Cr Elly Bird | Politician

Cr Elly Bird

Phone: +61 418 639 927

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25.01.2022 New support packages have been announced for small businesses. Please share.

21.01.2022 Exciting opportunity to be part of a new grant funded project to revitalise our laneways! You can join the working group and help bring the project to life

21.01.2022 Last night Council adopted the 2020/21 budget. It's a budget that is full of significant cuts to our operations across areas that are very important to our community. There are cuts to tourism and events, the art gallery and the quad as well to our roads and infrastructure budgets. With no special rate variation, no alternative strategies to increase revenue and with the impact of covid-19, these cuts were always coming. The adopted budget has a cash deficit $458,000. More ha...rd decisions will need to be made soon to try and find more savings to reduce it. We are in very difficult situation with increasing costs, challenging businesses that we are working hard to turn around, increasing cost shifting from state government and no real increase in federal assistance grants for many years. I've posted previously about why we are where we are, you can read that explanation here https://www.facebook.com/CrEllyBird/posts/3040079616073336 The deficit has increased from the exhibited amount due to a number of amendments made by councillors during last nights meeting, including the reinstatement of $180,000 for management fees to Norpa for taking care of Lismore City Hall which is a cheaper option than council looking after the hall. I’m grateful that Norpa recognised the financial situation of Council and accepted a reduced fee this year. Council also reinstated one tip voucher per property with a cap of 5000 vouchers annually Other highlights of the budget include: $7.85m of roads maintenance to help clear the significant backlog in roadworks. Investment of $4.2m in improvements to the Lismore Regional Airport through a Federal Government grant. Investment of $4.7 m in upgrades to Oakes Oval and Crozier Field through State and Federal Government funding. Investment of $1.5m in CBD revitalisation through State Government funding. Investment of $2.3m in Nimbin and Lismore Showgrounds through the Federal Government. Council is retaining funding to its two signature events the Lismore Lantern Parade and Eat the Street. Council will close the Brewster Street Drop-off Centre due to safety concerns and work to find a new location.

20.01.2022 Really hopeful this deal comes through, the Italo Club is an institution and it would be such a loss if it were to close.

19.01.2022 Be careful folks - see this second text message I received this morning suggesting there are new payments from myGov. Dodgy senders also pretended to be Westpac from the same phone number which makes it pretty obvious to me but it's easy to fall for scams like this so take care.

18.01.2022 Finally a lifeline for NSW Councils! I hope to see this accompanied by streamlined grants processes and a number of other initiatives from Federal government as well. We particularly need grant funds paid up front and access to funds that aren’t reliant on matched funding. I’m relieved to see this announcement. Hopefully it gives us some breathing space as we move into next years budget preparations.

18.01.2022 JOIN THE AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT Today marks start of the week-long Aussie Backyard Bird Count. So, what are you waiting for? It’s easy and fun to join in. J...ust download the free Aussie Bird Count app, walk outside and look to the sky, the trees, the ground and the water - and start counting. You can take part anywhere your backyard, local park, botanical gardens, or schoolyard - wherever you might see birds. And you can submit as many 20-minute counts as you like. For those who don’t have a smart device or prefer to submit their counts later, there is a printable form available at www.aussiebirdcount.org.au. School materials can also be found there. This annual Birdlife Australia citizen science event runs until 25 October.

17.01.2022 Great news for Lismore!

16.01.2022 Our 2020/21 budget is now on exhibition for public comment. Please have a look and make a submission if there is anything you think needs to be changed. It's a difficult budget for many areas of Council. The only way Councillors can make changes now is in response to public submissions.

15.01.2022 Today around Australia there are protests planned, in solidarity with the unrest in America but also to protest the ongoing, entrenched injustice that First Nations People here in Australia experience every day. Too many Aboriginal people die in custody, too many people are burdened with systemic failures by government and too many people bear the burden of intergenerational trauma. We must do better. It’s challenging times to be protesting, and it is absolutely critical that... if you choose to attend one of the actions today you are stringent about hygiene. Wear a mask, use hand sanitiser often, stay 1.5m apart or only with your family group, resist the urge to mingle & don’t go if you are sick! Also remember that it is just as valid to support this action by amplifying the message online. Please keep our community safe today as you stand up for what is right. Lismore action details are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/564942357546975/ See more

15.01.2022 Building community and social housing makes so much sense for Covid recovery! It made sense before Covid and now it makes even more sense. Apparently NSW will be announcing a similar package when the budget is released tomorrow.

15.01.2022 BUSINESS CONNECT ONLINE EVENTS This is your weekly update with free online events in the next two weeks. A selection of online events available through Busines...s Connect in the next two weeks: How to sell to your business customers Wednesday, May 27, 2020 10:00 am Shifting from physical to digital retail a strategic approach Friday, May 29, 2020 12:00 pm Money Is NOT A Dirty Word (for creatives) Wednesday, June 3, 2020 6:00 pm How to promote your business in the social media world - Thursday, June 4, 2020 1:30 pm https://business-connect-register.industry.nsw.gov.au//hom Currently, businesses can select their region or council area to search around 100 business advisors who can provide advice and support on a range of issues including managing cashflow, dealing with business disruption, developing a marketing strategy in a challenging environment and supply chain issues. Businesses can also call 1300 134 359 to connect with an advisor. Just a reminder that only small businesses can register for Business Connect services. If you would like to attend an online event, please email [email protected] and one of the team members will get back to you promptly.

