The Northern Rivers Times Newspaper - Edition 113

New premises, new chapter

By Samantha Elley

Lismore’s recent catastrophic floods have been a mixed blessing for Ace Community College. While the devastation can’t be denied with the loss of all their paper records and the damage done to their Magellan Street premises, CEO Kerry Johnson and Business Operations Manager, Erin Hutchinson have seen the silver lining to the overcast skies. “In 2017 we lost everything on the ground floor in that flood and we’d only just renovated the whole building,” said Ms Johnson. “Then Covid hit, so we weren’t in it for very much. “After the flood

this year, which went

through the whole

building, both floorswe lost absolutely

everything, I think we’d had enough.” The next difficulty came about when the college started looking for a new place to rent when, understandably nothing was available. “We realised at least half our business has to be out of flood,” said Ms Johnson. “We need to be somewhere where at least if it happens again, we have somewhere for the staff to go.” In May the college were able to secure premises in the Westlawn Building at 26 Molesworth Street, Lismore. “We were very lucky to secure it,” said Ms Hutchinson. “We were very lucky Clarence Property Group helped us find First Place

Constructions who have been managing that whole campus build. “That came together in five weeks.” During that time the college was supported by other businesses. “North Coast Community College helped give us some space for meetings,” said Ms Hutchinson. “Cherry Street Sports Club were very kind and gave us some meeting spaces just so we could meet with our staff more to check in with everybody. “For them it’s a big relief that we have somewhere to go.” Training rooms will soon be fitted out on the first floor and business and admin spaces to be established on the fourth floor of the Molesworth Street building, with

spectacular views over Lismore. “One of our community team members was so thrilled that she gets to look over the Lismore area,” said Ms Hutchinson. “We are so lucky as we do have such a beautiful view of Lismore.” While the college has been running online and remotely over the past six months since the flood, they will soon have somewhere to call home, aiming to be settled into the new campus by the end of October. To find out more about courses with the Ace Community College contact 6622 1903 for more information.

Free Springtime Play events in the Pocket Park this month

The Byron Shire community is warmly invited to a series of five free lunchtime events at the recently upgraded Pocket Park (corner Bayshore Drive and Banksia Drive) in the Byron Arts and Industry Estate. The upgrade of the Pocket Park was completed earlier this year thanks to a $56,096 grant from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund and included landscaping, footpaths

and lots of new seating. The grant will now help bring some fun activities to the space and promote opportunities for social connection. The family-friendly event program is called Springtime Play and has been curated by the Roundabout Theatre to run from 12 midday to 2pm as follows: Thursday 8 September: Circus Playground by Circus Arts Byron Bay. Tuesday 13 September: Walk & draw the line. A visual arts

and funambulism (tightwire) experience by Claudie Frock & Seed Arts. Wednesday 14 September: A pop up dance party by The Cassettes. Thursday 22 September: Pooch Pampering by Andy Forbes and Simone O’Brien. Wednesday 28 September: Lunchtime music and sing along with alt-folk duo Bella Frankie. “We are really excited

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole

to bring some local artists together for some much-deserved fun in our new and improved Pocket Park,” Council’s Place Liaison Officer Kristie Hughes said. “A big thank you to Valley Lipcer, the artistic director of Roundabout Theatre for bringing this great line-up of events to the Byron Shire community,” she said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the Stronger Country Communities Fund is helping to enrich the lives of residents in regional communities. “The Stronger Country Communities Fund is already making a real difference to regional communities, with work on more than

2,000 projects already underway in every local government area across the state,” Mr Toole said. “The NSW Government is investing record amounts to deliver the infrastructure needed to stimulate regional economies but we’re also backing grassroots projects that make a positive difference to everyday life.”