NSW State Parliament recognises the importance of Pan Community Council within the current housing crisis.
Introduced to Parliament by State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin.
There is an powerful story of community connectivity to this recognition as significant as having a free monthly newspaper aligned to the vibrant communities of the Northern Rivers of NSW.
Janelle’s letter was sent to the historical postal address of Pan Community Council, a post office box at the Nimbin post office. As the original Pan Community Council was winding up in late 1996 the Post Office box was relinquished.
Being a engaged local service the Nimbin Post Office went that one step further to find out how to contact the revived Pan Communities Council to advise we had snail mail.
Naturally this all took time, the public Nimbin town hall meeting was on Sunday 23rd February, the GoodTimes newspaper article was in the March Velvet Leaf edition, the postal delivery was the 27th of August and now it’s a month later that Pan Community Council can share knowledge of this recognition.
Other related GoodTimes articles
Content of Janelle’s statement
Hansard record Date Wed 06 May 2026 (20260506-001316)
PANCOM SET FOR RETURN
Ms JANELLE SAFFIN (Lismore—Minister for Small Business, Minister for Recovery, and Minister for the North Coast)—I WELCOME news that moves are afoot to relaunch the Pan Community Council (PanCom), a regional network connecting intentional and land-sharing communities across the Northern Rivers. The Nimbin Good Times newspaper ran a front page story in its March edition where Myles Beaufort reported on a public town hall meeting at Nimbin Town Hall in late February. Following groups discussions and a collective reflection on current challenges facing communities, more than 35 attendees unanimously voted to restart PanCom. A further 35 or more sent their apologies but want to remain informed and involved. According to Myles, participants identified a number of common issues, including housing affordability, pathways for younger people to live within communities, governance, and supporting older residents to age in place. Several attendees shared practical solutions already being developed within communities, including low-cost, environmentally sustainable housing models such as off-grid tiny homes and co-operative living structures designed to improve affordability and resilience. The town hall meeting was followed by a social gathering after the Nimbin markets in late March and work has begun on establishing a website and online forum. These communities continue to contribute positively to our way of life in the region.