You don’t have to run - you can walk, ride a bike, or simply sponsor someone else who wants to take part.Nothing is as usual this year when the annual NAB Darrel Chapman Fun Run and Our Kids fundraiser goes virtual from August 24-30.Our Kids fundraising coordinator Rebekka Battista said after much discussion, rather than postponing this year’s event due to COVID-19 restrictions, the local charity is taking the Fun Run online. “It’s a nice way everyone in the community can still go out and walk or run in groups safely, maintaining distance,” she said.“You can pick the distance you want to travel, and take all week to do it. You can walk or run alone or with your dog, your friends or family - and it’s all within NSW health restriction guidelines.”In fact, you can do it anywhere.Our Kids’ chair Suzette Pearce is keen to travel along the coast from Ballina to Lennox Head with the ocean as her view when she takes on the challenge by walking 10km.If you are a cyclist, you can even do your usual distance and do it to fundraise for Our Kids.Participants can nominate their own distance or choose from the Our Kids 4km, Lords Taverners 10km, Lismore Masters 21km and the 42km Southern Cross University Marathon.  So how do you prove you did the run? Rebekka said you download the strava app, or use another health app, or your fit bit to record the distance you travel - then register it with Our Kids.“This year rather than award first, second and third places in the run, the highest fundraiser will be recognised,” she said.“There will be no cost to participate and we encourage people to ask friends to sponsor them for $1 or $1 a kilometre - or sponsor them and amount to raise money for Our Kids.”The money will go towards buying a humidicrib for the Children’s Ward and Special Care Nursery in Lismore Base Hospital.“Please register if you are taking part so we know how many people are in it,” Rebekka said.“You can upload your pictures or videos to the Darrell Chapman Fun Run Facebook group and when you register you get your own fundraising page.”Schools are also encouraged to participate in the fun run as part of PE classes.There’s even a group fundraising challenge with the NAB Corporate Challenge and the NAB Community Challenge, showing leaderboards for work and friend groups. You could even win an Limited Edition Darrel Chapman Fun Run shirt. Who was Darrel Chapman?Darrel Chapman was a Southern Cross University academic and sporting legend who lost his own personal battle with cancer in October 1992. Schooled at St. John's College, Woodlawn, he played Rugby League for Australia and captained South Sydney, before becoming NSW Assistant Director of Sport.He also established the Human Movement Science and Sport Management program at Southern Cross University. His legacy lives on through this event. Barbara Chapman, Darrell’s wife, said the fun run was a competition that everyone could enter and it was about having fun while doing exercise.“Darrell always advocated that – you don’t have to be an elite athlete and he wanted everyone to participate,” she said. Registrations are now open at https://darrelchapman.com/For any questions regarding the event, call the Our Kids Office on 6620 2705.

If you have been impacted by mosquitos in your backyard, your chance to tackle the pesky mozzies is here - and get a $100 voucher while you are at it.Northern Rivers residents are called to take register interest to part in a half day online workshop on July 29. Your insights will inform a new collaborative educational program aimed at creating a mosquito behaviour change program to reduce mosquito exposure risks in local communities. If you are interested in taking part, you can register your Expression of Interest by Wednesday, July 22. If you're chosen to take part, you'll receive a $100 gift voucher to your local farmers’ market.Workshop spaces are limited and participants will be selected to represent a variety of viewpoints. limited. If successful, you will be contacted regarding what to do next.The new behaviour change program aims to reduce mosquito exposure risks in individual homes and regional communities in the Northern Rivers. The aims of this program are to: • reduce backyard mosquito breeding habitats through source reduction behaviours • improve other community behaviours that prevent mosquito exposure risks • to reduce the public health risks associated with exposure to mosquitoes through community action. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the workshop is being held online, but there will be some interactive activities where you will have an opportunity to give your feedback and share your creative ideas. This project has been assisted by the NSW Government and supported by Local Government NSW.For more information and to register your expression of interest for the online mosquito workshop on Wednesday, July 29, from 9.30am to 1pm, visit https://bit.ly/38GSWkQ

