Lismore News

Economic-Environmental Recovery Plan an imperative

Published

1 year ago

2 November 2022

JeffG

Economic-Environmental Recovery Plan an imperative

By Janelle Saffin MP

State Member for Lismore

EIGHT months on from the catastrophic flood of February 28 2022, I have written to NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to take stock of where the Northern Rivers region, and in particular the Electorate of Lismore that I represent, stands in regard to our flood recovery.

I welcomed the Premier’s joint announcement made with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week on an $800-million Resilient Homes Fund package for the Northern Rivers that I strongly advocated for since early days.

I have let the community know that it is a start, not the end, and will take considerable time.

It is importantly the first in New South Wales as we embark on the transformational adaptation that is required to live with wild weather and climate change.

The form to express your interest in the Resilient Homes Fund can be found at https://www.nsw.gov.au/…/res…/resilient-homes-program…

Now that this package is being put in place, it is imperative that a comprehensive Economic-Environmental Recovery Plan be rolled out for the Northern Rivers.

I am thankful for the range of flood recovery assistance grants that are available to impacted residents and businesses, some of which we have never had like the one for commercial and residential landlords and the Resilient Homes Fund.

An Economic-Environment Recovery Plan needs to be shaped through the lens of what has happened here; that is we were hit by an event that was akin to an inland tsunami, leaving in its wake a humanitarian disaster on a scale not seen since Darwin’s Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

We need economic and environmental plans for all seven local councils and Tenterfield Shire (Lismore Electorate) reviewed with detailed consideration given to transformational adaptation.

In Australia, there has been adaptation but to date it has been incremental which is why an Economic-Environmental Recovery Plan becomes more imperative with our rebuild, and in some instances, our staged retreat, which cannot simply mean abandonment.

The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) is doing some good work in this space. They are building capacity and have a good leader in Chief Executive David Witherdin yet they need to be let off the leash, so to speak.

The advent of the Resilient Homes Fund will facilitate this somewhat. I say let the NRRC get on with the job it is designed to do rather than needing Ministerial approval before they sneeze.

The NRRC’s Advisory Board needs to be chaired by a local person of standing rather than an Acting Secretary of the Department of Regional NSW, otherwise it is a bureaucratic board, not our board.

The Advisory Board should also be out and about having community conversations. The NRRC I know does do this too, as they are meeting so many people but they also need space to work.

It’s quite bizarre that none of the Advisory Board’s members permanently resides in Lismore, the epicentre of February’s disaster, or in Murwillumbah, Woodburn, etc., that also got smashed.

I acknowledge that tens of millions have gone towards the rollout of temporary housing or pod villages – also a first for NSW – but it’s a process I described in Parliament as clunky, slow and not done in collaboration with community, and lacking any creativity whatsoever.

I have had representations and conversations with Mayors, Councillors and others who say the pod village idea needs a complete rethink. It needs to be done in close collaboration with all community leaders, notably Councils.

I know land is problematic but it requires more than here is Crown Land, here is Council land aka sporting fields and that is where the pods go. Also some of the places where people are now housed require better care.

I shall continue to advocate to secure the changes and developments we need.

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Lismore News

Further charges laid following man’s death – Lismore

Published

6 days ago

29 November 2023

JeffG

Further charges laid following man’s death – Lismore

Detectives have laid an additional charge of murder following the death of man after an alleged assault in Lismore.

Officers attached to Richmond Police District were called to a home on Keen Street, Girrards Hill, about 12.45pm on Saturday 30 September 2023, and found the homeowner suffering critical head injuries.

He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment of multiple fractures.

Detectives commenced an investigation under Strike Force Nemesia and a 46-year-old man was charged. He remains before the courts.

On Saturday 7 October 2023, investigators were notified the man had subsequently died in hospital.

An additional charge of murder will be laid at Lismore Local Court today (Wednesday 29 November 2023).

Health News

Specialist mental health service for new parents opens in Lismore

Published

2 weeks ago

22 November 2023

Liam

CEO Gidget Foundation Australia Arabella Gibson, NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Gidget Angel Kaiden Powell and Tresillian operations manager Rachael McLean at the opening of Gidget House in Lismore.

Specialist mental health service for new parents opens in Lismore

By Sarah Waters

New and expecting parents in the Northern Rivers will now have access to free specialised mental health care as they navigate their journey through parenthood.

Last Friday, Gidget House officially opened at Tresillian Lismore Family Care Centre to support parents struggling with perinatal depression and anxiety.

Gidget House provides year-long, free individual psychological counselling services and holistic care delivered face-to face and via telehealth.

