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Latest News
New charitable funding round opens
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation’s first funding round for 2024 opens today, Tuesday 19 March, with more than $500,000 available for local community groups and charities with new and existing projects.
Other News
Water meter outrage
The Echo’s article about the Rous County Council (RCC) water meter flowback prevention device was very timely. We are...
Time to tape up
Could I suggest that all flood-affected residents in Mullumbimby turn up to the Byron Council chambers by 8.30am for...
Tech companies grilled on how they are tackling terror and violent extremism
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has issued legal notices to Google, Meta, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Telegram and Reddit requiring each company to report on steps they are taking to protect Australians from terrorist and violent extremist material and activity.
Cartoon of the week – 13 March, 2024
The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor.
Action needed on affordable housing and land banking say regional city Mayors
Regional Cities NSW mayors have called on the state government to take action on the worsening housing crisis outside of Sydney as they call for affordable housing and a way to stop developers land banking.
Floodplain Mullumbimby
Mullumbimby is a floodplain. Every time we have a heavy downpour I am up and down through the night,...
Stories about "steam weeding":
Byron mayor, GM in heated exchange over steam weeding
On the eve of council elections, a war of words has broken out between Byron mayor Simon Richardson and GM Ken Gainger over the Council’s steam weeding program, which the mayor allegedly said on radio had been ‘set up to fail’ by staff.
Byron GM responds to his critics
Ken Gainger, GM, Byron Shire Council. In a story labelled ‘Steam weeding trial steamrolled, says operator', you state that I had refused to explain why a chemical-free steam-weeding trial – operated by a contractor – is not being given the opportunity to produce the best outcomes.
Steam weeding trial ‘steamrolled’ says operator
Byron Shire Council is planning to buy steam weeding equipment for its staff to operate following a trial of the chemical-free method that the operator says was conducted in less than optimal conditions.
Weed issue shooting up
Iris Detenhoff, Mullumbimby. I spent seven years on a Byron Shire Council water advisory committee because I felt strongly about herbicide spraying in the shire. It was a great exercise and I learned much. Achieved? Not so much.
National News
Tech companies grilled on how they are tackling terror and violent extremism
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has issued legal notices to Google, Meta, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Telegram and Reddit requiring each company to report on steps they are taking to protect Australians from terrorist and violent extremist material and activity.
Local News
Ballina burnout workshops to support local community
The Northern Rivers community will have an opportunity to learn from leading burnout experts across March and April in a series of free workshops presented by Ballina Shire Council.
Science Goes Viral
How fungi and theatrical performance can tackle the problem of PFAS contamination
When scientists first discovered the chemistry of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, PFAS, in the 1930s, they didn’t know we’d be struggling to remove them from the environment and human bodies nearly a century later.
Byron Echo
Disaster recovery needs to meet children’s needs: report
Paul Bibby - 0
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.