Workers Sports Club in Goonellabah.Commander Tanner said this was the largest accident he has attended in his 32 years of policing."The response from the emergency services was outstanding, but also the response from ADF personnel. I was the third car on scene by the time I got there, they had triaged all of their patients, except the ones that had been trapped in the vehicle. They were providing first aid to each other, and some were actually providing first aid to themselves."Two ADF vehicles were traveling along Tregeagle Road at Tregeagle, they had been tasked to attend and assist the SES with some tree removals."At a point on the roadway, both those vehicles overturned. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but what I one can say is there were 32 military personnel on board. All 32 were conveyed to hospital."As the Premier said, we still have two that are in a serious condition."Commander Tanner said all personnel were wearing seatbelts. "There is a large four-point harness in those large trucks," he said, "and certainly the injuries were lessened.""One vehicle had left the roadway and had overturned in a paddock. It had rolled a number of times. And one was blocking the entire road."All I can say is that it was a very hectic scene when we arrived. We had patience of varying injuries up and down the roadway, and still had four persons trapped."Within two hours, we had every person in that location in hospital. They were taken to Twedd Heads, Byron Bay, Ballina and Lismore. Only Lismore has patience left in it.Commander Tanner confirmed that spinal injuries were the worst suffered by the 32 ADF personnel."I really want to thank the ADF because they have come up here to help the community and unfortunately, were involved in this very tragic accident, but our hearts and our thoughts and our prayers go out to their family, and we're very appreciative of the efforts they put in."This sentiment was supported by Premier Chris Minns."I think I speak on behalf of everybody in New South Wales when we wish a speedy recovery for all of those young soldiers. We genuinely appreciate their presence here in this aftermath of the cyclone. "And I just want to say on a broader point, when it comes to the involvement of the ADF in civil matters, particularly natural disasters, we are full of praise for the dedication and selflessness of ADF personnel. We appreciate them being involved, particularly in relation to Alfred, and I want to see, if it's at all possible, more of it in the future. "We really, really genuinely congratulate and are full of gratitude to the Commonwealth Government for deploying early the ADF personnel, notwithstanding the accident last night, this is incredibly important when it comes to community confidence."The skills and expertise of the ADF, and I'd hate to see it dampen the federal government's involvement in these natural disasters. The bottom line is, we need you. They do an incredible job, and we're very grateful for it."

The good news keeps rolling in for Lismore on a rainy Sunday, as the NSW SES has advised that the Lismore CBD, East Lismore near Wade Park, Upper Jiggi Creek, Upper Goolmangar Creek, Upper Black Creek at Bentley and Upper Terania Creek can return home with caution.The advice from NSW SES is to take care when returning to the area as flood damage can be widespread. Acting Superintendent NSW SES Stuart Fisher told today's media briefing, "This morning, we reduced the warning in Lismore from an emergency warning to evacuate to advise return with caution. So that's the start of the process for us going forward now. And as some rivers start to recede, we will adjust those warnings appropriately."So, for those in parts of South Lismore, North Lismore and the Wade Park area of East Lismore, it is only a matter of time before you can return home.While that is good news for Lismore, the news for our neighbours to the south in the Clarence Shire has a number of prepare to evacuate orders in place, including Kempsey and Ulmurra.Acting Supt Fisher gave the rainfall figures for Meldum, west of Coffs Harbour. They received 926mm over the cyclone period with next doo neighbour Dorrigo recieing 850mm. To give that some perspective, Lismore airport received 351.4mm in the last four days. If the Meldrum rainfall had fallen in the Lismore catchment, we would still be talking major floods and the levee being overtopped.There were a further six flood rescues overnight, which included a family of eight."Unfortunately, one of those was a family of two adults and six kids tried to navigate through flooded waters. SES crews were able to get there, and they are safe. But again, it highlights the same issue we talk about time and time again. Do not drive through flooded waters."It absolutely astounds me that this still occurs, but in the end, a good result."Before you do return home, the NSW SES say you need to:Drive slowly, plan your route carefully to avoid any flooded roads and allow extra travel time. Damage to roads and buildings caused by flooding may still exist in your area.Be aware of road hazards including mud and debris.Remain vigilant as there could still be water in low-lying areas.Take care as local roads could still have water over them.If your property has been affected by floodwater:Make sure your property is safe before entering. Check for damage to windows, walls and the roof and be careful of potential dangers including asbestos.Make sure the electricity and gas are turned off before going inside. Use a torch to carry out inspections inside buildings.If power points, electrical equipment, appliances or electrical hot water systems have been exposed to floodwater or are water damaged in any way, they must be inspected by a qualified electrician before use.Gas appliances and gas bottles that have been exposed to floodwater should be inspected for safety before use.Wear suitable protective clothing, including boots and gloves when cleaning up.Sandbags that have been in contact with floodwater need to be thrown away. Sturdy gloves should be worn when handling wet sandbags as they can contain chemicals, waste, and diseases.Be aware of any slip, trip or fall hazards.Never eat food which has been in contact with floodwater.Only use clean utensils and personal items.

