This morning Ballina Shire Council will hear a motion from Cr Steve McCarthy to remove the native macaranga tree from the list of approved species for planting by Ballina Council and local community groups.

This week we sadly publish the last of Mungo MacCallum’s puzzles. Before he died in 2020 Mungo compiled a large archive of crosswords for The Echo.

The euphemisms were flying when Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles announced last week that an extra $50 billion would be spent on our military over the next decade, and that $72.8 billion of already announced spending would be redirected.

This year’s Mullum Laneways Festival, to be held on May 4 and 5, promises to be a feast for the senses, set to captivate visitors of all ages. On Sunday, May 5 everyone is encouraged to immerse themselves in the heart of the Festival, as Burringbar Street is transformed into a vibrant tapestry of music, dance, art, and more.This is a free event, funded by local sponsorship and a gala fundraising event on Saturday, May 4.

The legendary Northern Hotel’s Backroom opens its doors to laughter when it welcomes The Byron Comedy Fest with eight big headline shows. With audiences packing out shows every year, Festival Directors Mel Coppin and Zara Noruzi have decided a new venue with increased capacity was in order. It also means the festival is an all-weather event – expect all your favourites!