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Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

DA ja vu

Latest News

Blue skies for Bluesfest day 1

If yesterday at Bluesfest was anything to go by, it's going to be an incredible event and with the weather holding, (so far) the Easter weekend's future is looking bright.

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.

Richmond MP again called on for immediate Gaza ceasefire 

On Saturday, March 16 Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine unfurled a 20m scroll with the names of murdered children and host a ‘die-in’ action at the office of the federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot (Labor).

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.

Community grants on offer

Ingrained Foundation is running its fifth annual grants program, with a funding pool of $150,000.

Breakfeast, Bluesfest weekend

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

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.

Jill Ball, Brunswick Heads

Regarding the DA for the boarding house in Bayside Brunswick Heads. In 2012 a 27-room boarding house was proposed at the gym site in Teven Street, Brunswick Heads. The Byron Shire Council opposed the development and the owners appealed to the Land and Environment Court.

At that time, I was president of the Brunswick Heads Progress Association (BHPA) and I spoke against the development at the tribunal. The Commissioner, Sue Harris, dismissed the appeal, stating, among other things, that the development was not compatible with the local area, which had been agreed by both parties as consisting largely of single houses with some medium density and commercial development.

Buzzwords like low cost, affordable, secure new age boarding house, urban consolidation, low to moderate cost accommodation, are used to woo the decision makers and councillors, all of whom would dearly love an easy answer to our shortage of housing. Only government owned or run social housing is genuinely affordable. Self-declared ‘for profit’ entities cannot be trusted to maintain security of tenure into the future.

The local community united in 2012 to save Bruns from totally inappropriate development, I urge Bayside Bruns and Brunswick Heads locals to lobby your councillors and local members of parliament to oppose this DA. Nothing has changed since 2012 in Bruns to make it a more suitable area for a boarding house.


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Retired local professor launches book on grief

A leading international thinker and researcher in the development of innovative sport coaching and physical education teaching has returned home to Byron Bay and is launching his first non-academic book, 'Grief and Growth', on April 4 at The Book Room in Byron. 

Resilient Lismore’s ‘Repair to Return’ funding

On the eve of the second anniversary of the second devastating flood in 2022, Resilient Lismore has welcomed the finalisation of its funding deed with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which will enable the continuation of its ‘Repair to Return’ program.

Editorial – Joyous propaganda! 

The NSW Labor government marked its one year in office this week with a jubilant statement of achievements issued from Macquarie Street HQ.

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

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