Business owners in the Lismore CBD and others in low-lying areas of North and South Lismore will be breathing a huge sigh of relief this morning as the Bureau of Meteorology said, "The Wilsons River at Lismore (AHD) is likely to remain around the moderate flood level (7.20 m) during Sunday." The threat of the levee wall being overtopped caused high anxiety for many owners as their very existence was on the edge if flood waters entered their shops. Debt from the 2022 big flood, delayed tax bills and lower consumer spending has seen them struggle to keep the doors open in the last two years.The immediate question for business owners is when they can get into their shops, restock and start trading to get some income flowing.Residents will be waiting for the okay from the NSW SES.The BOM said that the Wilsons River levels may fall below the moderate flood level (7.20 m) during Monday.The move of Tropical Cyclone Alfred to a low-pressure system has allowed Essential Energy access to fallen powerlines. As of 10:30am, just over 16,000 homes and businesses are without power across various communities from Tweed Heads south to Grafton with this number likely to change throughout the day.An Essential Energy spokesperson said, "Crews are working to clean up, repair and restore wherever it is safe to do so; however, customers need to be prepared to be without power for several days. The biggest challenges to getting power back on will be rising flood waters and swollen creek beds, fallen vegetation and mud slides impacting access roads."Additional crews from across the Essential Energy network are travelling into the area today to assist. Community hubs will be set up in the coming days to provide support to customers, including access to charging for mobile devices and access to the internet."A big focus for today is to work on the restoration of power at Mount Nardi is home to several transmission towers for FM radio, digital television, fixed wireless broadband and some mobile phone services."Severe weather is continuing to hinder restoration efforts with plans to survey the network via helicopter unable to proceed for safety reasons until conditions improve.Essential Energy has also received a number of reports of the community approaching fallen powerlines. They want to remind customers in Northern NSW to stay at least 8 metres away from fallen powerlines and to assume that these assets are live and very dangerous as the impacts of ex-cyclone Alfred continue to cause damage to the electricity network.If you see fallen powerlines or any trees on the network, please call 13 20 80 to report the location.For up-to-date information on impacted locations and estimated restoration times (when known), visit our website outages page.Power outages are largely responsible for 12,000 outages across the nbn fixed line and fixed wireless networks across Northern NSW. Equipment connected to the nbn network will not work during a power outage.For a full list of affected areas and suburbs click  IMPORTANT UPDATES - Cyclone Alfred.

Residents in Lismore and the Northern Rivers have an end in sight from the effects of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, now a low pressure system. Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology said the weather should clear on Wednesday.Until then, we can expect some heavy rainfall which will become more isolated as we get through Sunday.Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred moved on shore last night, around 9 or 10pm over Bribie Island in Queensland and continued to move inland. That is after it stalled for about 12-18 hours on Saturday just off the coast due to a weakening high pressure system in the Tasman Sea that was steering Alfred. A new high pressure system has moved into the Tasman Sea and resumed its westerly track inland over South East Queensland.It has now washed out and ended, and now it's just a week low as it continues moving further inland through South East Queensland, bringing a lot of rain.That ended a 16-day period where Tropical Cyclone Alfred developed on the 24th of February and then weakened last night offshore before crossing overnight on Saturday, 8 March 2025."Today is all about the rainfall that's likely to be experienced across much of South East Queensland and far north east New South Wales," Dean Narramore said."We can see widespread falls of 50 to 150 millimeters in these areas, with isolated falls up to two, three, even 400 millimeters possible, particularly with any intense thunderstorm activity or any convergence zones where we have this really heavy rainfall concentrating over a certain point. So that's what we'll be watching today."And those kind of rainfall numbers on top of everything that's already fallen, could lead to widespread flash and riverine flooding in South East Queensland and North East New South Wales today."We're going to see all this rain and activity kind of spread inland, as we move through today. And then an upper trough is going to move in from Central Australia and drag that activity into northern New South Wales on Monday and Tuesday. But we're still likely to see showers and thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday in South East Queensland, while rain and storms continue in New South Wales. "Finally, by Wednesday, the weather system will finally shift all this wet weather to coastal parts of New South Wales, further south, and then find a clearing mid to late week."In Lismore and the Northern Rivers, there were some heavy falls in the upper catchments, with Terania Creek recording a further 113mm, Huonbrook 130mm, Mullumbimby Upper Main Arm 141mm.The Wilsons River has fallen to 8.84m overnight, from a high of 9.3m yesterday afternoon. However, the Bureau has continued its major flood warning."Moderate flooding continues along the Wilsons River at Lismore, where river levels peaked Saturday afternoon. With forecast rainfall, renewed river level rises are possible at Lismore, and river levels may reach the major flood level during Sunday."Further heavy rain is still possible over the Northern Rivers with ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and there remains a risk of river levels at Lismore reaching levee heights if intense rainfall develops."A Severe Weather Warning is current for NSW including the Wilsons River catchment."THE RICHMOND RIVERFor other parts of the Northern Rivers, The Bureau said at 6:50am Sunday:Major flooding is occurring along the Richmond River at Coraki and Bungawalbyn and minor flooding is occurring at Kyogle and Casino. Moderate flooding may occur at Kyogle and Woodburn. Minor flooding may occur at Wiangaree.The Richmond River at Wiangaree is currently at 6.64 metres and falling, below the minor flood level (11.0 m). With forecast rainfall, renewed river level rises are possible, and the river level may reach the minor flood level (11.00 m) during Sunday.The Richmond River at Kyogle is currently at 11.92 metres and falling, above the minor flood level (12.00 m). With forecast rainfall, renewed river level rises are possible, and the river level may reach the moderate flood level (14.40 m) during Sunday.The Richmond River at Casino Road Bridge peaked at 11.02 metres around 07:45 pm Saturday 08 March and is currently at 10.67 metres and falling, above the minor flood level (9.20 m). The Richmond River at Casino Road Bridge may remain above the minor flood level (9.20 m) during Sunday.The Richmond River at Casino (Automatic Gauge) peaked at 13.70 metres around 08:00 pm Saturday 08 March and is currently at 13.42 metres and falling, above the minor flood level (11.90 m). The Richmond River at Casino (Automatic Gauge) may remain above the minor flood level (11.90 m) during Sunday.The Richmond River at Coraki is currently at 5.79 metres and rising, above the major flood level (5.70 m). The Richmond River at Coraki may reach around 5.90 metres Sunday morning, with major flooding. Further rises are possible, with forecast rainfall.The Richmond River at Bungawalbyn is currently at 5.28 metres and rising, above the major flood level (5.00 m). The Richmond River at Bungawalbyn may reach around 5.40 metres Sunday morning, with major flooding. Further rises are possible, with forecast rainfall.The Richmond River at Woodburn is currently at 3.64 metres and rising, above the minor flood level (3.20 m). The Richmond River at Woodburn may exceed the moderate flood level (3.70 m) Sunday morning. The river level may reach around 3.90 metres late Sunday morning, with moderate flooding. Further rises are possible, with forecast rainfall.As the NSW SES warnings have continuously said, don't drive through flood waters.

There is some good news this morning regarding yesterday's accident on Tregeagle Road when two Australian Defence Force (ADF) military vehicles crashed. The number of injured soldiers was 13, and they appear to be non-life threatening.Emergency services were called to Tregeagle Road, Tregeagle, about 5pm (Saturday, 8 March 2025), after one vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times into a paddock, and a second vehicle tipped onto its side attempting to avoid the first vehicle. The vehicles did not collide with each other.Each vehicle carried a driver and 15 passengers.Officers attached to Richmond Police District and Police Rescue, NSW Ambulance paramedics, Fire and Rescue NSW, SES and RFS members worked with ADF personnel from the convoy to remove and treat the 32 occupants.All were taken to hospitals in Lismore, Tweed Heads, Ballina and Byron Bay for assessment, with 13 requiring treatment; police have been advised the injuries appear to be non-life threatening.Officers attached to the Far North Coast Crash Investigation Unit are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.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.

Mal Lanyon, the NSWRA CEO, has announced the appointment of Scott Tanner to the vital role of Cyclone Alfred Recovery Coordinator.This position has been a long time coming, and we take the appointment as one of the improvements from the February 2022 flood. It was a position that Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin has requested continuously for the last three years.Mr Lanyon said while the response phase of Alfred has been the focus of government and emergency service agencies, the NSWRA has been formulating a plan so we can move into the recovery phase quickly."One of the major learnings from '22 is we want to recover the community quicker. To that effect, in my role as State Emergency Recovery Controller, I have today appointed superintendent Scott Tanner as the Recovery Coordinator for the reasons affected by Cyclone Alfred.(NSWRA CEO Mal Lanyon announces the appointment of Scott Tanner yesterday)"Scott is the commander of the Richmond police district and has extensive experience in emergency management. I work closely alongside Scott after the 2022 floods. He's greatly respected by both the community and the civic leaders throughout the community, and I know that he will make sure that we drive recovery quickly.""The Reconstruction Authority has been working closely with councils, the EPA and transport, to make sure that we really focus on cleaning up quickly. We've noticed there is significant amounts of debris right throughout the community. We want to make sure that's cleaned up quickly so the community can see progress."We also want to support councils to make immediate roadworks so that roads are back in their normal state. We focus very quickly on establishing recovery assistance points, which are places where we have all of our partner agencies come together and are really a one-stop shop so that members of the community can seek service prior to those being established. But we will be out in the community with the SES to make sure that we can provide support to the community and understand the needs. Further details will be provided."Communication is always a key factor in recovery, and we want to make sure that the community know exactly what services are provided and what we can do to support you and so that you can access if you require help. From tomorrow, there will be a website, https://www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery. That site will contain all the information about recovery and services that you can access, information that is available to assist you."We've also had a first meeting with community groups to make sure that we've got significant engagement working, and that will continue throughout the process."District Commander Scott Tanner said it is quite an honour to be appointed as the recovery coordinator."The lessons that I took out of 2022 will serve us well today. But not only do I know what worked, I know what didn't work, so our focus would be on getting this community back to as near as possible as it was pre-event. And with that in mind, I've already started discussions with our partner agencies, SES, public works, most importantly, the Reconstruction Authority."I can assure you that I'll work tirelessly to get all this work done as quickly as possible. Three main focuses for me will be around the three R's. That is the road network, rubbish removal and resupply. If we get those three things done quickly, we can get this community back to how it needs to be."Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin welcomed Scott Tanner to his new role and said this was a good way of moving forward into the recovery."I'd also like to thank the community, it's really important, I can't do it enough. They were prepared. They heeded evacuation orders. I mean, everyone doesn't always have to agree with everything, but they acted, and they acted well, and that made the preparation better."As part of the recovery, around 350 ADF (Australian Defence Force) personnel have set up base at GSAC in preparation to assist the community with its recovery efforts.Ballina airport will reopen tomorrow (Sunday, 9 March) with Virgin Australia flights set to resume its direct flights to Sydney.There is a caveat, however, these flights remain subject to ongoing weather conditions and may change at any time. You can check directly with Virgin Australia for the latest updates via https://flightstatus.virginaustralia.com/flightNumber.As part of the recovery, Senator Tony Sheldon, the Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery, reinforced the federal and state government's commitment of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.(Senator Tony Sheldon)"There's been an expansion of those funding arrangements. This is the first time the DRFA has been called on before the event has concluded. Glen Innes Severn, Armidale and Tenterfield were added as local government association areas that will be included."$15 million has already been allocated thanks to the state government and the Albanese government. That money is particularly already allocated for dealing with some of the problems that we'll have with regards rubbish, etc, that councils will have to outlay fairly quickly. So, that money is already in place, ready for when that's called upon again.Senator Sheldon also mentioned an additional 120 ADF personnel have been called upon to assist with the recovery plus a number of interstate and international support has come to Lismore."The New Zealand government sent over 66 Disaster Assistance Recovery Personnel, which will be here and assisting Scott and the team."Lismore City Council, while still working on the response to Cyclone Alfred will also be working on a recovery plan, which will need much more than the $1 million committed by the government.Chief Operating Officer Brendan Logan said, "It is encouraging to see the downgrading of TC Alfred weather system as it reaches landfall around Brisbane; however, myself and our teams are not relaxing just yet about the situation in Lismore."A major flood is still a strong possibility. An east coast or tropical low system can also deliver a lot of harm with respect to flooding, so we are still watching the weather closely. We have two full-time staff, Rob Pilling and Jessica Anderson, in the Emergency Operations Centre, just for that. I am in close contact with them, as are our operational teams.(Bridge Street, North Lismore looking toward the showgrounds. Council will need to wait until water subsides to get a complete picture of road damage)"We are; however, already turning our minds to the restoration and emergency works period that will likely commence early next week. We made a lot of rushed decisions last time, that in retrospect didn’t need to be rushed, so we are planning the scoping, accounting and delivery of the IR/EW period with some precision this time."We have had a lot of verbal commitments from the State and Federal Governments over the past few days, and we look forward to seeing those commitments deposited in our accounts so we can commence as soon as it is practical, without any cash flow pressure being placed on our Council."I made a number of call to the senior people on Monday when this looked likely, and I have to give credit to Mal Lanyon and his NSWRA staff, and also TfNSW and NSW Public Works, who all agreed very quickly that advance payments will be required, and not just for Lismore – our colleagues at Ballina, Richmond Valley, Kyogle, Byron and Tweed will all require the same support in recovery.It appears as though the Wilsons River has reached its peak for this event. The concern for Lismore and the Northern Rivers is a second peak if the low-pressure system sends a lot of rain into the catchments over the next 24 hours.

