Lismore to Bangalow Road has been getting a facelift over the past few months. You may have noticed the wider road shoulders, new safety barriers and drainage that have appeared in places on the much-frequented local road.Now, the road work at Bexhill is complete and the road rebuild and safety improvements have moved on to Clunes - which Member of the Legislative Council, Ben Franklin said follows on from “extensive community consultation”.“This involves resurfacing the road, widening road shoulders and building a new 800-metre overtaking lane between Eureka Road and Kirklands Lane,” Mr Franklin said.“The community was consulted about the design of an access road to be built between Stewarts Road and Kirklands Lane.“This design has now been finalised and the community will be kept informed about the project as development continues.”Mr Franklin said the $11 million safety improvements by the NSW Government were progressing well.“The improvements will deliver safer and smoother journeys for thousands of motorists who use Lismore to Bangalow Road each day,” Mr Franklin said.“They will ensure road users complete their journeys safely every day, and they will also help sustain jobs in local communities,” Mr Franklin said.“The Lismore to Bangalow Road project is sourcing materials from local suppliers and employing local contractors, delivering on the NSW Government’s commitment to maintaining jobs in regional communities.“Crews have also completed work on Wilsons Creek Bridge at Nashua to clear vegetation and improve the stability of bridge abutments.“Work on the bridge abutments also used recycled rock excavated from another section of the project, saving resources.”

Australians are being encouraged to learn more about the stories of our Second World War veterans as the 75th anniversary of the end of the war on August 15 approaches. A number of online research services are being made available for free, to help Australians conduct their research, including http://www.ancestry.com.auFederal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said our community has a rich Second World War history, from residents who served to veterans, widows and family members who now call the region home. “Each story is unique, and is just as important as the next,” Mr Hogan said.“As a community we have a job to do –to ensure these stories live on and that we never forgot the role of all Australians who served overseas or on the home front in the Second World War.”The National Archives of Australia has been digitising all of its Second World War service records and the Australian War Memorial also has a wide range of useful information just a click away.”“I encourage each of us to start by looking into our own family’s military service history, and from there, extend our research to the Second World War more broadly and learn more about the six years that forever changed Australia’s history,” Mr Hogan said.  “All that Australians need to do is ‘Just Ask’ the question – whether that is about a family member who served, or just wanting to learn more about the war. “The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has brought together all of its nominal rolls, including the Second World War nominal roll, into one website to make it easier to search and find information on those Australians who served in this war.”“DVA’s Anzac Portal also has a range of historical educational resources free for download – showcasing the war from an Australian point of view.”The Researching Australians at War page on the Anzac Portal is also a great resource to learn more about the Second World War and to access educational resources: http://www.anzacportal.dva.gov.auAncestry.com.au is helping Australians pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed in the Second World War by providing free online access to all Australian and New Zealand military records on the site from August 13–16.

Holiday travellers heading south for the October or Christmas holidays should save 25 minutes on their journey between Woolgoolga and Ballina when the Woodburn, Broadwater & Wardell Pacific Highway bypass is completed next month. Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and State Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis today announced locals have been given advanced notice of traffic changes that will take effect when the 34-kilometre upgraded section opens between Woodburn and Pimlico in September this year, weather permitting.(part of the roadworks between Woodburn and Pimlico) “The Pacific Highway upgrade continues to deliver for our regional communities, creating more than 3,000 jobs during the peak of the Woolgoolga to Ballina project alone and injecting millions into local economies,” Mr Hogan said. “This new section forms a large part of the final stretch of the upgrade, which is on track to open to traffic by the end of this year.” Mr Gulaptis said motorists would be able to use the new interchanges at Woodburn, Broadwater and Coolgardie for safe access to the Pacific Motorway as part of the upcoming opening, which would improve connectivity between neighbouring towns. “Travellers will be encouraged to visit the newly bypassed towns with large signs to be installed at the approaches to Woodburn, Broadwater and Wardell,” Mr Gulaptis said. “These signs have already been installed along the Pacific Highway upgrade, most recently at Nambucca and Kempsey, helping support regional communities.”(the new bridge over the Richmond River looking south at Broadwater) The Pacific Highway upgrade is now about 91 per cent complete, and continues to deliver improved travel times for locals, tourists and the freight industry. To help explain the upcoming change, a community update will be distributed to local residents from this week and made available online at pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au. Local businesses interested in receiving updates about the upcoming bypass are encouraged to register at w2b@pacificcomplete.com.au.  Electronic message signs will provide wayfinding information and motorists should be aware of traffic management and reduced speed limits though the area while work continues to build the upgrade. Road users are encouraged to visit livetraffic.com and plan ahead to avoid any potential delays. For more information about the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade, contact the project team on 1800 778 900 (dial 1) or email w2b@pacificcomplete.com.au. The Australian and New South Wales governments are jointly funding the $4.945 billion Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade. With the Australian Government providing $3.76 billion towards the construction, planning and pre-construction. The NSW Government is providing the remaining funding towards the project.