The June 16 Lismore City Council 2020/21 Budget meeting saw residents reinstated with one tip voucher per household. A small win in what was a tough budget.Details of how those tip vouchers will be distributed have been announced today by the Lismore City Council.Read more news: Run, walk, cycle: Our Kids Darrel Chapman Fun Run goes virtualWhile each eligible household will be given one (1) tip voucher these will be capped at 5,000 vouchers.Council is currently putting a new automated voucher system in place and expects this to be operational before rate notices are issued in late July for the 2020/21 financial year.To ensure equitable distribution of the 5,000 waste vouchers across the year, the following will apply;A maximum of one voucher per property, per annum.A pre-determined allocation of waste vouchers will be released at the start of each month (e.g. 5,000 vouchers ÷ 12 months = 416 vouchers typically issued per month, depending on the number of vouchers that are redeemed).Each voucher will have an expiry date of 30 days from the date of issue.Once expired, any unused vouchers will be returned to the pool of remaining vouchers and be made available for issue in future months. Returned vouchers will be allocated evenly across all remaining months in the year.Once all vouchers available in a month are used, no further vouchers will be issued until the following month (unless issued vouchers are cancelled). This will be monitored and reviewed depending on take up and may be changed to a weekly or daily issue of voucher allocations.While it is good to get the tip vouchers back for most households, it will be interesting to see how the public will understand the system and its use in the coming months.Read carefully and take note, you may have to explain it to your neighbour or Facebook friend.Read more news: Locals called to help tackle mozzies and get a $100 voucher

Southern Cross University has announced it will continue teaching almost all of its classes online into next year as the COVID-19 crisis bites deeper. All graduation ceremonies, which normally attract hundreds of people, have also been cancelled until further notice.In March this year, Southern Cross was among the first universities to transition its face-to-face classes to online teaching in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Session 2, which began last week, is already being delivered online.The university has announced that to ensure the continued health and safety of both students and staff, online delivery will remain in place for Session 3 as well, running from October 2020 to February 2021.Southern Cross informed staff and students today, specifying:Session 3 will be online: teaching across the university will continue online;Graduations: all face-to-face graduations have been cancelled until further notice;Access to campus is restricted: campus buildings will have limited access to ensure a COVID-safe environment;Work from home for staff will continue: a graduated transition to on-campus work will commence no earlier than September 1, rather than August 1 as previously planned.Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the decisions reflected the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Victoria and concerning spikes in New South Wales that have developed recently.“We are continuing to maintain our teaching and other operational activities with an abundance of caution until such time that the COVID situation shows signs of easing,” Professor Shoemaker said.  “I understand what a challenge this is for students and staff colleagues. I thank them for their ongoing patience to help us get through a situation that is volatile and changing day-by-day. “At the same time, I am delighted to note the extremely high levels of student satisfaction with the quality of our online offerings in Session 1.”University libraries reopened their doors yesterday with reduced capacity and strict health and safety measures in place.Even though COVID restrictions continue, the University has been given a boost with a 35% increase in student enrollments for Session 2.

Lismore City Councillors will not get an increase in their pay for the 2020/21 financial year after a vote was carried at last nights monthly council meeting to keep the amount the same as 2019/20.However, the vote was not clear cut with a number of amendments and foreshadow motions put forward. This was led by Councillor Adam Guise who asked for the fee to be increased to the maximum amount of $24,230, up from the budgeted $20,245 for Councillors while the Mayor's would increase to $60,080 from $45,400.Lismore City Council has recently been categorised in the new category of Regional Centre, which has a higher maximum fee structure than the previous category."I am not about me asking for a pay rise for a pay rise sake but this amount that councillors get offered for doing the duties they do is a very tiny fraction about how we spend the rest of our $120 million to $130 million budget", Cnr Guise said.All councillors agreed with Cnr Guise that the remuneration for the many hours worked during a month of briefings (as much as three per week), hundreds of pages of documents to read as well as workshops and the monthly council meetings themselves was inadequate. What some councillors disagreed with was the timing of a suggested increase. Councillor Marks adding that "we should work within the budget indicated on the document" and Councillor Battista saying "we do this job because it is our civic duty, we don't do it for the pay. We are nearly half a million in deficit, I can't see how we can accept an increase".Councillor Bird then put up an amendment to increase the fee by the CPI increase of 2.5% which would add about $6,000 to the budget total but this vote was lost.Finally, Councillors Marks, Moorhouse, Battista, Bird, Ekins and Lloyd all voted in favour to keep Councillors and the Mayor's fee the same as the 2019/20 amount.Earlier in the evening, it was decided that councillors and the public would return to council chamber for live (as opposed to virtual) meetings "as soon as practicable". Of course this is dependent on the development or containment of the coronavirus.The Local Strategic Planning Statement 2040 was passed with the addition of a report being presented to council by management will complete the modelling for the council's road network strategy which is already behind.The Sport and Recreation Plan to 2024 was also passed but not without further discussion of the Lismore Lake Pool and the proposed $25 million Lismore Parkland development and the $1million maintenance bill. While some councillors love the overall concept of the parklands project it needs further discussion on how council can afford the maintenance costs and when that might be.

