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Byron Shire
July 11, 2026

Berejiklian’s 11am COVID update, August 20, 2021 – Sydney in lockdown until the end of September

Latest News

Plastic not so fantastic

There is nothing healthier than drinking some water – or so I’ve always told my kids. It doesn’t contain sugar or colour additives – as one person used to tell us as children, ‘it’s sky juice’! What could be better?

Other News

The bakery at the heart of Bangalow

A good bakery is at the heart of a country town, but Bangalow Bread don’t only make delicious organic...

Byron Bay High are Mock Trial champions

Byron Bay High School’s Mock Trial team achieved a rare trifecta as their debut as a formidable legal team in the Southern Cross University (SCU) Mock Trial competition. 

Forcing a reminder

Forces are constantly at play and work determinedly to give people the life we have. The minds of women and...

Making the S.H.I.F.T. in women’s lives

Older women are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis and financial insecurity. They are the fastest-growing group of people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

Cinema: Moana

The Academy Award-nominated animated film sails into its live action debut in Moana, directed by Tony- and Emmy-winner Thomas Kail (Hamilton).

$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.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at her press conference currently underway.

In a bid to further try to contain the virus, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this morning that the Greater Sydney lockdown will continue until the end of September.

In her update today, Berejiklian said that there had been four deaths in the state since her last update.

‘Yesterday in New South Wales, 132,000 people came forward to get vaccinated, outstanding results. If we keep this rate going we will hit all our targets in relation to vaccination.

The Premier said that we are now at 5.6 million jabs in New South Wales. ’54 per cent of us have had least one dose and 29 per cent of our population is now fully vaccinated. These are great milestones that we’re hitting, and we can’t say enough how important it is for people to come forward and get vaccinated.

‘Yesterday in New South Wales, we had 642 cases of community transmission, at least 41 of those, and this number will go up as we further finalise the cases, at least 41 were infectious in the community during this time. Sadly four people lost their lives and we extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones.

‘The government is now about to announce measures to make sure we do everything we can we throw everything at getting the case numbers down, but also while we do that we put all our energies and getting the vaccination rates up.

‘From Monday at midnight, the greatest Sydney lockdown will extend until the end of September. The Central Coast and Shellharbour will be defined as regional

‘For rural and regional communities the lockdown is going until at least August 28, and we’re waiting on advice before we say anything more about that at this stage.’


 

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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Ballina courthouse windows smashed, man charged

Police say a man will face court today, charged after 12 windows were allegedly smashed in Ballina last night.   Police say, 'About 10.35pm (Thursday 9 July 2026), police were called to Martin Street following reports of a man smashing windows'.

Alleged native tree removal continues in Lennox, says councillor

With a government agency now investigating the alleged clear felling of natives on a large private block in Lennox Head, Ballina Greens councillor Kiri Dicker has told The Echo that contractors were felling trees all morning, ‘trying to get the job done’.

Ocean Shores man charged with advocating terrorism online

Police say a 20-year-old Ocean Shores man is behind bars (refused bail) and will face court in Tweed Heads Local Court on 18 September, charged with advocating terrorism.  

Ballina king tide alert for 13–16 July

Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads.