Clean out your household chemicals for FREE this summer

Advertorial by Newaste

You can take household problem wastes including paint, batteries, oils, gas bottles and fluoro lights to your local Community Recycling Centre all year round, but for 2 days this December you can also safely dispose of household chemicals for free at 2 regional locations.

There’s never been a better time to get rid of unwanted or out-of-date stuff from your shed including pool, garden and hobby chemicals, household cleaners, and even poisons. It’s a free service that will help you prepare your home for the summer season by reducing the risks that hazardous chemicals can present to your family and property, especially in emergencies such as cyclones, floods and fires.

So don’t miss out! Add these Chemical Cleanout event dates to your calendar:

• Saturday 7th December at the Nammooona Waste Facility, Dargaville Drive, Casino
• Sunday 8th December at the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre, 313 Wyrallah Road, East Lismore.

Both events run from 9am to 3pm and are free for all Northern Rivers residents.

You can bring paints – up to 100L (in 20L containers), batteries – up to 10kg, other household problem waste and chemicals – up to 20L or 20kg per waste type.

For more information you can contact Lismore Council ph. 6625 0500 or Richmond Valley Council ph. 6662 6580 or visit here.

This project is proudly funded by the NSW government.

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Little Stray opens in Woodburn

By Samantha Elley

If you have tasted the coffee from Stray café in Evans Head and loved it, you are going to be delighted to hear that owners, Damo Robertson and Jessica Grace, have opened Little Stray in Woodburn.

In the premises of the old Rich River Café, they have set up their espresso bar where people can grab a coffee and bagel or any of the dessert delights with gluten free options on offer.

“I started in the coffee business 15 years ago in West End Brisbane as a way of getting out of being a bartender,” he said.

“(I was) sick of the night life.

“When I moved back down to this area, I started the coffee cart in a converted horse trailer at Evans Head Fish Co-op.”

Damo had the cart for 18 months before the flood damaged the co-op, so then he found the old Evans to Betsy site, where he had worked as a barista before starting the cart.

“The owners asked me if I’d like to take on the coffee shop,” he said.

“I didn’t have anything at all, I put the coffee machine from the cart at the front door as the shop was empty.”

With Stray now established as an eat-in café and thriving with a good local following, the couple and their family of two young girls bought a house in Woodburn.

“This opportunity came up to open here (in Woodburn),” he said.

“I always wanted to own a couple of coffee shops that supports us.

“I now have 10 staff (at Evans Head) and I’ve employed someone for Woodburn but I am looking for more staff.”

Little Stray opened on Saturday, November 16 and despite there being a number of coffee shops on River Street, he hopes that he will bring more people to Woodburn.

“We will offer freshly squeezed cold pressed juice, toasted bagels and gluten free pastries,” he said.

“We use Old Quarter coffee, all hand-picked, nothing mass produced.”

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Kylie Maunder – Richmond Valley meet your candidates

By Tim Howard

The Northern Rivers Times has asked all of the candidates for the September 14 local government elections to introduce themselves to voters identify the issues they want to address and policies they would pursue if elected.

A number of candidates did not meet the deadline for publication but are welcome to send in copy for coming editions of The Northern Rivers Times before the election date.

Kylie Maunder

Yamandhu marang, my name is Kylie Maunder and I’m a proud Wiradjuri woman, blessed to be living breathing and learning on Bundjalung country for most of my life.

I grew up in a small village outside of Casino and have experienced first-hand the lack of supports and infrastructure for regional communities.

My background has been in leadership in community services, disability, family support, aboriginal engagement, reconciliation and aboriginal leadership.

My goals and passions are educating and inspiring the broader community through culture, closing the gap on education, health, and support healing through connection.

For more 2024 Local Elections News, click here.