27.2 C
Byron Shire
September 2, 2026

Latest news

Byron’s beachfront playgrounds could be about to get serious

For generations of Byron kids, a trip to Main Beach has meant sand, waves, ice cream and, if they were lucky, a quick skip through the playground.

$304m Clarrie Hall Dam raising clears major hurdle

The Tweed’s $304 million plan to more than double the capacity of Clarrie Hall Dam has cleared a major planning hurdle, as the region races to secure enough water for its growing population.

Knife and saw allegedly seized after Ballina airport security breach

A man accused of forcing his way into a restricted area at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport before allegedly assaulting a police officer will face court this week.

Refugee story comes home to Federal

A story which began with a $200 donation and a two-room refugee school in Indonesia will arrive at Federal Hall this month, accompanied by two of the people who helped bring it to life.

Celebrating 120 years of the Billinudgel Pub

The Billinudgel Pub has stood its ground through floods, fires and more for the last 120 years and the unveiling of three recreated historic mirrors on the front verandah last Friday kicked off the celebrations.

Mandy Nolan

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Warning: Choking Hazard

There is no safe way of choking someone.

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

Sex Drugs and Handrails

The near sell-out show Sex Drugs and Handrails (Stiff in all the wrong places!) has added an extra show for Sunday, 23 August that will raise funds for refugee settlement in the Northern Rivers.

Sydney Film Festival highlights in Lismore

Following the highest selling film festival in its history,...

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.

Byron’s beachfront playgrounds could be about to get serious

For generations of Byron kids, a trip to Main Beach has meant sand, waves, ice cream and, if they were lucky, a quick skip through the playground.

Lessons from Secret Harbour

Held by Labor since 1989, Pauline Hanson's One Nation has comfortably won the Western Australian state lower house seat of Secret Harbour in Saturday's by-election, sending shockwaves across the country.

Honeyeaters of the Wallum

To the untrained eye, Wallum might appear to be a chaotic tangle of vegetation intersected here and there by foot-made pathways through the sandy soil. But this surface view belies the intricate and complex web of life woven over epochs.

Featured

$304m Clarrie Hall Dam raising clears major hurdle

The Tweed’s $304 million plan to more than double the capacity of Clarrie Hall Dam has cleared a major planning hurdle, as the region races to secure enough water for its growing population.

Knife and saw allegedly seized after Ballina airport security breach

A man accused of forcing his way into a restricted area at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport before allegedly assaulting a police officer will face court this week.

Refugee story comes home to Federal

A story which began with a $200 donation and a two-room refugee school in Indonesia will arrive at Federal Hall this month, accompanied by two of the people who helped bring it to life.

Letters

Given up the ghost

We are informed that Byron Shire Council (BSC) has, in a sense, ‘given up the ghost’.  It has run...

Time for a bed tax

Bed tax. No rate rise. Tax the tourists. No rate rise. Tax the tourists. Insert plausible argument here to...

Cartoon of the week – 26 August, 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.

Gambling advertising

I watch The Voice Australia and Australian Idol, not for the hype and competition but to see the performances...

Proposed rate rises Byron Shire Council

In yesterday’s mail on 18 August I received a letter/brochure from Byron Shire Council (BSC) dated 11 August titled...

Being un conscious

There is a general belief that consciousness is an entity in itself or something that is non-physical. I don’t...

Local News

New film society for Murwillumbah

In exciting news for lovers of fine cinema across the Northern Rivers, the Regent Film Society has just launched at Murwillumbah's historic Regent Cinema.

Mullumbimby puts new governance models first, and now wants to build it

Imagine Northern Rivers says Mullumbimby is the only community across the region to rank new models of governance and decision-making as the number one element of its preferred future, and last week locals gathered to work out how to make it real.

Accident near Coraki

Around 9.30am yesterday (Sunday 30 August), a Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance to a motor vehicle accident at Coraki, south of Lismore.

Two charged over alleged Ballina machete attack

A man and woman have been charged after a 22-year-old man was allegedly attacked with a machete in central Ballina on Sunday night.

Current Print Edition

Mullum CWA celebrates 100 years

The Mullumbimby Country Women’s Association has played a pivotal role in the local community for the last 100 years.

Editorial – Drug-checking saves lives

No-one would tolerate killing six teenagers with methanol-laced alcohol in Australia, as occurred recently in Laos. But in Australia, you can’t check your drugs to see if they’re safe.

Rail trail future

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) represents one of...

Byron Bay Public School presents:

The Great School Art Show Off! – Byron Bay Public School invites the community to celebrate creativity at a spectacular afternoon of art, music, dance and community spirit on Wednesday, 9 September from 4pm to 6pm.

Sport

Mullum Gold Club charity day Saturday

This Saturday, 29 August  the Mullumbimby Golf Club (MGC) is hosting its rescheduled MND (Motor Neurone Disease) Charity Day in honour of Steve Ryan.

Ocean Shores golf winners

The Ocean Shores division one team won the clubs first ever NRDGA division one pennant flag.

A hole in one!

Mullumbimby Golf Club’s Cody Watego get a hole in one.

Ale Imamura brings second Pan Kids Jiu Jitsu win home

At just 12-years-old, Byron Bay Jiu Jitsu athlete Ale Imamura has brought another major international title home after being crowned 2026 IBJJF Pan Kids Champion in Orlando, Florida.

Good Life

In The Pink is now … PINK

After 38 years of ‘In The Pink Byron Bay’ it's time for an exciting change. This local family business is welcoming a new chapter with a complete renovation of the shop and a rebrand to ‘PINK’.

School lunchbox inspiration

Forget the soggy sandwich and packaged snack – some of our local school kids are showing us just how exciting a healthy lunchbox can be.

No food fraud at the farmers’ market

Food fraud has made headlines recently after an investigation by ABC program Four Corners found the issue is rampant in major supermarket aisles in Australia.

Perk up, Byron – spring is coming

Winter is on its way out, and The Roadhouse is throwing open the precinct to celebrate.
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Glance back
Something from the last seven days

Safer roads for North Coast

Richmond MP Justine Elliot has announced that the Albanese government is delivering more than $4.6 million in federal funding from the 2026-27 Black Spot Program to improve road safety at four sites across the North Coast.

Swain on Station St

This morning at Ocean Shores Shopping Centre, a lovely...

Call to keep Bangalow Showgrounds in community hands

The Bangalow Park Trust, a volunteer community group that have successfully run the Bangalow Showgrounds since at least the 1950s, say they just want to get on with managing the showgrounds and don’t want Byron Shire Council to take over their role.