A fresh analysis by Homelessness NSW reveals where people are waiting the longest for social housing, sparking calls to double the supply of social homes and boost services funding.
Two multi-storey mixed-use developments with a combined value of $36.2 million have been approved for the centre of Byron Bay, despite both exceeding height limits for that part of the Shire.
The Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins case was never about establishing whether or not Lehrmann raped Higgins. It was about Brittany. She was established as not ‘the perfect victim’ so we overlooked the blazingly obvious fact that Bruce Lehrmann was ‘the perfect perpetrator’. An entitled, compulsive wrecking ball of cocaine, $400 steaks, free rent and very very expensive massages.
The reintroduction of weevils that have previously kept weeds at bay at Waterlily Park in Ocean Shores is now underway while the weather is favourable, say Council staff.
In February and March 2022, our region was subject to a series of weather events that causeed one of the nation’s worst recorded flood disasters. The economic impact of a natural disaster can be felt far beyond the damage to housing and infrastructure.
Regret (of the Anthropocene) – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
The SWELL Sculpture Festival is held annually on Currumbin Beach and this year’s event went from September 13 to 22.
Now in its seventeenth year, the ten-day festival brings up to 50 large scale works by nationally and internationally renowned artists to a free public exhibition on the beaches of the Gold Coast.
This year there was a strong emphasis on sea life and environmental works, with several light-based works designed to be seen at night. A diverse audience of people of all ages and backgrounds, plus a wide variety of dogs, enjoyed the sculptures.
Audience voting last week was skewing heavily towards Louis Pratt’s extraordinary work ‘Regret (of the Anthropocene)’ with its focus on coal driving humanity towards extinction, although the judges had other ideas.
For those who couldn’t get there, here is a selection of photos to make you wish you had!
Photos David Lowe
Whispering to Venus – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Whispering to Venus – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Washed Out – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Low
Totem – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Tide – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
The Host – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Punters and The Host – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
The Holy Cow – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
The Concretefish – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Superegg – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Regret (of the Anthropocene) – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Regret (of the Anthropocene) – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Mermaid – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
M-Fortytwo 2017 – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Little Tree Frog – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
I’ve Been Everywhere Man – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
I’ve Been Everywhere Man – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Hand in the Sand – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Food for Thought – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
Bower – Swell Sculpture Festival. Photo David Lowe.
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11 COMMENTS
We get the publicity about Swell when it is over. Who knew it was on?
No one.
Well Len its been running for 17 years every September. Where have you been? BUT, agree, The Echo is good at reporting interesting events after they have happened!
Phil H: One can’t report an event before it happens, only afterward. One can mention or promote before, but not report. A report is about a past or ongoing event.
The sculptures are there for affect and not meaning.
What is the meaning from the sculpture?
The meaning transcends weeks, months, years and decades.
The Sydney Opera House, how long can you look at it and never get tired of it.
Decades, maybe hundreds of years, the same with the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
It was built in 1932 and it is as fresh as 2019. That is art.
Relationships Australia NSW is calling for urgent intervention from the NSW government to address men’s violence against women, following the horrific murder of Molly Ticehurst.
After an emotional deputation from the owner of the dog involved, Ballina Shire Council has this morning revoked a menacing dog declaration for the kelpie Lilo, which was brought into effect following a bite in July 2022.
Two multi-storey mixed-use developments with a combined value of $36.2 million have been approved for the centre of Byron Bay, despite both exceeding height limits for that part of the Shire.
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The euphemisms were flying when Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles announced last week that an extra $50 billion would be spent on our military over the next decade, and that $72.8 billion of already announced spending would be redirected.
The language of the Australian government about the war in Gaza has hardened since the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, along with six other people working for the World Central Kitchen charity, when their vehicles were hit by three Israeli missiles.
The collapse of Splendour in the Grass before it reached the starting gates has been blamed on a lot of things, including the cost of living, Taylor Swift, the weather, ticket prices, millennial laziness, Kylie Minogue and inadequate government support. The event joins a growing list of major music events to be cancelled. So what do taxpayers owe music festival culture in Australia, if anything?
The ancient idea of democracy is under threat around the world. Today, there are only 63 democracies compared to 74 autocracies, and many of these democracies are highly problematic.
We get the publicity about Swell when it is over. Who knew it was on?
No one.
AGREE
last year the echo informed us in advance but didn’t this year and i wrote the same thing to my friend – inform us before not after!
It’s an annual event & always at the same time same place every year, Currumbin beach
Qld
so there you go!
What time is it Janis?
Well Len its been running for 17 years every September. Where have you been? BUT, agree, The Echo is good at reporting interesting events after they have happened!
Phil H: One can’t report an event before it happens, only afterward. One can mention or promote before, but not report. A report is about a past or ongoing event.
The Echo does not know what it is doing, Phil.
The sculptures are there for affect and not meaning.
What is the meaning from the sculpture?
The meaning transcends weeks, months, years and decades.
The Sydney Opera House, how long can you look at it and never get tired of it.
Decades, maybe hundreds of years, the same with the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
It was built in 1932 and it is as fresh as 2019. That is art.
Cross dressing is ok, but don’t dare come in blackface,,,,,hypocrisy much?
Hi … Great stuff … So which sculpture did win and which was ‘REGRET” that got high eco praise it seems ? Chrs Jason