SOLAR CITIZENS EVENT A HIT FOR NR TRANSITION TO EV’S Diary of a Flood Survivor

BY SAMANTHA ELLEY

BY KATE COXALL

Lismore and Grafton residents were given the opportunity last week to head along to the Solar Citizens events, promoting Electric Vehicles, namely the big gap in the Australian market currently, the Electric Ute.

could move over to an electric vehicle to save on the hefty pump prices.

“People are aware of how much they can save by moving to electric vehicles, and while we aren’t driving around in the best ute, it is the first available on the Australian market, and is a 2WD ute more suited of vehicles, including better models of EV Ute’s and better prices, is on the Fuel Efficiency Standards coming up for review, with submissions having closed yesterday, Wednesday 31st May.

“Fuel Efficiency Standards will give people the choice of more efficient, affordable

When we evacuated our house on Monday, February 28, 2022, we closed everything up and locked the house.

This also meant we left the garage door down.

Our neighbours were a little smarter, they left theirs up.

This means the water flowed through but the pressure if it didn’t buckle the door.

Our poor garage door now has a slight bow to it.

What this means is, instead of just replacing the motor for the garage door to lift up and down, we actually have to replace the whole garage door.

An expensive lesson learnt.

As I write, we are waiting for the garage door people to turn up and replace it.

Since the house was built it has been a black door, but as with everything else we have replaced and renewed, we are trying something different.

We are going grey. I know, we’re such daredevils!

For those of us living in a flood prone area, perhaps we should collectively gather all the wisdom we have learnt from last year and write a tip book.

Then we can keep our own copies and hand them out to anyone new who moves to the area. Make it part of a welcome pack.

While we obviously can’t stop future floods, maybe we can mitigate the stress and expense by doing little things to make it easier.

My first tip would be to keep the garage door open.

Little Steps

Solar Citizens spokesperson- Ajaya Haikerwal- Clean Transport Campaigner told us the events were well attended, by both those who are innovators and to an inner city tradie or Electrician, or council workers and mining companies.”

“These Utes are released for the general public in addition to the larger corporate market” says and diverse vehicles that are suitable for the regions – including the much-loved Aussie tradition of utes.”

“By touring an electric ute around Australia, our community campaign heavily engaged in the “Electrify Everything Transition” conversation, and those who are curious about whether they

Ajaya, “but in limited supply due to the main policy lever”

The focus says Ajaya for Australians wanting to see more availability is allowing regional communities and MPs see first-hand the many cost-saving benefits that electric vehicles can bring to the regions.”

Tenterfield Public Library To Be Revitalised With Nsw Government Fundingtemporary Closure Announcement

Council asks for community feedback on draft budget

Tenterfield Public Library is set to undergo a significant revitalisation project and will be closing its doors at 5pm Friday 2 June 2023. The library will be closed for 7 weeks to complete the project and re-open on Monday 24 July 2023. Loans will be temporarily increased to build your personal home library collection. The new library revitalization fit out has been designed to permit full space adaptability for different uses, allowing greater capacity for the library to host a range of public programs and events. The new fit out will involve back to the June Council meeting for adoption. They can be found at the Your Say Lismore tab on Council’s website www. lismore.nsw.gov.au a balanced budget, despite the high level of uncertainty caused by rapidly rising costs and high interest rates. history. to 50 items for members with a due date after the re-opening. Home library members services will continue as normal. Additionally, Library members have unlimited free access to an extensive range of digital resources through subscriptionbased services such as cloudLibrary NewsStand, Comics Plus, IndyReads, National Geographic Virtual Library, Borrow Box and many more. Drop in or call the library ahead of time for assistance or further information on accessing one of these fantastic digital resources. In preparation for the new-look library, a mega-book sale of ex-library books will be held on-site at the library for one week starting on Monday 29 May until Friday 2 June between 10:00am – 5:00pm. Don’t miss this rare opportunity the upgrade of public area furnishings and include new shelving and flooring, additional study and breakout areas, relaxation seating, accessible height adjustable public computer desks, adaptable meeting and activity spaces and feature a new children’s section with special picture book shelving and include fun, child friendly tables and seating. To maintain the charming heritage architecture of the School of Arts building, the new fit-out does not involve any structural changes. The project has been funded by the State Government with $198K coming from the 2021/22 State Library NSW Public Library Infrastructure Grant Program. Councillors and library staff look forward to welcoming our community back to the ‘new look’ library in July with improved functionality to access library services.

