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Byron Shire
June 15, 2026

COVID fragments in Byron’s sewage – have symptoms? Get tested

Latest News

Lismore rallies to save homes from demolition

Around hundred residents met at the Lismore Quad on Saturday to demand the demolitions of heritage homes cease, the flood recovery promised is delivered, and that every person be housed.

Other News

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Let’s Disappear the Outrage Farmer

There’s super-offensive content making its way around the internet by someone who is NOT Indigenous and is NOT a comedian. I will not say her name. I will not identify her nor will I describe the content. If you think you know what I am talking about: good. And if you don’t: good. Let’s keep it that way.

The Pocket Winter Festival bringing you music, food and fun

The Pocket Winter Festival is set to return on Sunday, 21 June, from 10am to 2pm, bringing together the community for a day of music, food, entertainment and family fun at The Pocket Public School.

Lismore councillor pay rise divides chamber at June meeting

The sharpest debate from Lismore City Council's 9 June ordinary meeting saw a majority vote to increase councillor and mayoral fees, following a 3.7 per cent rise determined by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal (LGRT) – a figure tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12 months to February 2026.

Compassion missing

Predictably, Marianne McCormack (Letters, 3 June) chooses to ignore my personal claims that I am not a racist, to support...

Load limit increased for Byron Creek Bridge

The load limit for Byron Creek Bridge has been increased to 24 tonnes, say Byron Shire Council, following structural analysis of the bridge.

Lennox headland restoration works a success

Community members rolled up their sleeves last week for the 21st Lennox Head Community Tree Planting Day, which helped to continue more than two decades of restoration work on this iconic coastal landscape.

Byron Shire Council’s Byron Sewage Treatment Plant. Photo waterandcarbon.com.au

Fragments of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in the Byron Bay sewage treatment plant (STP) according to NSW Health.

‘NSW Health’s ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the sewage treatment plant at Bryon Bay,’ they say on the NSW Health website.

The COVID-19 fragments were detected following samples taken from the Byron STP on Tuesday, 20 July .

‘There are no known cases in this area, which is of great concern,’ state BSW Health.

The sewage treatment plant serves about 19,000 people in Byron Bay, Wategos, Suffolk Park, Sunrise, and Broken Head.

‘Everyone in the area is asked to be especially vigilant for symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately come forward for testing and isolate until a negative result is received. If symptoms appear again, please be tested and isolate again,’ say NSW Health.

Fever Clinics in Northern NSW

There are four (4) hospital Fever Clinics in the Northern NSW Local Health District. They are located at:

To find the closest testing clinic near you go to NSW Health testing clinics.

The purpose of these clinics is for people who have respiratory symptoms or fever and who are at risk of COVID-19, for example because they were in contact with a COVID-19 case, or have returned from overseas in the 14 days before onset of symptoms.

People do not need to call ahead to attend these clinics. If attending another Emergency Department for assessment of COVID-19, please advise staff immediately on arrival. You can also phone (not visit) your regular GP for advice and to arrange testing.

For a full list of clinics in NSW, and information on what to expect when getting a COVID-19 test, such as self-isolating and getting your results, visit:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics


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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Men’s Health Week: simple conversations

This National Men’s Health Week experts from Triple P – Positive Parenting Program are encouraging dads, granddads and father figures to embrace something simple but powerful: everyday conversations that support their own wellbeing and their family’s wellbeing.

Peace in our time?

While details remain scant, there are claims from multiple sources that a peace deal has finally been reached in the war between Iran and the United States, after nearly four months of fighting.

How to stop the erosion of our human rights

Let’s celebrate Refugee Week, 15–21 June, which was initiated in Australia 40 years ago and now observed worldwide.

Appeal to locate wanted man Adam Richards

Police are appealing for assistance to locate a man wanted on outstanding warrants in the Casino area.