Tough new rules announced for pubs and hotels today will be enforced with “random and covert inspections” and harsh penalties, according to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard. Read more news: NSW premier announces tighter restrictions for pubsBusinesses breaching the rules of the new Public Health Order can see on the spot fines issued, with Liquor and Gaming NSW having the power to enforce the following penalties:Businesses breaching the rules once can get a fine of $5,500; two offences will see the business closed for one week; and three will see the business shut down for up to one month. Mr Hazzard reported that any business found in breach of the public health orders will be held to account and could face a penalty of up to $55,000 and a further $27,500 penalty may apply for each day an offence continues. Under the new measures, pubs across NSW will be required to implement the following:·    The number of people per booking or table will be reduced from 20 people to 10;·    A cap of 300 people in a venue at any one time;·    Compulsory COVID-Safe registration through Service NSW;·    A dedicated COVID Safe Hygiene Marshall in distinctive clothing must oversee social distancing, cleaning and hygiene at the venue;   Large hotels with a capacity of greater than 250 people are to have a COVID Safe Hygiene Marshall on duty whenever the hotel is open. Smaller hotels with a capacity of less than 250 are to have a COVID Safe Hygiene Marshall employed in peak periods (lunch 12pm to 3pm and dinner 5pm to 9pm).·    Paper sign-in will still be permitted, but hotels must create a digital record of patron names and phone numbers (excel or word) to be submitted within 24 hours;·    Ensure all patrons provide their name and contact details accurately; and·    Encouraged to strongly promote QR code sign-in.Health Minister Brad Hazzard said venues enforcing COVID-Safe plans is a crucial element in reducing the chance of an outbreak and keeping the community safe.“These new measures will reduce the number of people in venues at any one time and ensure customers’ details are recorded accurately so they are immediately available to contact tracers should there be an outbreak at a venue,” Mr Hazzard said.Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said these new rules will be enforced with random and covert inspections “and there will be zero tolerance for non-compliance.”“These new measures strike the right balance in protecting the health and safety of the people of NSW and ensuring venues remain operational,” Mr Dominello said. Australian Hotels Association (AHA) NSW chief executive John Whelan said the NSW Government had worked closely with industry to develop these new requirements which help keep the community safe.“We all know how important it is for our venues to stay COVID-Safe – we are in constant contact with our members and will ensure they understand how vital it is they comply with these new measures.”

