Get the appGun owners on the North Coast will have to wait months to surrender firearms under the NSW National Gun Buyback. Grafton is the only North Coast station opening from November 2. Lismore, Ballina and Tweed Heads stations start on February 8, 2027. The limit of 10 guns per licence holder is still a draft proposal, with exemptions under consideration. Walk-ins are not accepted, and surrenders require a booking through the Gun Safe portal.
An Aboriginal community health service in Lismore has opened a new flood-resilient building. Rekindling the Spirit was severely affected by the 2022 floods. The $4.4 million facility was funded by the Australian and NSW governments and will restore health, mental health, counselling and social support services. A separate $2.4 million grant is rebuilding the service's existing site, with works due for completion later this year. Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the facility marks a major recovery milestone.
Rekindling the Spirit, an Aboriginal health service hit hard by the 2022 floods, has opened a new flood-resilient building in Lismore. The $4.4 million facility will offer health, mental health, counselling and social support services that were disrupted by the floods. Funding came from the Australian and NSW governments through the Aboriginal Owned Assets Program. A separate $2.4 million grant is rebuilding the service's existing site on Uralba Street, which is due to finish later this year. Chief executive Chris Binge said the project represents more than 35 years of advocacy by the Widjabul Wia-bal community.
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Get the appAn 81-year-old woman was taken to Lismore Base Hospital after her car left the Bruxner Highway and crashed at Drake on Friday, October 23. Passing drivers spotted the car on its side off an embankment at about 9.30am and helped the driver out. Paramedics checked her at the scene, and she was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution. Fire and Rescue and RFS units, including those from Tabulam and Frasers Cutting, assisted at the site. A Casino VRA Rescue Squad was called but turned back once the driver was reported to be no longer trapped.
A high-tech Farms of the Future learning bus has travelled more than 10,000 kilometres across NSW, taking agricultural technology to farmers. Almost 1,200 people have tried its virtual reality technology and demonstrations. More than 1,500 producers have completed its Agtech Fundamentals training. The bus is due to appear at the Australian National Field Days in Orange in October. Councils, schools and producer groups can register interest in hosting a visit.
Southern Cross University researchers have received their first Gates Foundation grant. The 18-month project aims to cut the cost of omega-3 supplements for pregnant women and infants in low-income countries by at least 50 per cent. The team plans to grow microscopic organisms called thraustochytrids on agricultural and food-processing by-products. Lead researcher Professor Dirk Erler said cost is the main barrier to omega-3 use among pregnant women. Massey University's Professor Munish Puri is also taking part in the project.
Communities across the nation have held candlelight vigils in support of independent MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs after she was struck twice by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday afternoon. She is in a critical but stable condition at The Alfred. Constituent Brendan Nugent was arrested at the scene and remains before the courts. The Rural City of Wangaratta lit its town beacon amber for the vigil. Haines's staff said more than $730,000 had been raised for Save the Children Australia in her honour.
Spilt Milk will stay in Canberra until at least 2030, under a long-term agreement between the ACT Government and organisers Kicks Entertainment. The festival, founded in Canberra a decade ago, had faced uncertainty about its future. Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the event brings tens of thousands of visitors and boosts local hotels and businesses. Since 2016, the festival has reportedly generated $127 million for the ACT. Tickets for the December 12 festival are on sale in a new limited release for $96.90.
Australians can now vote for the 2026 Fred Hollows Humanitarian of the Year. The Fred Hollows Foundation has named three finalists: Brad Ambridge, Dr Rachael Wu and Ben Stammer. Ambridge founded Rainbow Roos, a sports program for children of all abilities in the NSW Northern Rivers. Wu coordinates free dental clinics in Perth, and Stammer co-founded ReLove, which supplies furniture to families rebuilding their lives. Voting closes at 5pm AEDT on 30 October 2026, and the winner will be announced on 11 November 2026.
Water regulators are visiting 120 properties across Lismore, Casino and nearby areas during October. The visits aim to help large water users understand metering rules before a December 1 compliance deadline. The Natural Resources Access Regulator says enforcement will follow once the deadline passes. Licence holders can meet the rules by installing an approved meter, applying for an eligible exemption, or classifying works into a category that needs no meter. Regulator director Keeley Reynolds urged users to act now rather than wait.
Longtime volunteer Ron Chittick has been awarded Life Membership of the North Coast National A & I Society, the highest honour the society can give. The presentation was made during the 2026 Lismore Show. Chittick first helped with show jumping in 1969 and has since judged, designed courses and organised events across the region. Society president John Gibson said Chittick has shown exceptional dedication over more than 55 years. Chittick also spent 50 years as a livestock auctioneer and has given more than 30 years to Rotary.
A man in his 50s has been airlifted to Lismore Base Hospital after a bulldozer rollover on a property near Bonalbo, New South Wales. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was sent to the property at 11.50pm on Saturday, October 17. The man was injured several hours earlier and was found by relatives after he failed to return home. Paramedics and the helicopter's critical care team treated him for leg and arm fractures.
St Mary’s Primary School in Bowraville will not charge fees in 2027, under a Small School initiative run by the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools. The school is the first in the diocese to trial a no-fees year, and the offer applies to both new and existing students. Principal Amy Chapman said the school has 52 enrolled students and small class sizes that allow personalised support. The school also uses the Berry Street Education Model, and Kyogle will trial a reduced-fee year in 2027.
Two men have been charged with aggravated robbery after a 71-year-old woman was pushed to the ground and her handbag stolen outside a licensed premises in Casino. Police were called to Jabiru Lane at 10.45pm on Wednesday, October 14. The woman suffered grazes and bruising and was treated by paramedics. Police arrested a 31-year-old and a 21-year-old at a home in McDougal Street on Friday, October 16. Both men were refused bail and appeared in court on Saturday, October 17.
Lismore speech pathologist Charmaine Powell has been named Northern NSW's Allied Health Professional of the Year. She was recognised for her compassionate, person-centred care of young children and families, and for mentoring colleagues. The Northern NSW Local Health District awards were held at Southern Cross University in Lismore on Wednesday, 14 October, and drew 66 nominations. More than 850 allied health professionals work across the district, and winners will be eligible for nomination at the NSW Health awards in Sydney in June 2027.
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Get the appNearly five years after the 2022 floods, many Lismore residents are still rebuilding their lives. Alison Norris and her children must leave a temporary pod village by mid-December and have nowhere else to go. Some residents have relocated or accepted buyback payments, while others remain on the floodplain. A New South Wales auditor general report found earlier buyback programs did not deliver what was promised. The state government has since announced more land release and new homes.
The NSW Government has moved to repeal the Motor Vehicle Sports (Public Safety) Act 1985, a law that has regulated motor racing across the state for 40 years. Under the proposed Bill, motorsport would move from government regulation to industry-led self-regulation, which the government says would cut duplication. If passed, the new arrangements are expected to start in April 2027. Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said safety would remain central, as motorsport organisations already handle competitor licensing and safety protocols.
Asking rents for houses in regional New South Wales have risen over the past year, led by smaller towns, according to Domain data. The median weekly rent reached $640 in the September quarter, up 4.9 per cent. Berrigan recorded the steepest rise at 18.5 per cent, followed by Bellingen at 18.2 per cent. Experts say tenants priced out of nearby areas are moving further afield, while new workers and limited housing supply add pressure. Local agents report strong demand and few available rentals.