14.01.2022 YOUR COUNCIL AT WORK - ROADWORKS We would like to reassure the community that the Council's local roadworks program continues to run on schedule. Our workers ar...e taking all necessary steps to ensure they abide by the recommendations provided by the Department of Health and Federal Government. For more information visit: https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information-upd

12.01.2022 It’s budget time. Again, we are faced with needing to find millions of dollars of cuts and savings in a budget that has nothing to give. It’s not going to be pretty. For a number of years we have been fighting off cuts to services but now it's a matter of survival. If you look at the draft budget you will see cuts to tourism and events, cuts to the art gallery, cuts to Quad programming, cuts to roads, cuts, cuts, cuts, and more cuts. It's heart breaking. Like all organisation...Continue reading

12.01.2022 RECYCLING & RECOVERY CENTRE OPENING HOURS A reminder about the new operating hours at the Recycling & Recovery Centre due to COVID-19. It is open Monday to Fri...day between 8am and 3pm and Saturday between 9am and 4pm. It is closed on Sundays. Residents will not be able to access the centre outside these times. We are accepting general and green waste (fees apply) and recycling such as cardboard, paper, glass, plastics and aluminium (free).

10.01.2022 Folks there are a couple of important items on public exhibition at the moment and I really encourage you to have a look and make a submission: Waste & Recycling Strategy; Rural Tourism Survey; Nimbin Development Control Plan Review; Lismore Laneways; and Climate Resilience Policy. These are significant matters for Council and for our community. Have a look at and make your submission at https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/

09.01.2022 It's been a tricky project to get back up and running with some significant engineering works required but now it's open it's a great section of path to ride!

08.01.2022 July 30, 2020 Emergency Leaders for Climate Action today launched the Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan, a series of 165 recommendations for more effective bushfire readiness, response, and recovery. The Former Commissioner for Fire and Rescue NSW, Greg Mullins, said many different agencies, professions and groups came together to put the plan together.... The common theme was we must have action on climate change, as the world warms the disasters are going to get worse, Mr Mullins said. The weather conditions could not have occurred without climate change and it’s driving climate disasters we can’t cope with. Lismore City Councillor Elly Bird supported the inquiry, especially the recommendations assisting communities by giving them the resources to prepare and recover from natural disasters in ways to best serve their regions. With adequate funding being put into community initiatives, there’s enough interest and engagement in building community resilience so we can enable communities to take leadership in this space, Cr Bird said. We can’t take a nationwide or statewide approach for any particular initiatives; we need to resource local communities to implement the projects they know will support them in future.

08.01.2022 This Sunday the Lismore Carboot Markets. return - Covid safe and in a temporary location at the Showgrounds. I'm looking forward to getting out there!

07.01.2022 Last night in the second part of our April meeting Council voted to reduce CBD rates by 20% and spread that cost across other rating categories except farmland. This will see a minor rise for those categories with an average saving of $1700 for CBD properties. I would have preferred to see a 50% reduction given current circumstances and the disparity between CBD rates and other rating categories but there wasn't enough support to do that. We also moved some grant funding int...o this years budget so that we can get moving with our CBD revitalisation funding. This funding will see Council develop a business plan and cost analysis around moving the Council back down to the CBD which, if it is viable will bring more people into the CBD, boosting the local economy. Grant funds will also be spent on improving the laneways and really boosting them as a feature of the CBD; developing a pedestrian spine from City Hall to the river; and a grant program for CBD property owners to improve their facades to help make the CBD look better or adapt their premises for better flood recovery. We approved projects to be funded under a number of Drought and Bushfire Recovery programs including upgrading evacuation centres at the Lismore and Nimbin Showgrounds; water storage for fighting fires around Nimbin; turnarounds on narrow roads in the Nimbin area; contribution to teleconferencing at RFS HQ; training for farmers in Natural Sequence Farming and developing a measurement process for projects; an adverse events plan and a solar car charging facility. These follow my motion last week in the first part of the meeting to call for increased grant opportunities and support for Councils as we continue to grapple with Covid-19.

06.01.2022 COUNCIL MEETING STREAMED LIVE Our Council meetings are now held virtually due to COVID-19. Tonight’s April meeting will be streamed live from 6pm on our website... www.lismore.nsw.gov.au Members of the public who want to address the meeting can do so via phone. Community members can speak for up to four minutes on any agenda item included in the Business Paper. To be included in the public access session, please complete the form here www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp and return to [email protected] We ask for people’s patience and understanding as we trial this new method of Public Access made necessary by COVID-19.

05.01.2022 If anyone at home is eagerly waiting for our online council meeting to start we are having tech issues hopefully they will be sorted out soon!

05.01.2022 Pleased to see this ambitious renewables plan launched yesterday by the NSW government! https://www.smh.com.au//nsw-s-ambitious-plan-to-become-ren

03.01.2022 A great opportunity here for businesses to do important flood proofing work! There are some great examples out there of innovative and easy pack up and lifting solutions. I'm looking forward to seeing what people are able to do with the funds.

01.01.2022 Today is R U OK Day. With this year throwing more challenges at us than we have seen in a long time - more than in my life time at least, it is so important to support each other. Let's have honest conversations and look after each other. Reach out if you are struggling and if you need help, you can find someone who will listen to you, to help you find a way through. Lifeline 131114 Beyond Blue 1800 512 348