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Byron Shire
November 7, 2026

Latest news

Third person dies after Suffolk Park crash

A 70-year-old woman has died in hospital after a three-vehicle crash at Suffolk Park last weekend, bringing the death toll to three.

NSW commits $3 million for Saddle Road sewer link

The NSW Government will spend $3 million on a sewer link for the Saddle Road housing precinct near Brunswick Heads, a connection it says could service up to 600 residential lots.

Blacks Drain crossing fully reopens after $2.56 million rebuild

The Blacks Drain crossing on Tweed Valley Way at South Murwillumbah has fully reopened after a $2.56 million rebuild designed to reduce the risk of another washout.

From Spinifex Country to Lismore for a $23,000 art prize

In Michelle Anderson’s Kanpala, circles of red, orange and yellow bring a place in Western Australia’s Spinifex Country into view. It’s a place she returns to often in paint: Kanpa, the Country where her grandmother was born.

Work starts on eight-lane athletics track in Lismore

Construction has begun on an eight-lane athletics track at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus, giving Northern Rivers schools and clubs a competition-standard venue closer to home when it opens in mid-2027.

Mandy Nolan

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Don’t scrape

The arts are an essential industry. We need artists as much as we need accountants. We need dancers as much as we need doctors. We need comedians as much as we need civil engineers. We need filmmakers as much as we need financial planners. We need musicians as much as we need ministers.

Mangroves are crucial

A global study of mangroves has found a modest boost in conserved area could significantly increase their ability to adapt to the changing climate, including rising sea levels.

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. 

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.  

Entertainment

Something for everyone at the Picture House

From Australian superstar musos, to brand new documentaries, to comedians at the top of their game, there really is something for everyone at the Brunswick Picture House.

Thirty-six unmissable films

The 2026 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival features an unmissable line up 36 films, including five retrospectives which will screen from 28 October to 29 November at Palace Byron Bay and Ballina Cinemas.

Retrospective

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.

Third person dies after Suffolk Park crash

A 70-year-old woman has died in hospital after a three-vehicle crash at Suffolk Park last weekend, bringing the death toll to three.

Shoebridge goes into the belly of the beast

In his first address to the National Press Club, federal Greens leader David Shoebridge confronted many of those who have done their best to demolish what he stands for, and came out still standing.

Hold abusers to account equally

Izaac Lee Alford loves social media messages, and lives on his daddy’s cattle farm just out of Gympie, a lovely town where it only needs to sprinkle to be flooded. It has also for many years been One Nation central...

Featured

NSW commits $3 million for Saddle Road sewer link

The NSW Government will spend $3 million on a sewer link for the Saddle Road housing precinct near Brunswick Heads, a connection it says could service up to 600 residential lots.

Blacks Drain crossing fully reopens after $2.56 million rebuild

The Blacks Drain crossing on Tweed Valley Way at South Murwillumbah has fully reopened after a $2.56 million rebuild designed to reduce the risk of another washout.

From Spinifex Country to Lismore for a $23,000 art prize

In Michelle Anderson’s Kanpala, circles of red, orange and yellow bring a place in Western Australia’s Spinifex Country into view. It’s a place she returns to often in paint: Kanpa, the Country where her grandmother was born.

Letters

Money before trees

Remember back to not long ago when holiday parks were called caravan parks? Families from all walks of life...

We are our brains!

Our bodies are made up of various systems, organs, components, etc. With the evolution and application of scientific medical,...

Council’s special rates variation

There’s lots of noise about Byron Shire Council’s special rates variation (SRV) proposal, that would be additional to the...

Our rates, infrastructure and future

It’s time for our community to come together with purpose and demand accountability. Residents have legitimate questions about cumulative...

Cartoon of the week – 4 November, 2026

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.

Sentient care

Words can fail one. I am compelled to write and thank all of the remarkable, peaceful activists who maintained...

Local News

Ghouls just want to have fun

Brunswick Heads Public School just held another fantastic Halloween Fair to raise funds for the school, in a celebration of creativity, hard work and spookiness.

Lismore icon made homeless by NSW government

Well known Northern Rivers artist, musician and puppeteer Jimmy Willing is now living in a tent, having been evicted at short notice from the Joy Love Studio in North Lismore late last week.

Make Byron merry with some Christmas cheer

It is time to make Byron cheerful for Christmas and myou can join the fun with handmade bunting to decorate your shop windows and help make Byron shine this Christmas.

Byron proposes limits on putting residents’ personal information into AI

Byron Shire Council is proposing restrictions on entering residents’ personal and health information into artificial intelligence tools, with exceptions requiring an approved privacy assessment or the individual’s consent.

Current Print Edition

Walking the talk

Under the leadership of Labor’s Minister for the Environment,...

Byron surfing community gathers for positive change

On Sunday the community came together, with close to 200 people gathering at Clarkes Beach for a paddle out, and shore action, to raise their voices and say there are no more excuses for violence against women and girls.

Chumps: certain fools

I noticed in a recent edition of The Echo...

Editorial – Conceding to the people

We are all familiar with the shortcomings of government. Political leanings aside, who among us has not felt that corruption and lack of accountability exist in government bodies?

Sport

Locals heading to Jakarta for a padel

Three Northern Rivers junior tennis players, brothers Miles and Ollie and teammate Frankie, have...

Ballina Dragons conquer the Tweed again

For the second consecutive year, Ballina Dragon Boat Racing Club has won the 21 km 'Three Bridges Long Paddle' in a time of 1 hour 55 minutes 23 seconds.

Wingsuit pilot Chris Geiler is all about speed

Northern Rivers wingsuit pilot Chris Geiler has returned from the the sixth World Championships in Performance Wingsuit Flying held at Skydive Elsinore in California, with a win in the speed division.

Byron Bay wins Wallace Shield

For the past 63 years Byron Bay and Ballina lady golfers have had a fierce but friendly rivalry for the Wallace Shield. Even COVID couldn't spoil the party, although the competition was played with certain restrictions.

Good Life

A new season on the plate at The Imperial Hotel

As summer approaches, the Imperial Hotel in Murwillumbah has once again let the seasons shape what’s on the plate.

Stone fruit season has arrived!

There’s something special about biting into a perfectly ripe peach or nectarine, with juice running down your chin and the taste of summer in every mouthful. Stone fruit season is now underway, and local grower Rajesh Kumar is bringing a beautiful selection of fresh fruit to the farmers’ markets.

Byron’s Sunday Golden Hour

From Sunday, 1 November, Three Blue Ducks is launching Golden Hour at The Farm Byron Bay, with freshly shucked oysters, live music and happy hour drinks every Sunday afternoon.

Spring into summer with local Dorper Lamb

As we move from spring into summer, it’s time to fire up the barbecue, enjoy long lunches with family and friends, and make the most of fresh, local produce. I recently spoke with Warren from Boorabe Dorper Lamb about the different cuts of lamb and how to get the best out of them.
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Glance back
Something from the last seven days

Northern NSW hospitals fall short on emergency and mental-health targets

Fewer than half of Northern NSW emergency patients needing admission or transfer met a six-hour hospital access target in 2025–26, according to a health district review released yesterday.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Don’t scrape

The arts are an essential industry. We need artists as much as we need accountants. We need dancers as much as we need doctors. We need comedians as much as we need civil engineers. We need filmmakers as much as we need financial planners. We need musicians as much as we need ministers.

Call for Mel Davis to be permanent Byron Public principal

Parents at Byron Bay Public School (BBPS) have started a petition to ask the NSW Department of Education (DOE) to reconsider their decision to replace Acting Principal, Mel Davis, and to allow her to continue permanently as principal.