A new workshop series allowing rural women to build skills in sustainable farm management and recovering from natural disasters just received a Federal Government funding boost.Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said $21,700 would be allocated for these programs to run across the North Coast community.“These workshops will empower rural women and show the benefits of making sustainable decisions for their families, their farms and the farm businesses,” Mr Hogan said.The workshops are run by North Coast Local Land Services in partnership with Women on the Land. The organisations have already been running a workshop series to assist local rural women with holistic decision making and resilience.  “North Coast Local Land Service in partnership with Women on the Land will be delivering this project over two years,” Mr Hogan said.North Coast Local Land Services General Manager Louise Orr welcomed the funding and is looking forward to the workshops. “This project aims to empower women to take ownership of not just their personal welfare but their farm and farm business welfare in the event of a natural disaster,” Mrs Orr said. “This will help build more resilient farms and more resilient communities in the face of an increasingly variable climate.”If you are interested in attending the workshop, please visit the website: https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/north-coast

The Lismore Quadrangle’s 2019 project, Dungarimba Wandarahn received a Highly Commended Award in the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture category at the Local Government NSW Awards.Commissioned by The Lismore Quad, Dungarimba Wandarahn (Lismore place of learning) was a major new Australian work by internationally acclaimed digital artist Craig Walsh.One and a half years in the making, the project was created in collaboration with Southern Cross University’s Indigenous School Gnibi Wandarahn and Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar, high school and university students, researchers and arts practitioners, and was funded by the Australian Government’s Heritage Near Me program.Dungarimba Wandarahn was a powerful multi-sensory experience of Bundjalung Elder, Aunty Irene Harrington’s memories as a young Aboriginal girl straddling two worlds in the 1950s.During the four-night event, the original Lismore High School was animated with large-scale projections and a soundscape depicting her experience of a white education system. A large dome was also constructed on the grass over a sand circle evoking traditional Bundjalung story, language and song with music composed by Brett Canning from Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar and didgeridoo from local musician Tom Avery.Audiences were invited to experience the work however they chose - lying down under the stars and listening, walking around each of the spaces, or sitting on a picnic rug while the kids played in the sand circle covered with animated projections of Bundjalung art.Lismore City Council’s Deputy Mayor Darlene Cook congratulated the gallery team lead by Brett Adlington, and in particular, project producer, Marisa Snow“This recognition by Local Government NSW is well deserved,” she said.“The Regional Gallery and The Quad continues to punch above its weight and attract a wide audience by commissioning artists who tell our local stories.“I congratulate Craig Walsh and the team at the Gallery and The Quad for having the vision and passion to deliver this multi-sensory experience of Bundjalung language, history and story.”

