$300,000 Boost for Rous County Council Coastal and Estuary Management Projects

at assisting councils in addressing coastal hazards and improving the health of NSW’s estuaries, wetlands, and littoral rainforests.

Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffn, highlighted the importance of these projects, which will contribute to the preservation and better management of the Richmond River Estuary. The funded projects include:

• Richmond River Tidal Inundation Assessment - $40,000 will be allocated to initiate Stage 2 of the tidal inundation hazards assessment for the Richmond River Estuary. This assessment is crucial for informing management strategies to enhance the estuary’s health.

• Richmond River Bank and Riparian Condition Assessment - $260,000 will be used to develop a comprehensive riverbank and riparian condition assessment. This project is essential for creating effective management responses to mitigate source water pollution in the estuary. Janelle Saffn expressed her support for the funding, stating, “I welcome this funding to support Rous County Council in mapping and planning projects needed to better protect our river estuaries.”

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe, emphasized the broader impact of the grants, saying, “We’re delivering more than $2 million in the latest grants to help councils protect our precious NSW coasts. This funding helps councils understand their unique coastal management challenges and fnd the best solutions.” craft and creating quality work.

He is a proud father to his son, Oakley, and a loving husband to his wife, Nikki.

In addition to his building work, Mitchell is also the owner of a small 4×4 business.

In his free time, he enjoys exploring the countryside and immersing himself in nature’s beauty.

Richelle Weekes

This being her frst foray into public life, Richelle is passionate about Lismore and our region, having been born and educated, and working here her entire life – a true Lismore local.

Richelle studied dental nursing and worked in that role for 11 years. It was then that Richelle decided to enrol at SCU full time studying nursing.

Richelle is equally passionate about the importance of education being available to local kids – she has been able to turn her studies into her present job at Lismore Base Hospital where she is the Acting Nurse Unit Manager of Theatres.

Away from work, Richelle is involved in multiple local sporting clubs with soccer, netball, rugby, and cricket all taking up lots of family time.

What prompted Richelle to join Steve’s team was his vision and goals for Lismore. Richelle has said that she would never put herself up for something she does not believe in. Richelle knows that Steve Krieg and all of his team share her passion. She knows that Steve has really good intentions for the future of Lismore which in turn positively impacts the future not only her but all children. “It really is a beautiful town and Steve is absolutely the right man to make positive changes for us all”.

Group B Harper Dalton-Earls

I’m not just a candidate, but a lifelong resident of Lismore. I’ve seen the beauty of our community and also experienced the challenges, particularly the devastating impact of fooding. This personal connection fuels my commitment to our community.

My main drive for council candidacy is to ensure Lismore’s recovery from repeated fooding is handled with urgency, empathy, and long-term solutions. As a food survivor, I’m not just determined, but committed to fghting for the right measures that will protect our community.

The most urgent issue in our electorate is food preparedness and recovery. If elected, I will fght for stronger food mitigation efforts and improved infrastructure such as drainage and roads. We need a vision and people with the will to make a difference. Additionally, the recent waste services review, which has led to doubled costs and halved services, was voted to be kept confdential from the public. I will fght to make the review public. We deserve transparency in the Council, especially with a core public service such as our waste management. How can the community understand the changes, including privatisation, when this occurred behind closed doors? This is something I want to see changed. My commitment to Lismore’s future is unwavering. With my experience and passion, I am ready to ensure that our community not only survives but thrives. I am dedicated to creating a future where every person and business in Lismore can have the best chance to prosper.

Jasmine Knight-Smith

I am committed to Lismore City and her villages. I want to help improve how we make decisions and plan for the future. On housing, on our environment, on business, on community spaces, on tourism and on the basics. I want to reduce partisan confict and get on with the job of doing what is best for our community now and into the future.

Lives at Booerie Creek, holds a Bachelor of Laws, works in administration and is a member of the Australian Labor Party (NSW)

Kevin Bell

I believe our Labor candidates will well represent the diversity of our city, villages and farming community.

Lives at Repentance Creek, retired and holds a BSc, Dip Ed, M Ed. Joy Knight-Smith

Lives at Booerie Creek, is a member of the Australian Labor Prty and has a double degree in Law/Arts working in Administration.

