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Local NewsThe Echo - December 12, 20250

Lismore council hold final 2025 meeting – what was voted on?

Some of the big items voted upon at Lismore City Council’s last meeting of the year on December 9 included reaffirming their position on water security, as well as finalising their Property Portfolio Strategy, which includes plans to relocate Council staff into the food-prone CBD.

Local NewsThe Echo - December 12, 20250

Wanted man arrested in Ballina

A man faced court on Thursday (yesterday) charged with 36 offences following a police operation.

Local NewsThe Echo - December 12, 20250

WAVE to hit stage tonight

The 25th anniversary of Wearable Arts at Shearwater will be held tonight and tomorrow, with the theme, Runway Gods.

Local NewsThe Echo - December 12, 20250

New containment rules for deadly white spot syndrome

New control orders have been announced for white spot syndrome, which is a highly lethal and contagious viral infection which can kill prawns and other crustaceans within days.

Local NewsThe Echo - December 12, 20250

Gamilaroi artist fundraiser Dec 19

The Murwillumbah community is invited to come together on Friday 19 December from 6pm at the M|Arts Precinct for a special fundraising event to support Kelly Tierney, a respected Gamilaroi artist, mother, grandmother, and long-time cultural leader.

Mandy Nolan

Byron EchoMandy Nolan - December 10, 20250

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Don’t Ban Kids, Ban Billionaires

From 10 December, in Australia, under-16s are banned from social media. I’m not convinced that this is the cure-all safety response that the government wants us to believe it is. It’s a simple solution for what is a much bigger problem.

General Interest

National NewsAslan Shand - September 16, 20250

As report highlights dangerous climate warning for Australia IPC rejects reopening Redbank Power Station

The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has rejected Verdant Earth Technologies’ biomass power plans at Redbank Power Station on the same day the government released the country's first National Climate Risk Assessment which highlighted Australians are at risk from more frequent and severe flooding, cyclones, heatwaves, droughts and bushfires.

National NewsEve Jeffery - July 25, 20252

The Living Lab helping researchers get to net zero

The CSIRO has launched the National Energy Analysis Centre – which is vital new research infrastructure to support, accelerate and de-risk Australia’s complex energy transition.  

Local NewsThe Echo - April 23, 202524

Activists occupy Forestry Corp building

Eight women from around northern NSW have attached themselves to the entrance and rooftop of the Forestry Corporation’s office in Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour.

Entertainment

Entertainment NewsThe Echo - December 2, 20250

Screenworks’ big two-five

Screenworks is a Northern Rivers homegrown not-for-profit that supports regional filmmakers in bringing regional Australian voices to screens everywhere – they are celebrating their special milestone, 25 years, with a free-entry community party on Monday, December 8 at the Brunswick Picture House – the event will feature the Docker River Band (DRB).

Entertainment NewsThe Echo - December 2, 20250

Babe Rainbow

Much-loved local band, Babe Rainbow, delivered their sixth album earlier this year, and they’re back in town to give you another little live taste of Slipper imp and shakaerator – which is a suite of maverick, zephyr-light, acid pop following its own North Star and chasing subtle, slippery, subterranean grooves to delirious destinations.

Retrospective

Articles & ColumnsDavid Lovejoy - August 16, 20181

The end of fun: David Lovejoy concludes the story of the The Echo’s early years

While the drama of general manager Max Eastcott’s departure was playing out, The Echo passed its tenth birthday, and we marked the jubilee with a fourth awards night.

Local News

WAVE to hit stage tonight

The 25th anniversary of Wearable Arts at Shearwater will be held tonight and tomorrow, with the theme, Runway Gods.

The Echo - December 12, 2025 0

Local News

Comedy, fitness, shackles, and murder

Years ago, I heard a comedian tell a squirming funny/not funny story about two guys from Mullum in the pub joined by Garth from Byron. When the latter goes to get a drink the Mullum lads discuss how much they hate people from Byron.

David Heilpern - December 11, 2025 0

Byron Echo

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Don’t Ban Kids, Ban Billionaires

Mandy Nolan - December 10, 2025 0

Featured

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Local News

Gamilaroi artist fundraiser Dec 19

The Echo - December 12, 2025 0

Local News

Byron skydivers part of first-ever national skydiving strike

Aslan Shand - December 12, 2025 0

Byron based skydiving instructors went on strike last Friday,which continued into Saturday, joining seven other strike sites across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.

Local News

As if Christmas isn’t already too much fun

The Echo - December 11, 2025 0

The Versace Boys and Hotmess have been cooking up a Christmas show that’s dedicated to pint-sized legends and their families. Will Henderson (one half of the Versace Boys) calls it, ‘The funnest family day out of the year! We are heading to Federal Hall on 20 December at 2pm to kick the silly season into gear.

Synthetic convenience

Byron Echo Sapoty Brook, Main Arm - December 13, 2025 0

We are standing at the precipice of a global neurological emergency – one born of our own synthetic convenience. Microplastics...

Housing insecurity

Byron Echo Catherine Perversi , Mullumbimby - December 11, 2025 0

In response to James Blacket’s letter in The Echo (3 December), addressing the future of the Mullum Hospital site’s...

Locals: out of the way!

Byron Echo Jan Hackett, Byron Bay - December 10, 2025 0

So Byron Shire Council has moved a step closer to trialling a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP), despite almost halving...

Wallum shout out

Byron Echo Phoebe Havyatt, Byron Bay - December 11, 2025 0

A big shout out to the panel of excellent speakers and their areas of expertise at the Wallum presentation...

Mullumbimby poem

Byron Echo Rex Miyakota, age 10 - Huonbrook - December 13, 2025 0

It feels so nice, To sip some ice, In Mullum on a hot summer’s day. Though you may dismay, When your keys go...

Cartoon of the week – 10 December, 2025

Cartoons The Echo - December 10, 2025 0

The Echo loves your letters and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, send us your epistles.

Virtual fencing legislated by NSW govt

A new ‘AgTech’ option to manage livestock via collars or neck bands that use GPS technology has been announced, with the NSW Government saying it will enable farmers to ‘better manage their stock and to side-step the cost of hard fencing’.

Local News The Echo - December 12, 2025 0