New data from Gidget Foundation Australia reveals one in two parents living in regional NSW lack both emotional and practical support from their family and friends.

A quarter of parents in regional NSW also needed the most support between 3-12 months after the birth of their child.

While one in three felt a loss of identity in most aspects of their life after having a baby.

NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson officially opened Gidget House and welcomed the service for expectant and new parents to the area.

CEO Gidget Foundation Australia Arabella Gibson, NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Gidget Angel Kaiden Powell and Tresillian operations manager Rachael McLean at the opening of Gidget House in Lismore.

Ms Jackson said families across the Northern Rivers had experienced unparalleled challenges over recent years with floods and threats of fires, whilst still navigating adjusting to early parenthood.

“This is why providing mental health support in regional communities such as Lismore and the surrounds is a top priority of ours,” she said.

“It’s important for expectant and new parents to have access to quality services like Gidget Foundation Australia in times of need and know that help is never too far away.”

Gidget Foundation Australia CEO Arabella Gibson said the expansion of face-to-face services across the state will provide much needed support for parents in regional locations.

“With half of parents in regional NSW reporting a lack of emotional and practical support after having a baby, it’s necessary for us to expand our services to reach more mums and dads who may be struggling,” Ms Gibson said.

“As part of our valued commitment to support the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents across the country, we’re hopeful our expansion to Lismore will provide a safe space for open conversations with perinatal specialist clinicians.”

It is estimated that perinatal depression and anxiety affect almost 100,000 expectant and new parents in Australia each year.

For more health news, click here.

Lismore News

SYDNEY SPRINTCAR DRIVERS DOMINATE AT LISMORE SPEEDWAY

Published

2 weeks ago

22 November 2023

Liam

JESSIE ATTARD - Lismore Speedway - November 18, 2023. Photo by Tony Powell.

SYDNEY SPRINTCAR DRIVERS DOMINATE AT LISMORE SPEEDWAY

By Dennis Newlyn

Sydney Sprintcar competitor Jessie Attard drove to a superb victory in the “Hoedown at the Showground” 25-lap feature race at Castrol Lismore Speedway, Saturday night, November 18.

Sydney drivers dominated the top three main event placings after Sam Walsh finished second and Daniel Sayre was placed third.

However, it was Attard’s night.

He posted his initial feature win and the emotion overflowed when he unbuckled from the driver’s seat of his high horsepower 410 Sprintcar at the start/finish line after the race.

AT LEFT, SAM WALSH, (runner-up), winner Jessie Attard (centre) and third-placed Daniel Sayre - Sprintcar main event, Lismore Speedway, November 18, 2023. Photo by Tony Powell.

Lismore Speedway Sprintcar main event top three: Winner Jessie Attard (centre) with runner-up Sam Walsh (left) and third-placed Daniel Sayre. Photo: Tony Powell.

“A lot of work has gone into this win,” he said choked on words as the momentous moment overflowed with emotion.

“A lot of people made this possible and I could not have got it done it without them. It’s (the main event win) now off my shoulders.”

Attard drove a near-perfect race as he staved off Walsh’s full-on pursuit. At one point they ran close in testing lapped traffic, but Attard kept his cool and maintained his advantage. He posted the fastest lap time of the race when he clocked 11.668 seconds for an estimated speed of 110.5 mph near mid-distance.

Walsh had set up the suspension especially to handle the tight confines of the Lismore Showground bull ring, but admitted after the race, the car was not at its best.

“We got beaten by a better car tonight and congratulations to Jessie,” a gracious Walsh said.

“We were really battling tonight. We spent all night trying to keep the front wheels on the ground,” he explained in relation to the continual suspension adjustments.

Daniel Sayre made a late charge into third after following Brody Appleby for most of the race.

JESSIE ATTARD – Lismore Speedway – November 18, 2023. Photo by Tony Powell.

“The traffic was pretty hectic out there trying to get through the lapped cars,” Sayre admitted.

Local Sprintcar stars were out of luck after Tony Bridge posted the best result with a ninth in the feature race.

The only incident involved Kobi Wright who caused a red light near the end of the race when he crashed upside down into the fence, however he was uninjured.

Other main event winners were: Boyd Chaffey (Formula 500s), Charlie Brown (Formula 500 Juniors), Matt Gordon (Legend Cars), Nathan Gordon (Production Sedans), Luke Manttan (Pro Sprints), Jacob Jolley (Wingless Sprints).

V8 DIRT MODIFIED MR MODIFIED SERIES – DECEMBER 26

Next fixture at Castrol Lismore Speedway will be the annual Boxing Night spectacular featuring the Mr Modified Series opening round.

For more sports news, click here.