Lewis Taylor

A strong belief in bettering my community, driven by witnessing frsthand the severe impact the 2022 Lismore Floods had on the community.

A sustained history of civic engagement and activism, including political volunteering and writing about political issues. A demonstrated capability for research, highlighted by my ongoing research in the felds of international relations and media studies (with a thesis highlighting connections between these two different felds in the Australian context).

A high school teacher living in Girards Hill and a member of the ALP and NSW Teachers Federation.

Glenys Ritchie

I have previously been an elected councillor in Lismore and will bring in depth experience to the new council. I have a background in government administration, Human Resources and Teaching. I am a volunteer with local community organisations and am a long term local resident of Lismore who loves where they live. Retired and living at Girards Hill. Is a member of the ALP and holds a Bachelor of Social Science.

William Harrison

Lives at Goonellabah and is a member of the ALP and currently in Year 12, working part-time.

Group C Big Rob

He represents Lismore Lake Incorporated Landcare, which was established in 2021 to help progress the regeneration of the Lismore Lake Precinct as a bird sanctuary and as an accessible and inclusive community recreation space alongside the Wilsons River in South Lismore. Big Rob is a lawyer, a councillor at both Lismore City Council and Rous County Council, and an active member of Lismore City Council’s Flood Risk Management Committee. Passionate about food mitigation, Big Rob wants to see various options implemented to help reduce the impact of fooding in the region. Nature-based solutions will compliment various other options to mitigate fooding, while also assisting with geomorphic and riparian condition, aquatic macroinvertebrates, water quality, and overall river health.

Shaen Springall Lives at Goonellabah, is a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing. Is also the secretary and treasurer of Goonellabah Tucki Landcare Incorporated.

Luke Tantarri Lives at Goonellabah and is self-employed. He is a committee member of Lismore Lake Incorporated.

Christopher Knight Lives at Rous Mill and is a former board member of the Lismore Chamber of Commerce and representative on the Lismore Business Promotion Panel and the City Safe Committee.

Stella Coleman Lives at North Lismore and is self-employed.

She is a passionate community volunteer and strong advocate of emerging hemp based industries.

Group D Adam Guise

I’ve lived and worked in Lismore since 1999 when I moved here to study at Southern Cross University. For the last 10 years I’ve lived on the North Lismore foodplain where I’ve farmed and regenerated this important landscape. I’m running for Council because I love and care about this community. Since the devastating foods and landslips of 2022, we’ve lacked genuine leadership from the current council majority to put our community’s recovery frst. We need a community led vision that determines where and how we rebuild and relocate post-food, and a way to protect our 100-year-old hardwood homes in a housing crisis. Council needs to lead climate adaptation and a planned relocation from high-risk areas so that our community is more resilient in the face of future foods and disasters.

Climate adaptation and how we deal with disasters like fooding and bushfres is key to our future prosperity. We need more preparedness and planning that empowers our community and provides the necessary resources to respond, relocate and adapt. Chiefy we need to move from high-risk areas and build more medium density housing suitable for an ageing population and growing single/double person households.

Hard engineering solutions like raising the levee, building mega dams or dredging the river are fraught with risks, exorbitant in cost and unlikely to be delivered in the timeframes required. Nature based solutions which take a whole of catchment approach has co-benefts for regenerating our rivers, restoring habitat and reducing soil loss from our landscape. With 8 years experience on council already, and my extensive knowledge of planning and local government laws, I have the necessary skills to continue as an effective and proactive councillor. I have a Law, Arts and Teaching degree and currently work for NSW Health, which gives me the skills and networks to problem solve and advocate for our community.

Vanessa Ekins

I moved to the Northern Rivers in 1994 to start a family and make this place my home. I frst ran for Lismore Council and was elected in 2004. I was motivated by observing that the mostly elderly men councillors were not listening to the community and not progressing issues of importance to young families.

The most urgent issue for Lismore is the cost of living. The unpopular decision to privatise council’s waste collection services stripped income from local businesses and now we pay more. I will prioritise making council services effcient and affordable and ensure council jobs by council workers.

