13.8 C
Byron Shire
June 21, 2026

Tiny home giant to headline Renew Fest

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

Trumpism

Is it naïve to think of a promise in the political context as no more than intention to do...

Empowering women and girls

Applications are now open for Northern Rivers Community Foundation's (NRCF) 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant, offering local not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to secure funding for projects that empower women and girls across the Northern Rivers.

Seas the Day in Kingscliff this weekend

This weekend the fourth NRMA Insurance Seas The Day women’s surf festival is back at Kingscliff Beach with Surfing...

Lismore Council spruiks 150 projects since 2022 floods

A milestone of 150 projects has been reached since the 2022 disasters, says Lismore City Council.

Remembering Pete Woolnough with song

It is with great sadness that the community heard the news of the death of Peter Woolnough.

Byron Writers Festival reveals 30th anniversary program

As August draws near and authors gear up for a big weekend in Byron Bay, Byron Writers Festival has revealed its complete program for its 30th anniversary edition

Renew Fest organisers Mark Stanton, Ella Rose Goninan and Murray Drechsler. Photo supplied
Renew Fest organisers Mark Stanton, Ella Rose Goninan and Murray Drechsler. Photo supplied

Renew Fest, now in its second year, is on again this weekend in Mullumbimby.

Organiser Ella Rose Goninan describes it as ‘a festival of actions and ideas for renewable energies.’

She adds ‘an extraordinary range of people’ will come together ‘to share their passions, solutions and initiatives for a sustainable world.’

Someone who was inspired by the first Renew Fest to come and share his knowledge is builder, Tony Hill, who runs ECOnic Design & Construction and is surfing the home-owning wave of ‘tiny homes’.

When his daughter Kai was born, the then 21-year old Tony built a home in Hervey Bay where he developed his guiding philosophy about practicality and thermal properties of building materials.

Tony Hill with the frame of a cabin he will be auctioning at Renew Fest to support COREM. Photo supplied
Tony Hill with the frame of a cabin he will be auctioning at Renew Fest to support COREM. Photo supplied

‘This all eventually led me to creating the ECOnic Design modular buildings and construction systems, so that anyone could build their own home with the option of starting small and adding to it as they could afford it. I want to empower people to create their own sustainable paradises, without compromising quality of life and comfort,’ Tony said.

He and his partner Angela attended the first Renew Fest and were inspired and excited to meet so many active and forward-thinking people committed to creating, and co-creating, a sustainable healthier community.

This year, Tony is launching his small homes and cabins at the festival.

And he will be auctioning the frame of a tiny home, worth $14,000.

He is gifting 50 per cent of the profits to COREM for their renewable energy generation projects.

This imaginative and practical offer will work through an EBay auction site, where people can bid on the cabin.

The successful bidder will be announced on the Radicle Stage at the end of the COREM extravaganza.

‘People can visit the super-structure frame and display set up at the festival site in Mullumbimby over the weekend, and follow bidding from their home or on our monitor at the festival,’ Tony said.

Renew Fest is on Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 May at Mullumbimby Showgrounds from 9am to 9.30pm. Tickets $75 from the Renew Fest website or $90 on the door.

 



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments 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, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

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'.