As reported earlier, a number of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have been injured after two trucks were involved in a motor vehicle collision this evening.Just after 5pm (Saturday, 8 March 2025), emergency services were called to Tregeagle Road, Tregeagle – about 9km south west of Lismore – after receiving reports two ADF trucks had collided.NSW Ambulance paramedics attended and are assisting a number of people at the scene.It is believed that 22 have been injured, 8 seriously and two are still trapped.Multiple emergency services are also at the scene, including officers from Richmond Police District and specialist rescue units.Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit will investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.Tregeagle Road is currently closed, and members of the public are urged to avoid the area. For up-to-date information on road closures, visit www.livetraffic.com.No further information is available at this time.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released this statement:A short time ago there was a serious vehicle incident involving two Australian Defence Force vehicles near Lismore.A number of ADF personnel have been injured, some seriously.Medical assistance is on hand. We stress this is an ongoing incident.Right now our focus is on the welfare of those involved and their families.Our ADF heroes were on their way to help Australians in need.

UPDATE: 6:40pm22 people were injured in the accident, 8 seriously and two are still trapped. The scene was attended by 19 emergency vehicles. We understand many have been transferred to Lismore Base Hospital.Live Traffic is still reporting Tregeagle Road closed.UPDATE: 6:25pmIt is understood the accident involved two ADF trucks. There may be multiple injuries.ORIGINAL STORYLive Traffic is reporting a car accident on Tregeagle Road at Grennan Road about half way between Wyrallah and Tregeagle.The sound of quite a few emergency vehicles echoed throughout Goonellabah at around 5:40pm.Tregeagle Road is closed in both directions.Transport for NSW is asking people to delay non-essential travel, and to avoid the area.More details to come.

People impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred who require essential medicines, including diabetes, heart and asthma medicines, can access a limited supply without a prescription at pharmacies.                       NSW Health has issued an Authority under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation that enables pharmacists to supply prescription medicines to people without a prescription who are affected by the cyclone.NSW Health is working with local hospitals, pharmacies and health professionals in the affected areas to ensure the community is supported and essential medicines are available to those who need them.The temporary change is designed to assist people affected by the cyclone by ensuring they can continue to access essential medicines.    While some community pharmacies may be closed in the affected areas, many pharmacies placed advanced orders to ensure they retain adequate stock.NSW Health has also brought extra medicines into the affected region to assist the community.Where able to, people are encouraged to phone ahead and try alternate pharmacies if their usual pharmacy is closed.The full conditions of the supply of prescription medicines by a pharmacist without a prescription are listed in the Authority, published online here.     For more information speak with your local pharmacy, GP; call healthdirect on 1800 022 222; or visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/Publications/authority-pharmacists-tc-alfred.pdfMinister for Regional Health Ryan Park, “People who are impacted by the cyclone are strongly encouraged to pack their medications and prescriptions while preparing for its impact and if evacuating.“But in unfolding events like this, they may be lost or suddenly become inaccessible.“If you find yourself in this situation, if you can, please contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or speak to a pharmacist, to seek advice specific to your circumstances.“If your medication is considered essential, pharmacists will be able to provide you with a full pack without a prescription to ensure you don’t run out during this extreme weather event.”President NSW Pharmacy Guild Mario Barone said, "Community pharmacies are ready to support patients across northern NSW.“The continued dispensing authority means that you can get your medicines even if you don't have a script and can't get to your doctor."

Thanks to a break in the weather today (Saturday, March 8) across parts of the Northern Rivers, Essential Energy crews were able to make some progress towards restoration. As of 4.30pm, there are around 31,000 homes and businesses without power in various communities from Tweeds Heads through to Grafton due to the impacts of ex-cyclone Alfred.An Essential Energy spokesperson said crews were able to safely restore power to around 19,500 properties throughout the day, however, continued extreme weather has resulted in additional outages."There has been a flood watch issued for multiple areas including the regions of Lismore, Dorrigo and Kyogle with significant rainfall forecast over the coming days. Customers are encouraged to prepare to be without power for several days as the extreme weather conditions continue to make it unsafe for crews to work in and cause damage to the network."When the weather clears, additional crews will be brought in to assist with the cleanup and repairs; however, access to locations prone to flooding or landslides will delay restoration in some of the hinterland or more remote areas of the region."If flood waters impact communities, it will lengthen the time before power can be restored. Crews are unable to turn the power on safely if powerlines or areas of the network are in contact with water. "If you need to evacuate for flood purposes, if safe to do so, please turn off all switches and mains before the flood goes through. This includes solar and/or battery systems. "We understand this is a very challenging time for our customers and we thank you for your patience and understanding. The safety of our crews and our communities is paramount."We understand that this is a very challenging time for our customers and we thank you for your patience and understanding. The safety of our crews and our communities is paramount. For information about evacuation centres in your area, please visit the NSW SES website. If you see any of the above or powerlines in water, please stay away and call Essential Energy on 13 20 80 to report the damage. In an emergency always call 000.For up-to-date information on impacted locations and estimated restoration times (when known), visit the Essential Energy website outages page.NBN says 209,000 non services have been affected across South East Queensland and Northern NSW.Across Northern NSW the number of affected services has reduced to about 21,000 across 50 areas, primarily located in the Tweed and Ballina local government areas. For a full list of affected areas and suburbs please see here:  IMPORTANT UPDATES - Cyclone Alfred. An nbn spokesperson said, "Most of the impact is caused by mains power outages. Equipment connected to the nbn network will not work during a power outage. The number of outages will fluctuate as the power situation changes in the impacted areas.  "Approximately 700 of our sites are operating on backup power, supporting around 28,000 services. It is too early to tell if there is any damage to network assets. We have teams ready to go in the impacted areas to assess any damage to commence repairs once it is safe. "Our top priority remains the safety of our team and the broader community."

