12.1 C
Byron Shire
July 1, 2026

Latest news

Council keeps Lavertys Gap option alive despite mounting concerns

Byron Shire Council has voted to continue investigating the use of Lavertys Gap as a water supply for Mullumbimby despite staff advice that the scheme faces major regulatory hurdles, water quality concerns, and increasing costs.

Locals losing their homes for luxury $2.5m retirement flats

For Kerry Pauley and the six other remaining permanent residents at the Glen Villa Resort on Butler Street, Byron Bay, news of the luxury retirement village that has been proposed for the site at 80-86 Butler Street has been devastating.

A deeper dive into Gulgan Village’s affordable housing

If approved, Gulgan Village, proposed on the highway end of The Saddle Road across 37.9 hectares, could eventually (after a development application process) house up to 1,000 people in around 550 homes, ‘depending on the housing mix’ (source: Gulgan Village Civil Engineering Report).

South Murwillumbah drain works underway

Work is now underway on a major upgrade to the Blacks Drain crossing on Tweed Valley Way at South Murwillumbah. 

Former Paralympian loses critical NDIS support

Public support is being sought to help wheelchair-bound former Paralympic athlete gold medalist Tracy Barrell with her living expenses after an alleged National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) decision reduced her ability to be fed and assisted.

Mandy Nolan

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: When No Means MoNo

Pauline wants monoculture. No one really knows what she means. And we know that Pauline definitely doesn’t know what it means, she just knows it will create disturbance. So I’ve done a bit of a deep dive on what the mono might look like.

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

Floodland

Local filmmaker Darius Devas is bringing Floodland – winner of the Sustainable Futures Award at the Sydney Film Festival – to Mullumbimby, for one night only.

Less than 300 tickets left!

Following a sold-out inaugural event in 2025, Mullum Roots Festival returns bigger and bolder, taking over Mullumbimby with an expanded program, and an additional venue. The new space will host a Youth Battle Of The Bands and give more room for music lovers to gather, celebrate and connect.

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.

Council keeps Lavertys Gap option alive despite mounting concerns

Byron Shire Council has voted to continue investigating the use of Lavertys Gap as a water supply for Mullumbimby despite staff advice that the scheme faces major regulatory hurdles, water quality concerns, and increasing costs.

Teals form a party – well some of them, anyway

Community Strong Australia chose to announce its existence to the world with an image showing two women, teal MPs Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall, isolated on the vast expanse of the Parliament House forecourt, while something exciting seemed to be happening in the distance.

No man is an island

What is it with billionaires and islands? Donald Trump wants to resurrect the notorious prison island of Alcatraz to house ‘America’s most ruthless and violent offenders’. Perhaps subconsciously he is preparing his future island residence.  The sordid Epstein network is divided into those who did and did not travel to Epstein Island where, undoubtedly, heinous crimes occurred.

Featured

Locals losing their homes for luxury $2.5m retirement flats

For Kerry Pauley and the six other remaining permanent residents at the Glen Villa Resort on Butler Street, Byron Bay, news of the luxury retirement village that has been proposed for the site at 80-86 Butler Street has been devastating.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: When No Means MoNo

Pauline wants monoculture. No one really knows what she means. And we know that Pauline definitely doesn’t know what it means, she just knows it will create disturbance. So I’ve done a bit of a deep dive on what the mono might look like.

A deeper dive into Gulgan Village’s affordable housing

If approved, Gulgan Village, proposed on the highway end of The Saddle Road across 37.9 hectares, could eventually (after a development application process) house up to 1,000 people in around 550 homes, ‘depending on the housing mix’ (source: Gulgan Village Civil Engineering Report).

Letters

Oil supplies

They’re playing with our lives when they’re making wars in the Middle East. After Trump’s so-called peace announcement, there was...

Sustainable infrastructure

I attended the last Byron Council meeting – thanks to the community members who were able to come. The frustration...

Booyong Abattoir II

The ongoing discussion surrounding the Booyong Abattoir is about more than a single DA application. It raises broader questions...

