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Byron Shire
September 29, 2026

Latest news

Mia and Carter continue in dad’s footsteps

When Grant Cook died in a tragic rugby league accident in 2016, the Cookie Cup began as a memorial match between the Mullumbimby Giants, who he played for from U6s, and the Murwillumbah Mustangs.

Ballina debates dog parks and net zero

September's meeting opened with a minute's silence for much-loved community member and Lennox Head restaurant owner Blake Rogers, who lost his life last week.

Upgrade to deliver safer road and new native trees

Tweed Shire Council says Old Lismore Road will be upgraded to improve safety and restore local rainforest habitat.

Climate 200 wants YOU!

Climate 200 is putting their money where their independents are and last Friday their latest ‘kitchen table’ event included hundreds of supporters at the A&I Hall in Bangalow.

ReSolve Global: making renewable energy truly sustainable

The Northern Rivers has enthusiastically embraced rooftop solar since it was invented. Now a locally established initiative is tackling the other end of the problem: what happens when the panels come down?

Mandy Nolan

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Lets Talk About Dementia

This week is Dementia Action Week. Some of its purposes are to raise awareness, reduce stigma and build understanding. We don’t talk about dementia because it scares us.

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

Richmond RiverFest returns to Ballina on World Rivers Day

This spring, the Richmond River comes alive with a month-long celebration of culture, community, and Country as Richmond RiverFest 2026 runs from 27 September to 24 October.

Ten plays. Ten minutes. You decide.

What can happen in ten minutes? A retirement village might need a child. A cat could outsmart its human.

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.

Neglecting Australians, and our international commitments, for big business

‘We’ve had one policy; we landed it, a 2030 target of 43 per cent, net zero by 2050, both of them legislated’, said Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, on 10 June, 2024.

Democracy does not equal liberalism

In recent years, democracy seems to be taking sides. In political commentary, opinion columns, or even conversations with friends, after each major election, there appears to be a preferred ‘democratic’ candidate.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Anthony Albanese’s recent performance on the world stage in New York was a breathtaking piece of rhetorical acrobatics.

Featured

Australia’s .au domain just cracked the global top ten

When Verisign published its latest Domain Name Industry Brief for the first quarter of 2026, one line in the country-code rankings stood out.

NSW flicks the switch to turn on massive battery

One of the world’s most powerful batteries, the Waratah Super Battery, is now fully operational and helping to deliver reliable energy to NSW homes and businesses.

Ballina debates dog parks and net zero

September's meeting opened with a minute's silence for much-loved community member and Lennox Head restaurant owner Blake Rogers, who lost his life last week.

360 charges laid, 102 weapons seized

Police have charged more 150 people with more than 360 alleged offences following a two-day blitz across the state last week.

Letters

Deaths from military conflict

Whilst the Mullumbimby RSL Sub-Branch acknowledges the death of Zomi Francom as tragic, so too are the deaths of...

Jo Immig’s article

I am looking at Jo Immig’s article in last week’s Echo, where she said the reasons human have been...

Appalling leadership

While the PM spins and avoids transparency and the foreign minister prefers to yell abuse to take up time...

Good governance

How we work with community matters. Two items at Thursday’s Council meeting cut to the heart of that relationship:...

Cartoon of the week – 23 September, 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.

Ill-gotten gains

As the American President Trump stuffs up the world and stuffs his pockets with money, Australia’s homegrown hard-right-wing, Trump-loving...

Local News

Shark drone operator rescues six-year-old at Lighthouse Beach

A shark surveillance drone operator at Ballina’s Lighthouse Beach has found himself carrying out a very different kind of rescue after spotting a six-year-old boy struggling in the surf.

Kings Forest seeks wider bulk-earthworks area

The developer behind the massive Kings Forest housing project near Kingscliff is seeking permission to expand the area where bulk earthworks can take place and remove an existing restriction on the amount of ground that can be exposed at one time.

Upgrade to deliver safer road and new native trees

Tweed Shire Council says Old Lismore Road will be upgraded to improve safety and restore local rainforest habitat.

Broken Head teen makes surfing history at just 13

Most 13-year-olds would be happy just to make an under-18 world final. Two weeks ago Broken Head surfer Leihani Zoric took out the whole thing.

Current Print Edition

Appalling leadership

While the PM spins and avoids transparency and the...

Nationwide Olympics

A 2032 Olympics update: Queensland’s credit rating has been...

SRV and traffic lights

Amongst the many correspondents understandably aghast at a second...

Community rallies in support of Bangalow Bowlo

Over 1,000 people rallied on Saturday in support of the Bangalow Bowlo and returning it to community hands, 11 months after Norths Collective closed the Bowlo.

Sport

2026 annual Senior Basketball Carnival

The 13th annual Senior Basketball Carnival was held last week, 11 to 13 September...

Byron takes top spots in Sydney’s U16 Bridge to Beach

Three young surf lifesavers from Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club (BBSLSC) have produced an...

Byron Netball finishes epic season on a high

Buffy Gall Byron Bay Netball Club has wrapped up an outstanding season with premiership glory,...

All the results from the 2026 Chinny Charge

After another epic race on the one day of the year Mullum's iconic Mount Chincogan opens to the public, here are the complete results of the 2026 Chinny Charge.

Good Life

Byron Farmers Market is growing young farmers

Last year Byron Farmers Market launched a Young Farmer Sponsorship Program to support and...

Cin cin to Spritz-ember at Pixie

Prawn linguine and a $13 spritz? Say less. All month long, Pixie Italian is celebrating...

Spring by the glass at Bar Heather

Spring has a way of coaxing us all back out into the world. In...

Fresh from the boat to the farmers’ market

Allie Godfrey When it comes to seafood, freshness is everything, and at JJ Seafood, the...
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Glance back
Something from the last seven days

Council explores future for Brunswick flood housing village

Byron Shire Council is exploring options to keep the 58-home temporary housing village at Brunswick Heads operating after the NSW Government’s flood-housing program ends.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Lets Talk About Dementia

This week is Dementia Action Week. Some of its purposes are to raise awareness, reduce stigma and build understanding. We don’t talk about dementia because it scares us.

Ill-gotten gains

As the American President Trump stuffs up the world...