BALLINA INTRODUCES NEW ROCK ANGLING LAWS - by Halden Boyd ROCK fishers are now required by law to wear a life jacket when fishing in the Ballina Shire. Anyone not wearing a certified lifejacket at high risk locations will receive an on the spot fine of $100 from the 1st July 2020. Ballina is one of five coastal N

FREE TAFE COURSES TO SUPPORT NSW IN PANDEMIC A SUITE of 21 fee-free TAFE NSW short courses are available online to assist anyone across the State who wants to upskill during the COVID-19 pandemic. State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the pandemic response has had a dramatic effect on communities and working l

MORE DELAYS AS VETERANS FORCED TO WAIT MONTHS FOR $250 TRAVEL CARD Veterans are again being left on the side of the road by the Nationals, with reports they will be forced to wait up to three months before they can apply for the Regional Seniors Travel Card. The Nationals had initially excluded pension-aged veterans

FLOOD WATCH BULLETIN 2 NSW Coast To The Lower Hunter Issued: Thursday 6th February 2020 at 12:20pm. What is happening MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR THE MID NORTH COAST Rainfall is expected to increase along the New South Wales Northern coast from Thursday, as a low pressure trough deepens in the area.

NEW GRAFTON BRIDGE CROSSING OPENS TO TRAFFIC The new bridge at Grafton opened to traffic today, improving traffic flow and supporting local economies in and around the riverside city. Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis said the $240 million NSW Government funded bridge would be a game changer for locals. “It can

Prime Minister and Premier address Rappville after bushfire disaster https://www.facebook.com/RichmondValleyCouncil/videos/692753474558449/

LEVEL THREE WATER RESTRICTIONS IN CASINO AND SURROUNDS We have had many people come in to the Heartland Magazine office asking do we know what the water restrictions mean and how much water can they use. Good question we thought, so we spoke to RV Council and have the information for the greater community Thank you

LISMORE ONE STEP CLOSER TO FLOOD FREE FUTURE A major effort to reduce the flood risk facing businesses and residents in Lismore has begun with Member for Lismore Thomas George, Nationals Candidate for Lismore Austin Curtin and Lismore City Council (LCC) Mayor Isaac Smith turning the first sod on Lismore’s flood miti

SANDBAGS AVAILABLE IN PREPERATION FOR CYCLONE OMA As the Northern Rivers continues to prepare for the effects of Tropical Cyclone Oma residents in the Tweed and Byron Shire Local Government Areas are being notified they are able to access sandbags to help in protecting their property. A Severe Weather Warning has bee

Cyclone Oma Prompts Severe Weather Warning A Severe Weather Warning has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for abnormally, high tides, damaging and hazardous surf, and damaging winds covering an area from Tweed Heads, south to Yamba as a result of Cyclone Oma. Abnormally high tides may cause sea water flooding

Go4Fun gives kids an active, healthy start to the year As families start preparing school uniforms and backpacks ready for going back to school, now is a good time to think about how to give kids a positive start to their school year. We all want our kids to be healthy, happy and active, but the common habits

NORPA TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE FOR PERFROMING ARTS Member for Lismore Thomas George and Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro and Nationals candidate for Lismore Austin Curtin have announced the Northern Rivers Performing Arts Centre(NORPA) has successfully secured $1.116 million as part of the sec

Second hay run heads to Collarenebri ONE hundred and twenty bales of hay will be heading west tomorrow, making their way to drought-stricken farmers in and around Collarenebri. This is the second drought convoy undertaken by Richmond Valley Council in partnership with local businesses. In August Richmond Valley, Ky

CORAKI WINS 2018 HEALTHY TOWN CHALLENGE The community of Coraki has taken out the title of the year’s healthiest town, Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis has announced. Mr Gulaptis said he was pleased to announce that Coraki, located in the heart of the Richmond Valley has won the Healthy Town Challenge, an initiative of

FUNDING BOOST FOR KEY COMMUNITY PROJECTS AT WOODBURN AND CORAKI Richmond Valley Council has welcomed $745,543 in funding from the NSW Government which will go towards the enhancement of sporting facilities at Woodburn’s recreation oval and further upgrades to the popular riverside precinct as well as the revitalisat

MEGA MILESTONE FOR WOOLGOOLGA TO BALLINA PACIFIC HIGHWAY UPGRADE The final link in the Pacific Highway upgrade is in its peak construction period, with more than 3300 jobs being delivered to finish the final stage of the project. Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey was joined by Federal Member f

CHRIS GULAPTIS WELCOMES VISIT BY NSW PREMIER TO CLARENCE VALLEY Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis said he was excited to have NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian visit the Clarence Valley on Saturday to not only announce funding for a new helipad at Maclean Hospital, but to soak up the atmosphere of Grafton’s Jacaran

NEW HOSPITAL HELIPAD FOR NORTHERN NSW Residents in Northern NSW will benefit from a new $750,000 helipad at Maclean District Hospital announced today, ensuring the rapid transfer of patients to hospitals. Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the new helipad would be delivered in th

MORE INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS AVAILABLE TO CLARENCE AND RICHMOND VALLEY NOT-FOR-PROFITS Clarence and Richmond Valley groups and clubs wanting to upgrade their assets have one more chance in 2018 to seek funding under the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government’s Infrastructure Grants program, Clarence Nationals MP Chris

DELIVERING POWER BILL RELIEF FOR NORTH COAST HOUSEHOLDS The NSW Government has announced $15 million in clean energy funding for a new solar program aimed at saving low-income households hundreds of dollars each year on their power bills. North Coast Nationals MPs Chris Gulaptis, Thomas George, Ben Franklin and Geo

CLARENCE AND RICHMOND VALLEY EVENT ORGANISERS URGED TO APPLY FOR FUNDING TO SHOWCASE LOCAL FESTIVALS The NSW Liberals and Nationals Government has opened applications to help showcase local events and local Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis is urging event organisers in the Clarence and Richmond valleys to apply. “The

POP THE QUESTION: R U OK DAY IS THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER Sadly, depression and despair are no strangers to the Clarence and Richmond Valleys and that is why Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis is encouraging locals to pop the question on R U OK Day, Thursday 13 September. “We have made strong progress on mental hea

RECORD FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR CLARENCE AND RICHMOND VALLEY LIBRARIES A new record $60 million investment from the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government in public libraries is terrific news for the Clarence and Richmond Valleys, according to Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis. “Both Councils had been seeking extr

Domestic and Family Violence Innovation Fund Round 2 Thirteen successful projects announced! Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Pru Goward, has today announced the successful projects from Round 2 of the Domestic and Family Violence Innovation Fund. In 2016, the NSW Government anno