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Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Local government review underway

Latest News

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Other News

‘Smooth stroking’ Rainbow Dragons earn trophies

Rainbow Dragons (Lennox Head Ballina) won three trophies and had a fantastic weekend of fun, fitness and friendship at Grafton Dragon Boat Club’s regatta earlier in March.

Murwillumbah’s Rebecca Whan recognised for tireless work post 2022 floods

Murwillumbah was severely impacted by the 2022 floods and it was a huge community effort to support, rescue and inspire everyone to move forward. 

Safety and preparation saves lives on the water

A large number of boaters are expected to hit the water over the Easter long weekend and Marine Rescue NSW is reminding boaters to be prepared and log on to the Marine Rescue NSW app.

Biz confidence up, says Business NSW

The state's peak body for business says confidence in the sector has increased but cost of living pressures continue to impact customer spending.

Roller derby rocks the Cavanbah Centre

The Red Kennedys have once again dominated the Northern Rivers Revolt Roller Derby Tournament held at the Cavanbah Centre over the weekend of March 16-17.

Adaptive Surf Pro winds up in Byron

A week of mixed weather had seen almost 100 adaptive surfers take on the beaches of Byron Bay in the Byron first international adaptive surfing event to be held in Australia – the 2024 Australian Pro.

The NSW local government review panel is heading to Lismore next month to consult with councils and communities following the May 13 release of its discussion paper on the future of local government.

Panel chair, Professor Graham Sansom, said the paper, Future Directions for NSW Local Government, aimed at transforming the culture, structures, finances and operations, as well as relations, with the state government.

‘This paper gives councils and the community another opportunity to have their say and inform our ideas before we complete our final report in September,’ he said.

The panel’s goal is for a ‘more sustainable system of democratic local government’ that has added capacity to address the needs of local and regional communities, and to be a ‘valued partner of state and federal governments’.

The panel believes NSW needs more effective local government to harness the skills and resources of local communities, improve quality of life and advance State development.

The Future Directions for NSW Local Government: Twenty Essential Steps paper provides a detailed progress report on the panel’s work to date and provides a basis for further consultation.

The panel’s ideas are still crystallising and it wants to discuss the options included in the paper with councils and communities.

The paper fulfils the panel’s commitment to ensure that all concerned can discuss the options being considered for its final report, which is now due in September 2013, in order to give the panel time to consider all feedback.

Community Hearings will be held to provide opportunity for local people and organisations to express their views directly to the panel and discuss the various ideas and proposals in the paper.

A spokesperson confirmed the consultation with northern rivers’ councils was set for June 11 at the Lismore Workers Club.

‘Those councils (councillors and staff) are invited to come to the daytime session from 1pm to 4pm, and then we’re also running a community hearing in the evening from 5pm to 7pm which will be held in Lismore,’ he said.


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