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Byron Shire
June 21, 2026

Readers’ winning tips…

Latest News

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

This Sunday marks 19 years since the then Howard Government announced the Northern Territory Intervention laws – ‘The Intervention’ began with a media release by Mal Brough, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, on June 21, 2007.

Other News

Questions remain over future of Bangalow Bowlo

The Save Bangalow Bowlo Steering Committee (SBBSC) are seeking clarification on a number of issues in relation to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formed the basis of the amalgamation between the Bangalow Bowlo and Norths Collective.

Councillors silent

I spent some time preparing a submission regarding the draft DCP for the redevelopment of the Mullumbimby Hospital site. I...

AI roll-out

My dad bought a quarter-acre block overlooking Sydney’s Northern Beaches for 400 pounds. That was about eight week’s salary. Mum...

Mullum takes A grade, Byron takes B, Suffolk takes a sausage

The Northern Rivers NET League Finals went down on Saturday, and it delivered some genuinely good tennis, nervous moments,...

More comes out on Byron and Mullum pools saga

The problem with Byron Shire councillors making decisions in confidential sessions ‘behind closed doors’ is that no-one knows what really happened apart from those in the room.

Caring for community

The Rotary Club of Mullumbimby presented a cheque for $10,000 to the Brunswick Surf Life Saving Club (BSLSC) in support of its ongoing operations.

Echo readers love the great food and produce we have here, but also travel all over the place and are often telling us about the great (and small) restaurants, cafes and bars outside the Byron bubble.

If you’ve travelled farther north than Tweed Heads, or farther south than Ballina, and found some food or wine you love, please tell us about it!

We might publish your tip, with your name, in the paper, and every now and again we’ll reward a good tip with a $50 voucher generously donated by Harvest Café, or a similarly fun treat.

Simply email your 100-word tip, plus a photo if you have one, to [email protected].

Onion, tapioca … just the start of the flavour journey
Onion, tapioca … just the start of the flavour journey

BRISBANE – Urbane

Okay, it’s no secret that this is a great restaurant – it’s received two hats from the GFG for the last three years and Gourmet Traveller ranks it QLD’s second-best restaurant after Esquire, but it’s easy to be disappointed when your expectations are raised.

It’s solely degustation, five or eight courses, vegetarian or omnivore – the herbivore option is top-notch as Argentinian chef  Alejandro is a vegetarian. He was 2013 GFG QLD Chef of the year, but he hasn’t lost his edge if our visit last week was any indication.

Of course, it’s expensive! Five courses $110, eight courses $145 but if you’re really looking for something special I don’t think you’d be disappointed, especially if you took the matching wine option.

MELBOURNE – Seamstress

This is a quirky, small pan-Asian restaurant upstairs in a 120-year-old former textile factory in the Chinatown district. The food is great, with an emphasis on sharing, and the staff are friendly and there’s a fun, casual atmosphere.

We went there last month over Melbourne’s comedy festival and loved it – they open at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights to cater for diners visiting Her Majesty’s Theatre and the Melbourne Comedy Theatre that are practically next door. If you just feel like a drink, there’s an excellent cocktail bar even farther upstairs.



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Hemp industry given boost with development plan

A Hemp Industry Development Plan has been announced by the NSW government, which promises 'to unlock new opportunities for NSW businesses and add value to the state's low-THC hemp industry, which is forecast to become a $100 million Australian industry by 2032'.

Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

Faith-based, not-for-profit organisation providing community services in NSW, Wesley Mission, has welcomed Tweed Shire Council’s decision to publicly recognise the impact of gambling harm and advocate for stronger harm-minimisation measures.

Winter Warmer fundraiser for homelessness

The annual Winter Warmer Homelessness Relief campaign, hosted by Dharma Care, will return for 2026 with cabaret at Salt, Kingscliff, on Thursday 2 July, headlined by comedian Mandy Nolan, interactive performance artist The Space Cowboy and the Kinship Doobai Dancers, with a Welcome to Country from Aunty Jackie.

Tweed Shire Council presents flood resilience series – part one

Over the coming weeks, Tweed Shire Council will present a flood resilience series, which looks at how 'Tweed's story is different from the standard flood recovery narrative and what happened next'.