For a profile of Lismore from the NSW State Electoral Office, click here

June 3: Budget Starts Cancer Centre Construction

The Iemma Government’s third budget has delivered more than $12 million for the start of construction on Lismore’s Integrated Cancer Centre.

“Lismore’s new Integrated Cancer Centre will include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, diagnostic and breast screening services,” Duty Labor Member for Lismore, Ian West, said.

“It is part of the Iemma Government’s unprecedented expansion of radiotherapy services into regional New South Wales.” 

The budget is supporting a number of other projects in Lismore, including:

• $2.9 million for the Rural Cardiac Catheterisation Lab Strategy;
• The replacement of demountable classrooms with permanent facilities at Wyrallah Road Public School;
• More than a million dollars for community transport services for the elderly and people with disabilities; and
• $88,000 for court upgrades and the Justicelink project.

More than $27 million will be invested in road projects in Lismore, including funds for road network maintenance and road safety.

Some of the projects to gain funding include:

• $1.6 million for Bruxner Highway, Clarence River, Tabulam;
• $700,000 for Lismore-Coraki Road, Pelican Creek;
• $700,000 for Blue Knob Road, Southwells Bridge;
• $650,000 for Dunoon Road, Coopers Creek; and
• $325,000 for Kyogle Road, O’Brien’s Bridge, Tweed River

 

Mr West said a record $13.9 billion would be invested this financial year in schools, hospitals, roads, transport and other infrastructure across the state.

“Over the next four years, the Iemma Government will fund key capital works projects worth almost $57.6 billion,” Mr West said.

“This is a massive 58 per cent higher than the previous four years.

"The increase is driven by investments in new and upgraded schools, TAFE colleges, health and hospital facilities, accommodation of the aged and disabled, roads and public transport projects.

“The Iemma Government is also spending a record $47.6 billion on vital services across NSW, such as funding for nurses and teachers, more police and new technology in schools.”

May 14: Free Legal Advice for Seniors

Senior citizens and community workers will be able to obtain free legal advice at community information sessions to be held in Lismore on Wednesday 21 May.
 
Duty Government Member for Lismore, Ian West MLC, said the information sessions were part of the Older Persons’ Legal and Education Program launched by the Attorney General John Hatzistergos in Seniors Week.
 
The program is a joint initiative of The Aged-care Rights Service and Legal Aid.
 
“Lawyers will be travelling around the state to provide seniors and community workers with free legal advice and community legal education,” Mr West said.
 
“The NSW Government recognises that some older people might not know where to turn when they have a legal problem and often cannot afford to hire a lawyer.”
 
The first information session titled Are your assets safe? will be held from 9.00am to 10.30am and is open to seniors and community workers.
 
A second session titled TARS and the Older Person’s Legal Service for community workers and other interested parties will be held from 11am to 12.30pm and will offer advice on how to help older people in rural, regional and remote NSW.
 
Both will be held at the Lismore Worker’s club at 231 Keen Street.
 
For more information contact 1800 424 079.

April 21: Lismore Gets Community Services Boost

Lismore is set to receive 24 new caseworker positions and a Community Services Centre in a bid to help vulnerable children and families in the region. Minister for Community Services, Kevin Greene, said eight of the new caseworkers will focus on early intervention, seven will work in child protection, seven will focus on supporting children and young people in out-of-home care and two will provide carer support and intensive support services.

Mr Greene said the $1.1 million Community Services Centre provides improved facilities such as increased security, better meeting rooms for the Department of Community Services clients and space to house the additional staff.

April 17: School zone flashing lights for Goonellabah Public and Wyrallah Road Public Schools

Duty MLC for Lismore, Ian West MLC, today announced new-generation flashing lights and electronic alert system technology will be installed at two schools in the region – Goonellabah Public and Wyrallah Road Public Schools.

“This is the next stage in the Iemma Government’s four-year, $46.5 million roll out of this new technology,” Mr West said.

The new technology is expected to be installed by the middle of this year.

“These school zones were chosen using criteria including but not limited to, traffic volumes, vehicle speeds, pedestrian activity and crash history,” Mr West said.

“This state-of-the-art technology has been shown to slow drivers down and will increase safety for pupils on the Bruxner Highway and Wyrallah Road as they make their way to or from school.

“This new technology was found to be highly visible and effective at slowing people down.”

The $46.5 million program is funded by school zone speed cameras.

Flashing lights are just one component in improving school road safety.

A 12-week evaluation of the new-generation flashing lights in the first half of 2007 found:

• Motorists slowed down an average of 7.4km/h as they entered the school zones;
• An extra 20 per cent of motorists stuck to the 40km/h school zone speed limit compared to before the lights were installed, meaning 60 per cent of motorists drove at or below the speed limit;
• The electronic warning systems used in the trial achieved a 98.2 per cent reliability rating. The flashing lights are equipped with back-to-base monitoring.

April 7: Tips For Lismore Producers

The Iemma Government will hold a seminar in Lismore in an effort to help Northern Rivers food and wine producers find new markets for their products

The free, half-day seminar will be held on April 8 and will feature:

• What research trends and buying preferences can reveal about niche markets and other opportunities;
• The criteria for selecting a distributor, contractual agreements and methods of locating distributors;
• Different distribution options and cost/benefits;
• Network options, from branding and marketing to consolidating logistics and distribution;
• Setting margins and price structures that can meet market expectations and maintain profitability.

For more information on the seminar contact Belinda Green at the Department of State and Regional Development on 6622 4011.

January 29: $130, 000 recovery package for Richmond River

The State Government has come to the aid of Richmond Rivers fishers, with a recovery package of $130, 000 to help the local industry manage the effects of recent floods, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald announced today.

Minister Macdonald said discussions on further assistance for farmers affected by the flooding are continuign and praised Federal Member Page Janelle Saffin for her efforts on behalf of those affected by the floods in her area.

Minister Macdonald said the fishing recovery package would help fund the monitoring program being developed to assess the recovery of fish stocks in the Richmond River. The monitoring program will begin on 18 February.

Affected commercial fishers can apply for assistance available under the Natural Disaster Relief arrangements by contacting Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593.

Loans of up to $130, 000 at 2.85% interest, with a two-year interest and repayment-free period, are available to eligible fishers.