Reduced numbers of patrons in all NSW pubs are part of a new raft of restrictions announced by NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian today.Numbers of patron groups in pubs will reduce from 20 to 10 and large venues will be capped at a maximum of 300 patrons. The reduction takes us back to when pubs first reopened in May and were restricted to 10-person group bookings and no more than 50 patrons at a venue. More recently group bookings had been allowed to increase to up to 20 people.The Premier said “NSW is on high alert” and has been impacted by the spread of coronavirus from neighbouring State, Victoria.“We know in indoor venues where people are not seated, there is high risk of infection,” Ms Berejiklian said. “If we reduce numbers from 20 to 10, it reduces the chance of transmission.”“If a venue has the capacity for more than 250 people, it will need a full time covid safety marshal on staff to take care of cleaning and hygiene.“A venue with a capacity for less than 250 people will need a covid safety person there at all times when operating.”Ms Berejiklian said the government is working closely with the hotel and pub industry to reduce the chances of spreading the pandemic and is monitoring the situation on a daily basis. Mandate“The industry is also mandating the taking of every person’s details and working on making sure it is all done electronically,” she said. Ms Berejiklian said having a Covid safety plan will be now mandatory, not optional.NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said as of 12.01pm on Friday, every pub in NSW must download a Covid safety plan and register it.“Attendance sheets are also mandated for every pub as of 12.01pm Friday,” he said.“Life is not normal and will not be normal until we have a vaccine or cure,” Ms Berejiklian said.Victorian impactMs Berejiklian said NSW has been impacted by the Victorian situation and the recent rise in Covid cases from the Crossroads Hotel in the Sydney suburb of Casula heralded “a new phenomenon for our continent.”“Prior to this, the majority of cases were from overseas - now it’s in community transmission,” she said.“That’s why we closed the border and introduced extra safety measures.“We are living with this for a long time and cumulatively we will have more cases and have to live with it.“We also need to make sure people continue to be employed and continue the economy.“NSW has the resources and we know what we need to do to contain the sources and know we can’t do it without community support. It’s up to us to make sure it happens.Escalate“The spread can escalate quickly over the course of weeks. Don’t let your guard down with hand washing and hygiene and make sure there is enough space in a shop line up between you and the next person.“If you are a voluntary organisation organising an event, do it properly.Covid clusterMs Berejiklian thanked everyone who had already come forward to be tested as a result of the cluster of 28 new cases from the Casula hotel.One of the people who tested positive had worked in the Casula Kmart on July 10, from 5pm to midnight and anyone who may have been there during those time is also encouraged to get tested.“Even if test your test is negative, remain self isolated for 14 days,” she said.Queensland restricts NSW Covid hotspotsQueensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has also declared parts of Sydney COVID-19 hotspots and tightened the state's border restrictions.From midday today, people from other states who have been in the Liverpool and Campbelltown government areas in the past 14 days will not be able to enter Queensland.Queenslanders who have travelled through those government areas will be allowed entry but forced into hotel quarantine.

This week (July 12-18) is National Diabetes Week - and 280 Australians develop diabetes every day.This year, National Diabetes Week focuses on supporting the emotional and mental health of people living with diabetes - and draws attention to gaps in diabetes service and care. In good news for diabetics, Page MP Kevin Hogan has announced the Federal Government has added type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic® (semaglutide) to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making it a more affordable treatment option.“Ozempic® is a new weekly blood sugar lowering treatment for patients with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes,” Mr Hogan said.  In Australia, type 2 diabetes accounts for over half of all diabetes deaths. An estimated one million Australian adults (5%) had type 2 diabetes in 2017 18.Indigenous communities are one of the highest risk groups worldwide for rapid progression to end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD), most commonly associated with type 2 diabetes. Lack of exercise, weight gain and a poor diet increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Treating this condition is critically important to prevent long-term complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. In 2019, over 40,000 patients accessed a comparable treatment for this chronic condition. Without the subsidy, patients would pay more than $1,700 per course of Ozempic®.PBS listing for lung cancer drug Tecentriq®Mr Hogan also said a drug to treat lung cancer Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) has also been added to the PBS.Health authorities say the drug has been expanded and improved to include a new form and treatment regimen to assist patients with small cell lung cancer. “This change will provide patients with a more convenient treatment option,” Mr Hogan said.“Patients will be able to access a four weekly dosing regimen when receiving continuing treatment with this medicine. This means they do not need to go to their doctor as often for their treatment.” “This will particularly benefit those in rural or remote areas.” Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. An estimated 1,000 patients per year will require treatment with Tecentriq. What might have cost them more than $50,000 per course of treatment is available for $41 per script, or $6.60 with a concession card. The new drug listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Since 2013, the Australian Government has approved more than 2,400 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month—or one each day—at an overall investment by the Government of $11.6 billion.  