Lismore residents and ratepayers are encouraged to provide feedback on Lismore City Council’s Draft 2023/27 Delivery Program and Draft Operational Plan 2023/24, as well as supporting financial documents.

Lismore City Councillors last night voted to place the documents on Public Exhibition until 16 June when they will come

The Program and Plan sets out the projects, services and activities Council will provide to the community, how much they will cost and when they will be delivered.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said Council was determined to develop

Get your green thumb on at Lennox

“I’m happy that we have delivered a budget with a slight net cash surplus of $205,000,” he said.

“Councillors are very aware that our community is doing it tough, particularly as we continue to recover from the worst natural disaster in Australia’s recorded

“That is why we have purposefully kept any rises in rates, fees or charges below the rate of inflation of 7.8 per cent.

“And importantly, we now also have a viable four-year plan and a Long-Term Financail Plan. I am optimistic that if we are disciplined and stick to these plans, we will finally be on the path to financial sustainability.”

Ballina/Byron Airport overlay starting soon

After a four-year hiatus, the annual Lennox Head Community Tree Planting Daywill return on Friday 9 June 2023. Community members plant native seedlings of littoral rainforest species to restore what was once present on the headland pre-1800s.

Since the event’s inception in 2003, more than 13,000 seedlings have been planted by 1,650 volunteers.

Everyone is invited to join at the top of Lennox headland from 9am to 12noon.

Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is set to commence a major maintenance project known as the Runway Overlay Project 2023.

This project involves an asphalt overlay to the existing runway surface, and the installation of grooves into the finished surface. The runway lighting system will also undergo a significant upgrade to a more efficient LED lighting system.

These maintenance works will extend the runway’s lifespan by up to 10 years.

The main runway overlay works will commence Monday 5 June and continue through to late July 2023 (weather permitting). During this time, the runway will be closed to normal operations from 9pm each evening to 5.50am the following morning. Visit the airport website for more information.

2023 New Zealand South Island Gardens Group Tour

Departure Date: 31 October 2023

$6,700 per person Single Supplement - $1,600

This 12 day Garden tour on New Zealand’s South Island will have you enjoying all the best that the South Island has to offer. The must do things when visiting the South Island plus the must see gardens are all included and then some more on this fantastic tour. Sit back and travel in comfort, everything taken care of with this small group.

Price Includes:

• Home pick up and drop-off from the Northern Rivers

• Return airfares from including taxes

• 11 Nights quality accommodation with breakfast daily

• 6 dinners and 2 lunches

• Visit 5 exquisite gardens including Larnach Castle & Gardens

• TSS Earnslaw Cruise & Walter Peak Evening Dining

• TranzAlpine Train from Christchurch to Greymouth

• Air conditioned buses throughout

• All sightseeing entry fees per itinerary

A travel back in time shows true test of character

Title: Test of Wills

Author: Deborah Goldie

Publisher: Shawline

Publishing Price: $22.95

By Samantha Elley

ere were two things in life Will loved. ey were playing AFL, and the stories his grandfather, also named Will, would share with him about his time in a Hitler Youth Camp during World War Two.

One night a er contracting a bad virus, his mother puts him to bed with a hot chocolate. When he wakes up, he is in 1942 and entering the same Hitler Youth Camp his grandfather had entered.

In fact, he has taken on the role of his grandfather as a young boy and soon discovers the di culties he had