COVID-19 Scams are on the increase as scammers are using the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) to take advantage of people across Australia.Scamwatch has received over 3600 scam reports mentioning the coronavirus with over $2 382 000 in reported losses since the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The most common scams include phishing for personal information, online shopping, and superannuation scams.If you have been scammed or have seen a scam, you can make a report on the Scamwatch website, and find more information about where to get help.https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/

Hold a morning tea, or donate some money to the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service for its annual Rescue Day appeal this Friday, August 14.The Lismore based service saves lives each year and has performed over 10,000 missions since it started in Ballina in 1982.The Service's chief executive Richard Jones said “supporting Rescue Day helps to keep the Service on standby 24/7 for our community”.“Each year our Lismore team is tasked to perform over 400 missions ranging from rescues and emergencies through to patient transfers from our smaller regional hospitals to larger metropolitan hospitals,” Mr Jones said. “Rescue Day highlights the partnership between our Service and that of the medicals teams who fly with us from NSW Ambulance and NSW Health. It is this partnership that is helping to deliver life changing outcomes for so many patients and their families each year."On Rescue Day, local businesses and venues are invited to take part and help fundraise to support the appeal. Rescue Day is also an opportunity for local workplaces to sign up and hold a fundraiser like a ‘Red n Yellow’ themed mufti day, morning tea or lunch. To make a donation to the Rescue Day appeal visit helirescue.com.au/donate - or if your workplace would like to register, call 1800 155 155.

MISSING PERSON - Gregory PristelVictoria Police are seeking community assistance in locating 51 year old Gregory Pristel who has been seen in the Lismore area.Gregory travelled from Glen Iris VIC to Lismore around the 20th of July, and was last seen in Ballina on the 27th of July. It is believed that Gregory is in the Northern NSW area and may be travelling around in his silver coloured Suzuki Jimny wagon.Gregory is described as caucasian, 170cm tall, solid build, bushy beard. Last seen wearing a khaki army jacket. Anyone with information regarding Gregory's whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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

COVID-19 has thrown some curve balls for everyone since March especially small business.This story proves that out of a place of adversity opportunities can arise, it just takes the courage and a little luck to make it a success story.Phil Evans has worked for three pool companies in the area, Profile Pools, Poolwerx and more recently Lismore Poolscene. COVID-19 meant that the doors of the business were reduced to opening two days a week and Phil was not sure the business would return strongly or when that might be.What makes it more difficult is that Phil has a young family with partner Amy and their two children Madeliene and Georgia. Amy is on maternity leave and looking to get back to her elderly care role early next year.(Phil Evans with partner Amy, Madeliene (5) and Georgia (8 months). Photo: Supplied)"I always wanted to do my own thing", Phil said, "initially COVID stalled me and we thought wait until this over but then the shop hours changed and we thought why not give it a go now"."This gives me the flexibility to get the kids up and take them to daycare when Amy starts work at 6am plus more freedom to make decisions to help people out and do some favours where I can, it's me calling the shots".Winter is the quiet time of year for pool maintenance so Phil is getting his head around the bookwork and accounting procedure he will face once the busy summer period is in full swing.Why the name?"It was a play on dependable and the deep end of a pool", Phil explained. You could add jumping in to the deep end opening a new business as well.Deepend Pool Maintenance offers pool maintenance, sales of chemicals and equipment parts as well as repairs and installations and according to Phil "great customer service".You can contact Phil via his mobile 0n 0429 510 303 or via email at phil.dpe82@gmail.com.au. As Phil has only just started his business you can guarantee you will be talking to the owner.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner after a man died while working on a property about 20km north of Lismore.Emergency services were called to the property on Cox Road, at Koonorigan, after the man was found trapped by a fallen tree last night about 7.20pm (Friday 7 August 2020). He died at the scene.Officers from Richmond Police District have been told the 67-year-old man was clearing trees on the property when the incident occurred.SafeWork NSW will be notified of the incident.The man's wife plays for Dunoon United Football Club in Football Far North Coast's women's League 5 side, who play at Alstonville tomorrow. The players will wear black armbands and the Dunoon United side will request a minute's silence prior to the kick off at 12:30pm. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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