The total number of COVID-19 cases in residents of Northern NSW Local Health District remains at 55, with two of these cases still considered ‘not recovered’. It has been 76 days since the last confirmed case in a resident of the District and 107 days for Lismore and surrounds.To keep these numbers steady Northern NSW Local Health District is urging anyone who may have attended the Crossroads Hotel in Casula last week to come forward for testing at a COVID-19 clinic, even if they don’t have any flu-like symptoms. Chief Executive, Northern NSW Local Health District, Wayne Jones, said the call for people to get tested follows confirmation of 14 new cases of COVID-19 in NSW today, and a number of cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel. “In light of the trajectory of the pandemic in Victoria, and more recent cases being identified in NSW, we’re asking any Crossroads Hotel patrons who may be currently in Northern NSW to self-isolate and have a COVID-19 test as soon as possible,” Mr Jones said. “Even if you don’t have any symptoms at present, please come and get tested as soon as you can, so that we can identity any cases which may be circulating in the community.” People who visited the Crossroads Hotel, Casula between Friday 3 July and Friday 10 July should present for testing as soon as possible. A Public Health Alert is currently in place for the Crossroads Hotel, urging patrons to: immediately self-isolate until 14 days after they were last at the Crossroads Hotel attend a clinic for testing even if they have no symptoms watch for symptoms and get retested should any respiratory symptoms occur stay in isolation for 14 days, even if you have a negative test result. Mr Jones also reiterated the call for anyone who has been to Victoria to watch for even mild symptoms and keep their distance from others for 14 days. “The message is clear, if you have been in Victoria, don’t mix with other people until two weeks has passed,” Mr Jones said. “If you develop even mild symptoms, a cold or cough, get tested and stay home until you’re cleared. “If you have previously returned a negative test, and develop symptoms at a later date, it’s critical that you get tested again.” Byron Central Hospital has increased its testing capacity in order to meet increased demand during the holiday period.Across the Northern NSW Local Health District, there have been over 4,900 tests in the past fortnight. “We’ve seen increasing numbers of people present for testing, particularly at Byron Central Hospital fever clinic, and I want to thank everyone who has come forward to date,” Mr Jones said.

STATE Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin has ensured that Lismore’s first memorial for the Great War is now showcased in the National ANZAC Centre’s multimedia experience in Albany, Western Australia. Ms Saffin today (Monday 13 July) joined Vietnam Veteran Ken Jolley OAM and other veterans to mark the memorial’s exposure on the other side of the continent and the culmination of Mr Jolley’s three-year labour of love in having it restored to its former glory. Ms Saffin said the obelisk -- first erected on the corner of Bridge Street and Alexander Parade, North Lismore in 1926 -- honours 145 Lismore district men who sacrificed their lives during World War One and holds special significance for their family descendants. “In 2017, the memorial was returned ‘home’ to its original site after two previous moves around town, and its close proximity to the Lismore Showground is fitting because it was the site of a transit camp for newly-enlisted men,” Ms Saffin said. “Young men from all different backgrounds answered the nation’s call to fight for king and country and camped at the showground before boarding trains at the North Lismore Railway Station to take them to Army training camps. “The National ANZAC Centre is located in Albany, where our servicemen and women disembarked on ships bound for Gallipoli and other battlefields during World War One.” Mr Jolley, who is a Life Member of the RSL City of Lismore (NSW) Sub-Branch, said he visited Albany last October for an Army reunion, saw all the memorials at the National ANZAC Centre and wondered ‘why not bloody Lismore?’(from left to right: ex RAAF veteran and Sinai Peacekeeper Bob Mowle, Afghanistan-Iraq-East Timor veteran Patrick Steere, Vietnam veteran and Lismore RSL Sub-Branch Chaplain The Reverend Graeme Davis OAM CSM, Vietnam veteran and Life Member/former President of the Lismore RSL Sub-Branch Ken Jolley OAM, Vietnam veteran and former Lismore RSL Sub-Branch President Cec Harris, State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Namibia Peacekeeper Graham Bruton and Chris McKee representing the family of local World War One Victoria Cross winner Paddy Bugden.  “I approached Janelle (Saffin) for some help and I cannot thank her and her staffer Ronny Susanto enough for arranging to have our North Lismore memorial permanently added to the projection reel, which is seen by thousands of visitors every year,” Mr Jolley said. “It’s the icing on the cake; I’ve been working for the past three years to restore the memorial and the fact that North Lismore now sits between two New Zealand memorials, Kaitaia and Wellington, is marvellous recognition for our fallen Diggers and for the City of Lismore.” Mr Jolley thanked local businesses for supporting the memorial’s restoration, including Richmond Sand and Gravel, Beckinsales Monumental Masons, Matthews Metal Fabrication, Holcim Concrete, Onesteel and Twin View Turf, and Lismore City Council’s outdoor staff. The memorial was moved from near the Showgrounds to the South Lismore RSL Hall’s garden in 1988, but when the RSL sold the hall in 2004, it was moved to the Railway Station before returning to North Lismore in 2017.