The key message from NSW Premier Chris Minns at today's media briefing was that this event is not over because Alfred has been downgraded to a low-pressure system and is now referred to as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred."It's not over for the following reasons, the rivers are full, the rain is continuing and expected to keep falling in the days ahead, and wind conditions are very high and extreme, particularly on the coast, particularly in the Byron Shire right up to the Queensland border. So for those three reasons, it's crucially important that the public not dismiss this weather event, as something that's already passed."It really doesn't matter to us whether it's been downgraded from a tropical cyclone to a weather event, or whether it's still a tropical cyclone, the effect on the Northern Rivers communities and lower down into the Coffs area is still the same for thousands and thousands of families. That's a really important point. This can't be just trivialised or put to one side. The next 24 hours will be crucially important as we look to see what the weather event will do to these communities."With hundreds of Lismore CBD business owners on edge waiting to see if the levee wall will be overtopped, the Premier said, "Look, it's close. I mean, in all candour, the latest models are, it's right on 10.8 which could be just under, just over, at various parts. We hope that it's under that.(Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin getting a leg-up to see over the levee wall at the Browns Creek Pump Station by Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dibb earlier today.)"We said from the very beginning, right from the beginning of Cyclone Alfred that we would prepare for the worst and we would hope for the best. And I think if you come through town, for those that aren't in town and watching this on television, there's an enormous amount of resources in town. We're ready. We're ready for the possibility of it overflowing. Obviously, we hope that it doesn't, but it certainly could, and if it does, it's likely to be today."At 2:10pm, the Wilsons River height in Lismore was 9.27 and steady. Other points in the catchment were Goolmanagar Creek 4.07m and steady, Terania Creek at The Channon 5.29m and rising and Coopers Creek at Corndale 8.05m and rising.Earlier today, Rod and Sharon Latimer, the owners of Little Polli & the Blackbird on Magellan Street, were sandbagging just in case the levee was overtopped. Everything in the shop had been removed but if they could the shop from floodwaters then it was worth the effort.NSW SES Acting Superintendent Stuart Fisher said there had been 29 flood rescues across the Northern Rivers over the last two or three days, which included 18 overnight rescues, one involved a man at Rock Valley (18km northwest of Lismore)."The majority of them were very minor to be out there. But we did have one in a place called Rock Valley where a four-wheel drive tried to cross the river system, and got swept off the bridge into the water. New South Wales Police rescue and New South SES responded, and thankfully, that gentleman was saved."But again, as I talked earlier, the complacency is starting to slip in there. We do not want that. People are out having a look at what's happening with the flooded waters. They do not know that it only takes about 30 centimeters of water, if that, to flush you off a bridge or into the river. So again, just be very, very careful. "Acting Supt Fisher also referred to the man washed away in flood waters at Megan, northeast of Dorrigo, near Coffs Harbour."Do not, and we say it time and time and time again, do not drive through flooded waters. You may have a four-wheel drive. You may think you can go through them, but as it showed last night, you can't."Earlier today, the Lismore App observed an SES boat crew making its way to isolated North Lismore people that did not heed the evacuation orders."All our crews are out. We've got community liaison officers out all over up and down the coast. Last night, we went to one gentleman that needed some assistance, and out of our own kitchen took some food to get him through. And then we've referred him on to community services. We'll monitor him, and we'll monitor everybody else, and work with the Evacuation Team and the Emergency Operations Centre. So we are looking at all that, and we are managing."On the lips of the Lismore and Northern Rivers residents who were asked to evacuate on Thursday, is when can they move home? Especially, for thos who ended staying in evacuation accommodation, such as SCU which is currently housing 230 people.Premier Minns said, I can understand if you were subject to an evacuation order and you're staying with family and friends or you're at an evac center, you're probably thinking to yourself, well, when can I go back? I can assure you, as soon as the SES can lift the order, they will."There's been several areas in Port Macquarie that are no longer subject to evacuation orders. The SES monitor it very closely with the BOM. They do it in real time, they don't muck around. We recognise, the government and emergency services recognise, that we want to get families back into their community as soon as possible. But safety is the number one issue here, and with the Wilson either steady or slightly rising, now is not the time to be returning to your house in the Lismore area."So there's very clear, very precise evacuation notices through the SES and on the Hazards Near Me app. We're asking people to stick by that."For those who need medical or mental advice:For 24/7 medical advice call North Coast Health Connect on 1800 198 888For 24/7 mental health support call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212

The NSW SES is directing people in Woodburn and surrounds including all properties between River Street, Uralba Street, Langs Way and the Pacific Motorway to EVACUATE BEFORE 12:00 pm Sat 08 Mar due to moderate to major flooding.You must evacuate before this time because evacuation routes may be cut.Evacuation InformationYou should evacuate to stay with family, friends, or alternate accommodation in areas unaffected by flooding. If you are unable to find accommodation, Evacuation centres have been set up at the Evans Head RSL, 11-13 McDonald Place, Evans Head.If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services. It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you, and buildings may not be able to withstand the impact of flood water.What are we expecting?Based on the predictions from the Bureau of Meteorology, rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Alfred may cause rapid river rises and extensive flooding along NSW coastal rivers.Heavy and locally intense rainfall is forecast from Wednesday into the weekend over Northern NSW. Flash flooding is possible. High tides and large waves are expected to increase the flood risk and impacts in low lying coastal areas.Be advised there is current Watch & Act - Stay indoors warning is in place for the Northern Rivers.This event may change quickly. NSW SES will monitor the situation and update warnings if the situation changes.What you need to do:If you have a Home or Business Emergency Plan, follow it.Gather your possessions for evacuation. These might include mobile phone, charger, battery-powered radio, medicine, rain gear, warm clothes, blankets, baby and pet items, water, food, torch, something to attract attention, and valuables like photos and insurance or banking records.Gather your pet(s) and companion animals for safe travel.Relocate waste containers, chemicals, and poisons well above floor level.The safest option is to evacuate as early as possible to avoid additional hazards. Do not wait until the last minute.Immediately move to a safer location away from present and potential flooding. Travel to the home of family or friends who are in a safe location away from present and potential flooding.If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over on higher ground away from trees, drains, low-lying areas, and floodwater. Find alternative travel routes if roads or underpasses are flooded.Be aware of road hazards including mud, debris, and damaged roads or bridges.Avoid storm drains and pipes, ditches, ravines, creeks, and rivers.Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in floodwater - it is dangerous, toxic, and may void your car insurance. If it's flooded, forget it. Fines apply.Obey all signs about road closures and instructions from emergency services.People working or camping along the river should monitor river heights and be prepared to relocate to higher ground.Farmers should consider moving livestock and machinery to higher ground that will not become an island.All campers and caravans relocate away from the sites next to water coursesWhen you evacuate register at Register.Find.Reunite https://register.redcross.org.au/ so that your friends, family and emergency services can be informed that you are safe.

