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Byron Shire
September 28, 2026

Latest news

Coercive control incidents rise across Northern Rivers

Recorded incidents of coercive control have increased across the Northern Rivers in the second year of NSW’s new coercive control laws, with 30 incidents recorded in the Richmond-Tweed region since the offence came into effect.

New laws set to influence local live music scene

New NSW laws designed to support live music venues have been passed months after Byron Shire Council abandoned plans for a Special Entertainment Precinct in Byron Bay.

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.

Red alert issued for potentially toxic algae at Lake Ainsworth

People are being warned to stay out of Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head after testing detected high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae.

Volunteer for Bruns-Byron VRA

VRA Brunswick-Byron is inviting adults across Byron Shire to join the local volunteer rescue team during a recruitment campaign running during September.

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.

Coercive control incidents rise across Northern Rivers

Recorded incidents of coercive control have increased across the Northern Rivers in the second year of NSW’s new coercive control laws, with 30 incidents recorded in the Richmond-Tweed region since the offence came into effect.

The second algorithm: why government control is the wrong fix

It is not often that a minister describes the most sweeping power she has ever asked for with the words 'I guess'.

Does Byron’s bum look too big?

Byron Shire Council charges more for residential rates, farmland rates, water, sewer, and waste when compared to Ballina, Lismore, Clarence and Richmond shires. Only Byron’s business rates are lower.

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.

New laws set to influence local live music scene

New NSW laws designed to support live music venues have been passed months after Byron Shire Council abandoned plans for a Special Entertainment Precinct in Byron Bay.

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.

Red alert issued for potentially toxic algae at Lake Ainsworth

People are being warned to stay out of Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head after testing detected high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae.

Letters

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.

60-day cap?

Where is the enforcement of Byron Shire’s 60-day Airbnb cap? During the community debate over short-term holiday letting in Byron...

Appalling leadership

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

Nationwide Olympics

A 2032 Olympics update: Queensland’s credit rating has been downgraded from AA+ to AA by S&P Global Ratings (Standard...

Trump corruption

The swamp of corruption surrounding the Trump administration makes its predecessor’s shenanigans in Ukraine look like amateur hour. Trump’s...

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...

Local News

Measles alert after infectious traveller visits Northern Rivers locations

Health authorities have issued a measles alert after a confirmed case visited eight locations across Byron, Ballina and Pottsville while infectious.

Michelle Bailey targets net zero in Ballina

Fresh from winning pre-selection as the Nationals candidate for the state seat of Ballina, the 'independent' first-term Ballina councillor Michelle Bailey has put forward a notice of motion asking Council to scrap its fixed 2030 net-zero target in favour of what she describes as a 'flexible sustainability strategy'.

Red alert issued for potentially toxic algae at Lake Ainsworth

People are being warned to stay out of Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head after testing detected high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae.

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.

Current Print Edition

Swap the classroom for the trenches?

History teachers from the Northern Rivers are being encouraged...

Volunteer for Bruns-Byron VRA

VRA Brunswick-Byron is inviting adults across Byron Shire to join the local volunteer rescue team during a recruitment campaign running during September.

The Whitlams Return to Rock Island

The Whitlams are coming to the Hotel Brunswick on Friday, 2 October for the first show of the Return to Rock Island tour. The band is revisiting its favourite rock venues down the East Coast, where long, sweaty nights formed the bedrock of The Whitlams’ reputation as a memorable force in the Australian live music scene.

Good governance

How we work with community matters. Two items at...

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

Measles alert after infectious traveller visits Northern Rivers locations

Health authorities have issued a measles alert after a confirmed case visited eight locations across Byron, Ballina and Pottsville while infectious.

Byron Ballet’s 20th Anniversary Nutcracker

After a successful season performing with the Victorian State Ballet in Beauty and the Beast, dancers from the Byron Youth Ballet Company are preparing to take the stage once more – this time for their own production of The Nutcracker.

60-day cap?

Where is the enforcement of Byron Shire’s 60-day Airbnb...