Drought-affected farming households are set to receive more payments from the federal Government’s Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI) program. Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the Government is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers as they deal with the impacts of drought – and has extended round 2 of the DCSI program until the end of this year.Read more news: The annual farm census is underway: check your letterbox “Payments of up to $3,000 are already assisting farming families to meet urgent expenses, including for food, petrol and utilities,” Mr Hogan said.“We are doing what it takes to support farming households through these extremely difficult financial times.” “Since November 2019, almost $75 million has been paid to support more than 25,000 farming households.” The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society are delivering Round 2 of DCSI to eligible farming households. For more information and to apply: Lismore, Kyogle & Richmond Valley Council residents can find out more by visiting: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/need-help/rural-support/drought-community-support-initiative/

The annual farm census is underway. Local Land Services (LLS) is urging landholders to keep an eye out for the Annual Land and Stock Returns landing in mailboxes this week.Annual Land and Stock Returns are a snapshot in time, much like a census and landholders should fill in the details as they were recorded at June 30.Read more news: Drought-affected farming families to receive more financial supportLLS executive director Rob Kelly said annual returns are a statutory requirement and the data provided ensures LLS customers get the help they need when emergencies or disasters strike.Mr Kelly said the livestock figure landholders provide on their return does not affect the amount they pay in rates.“LLS rates are calculated on a property’s Notional Carrying Capacity,” he said.“It is vital Local Land Services has accurate, up-to date information so it can best deliver services.“It may not be top of every landholder’s to-do list right now, but we need all returns so we can understand what’s happening on the ground across the state.“In an emergency situation like last summer’s fires, our team will be supporting landholders as well as other agencies and suppliers to roll out an enormous amount of practical help, as well as information and advice.LLS emergency services business partner Dr Steve Eastwood said completing the annual return online is the quickest way to do it and it should be lodged no later than August 31.“The information gathered builds a picture of agricultural land use and livestock numbers across NSW and assists in monitoring flocks and herds for emergency animal diseases,” he said. “We understand circumstances change over a 12 month period, and after a hard few years, reporting livestock figures can be confronting, especially when landholders have destocked due to drought, fire or flood.”To lodge a return, visit http://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/alsr and follow the links to the dedicated portal.The online process can be done in three simple steps and helps reduce face to face contact with Local Land Services and mail service staff, although postal lodgement is still available.

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions and night work on the Pacific Highway from Monday 13 to Sunday 19 July for the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade, weather permitting. There will be no roadwork on the Pacific Highway between Glenugie and the Queensland border from 6am Friday 10 to 6am Monday 13 July due to high traffic volumes expected for the school holidays. Emergency maintenance and safety repair work will be carried out as required. From Monday, there will be four days of work on the Pacific Highway between Woodburn and Devils Pulpit to carry out earthwork, paving, drainage work, landscaping and to allow vehicles to access site. Motorists can expect traffic control, reduced speed limits and short stoppages at times between 6am and 6pm. There will be four nights and four days of work on the Pacific Highway between Devils Pulpit and Mororo from Monday to carry out line marking, asphalting and to install drainage. Motorists can expect traffic control, lane closures and short stoppages at times while this work is carried out. From Monday, there will be four days of work on the Pacific Highway between Maclean and Mororo to carry out road maintenance, survey work and asphalting. Motorists can expect reduced speed limits between 6am and 6pm. Also from Monday, there will be up to four days of work next to the Pacific Highway between Glenugie and Maclean to carry out line marking, survey and landscape and vegetation maintenance. Motorists can expect traffic control, a reduced speed limit of 40km/h and short stoppages at times between 7am and 6pm. There will be up to five days of work from Monday on Big River Way at Glenugie and Tyndale to carry out line marking and landscape and drainage maintenance. Motorists can expect lane closures, traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h between 7am and 6pm. Additional changes to local roads Also from Monday, there will be up to six days of work at the Iluka interchange, Iluka Road and Banana Road to carry out earthwork, paving and allow access to site Motorists can expect traffic control and short stoppages at times between 6am and 6pm. Traffic control will be in place on Jubilee Street at Townsend and Cameron Street at Maclean for up to six days from Monday to allow access to site and to carry out earthwork, asphalting, line marking and electrical work. Motorists can expect lane closures, a reduced speed limit of 40km/h and short stoppages at times between 6am and 6pm. From Monday, there will be up to six days of work on Minyumai Road at New Italy and Tuckombil Road at Woodburn to carry out earthwork, paving and safety barrier maintenance. Motorists can expect lanes closures, traffic control and short stoppages at times between 6am and 6pm. Traffic control will be in place on Bensons Lane at Tyndale to allow heavy vehicles to access site from Monday. Motorists can expect short stoppages at times. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the direction of signs and traffic control. Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time. For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.  

