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Byron Shire
June 24, 2026

COVID-19 update for the NNSWLHD – May 23

Latest News

Citizen science last line of defence for threatened species

Native forest logging is again in the spotlight in NSW, following Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into Forestry Corporation NSW’s failure to protect nationally endangered species.

Other News

Expansion on farmland around Tweed Valley Hospital opposed

Residents are holding firm against a proposal to develop State Significant Farmland (SSF) near the Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen, after the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) held a public meeting on Friday 19 June around the Planning Proposal for Cudgen Connection (PP-2023-2669-Cudgen Connection).

Artist Gerwyn Davies exhibits at Tweed Gallery

From 3 July, a major new body of work by Gadigal/Sydney-based artist Gerwyn Davies will be exhibited at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre.

Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 24 June 2026

Eclectic Selection: What’s on this week is a taste of some of the events that can be found in the Byron Shire and beyond this coming week.

AI roll-out

My dad bought a quarter-acre block overlooking Sydney’s Northern Beaches for 400 pounds. That was about eight week’s salary. Mum...

Byron’s Winter Whales raise $43,000

The Byron Bay Winter Whales (BBWW) took to the ocean for the 39th time this year on the first Sunday of May and raised $43,000 for local organisations and charities.

Douglas Dickie retires after 51 years as firefighter

As the bagpipes let out their mournful melody approaching Wandana Brewing, Douglas Dickie was celebrated for his 51 years of service in fire brigades from Scotland to Australia.

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.

In the previous 24 hours there were, 256 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the district, including 28 positive PCR tests and 228 positive rapid antigen tests (RAT)**.

Confirmed tests by LGA (PCR and RAT included):

  • Ballina 33
  • Byron 26
  • Clarence Valley 52
  • Kyogle 3
  • Lismore 52
  • Richmond Valley 33
  • Tweed 57

The NSW Health website has a range of COVID-19 information, including weekly COVID-19 surveillance reports which contain detailed analysis and trends.

You can also find more COVID-19 statistics on the NSW Government website.

If you have even mild symptoms or have had known contact with a COVID-19 case, please get tested as soon as you can. Please isolate while awaiting a negative result.

If you test positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), please register your result with Service NSW.

To protect yourself and others:

  • don’t go out if you’re unwell
  • take your mask with you so you can wear it if you’re somewhere you can’t socially distance, especially indoors, and
  • use hand sanitiser or wash your hands regularly.

*Tenterfield is in a different Local Health District, but postcodes put cases in NNSWLHD.

** RAT results may be from within the previous seven days, and there may be some cases included in these numbers where people have reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or where people have also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period.


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.



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Site confirmed for future high school at Pottsville

The NSW government says it has secured a site for a future high school in Pottsville, delivering on its commitment to future-proof public education for the growing Tweed community in the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Twelve winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with twelve students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.

Lismore students pitch sustainability projects

Young people will take centre stage in Lismore this Friday when the HalveIt Festival brings student sustainability pitches to decision-makers in what organisers are calling 'part innovation expo, part community festival.'

Consultation lacking with rail trail

Byron Shire Council is pursuing an unfunded on-formation bike trail, risking significant ratepayer liability for ongoing maintenance, while disregarding advanced plans for a commuter...