22.1 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Bypassing Council

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

Editorial – Let’s do the development dance!

Some good questions were raised by residents at last week’s Council meeting – and were ‘taken on notice’ by Mayor, Michael Lyon.

Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

Plans to build Byron Shire’s first permanent group home for women and children in housing stress are moving ahead, with the development application for the project coming before Council this week.

Dynamic, rustic yet polished

Animal Ventura is the brainchild of Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter Fernando Aragones. Growing up playing punk and reggae in noisy garage bands in Southern Brazil, Aragones ventured to Australia where the eclectic sounds of the Sydney music scene beckoned.

Breakfeast, Bluesfest weekend

Victoria Cosford Oh to be a cow with a four-chambered stomach system! Farmers’ market, Bluesfest long weekend, a spot of...

Records galore!

Byron Bay Easter Record Fair returns again to Ewingsdale Hall. Now in its 15th year, the Byron Bay Easter Record Fair is one of the biggest and best in this country. Matt the Vinyl Junkie has spent years on buying trips to the US and Japan scouring dusty warehouses, shops, flea markets and private collections. He can offer an astounding 30,000 records in one place covering most genres.

Mayoral casting vote gets Lismore’s Affordable Housing Strategy over the line

At the recent Lismore City Council meeting former Mayor Vanessa Ekins and councillor Elly Bird moved the motion to introduce an Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme and submit it to the state government for a gateway determination. 

Darren Smith, Mullumbimby

Is it time to bypass the ‘BS’ Council, form a new grassroots unified movement and ethos formed to prevent the destruction of towns and environments like ours. If the new leadership really are so soulless and callous it’s time to drain the swamp, or is this obstructionism part of a greater career plan?

What if Byron Shire Council became so swamped, dysfunctional, and indebted to the state govt that it had to merge with Tweed and / or Ballina? A blue-green re-branded as a ‘sustainable green super shire’?

How many senior BSC staff have worked or lived in these areas previously? Who would be the perfect blue-green mayor / GM combo then?

Then who better for the Nats to send to the senate than a couple of sellout ex-greenies, proven, untrustworthy, keen to serve.

Let’s remind the budding leaders that power comes best from the roots. Maybe let your neighbourhood networks prepare for en masse rates abeyance action in order to redirect the rates resource to where it is needed, not where Byron tourist industry businesses want it.


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

1 COMMENT

  1. Well said, I have thought the same. it is all part of agretaer plan to toally take away any grass roots activisim and fortify rule from above by a poltiical class which seriously sees itself as born to rule, the LNP and Alp and now Greens cabal of scumbags. Anyone want to support me in my bid for mayor next election?? I have the credibilty, education and principles. I have stood up to forest destroyers and gone to court over my principles to be bludgeoned by these state run judges and courts. They need to be totlaly purged from their positions.We need to start taking back our rights and country now.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.