With the NSW/Queensland border now reopened, Transport NSW is telling motorists to expect significant delays this weekend on the Pacific Motorway at Tweed Heads. Traffic in the area is expected to increase as a result of school holidays and varying Covid-19 restrictions for cross-border travel. Transport for NSW is now implementing measures to manage safety and traffic efficiency in the area.While the Queensland Government has reopened the NSW/Queensland border to NSW residents, travellers will still require a Border Declaration Pass to enter the State. Motorists are advised to allow for extra time when planning travel this weekend and during the school holiday period, and consider alternative routes via Summerland Way from Grafton or Casino. Motorists should also be aware of continued changes along the Pacific Highway between Ballina and Woodburn as part of the progress to upgrade the highway upgrade. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, and follow the directions of signs and traffic control. Electronic message signs will be on the highway providing delay information advising of any congestion. It’s important to be well rested before you start your journey, plan regular breaks, share the driving if possible and recognise the warning signs of fatigue. If you feel tired while driving or experience any of the early warning signs such as yawning, restlessness or sore eyes, pull over in a safe place and have a rest. Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time. For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701. 

The middle weekend of the school holidays looks to be pretty bright with maximums of 22 degrees and a bit of sun poking through some cloud cover.However, Sunday afternoon will see a big change come through with a possible thunderstorm bringing plenty of rain with it. In fact the Bureau of Meteorology say 6-10mm's on Sunday then 25-40 mm's on Monday.You can read our earlier news story about the SES warning here: SES says prepare for storms, heavy rain this weekendThe weather bodes well for the Lismore Farmers' Market on Saturday morning from 8. You should be seeing sunny skies and a chilly morning to get your fresh local fruit and veg. Don't forget there is plenty of hot coffee, breakfast and live music while you shop.You have options for the kids or grandkids over the weekend and next week with Rollerworld for roller skating, BCC is open for movies at the Lismore Cinema and Ten Pin Bowling in action too.Petrol prices have remained steady over the first week of holidays with United on Ballina Road still the cheapest with 112.9 for unleaded E10 and for diesel car owners you'll find the Liberty and United on Ballina Road at 115.9.A reminder that Sport returns next week to the Northern Rivers which has been a long time coming. More during the week.Neil Marks' blog last week certainly turned a few heads with his Lake Pool comments (Neil Marks: This might get me into trouble but you need to know ). This week Neil looks at the Victoria coronavirus debacle and how it affects his family life.This weeks Sunday Profile is on Nimbin Valley Dairy cheese makers Paul and Kerry Wilson. Read about life as a goat farmer as well as the process involved in making some of the best local cheese in NSW and Australia.Don't forget if you want to comment on any local story you can write a Letter To The Editor and email it to [email protected] many jokes this week but here is what we have. Enjoy the calm before Mondays storm.

Tonight, North Lismore’s Serpentine Community Gallery will re-emerge with its first exhibition of local art since the Coronavirus shutdown period.The exhibition Re-emergence will showcase new works by local artists such as Jeht Burgoyne, David Shaw and Meg Neilson - who have all been creating art through the new world of social isolation and distancing. Gallery founding member Corinne (Rin) Batt-Rowden said the gallery was still alive thanks to the local people making donations of money to the gallery to keep the insurance and other bills paid during the shutdown.“It’s the dedication and love from people in the community that have meant we are ready for re-emerging,” Rin said. “Even our landlords waived the rent during this difficult time of the year.Rin said tonight’s opening will showcase a diverse range of artists and media who have used media such as painting, textile, sculpture.“We even have digital theatre though Zoomplay's Rona App,” Rin said. “It was created by a young high school theatre group and it will be online, playing on a loop for the exhibition.”The exhibition opens at 6pm and the community is encouraged to come along and support local artists and see what they have been up to while banished to their art studios.Art goers are asked to respect social distancing, hand washing and other required public health requirements at the event.The exhibition opens tonight, Friday, July 10 at 6pm and will run until August 10.For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1815029495303358?active_tab=about

