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Byron Shire
July 16, 2026

Brisbane lockdown to end tonight

Latest News

What was once comes again

The Byron Shire has been renowned for its music, its festivals, and its innovation that has had a huge impact on the Australian music scene.

Other News

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: How the Phone Stole Us

When I was a child we didn’t have a phone. We couldn’t afford it. If we needed to make a call we went next door to the Clancys’ house and sat at their kitchen bench, lifted the receiver, turned the Bakelite handle three times, and waited for the operator.

$30,419 for Byron’s Fletcher Street Cottage

The Festival of Stone sold out in June with over 2,000 people enjoying good music, great food, and the festival’s namesake Stone Brew Beer.

Try pickleball and support a great cause

Northern Rivers Pickleball Club are holding a marathon day of pickleball on Sunday, 19 July at the Goonellabah Tennis and Pickleball Club on Reserve Street, Goonellabah.

Tweed harbour foreshore to get a revamp

Jack Evans Boat Harbour foreshore is set to be upgraded, Local NSW Tweed MP, Geoff Provest says.

Oz Grom Open wraps up in Lennox

The 2026 Soundboks Oz Grom Open saw a fairytale finish to competition yesterday with huge performances, bluebird skies and local wins in dreamy two-foot conditions.

Business Lennox Head meets Thursday

The first Business Lennox Head After Hours of the new 2026/27 financial year will be this Thursday at the Lennox Hotel  from 5.30pm, and organisers say, 'we'd love to see you there'.

Though the lockdown will end later today, there will still be strict protocols in place regarding COVID-19 in the Greater Brisbane area from 6pm today to 1am 22 January.

Restrictions in place after the 3-day lockdown

Queensland Health say that from 6pm 11 January, restrictions during the 3-day lockdown will ease in the Greater Brisbane region, which  includes: City of Brisbane; City of Ipswich; Logan City; Moreton Bay Region, and; Redland City.

People are permitted to be outside their homes for any purpose, subject to the restrictions below:

Map of the local government areas comprising Greater Brisbane: Moreton Bay, Brisbane City, Ipswich city, Redland city, Logan City

Face masks

You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to. You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, except in your home. For example:

  • shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets
  • hospitals and aged care facilities
  • churches and places of worship
  • libraries
  • indoor recreational facilities and gyms
  • indoor workplaces (where you can’t socially distance)
  • public transport, taxis and rideshare
  • airports and travelling on planes.

Queensland Health recommend you wear a mask when outdoors if you are unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people, such as busy walkways and thoroughfares.

Children under 12 years are and people affected by a medical condition or disability are exempt.

Read about face masks: how to use, wear and change.

Home confinement and movement

Queensland Health say you can leave your home for any purpose. You can travel anywhere in Australia. Please note other states and territories may have restrictions in place that prevent you from travelling to them.

Gatherings

  • Gatherings: Up to 20 people in homes and public spaces. This number includes those who live with you.
  • Weddings: Up to 100 attendees. No restriction on dancing.
  • Funerals: Up to 100 attendees.

Businesses and venues

This includes places of worship, conventions centres, etc. There are no restrictions on businesses opening under a COVID Safe Plan.

  • Restaurants and cafes can open for seated eating and drinking, no standing allowed
  • All businesses may now have:
    • one person per 4 square metres on their premises indoors
    • one person per 2 square metres outdoors.
  • Businesses with a floor space less than 200 square metres can have one person per 2 square metres, up to 50 people at a time.
  • Dancing is not allowed except at weddings
  • Funerals and weddings can have up to 100 attendees
  • The seated capacity of outdoor stadiums and amphitheatres is 50 per cent with a COVID Safe plan
  • The seated capacity of indoor concert venues and theatres is 50 per cent capacity or one person per 4 square metres, whichever is greater, with a COVID Safe plan

Events

Indoor events/sessions within events:

  • 500 people or less – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Checklist, no further approval needed
  • 500 to 10,000 people – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by local public health units
  • 10,000 people or more – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by the Chief Health Officer
  • Indoor concert venues/theatres etc: up to 50 per cent seated capacity or one person per 4 square meters (whichever is the greater), with a COVID Safe Plan.

Outdoor events/sessions within events:

  • Fewer than 1000 people, e.g. community sport – no approval needed when following a COVID Safe Event Checklist
  • 1000 to 10,000 people – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by the local public health unit
  • 10,000 people or more – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by the Chief Health Officer
  • Outdoor stadiums and amphitheatres: 50 per cent capacity with a COVID Safe Plan.

Visitors to aged care, disability accommodation services and hospital

Restrictions remain in place for visitors to:

Get tested

If you have any symptoms at all, get tested immediately and quarantine at home until you receive a negative result.

 


 

Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19

COVID-19 reduces Australian life expectancy

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row.

Wuhan market increasingly likely origin point for COVID-19

An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market.

Editorial – There’s a bat in my lab! 

The lab-leak theory that Covid-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology – instead of a nearby wet market – was thrashed about in public recently, with the US Senate Homeland Security Committee holding a hearing into Covid-19. 

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

COVID-19 pandemic has cut life expectancy globally

COVID-19 reversed earlier trends toward longer life expectancies. During the pandemic, life expectancies globally dropped by 1.6 years according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal.

COVID-19 update for New South Wales

Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day.

Five graphs you need to see before the Global Carbon Budget...

The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing.

Public transport mask mandate to end

Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September.

NSW Police: be COVID-vigilant at Splendour in the Grass

SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures.

COVID-19 update for the NNSWLHD – May 23

The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.



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CSIRO mega dam report supported by Lismore mayor

The inclusion of a recent controversial CSIRO Richmond River flood report into Lismore City Council’s Flood Risk Management Plan has been defended by Mayor Steve Kreig, with him telling ABC North Coast, ‘It’s about having the most up to date scientific info and preparing for future flooding events’.

Help establish a First Nations bush-food nursery

A First Nations-led bush food nursery that will create Indigenous employment, training pathways, food sovereignty, and cultural knowledge sharing for future generations is getting underway in Myocum and you can help get it established.

Inspiring arts, culture, business collaboration

Byron Fest, a multi-week festival in June 2027, will be a festival for the Shire, say Destination Byron as they finalise the $200,000 grant from the Regional Night-Time Economy Program.

Palestine community action day Sunday

Have you been wondering how to make a change in Palestine? This Sunday, Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine (NRFP) are inviting people to join in a community action day at Marvell Hall, Marvell Street, Byron Bay from 12 noon to 4pm and find out how they can get involved to make positive change in Gaza and the West Bank.