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Latest News
Disaster recovery needs to meet children’s needs: report
Children and young people living in the region’s temporary emergency pod villages have been exposed to community and domestic violence, drug-affected residents, and arguments between neighbours, a year long study has found.
Other News
Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Reach Beyond
One in 12 people over 65 are living with dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease, but is a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with doing everyday activities. It’s actually no longer called dementia, but Major Neurocognitive Disorder (MND).
Floodplains, drainage
I understand the owners of floodplain land wanting to fill and develop for money, and who work secretly with...
Water meter outrage
The Echo’s article about the Rous County Council (RCC) water meter flowback prevention device was very timely. We are...
Demands for increased housing in Byron Shire raise significant concerns for CABS
Serious concerns have been raised over the Byron Shire Residential Strategy 2041 by the 12 Byron Shire-wide associations that make up Community Alliance for Byron Shire (CABS).
Tweed hospital and playgrounds welcomed
State Labor politicians have officially welcomed two upgraded playgrounds and a new hospital built in the Tweed Shire.
Goonengerry residents still impacted by 2022 landslide
Residents awaiting the completion of the Federal Drive reconstruction have highlighted the impacts of losing connections to the hinterland...
Stories about "bushfires":
Tyagarah fire op downscaled as local crews join Tabulam fight
Firefighting operations in the Tyagarah nature reserve near the Byron Arts and Industry Estate have significantly down-sized, owing mostly to more dangerous fires elsewhere in the region.
Properties destroyed in Northern Rivers fires
Firefighters in Tabulam and Nymboida, southwest of Lismore, are hoping today’s cooler weather will help work on containing several large fires in the region.
Brunswick/Byron fire update
Due to overnight rain on the Bayshore Drive fireground, the fire between Brunswick Heads and Byron Bay has been downgraded to PATROL status, with responsibility returning to local crews.
How to avoid setting your political pants on fire
While in opposition, Anthony Albanese was endlessly critical of Scott Morrison's inaction over the climate emergency, and his lack of meaningful support for Australians as they faced unprecedented bushfires and other calamities. So, does our current prime minister hold a hose, and if so, does it contain petrol or water?
Local legend awarded for her work with Red Cross
Kerrie Gray has recently received a Medal of the Order of Australia and is also Ballina Shire's newest Senior Citizen of the Year. She met The Echo in Alstonville to talk about the ongoing crises facing our region, and what everyone can do to help.
NSW Forestry challenged over failed forestry practices in precedent-setting case
What makes bushfires worse, causes native species collapse and creates forest dieback?
Commitment awards given to local firefighters
Recognising the commitment, risk and efforts put in by local volunteers during the unprecedented 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires, 164 local Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers from the Far North Coast District were recently recognised.
Community carers and responders program launched
Following the recent second anniversary of the bushfires that hit our region, Resilient Byron say they are proud to announce the beginning of their...
Fire trail inspections by land and by air
To help mitigate the devastation of bushfires, helicopter aerial inspections of fire trails on Crown land have been conducted along the North Coast in preparation for the 2021/2022 season.
Bush Fire Danger Period in place for most of NSW
New South Wales Rural Fire Service are reminding residents that all but nine local government areas of NSW will be in the bush fire season from tomorrow as the recent wet weather continues to build on grass fire concerns.
National News
Nationwide marches for forests this weekend
On Sunday 24 March people from across Australia will march to call for an end to native forest logging. Bob Brown Foundation’s nationwide March for Forests is calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to end native forest logging and securely protect native forests.
Local News
Lights will always be on at Main Arm’s Kohinur Hall
After being badly damaged during the 2022 floods, the much-loved Kohinur Hall is once again starting to live up to its reputation for being the arts and cultural hub of the Main Arm community.
Byron Echo
2022 flood doco screening March 21
In March 2022, not-for-profits Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) and Holding Hands Under Ground (HHUG) joined forces to respond to the catastrophic floods that devastated the Northern Rivers community.
Local News
Purple Day is coming, for epilepsy awareness
David Lowe - 0
More than 250,000 Australians are living with epilepsy. Lennox Head's Katie Gatland sat down with the Echo to help everyone better understand what Purple Day and epilepsy awareness is all about.