As at 6 o'clock this morning, Essential Energy reported more than 39,000 homes and businesses were without power, with winds bringing down trees and blowing debris into powerlines overnight.An Essential Energy spokesperson said, "The current weather conditions are preventing Essential Energy crews from making repairs at this time; however, teams have undertaken significant preparation work, including moving vehicles to assist access, arranging for fuel pods, logistics and communication tools for crews, readying extra resources from across the state to support when safe to do so and ensuring extra electrical equipment is available and ready to deploy into the area."If flood waters impact communities, it will lengthen the time before power can be restored. Crews are unable to turn the power on safely if powerlines or areas of the network are in contact with water. "We understand that this is a very challenging time for our customers and we thank you for your patience and understanding. The safety of our crews and our communities is paramount."Throughout the storm, customers should look out for indicators of potential damage to the electricity network, such as: Fallen powerlines or power poles on land or in water flickering or no power supply burnt areas in paddocks or roadsides injured or downed livestock smoke or fallen trees "If you see any of the above or powerlines in water, please stay away and call Essential Energy on 13 20 80 to report the damage. In an emergency always call 000."For up-to-date information on impacted locations and estimated restoration times (when known), visit our website outages page.There have also been outages across the NBN network, some 20,000 customers have service outage across their fixed line and fixed wireless networks.For a full list of affected areas and suburbs click IMPORTANT UPDATES - Cyclone Alfred  An NBN spokesperson said, "Power outages are the main reason for nbn service disruptions. Nbn services are likely to restore when mains power is back. Equipment connected via the nbn will not work during a power outage.  "There may be some damage to our infrastructure. Once it is safe, we will begin assessments and repairs."

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is moving north northwest at 10 kilometres an hour and has continued to weaken as it approaches landfall.Dean Narramore, senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology says Alfread is likely to weaken further in the coming hours and is expected to be below cyclone strength before it crosses the mainland, but is still going to bring "widespread heavy rain and gusty winds as it extends inland.""With Tropical Cyclone Alfred just off the coast around Bribie Island and likely to weaken in the coming hours, it's likely to cross later this morning as a tropical low somewhere around the southern Sunshine Coast, or northern parts of Bribie Island, and will continue to track inland as a tropical low through this afternoon and into tonight, and then getting into the Darling Downs on Sunday."Alfred brought some heavy rain overnight, especially to the Coffs Harbour region with Meldrum (west of Coffs) again recording over 200mm with 272mm and Dorrigo 243mm.Lismore recorded 132.8mm to 8am, with some significant falls in the hills; Goolmangar 116mm, Nimbin 100mm, Terania Creek 155 mm, Huonbrook 123mm and Mullumbimby 159mm.The Wilsons River at Lismore was 9.06m and rising at 7:30am and is expected to reach the major flood level later this morning. With forecast rain, Lismore is expected to reach 10.6m late Saturday morning. This is right on levee wall heights.For the rest of the Northern Rivers:The Richmond River at Wiangaree is currently at 11.67 metres and falling, above the minor flood level (11.00 metres). With forecast rainfall, renewed rises are possible along the Richmond River at Wiangaree and the river level may reach the moderate flood level (15.50 metres) during Saturday.The Richmond River at Kyogle is currently at 15.54 metres and steady, above the moderate flood level (14.40 metres). With forecast rainfall, further rises are possible along the Richmond River at Kyogle and the river level may reach the major flood level (16.00 metres) during Saturday.The Richmond River at Casino (automatic gauge) is currently at 11.00 metres and rising, below the minor flood level (11.90 metres). The Richmond River at Casino (automatic gauge) is likely to exceed the minor flood level (11.90 metres) Saturday morning. The river level may reach the moderate flood level (14.90 metres) late Saturday morning. Further rises are possible, with forecast rainfall.The Richmond River at Coraki is currently at 4.36 metres and rising, above the minor flood level (3.40 metres). The Richmond River at Coraki is likely to exceed the moderate flood level (5.00 metres) Saturday morning. The river level may reach the major flood level (5.70 metres) Saturday afternoon, with forecast rainfall.The Richmond River at Bungawalbyn is currently at 3.83 metres and rising, above the minor flood level (3.00 metres). The Richmond River at Bungawalbyn is likely to exceed the moderate flood level (4.50 metres) Saturday morning. The river level may reach the major flood level (5.00 metres) Saturday afternoon, with forecast rainfall.The Richmond River at Woodburn is currently at 2.83 metres and rising, below the minor flood level (3.20 metres). The Richmond River at Woodburn is expected to exceed the minor flood level (3.20 m) Saturday morning. The river level is likely to exceed the moderate flood level (3.70 m) late Saturday morning and may reach the major flood level (4.20 m) Saturday evening, with forecast rainfall.Most the strongest wind gusts were recorded in South East Queensland overnight. The Gold Coast seaway recorded 107 km/h and Brisbane airport 93 km/h.Dean said we can expect widespread rainfall to continue near and south of where ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred crosses in the coming hours."Widespread heavy rainfall is likely in South East Queensland and North East New South Wales, and as severe weather warning is current to cover this pretty much from Gympie all the way down to Coffs Harbor and extends inland, including the ranges and as far west as Toowoomba, Warwick and Stanthorpe, and South East Queensland and towards Glen Innes in New South Wales."Now these areas are likely to see heavy to locally intense rainfall, and we could even see damaging to locally destructive winds, particularly with any thunderstorms that do develop into this afternoon and this evening, and this widespread rainfall will continue to further exacerbate the flood threat through much of South East Queensland and North East New South Wales, which is of a concern with already many major flood warnings current in these areas."We are not expecting to see conditions ease until late Sunday or probably into early next week. It will be a wet weekend as the north-easterly winds drag all the rain offshore into these areas. Rain should ease across NSW on Tuesday.You can stay up to date with the latest BOM weather warnings and radar through the Lismore App Weather & Travel or directly through the BOM website http://www.bom.gov.au/.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) said insurers have placed disaster response specialists on standby and have scaled up operations in preparation for Tropical Cyclone Alfred making landfall in the next 24 hours.The Board of the ICA, comprising the CEOs of Australia’s leading insurers and reinsurers, met this morning to discuss arrangements that have been put in place to support customers expected to be impacted by this slow-moving cyclonic system.The Board updated Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones on the insurance sector’s efforts to support policyholders as well as issues that are expected to arise as a result of TC Alfred impacting an area with a population of more than 4 million people.While the industry has made significant improvements since the 2022 floods in response to the Parliamentary Flood Inquiry, the independent Code of Practice review and its own report undertaken by Deloitte, an event of this magnitude will inevitably throw into relief a range of issues that require coordination between government and industry. These include:Supply chain and labour force capacity constraintsTemporary accommodation availabilityCross-border recognition of trades qualificationsCoordination of clean-up operationsInsurers have been and remain in contact with political leaders, impacted MPs, relevant state and Federal agencies, and local governments to discuss these issues and more.Towns and communities in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales have already been impacted, with up to 150 millimetres in rainfall experienced in the 24 hours to 9am. Areas inland of Coffs Harbour have reportedly received more than 200 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours to 9am.While the weather system is changing frequently, the continued potential impact of this event remains widespread with residents in the active warning zone.Policyholders impacted by TC Alfred should:Prioritise safety. If you have evacuated your home or business, only return when it is safe to do so. If your home has water damage, don’t turn on your electricity until it has been inspected by an electrician. Do not drive your vehicle if it has suffered water damage.Contact your insurer as soon as you can. You can lodge a claim without knowing the full extent of the damage. Your insurer will also have all of your policy information on hand.Take photos and make a list of damaged items, including the brand, model and serial number if you can.Insurers will prioritise impacted customers in communities along the east coast.The ICA encourages people across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales to follow the advice of emergency services and keep up to date with weather conditions.ICA CEO Andrew Hall said, "The Board of the ICA met this morning to discuss this unfolding event and had a very constructive discussion with Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones."Insurers reiterated that insurers are committed to supporting customers through this event."A number of key insurers based in south-east Queensland with operations in impact zone are putting in place contingencies, however, their own staff may also be impacted by this event."Weather events are often unpredictable, and Tropical Cyclone Alfred is proving to be no exception. Safety is our absolute priority and it’s paramount those in the impact zone remain alert."While it’s still too early to know what the true impact of this weather event will be, we know that due to the population density in these areas that we may be looking at a very large number of claims."