Economics of rail trail

Byron Shire and the North Coast is one of the fastest-growing regions on NSW’s east coast with millions of...

Iran: honest, sincere

When Israel and the US launched their illegal, unprovoked aggression against Iran at the end of February, they unintentionally...

Discursion on ‘reserve’

Reserve is a word with many meanings. What is the Reserve Bank of Australia? Does it have a ‘reserve’? Reserve...

Local News

Kyogle bridge build completed in under three months

Kyogle mayor Danielle Mulholland says a new bridge on Gradys Creek Road, off Summerland Way and north of Kyogle, has opened to traffic. She says it took Council less than three months to build Methvens Bridge.

Ballina big band back with a blast

The Ballina Concert Band will perform a fun-packed set of jazz, blues and New Orleans favourites at a free gig at the Cherry Street Sports Club in Ballina, this Sunday, 28 June, from 2pm to 3pm.

A deeper dive into Gulgan Village’s affordable housing

If approved, Gulgan Village, proposed on the highway end of The Saddle Road across 37.9 hectares, could eventually (after a development application process) house up to 1,000 people in around 550 homes, ‘depending on the housing mix’ (source: Gulgan Village Civil Engineering Report).

Ballina Council finds savings in chairs

At its last meeting, as part of a long discussion about amendments to Ballina Council's delivery program and operational plan, there was a debate about whether Ballina Richmond Rotary Club should still be paid $8,000 to set up chairs for the RSL Lighthouse Day Club.

Current Print Edition

The John Mitchell Memorial Golf Even

On Sunday, 16 August, the Lennox Head Lions will...

The ghosts of generations – Siang Lu at Byron Writers Festival 2026

The Byron Writers Festival talks to author Siang Lu about his book, Ghost Cities, which won the Miles Franklin Award in 2025.

Local Byron biz down 50 per cent – why?

What on Earth is going on in Jonson Street,...

57 Station St, Mullumbimby amended DA on public exhibition

The development application (DA 10.2025.212.1) for the carpark at 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby is now back on exhibition for eight weeks from 22 June.

Sport

Mud bath at Bangalow – Rebels vs Ballina men’s XV

Heavy rain in the lead-up made for treacherous conditions for rugby at Bangalow, with...

The John Mitchell Memorial Golf Even

On Sunday, 16 August, the Lennox Head Lions will be staging their annual Golf...

Top female player shares tips in Byron

Croquet players from across the Northern Rivers area were privileged to spend time recently...

Crocs U10 go undefeated at Gala Day

The United Shores, U10 Crocs soccer team enjoyed a fantastic day of football at...

Good Life

Winter wellness begins in the pantry

or thousands of years, the kitchen was the pharmacy. Long before supermarket shelves and medicine cabinets, families turned to nourishing broths, warming spices, medicinal herbs and seasonal foods to support their health through winter. While modern medicine has an invaluable place – particularly for serious illness – many everyday winter rituals have been forgotten or aged out.

Celebrating native foods this NAIDOC Week at Mullumbimby Farmers Market

NAIDOC Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and learn from the world’s oldest living culture, and one of the easiest ways to do that is through Australia’s remarkable native foods.

Handcrafted delicious French pastries at Mullum Farmers Markets

Allie Godfrey A taste of France has arrived at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market, with local...

Local farming legend retires after 23 years

Thursday, 25 June marks the end of an era for local farmer Kenrick Riley...
- Advertisement -

Glance back
Something from the last seven days

Wollumbin Art Award finalists announced

The finalists for the biennial Wollumbin Art Award, held by Tweed Regional Gallery, have been announced. They are Tweed based artist Kane Corowa, Gold Coast based artist Beth Andrews, and Byron based artists Kirsten Chambers and Monica Buscarino.   

Disclosure Day

If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? From legendary three-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, comes the gripping sci-fi thriller Disclosure Day.

Mud bath at Bangalow – Rebels vs Ballina men’s XV

Heavy rain in the lead-up made for treacherous conditions...