October 2024

Events

Strengthening Communities through Conflict Management, Plan C

  • Saturday 26 October, 9:30am – 11:30am
  • Nimbin: 54 Cullen Street

This event will focus on Strengthening Communities through Conflict Management, particularly in the context of disaster response and recovery scenarios. Find out more and register here.

Climate Conversation: Nature Based Solutions with Richmond Landcare

  • Wednesday 30 October, 9am – 11am
  • Community meeting room, upstairs Lismore Central

Join Lismore City Council and Richmond Landcare for a climate conversation on the theme of nature based solutions (NBS). At this conversation we will explore what nature based solutions are and what opportunities it could present for Lismore’s river catchments.

Please arrive early, with your mug or cup, to get yourself a complimentary hot drink from Ciao Belle Café which is next door. All are welcome, including Jarjum.

Climate Conversation: Waste

  • Thursday 14 November, 4pm – 6pm
  • Community meeting room, Goonellabah Community Centre, 27 Oliver Avenue

Lets talk waste! At this Climate Conversation, we will be joined by local experts North East Waste as we delve in and focus on all things to do with rubbish, including the link between greenhouse gas emissions and what you put in your bins! Free snacks will be provided and all are welcome. If you're bringing kids, feel free to arrive a little early and grab some books from the Goonellabah library.

Good news story

National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Gathering held on Widjabul Wia-bal Country

Last month, over 3 days, the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Gathering (NIDR) was held here on Widjabul Wia-bal Country at the Lismore Showgrounds.

NIDR is an annual national gathering organised by Monash University and this year, supported by local organisations including Jagun Alliance, the Koori Mail and Resilient Lismore.

The NIDR brought together representatives from disaster resilience and emergency management sectors across Australia, Canada, New Zealand and more! The Gathering was a wonderful opportunity for attendees to learn about the importance of Indigenous leadership in disaster resilience.

National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Gathering

Sustainability tips

At the request of the community, we are happy to introduce a new segment to the newsletter. Each month we will share a short but sweet piece on ‘how to’ make small changes that can help our collective efforts in protecting our planet.

Which bin? And why it is important.         

Waste generates a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions and causes other environmental impacts. Waste management is critical in ensuring a safe and healthy environment. Having recycling and FOGO bin collections is an effective way of reducing the impacts from waste.

What can go in the FOGO (green) bin?

Food organics and garden organics (FOGO) are composted for use on farms and gardens. Clippings from your garden and food waste without any packaging (no pizza boxes, serviettes or tea/coffee bags) can go into your green bin. The rules have recently changed, and you can find out more about what can and can’t go in the FOGO bin here.

What can go in the recycling (yellow) bin?

Recycling bins are taken to a ‘Material Recovery Facility’ (MRF) that separates out the different materials, which then go to specific facilities to be recycled. It is important that these bins are kept clean by rinsing containers before putting in the bin. Part of the separation process at MRFs requires people to hand separate materials. Clean containers also reduce contamination, improving recycling success. Glass bottles and jars, hard plastic containers, paper, cardboard, steel and aluminium. More information can be found here.

So the rest goes in the red bin, right? Not quite; hazardous materials such as asbestos, batteries, paint, gas cylinders and tyres can’t go in the red bin. There are handy collection points for batteries. Other hazardous materials need to be taken to the Lismore Recycling and Recovery Centre.

Grants, rebates and reliefs

Living Carbon Grants

Managing carbon is both a challenge and an enormous opportunity for landholders. If you are a landholder in NSW, you may be eligible for a NSW Government grant to set up a carbon planting project. This could help you secure the health of your land, improve productivity, and unlock new income streams. Your land could be used to revegetate habitats for threatened or iconic species such as koalas. Grants of up to $200,000 are available for planting between 10 – 200 hectares of land. Find out more and apply for the grant here.

Alinta Energy Community Grants

Grants of $20,000 are available for projects that have a positive impact on either:

  • Social disadvantage (e.g. projects that assist members of the community in need).
  • Environmental sustainability (e.g. projects that restore natural ecosystems, reduce the consumption of natural resources and/or reduce waste

Find out more or apply here.

NSW Household Energy Rebates

Many of us could be missing out on available electricity bill discounts. Check out if you are eligible for a range of electricity discounts and rebates at Service NSW, Energy and Utilities.

To stay up to date on current grants, check out Lismore’s Grant Guru page.

Your stories and suggestions


We’d love to hear from you if you have feedback on the content of this newsletter, an idea on what you’d like to hear about or even a story or event you would like to share.

Send any thoughts to Jamie.vaniersel@lismore.nsw.gov.au.