Planned surgery and outpatient care services will remain temporarily suspended in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) as Tropical Cyclone Alfred bears down on the region.These temporary service changes, which began on Thursday, 6 March, will continue through until close of business on Monday, 10 March when we will have a better understanding of the recovery in front of us. Those affected by these temporary changes will be notified.Services affected include:Specialty outpatient services at hospitals will be postponed and rescheduledPlanned surgery will be postponed and rescheduledCommunity-based services: no site-based clinics will operate on Monday, with virtual services available where possibleDental clinics will operate based on staffing and site availabilityBreastScreen services: the Tweed and Lismore facilities will remain closed until further noticeThe following services will resume on Monday, depending on local conditions:Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and renal servicesHospital-in-the Home, palliative care, Urgent Care Service, transitional aged care, and community nursing servicesCommunity Health Centres: staff will follow up with clients virtually to ensure plans are in place for patients to receive treatment at homeBreastScreen Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour servicesFor further updates, please check the Northern NSW Local Health District website and our social media pages.Tracey Maisey, Chief Executive, Northern NSW Local Health District said, “Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure our community receives the care they need during this challenging time.“Emergency departments at our hospitals are open for anyone who needs emergency care.“For those with less urgent care needs, we encourage you to call the free health care advice service, Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, where registered nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and you can be connected with virtual care services if required.“We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our staff, many of whom have made the decision to remain at work over the next few days, ensuring continuous care and support for our community.“We understand many people may be feeling concerned about the approaching weather event, and we encourage them to seek help if needed.” Helpful resourcesIf your life is in danger, please call Triple Zero.If you or someone you know needs specialist mental health care, please call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. It is a free service operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is staffed by specialist mental health professionals who offer mental health advice, and referrals to local mental health services.If you need crisis support, please call Lifeline Australia at any time on 13 11 14. Children and young people can call Kids Helpline at any time on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at kidshelpline.com.auFor non-crisis support, please call beyondblue on 1300 22 46 36. There’s also a range of online resources to support you and your loved ones. Please visit Beyondblue and Lifeline online. Young people should visit heaspace.org.au, Kids Helpline or ReachOut.comMore information on mental health services and support can be found on the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/Pages/default.aspxFor free health advice anytime day or night, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Need support in your language? You can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.

There is only one event on this weekend, with Tropical Cyclone Alfred stealing the show and cancelling all others.For this Weekend Wrap, we feel Lismore App readers need a smile as Alfred crosses the coast and we look toward the cleanup and recovery.Have a laugh with the Friday Funnies!