Police have charged a man over the alleged possession and dissemination of child abuse material and filming a person without consent in Nimbin.Nimbin Police initiated an investigation in February 2019, after receiving information a male was filming children in the Nimbin township.Read weather news: SES says prepare for storms, heavy rain this weekendAs part of inquiries police spoke to a 28-year-old man and seized a mobile phone which was examined by the Digital Forensic Investigation Unit.Police will allege in court that the phone contained over 300 images of young people, including images taken in shopping centres.Just before 3pm yesterday, Thursday July 9, police arrested a 29-year-old man at Nimbin and he was taken to Lismore Police Station.He was charged with possess child abuse material, disseminate child abuse material, deal with identity information to commit indictable offence and film person in private act without consent.He was refused bail and will appear in Lismore Local Court today, Friday, July 10.Read more news: Community housing boss seeks properties to help rough sleepers

With possible thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain predicted to develop early Sunday and into early next week, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is encouraging residents to use the weekend to prepare.Read local news: New Kidsnest shop opens to bring solutions to parentsAt this stage there is potential for a low pressure system to form somewhere between the NSW Mid North Coast and South Coast that may affect the Northern Rivers and result in periods of heavy rain, strong winds and hazardous surf conditions. NSW SES Northern Zone Deputy Commander Tony Day said "currently there is some uncertainty about the location of the system however it is likely to bring the possibility of riverine and localised flash flooding as we move into next week".NSW SES is encouraging residents to clean roofs, gutters and downpipes, trim trees branches away from property and secure down outdoor items and furniture as a way of preparing their property for severe weather. "The current COVID-19 environment presents additional considerations for emergency services in responding to severe weather events," Mr day said."So the most practical way the community can help should the heavy rain eventuate is to avoid all not essential travel and to never drive, ride or walk through floodwaters." The SES recommends people monitor the NSW Bureau of Meteorology for any severe weather warnings for heavy rain or riverine flood warnings. For more advice on how to prepare for storms and floods, visit the SES Get Ready website www.ses.nsw.gov.au/getready For emergency storm and flood assistance, call NSW SES on 132 500. Read more news: Kate Bush look-alikes descend on Wutherspoon Street

Rough sleepers in Lismore are set to get more help from North Coast Community Housing (NCCH), but first, the regional social housing organisation needs to find properties to rent.NCCH chief executive John Mckenna is asking the Lismore community to help them find 30 properties that can be rented out and give rough sleepers a better future.“We received $2.1 million in government funding for the Together Home project, which will help us assist up to 30 local people over the next two years,” Mr McKenna said.“We have a long list of rough sleepers needing help, and most of the people on the list are based in Lismore.“This funding is for people who have been housed in temporary accommodation during the covid lockdown and were rough sleeping – not just homeless. “They have been identified already by the Department of Community and Justice and were housed in temporary accommodation through the lockdown period.”Mr McKenna said about 37,000 people across state are homeless and after the homeless count in February, about 400 people were identified locally. “Now we need to find 30 properties with one or two bedrooms,” he said.“If we can get the people who have been sleeping rough into housing and give them support to deal with their complex issues, they will be able to sustain tenancies and potentially move into long term housing.”Mr McKenna said that NCCH often assists people into housing with help to pay the rent.“But the difficulty is in having financial support to pay for the wrap around support you need to keep them there,” he said. “Rough sleepers need that.“We run in partnership with mental health services, but with no support dollars, that bit falls over.“This latest funding actually covers the whole package and means we can make a difference to help get people off the streets and give them a chance.”If you are a property owner and would like guaranteed rent income for the next two years, Mr McKenna asks you to call NCCH Lismore on 0266 275 300 NCCH and talk to Nikki about the rough sleeping leasehold program.NCCH currently has 980 properties, housing 1900 people across the region from Grafton to Tweed heads.For more information, visit the NCCH website: https://www.ncch.org.au/