As Mayor of Lismore I will change the culture of council and lead a positive and respectful chamber where councillors and staff work together on outcomes for our community. I have 20 years of experience with council processes, I know the council staff and understand Lismore City issues. I love this place and have hope for the future. I will do the work, show up and listen to what you say is important.

Shae Salmon I have lived in the

Lismore area for over 40 years.

As a true local, I deeply care about our environment and community and feel I can contribute to better planning decisions on all aspects of council.

Environmentally sensitive and sustainable development is so essential. Locally sourced employment in areas such as waste management is another focus, while community engagement and consultation is a must.

I have been involved with the art culture in Lismore including local theatre and community radio, so want to see all forms of art thrive in Lismore along with the many businesses that make our area the outstanding and varied centre it is.

Lindall Watson

Our permanent move to the Lismore electorate and Stony Chute was made in January 2023.

My motivation to take this step forward into the political arena was my belief that serious change is needed at the council level to promote a hopeful future. I am imagining an electorate that has a communityled, transparent planning system assisting all to thrive socially, culturally, economically and environmentally. All residents deserve a fair, just and respectful council where the allocation of resources is delivered with equity and equality.

I see the unprecedented housing crisis as the most urgent issue for the Lismore Council. If elected I will drive for an affordable housing strategy and advocate for medium density and smaller homes to cater to key workers, older residents and those seeking sustainable living options.

As an educator, I believe it’s important to support the young people of the Lismore community to become involved and participate in decision making and policy creation opportunities.

Virginia Waters

I’ve lived in the electorate 28 years.

The environment, the lands, the water, the amazingly complex biota and the unique people of this region deserve a hard-working representative; someone who is committed to working with them to provide transparent governance. I’m excited by the vision of being part of the healing and transformation of this community. I want to see local businesses and local government working together to foster the arts, support tourism and create a compassionate and productive society. This election may not provide that opportunity but I’m in this for the long haul.

Luke Robinson

I have lived in the

Northern Rivers since 2019, moving to our home in Whian Whian in March 2022. I have worked at Lismore Base Hospital as a specialist Emergency Physician since early 2021. Our council is currently dominated by those pursuing narrow sectional interests. I will be a strong voice for the protection of our precious Northern Rivers home and for all members of this community, not just the best connected or those with the deepest pockets. Council desperately needs to focus on protecting our unique Northern Rivers home and representing our whole community, not just narrow sectional interests. This starts with electing more candidates such as myself, fellow Greens and other progressives that come from a wide diversity of backgrounds and are committed to building a respectful, consultative and transparent council. Through my years working as an Emergency Physician, I have developed the skills to work well in teams and manage complex situations in highpressure environments. These skills include good communication and the emotional intelligence required to support patients, their loved ones and colleagues. I believe these skills and attributes would be a valuable addition to our Council.

Belinda ‘Binnie’ O’Dwyer

I’ve lived in Northern NSW for around 30 years and in Lismore since 1999. Since moving to Lismore, I have completed my law degree, raised children, participated in the fght against coal seam gas, as well as supported other community campaigns around climate change and social justice. I now work as a criminal defence solicitor and this work has given me a unique insight into the complexities of disadvantage within our community. It has also shown me there are gaps in the system at every level, which, if flled, could contribute towards having a more safe and inclusive community.

I’m running for Council because I believe the Greens have an important role to play in maintaining the wellbeing of the community. Whether it be through decisions affecting our natural world, or promoting participatory decisionmaking processes, what happens in council impacts on all of us.

Reviving and rebuilding Lismore and villages is at the forefront of decision making for the Greens. We believe this can be achieved through a fair community led recovery that supports our most vulnerable, advocates for diverse genuinely affordable homes and ensures business has confdence and opportunity in a climate prepared community.

We will prioritise safe and sustainable planning for risks like food and landslip informed by evidence-based research and respected local knowledge. We will regenerate and protect natural habitat to reduce the impact of foods, protect farmlands and clean our rivers.

Our team will keep services local to support our economy. We will ensure waste operations are managed effciently and sustainably locally, not outsourced. We will keep our gravel quarry publicly owned, not sold for private proft, to support council’s biggest job road maintenance. We support localised solutions to services such as water to meet growing future need.