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Byron Shire
April 29, 2024

Rorts unlimited

Latest News

Housing not industrial precinct say Lismore locals

Locals from Goonellabah and Lindendale have called out the proposed Goonellabah industrial precinct at 1055A Bruxner Hwy and 245 Oliver Ave as being the wrong use of the site. 

Other News

Having fun in the Playground

Playground is a well-established event that will go off at Coorabell Hall on Saturday. For over two years, three long-term local DJ’s – Pob, Curly Si and Halo – have been curating this rhythmic happening. Their pedigree is assured and they guarantee the best underground electronic music and a loyal crew that bring a big-hearted vibe. On Saturday they’ll be bringing the dance to the hills.

Sustainable power from carbon dioxide?

University of Queensland researchers have built an experimental generator which they claim absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) to make electricity.

Man dies in hospital following an E-bike crash – Byron Bay

A man has died in hospital following an E bike crash in Byron Bay earlier this month.

Geologist warns groundwater resource is ‘shrinking’

A new book about Australian groundwater, soil and water has been published by geologist Philip John Brown.

Editorial – For King and Country

As the Edwardian period ended (1901–1914), the new era of WWI saw the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzacs) land around Ari Burnu on the western side of the Gallipoli peninsula. 

More Byron CBD height exceedance approved

Two multi-storey mixed-use developments with a combined value of $36.2 million have been approved for the centre of Byron Bay, despite both exceeding height limits for that part of the Shire.

Commuter car park rorts, sports rorts, emissions reduction scheme rorts (that don’t reduce emissions) and bike track rorts. The Morrison government can spend billions of taxpayers’ money on their rorts, they can waste $5.5 billion cancelling submarine contracts, billions can be found to upgrade train services from Sydney to Newcastle and from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast – but not a cent from Morrison, or Labor, for the restoration of the Casino to Murwillumbah (C-M) train line. They ignore thousands of locals who, for almost twenty years, keep turning out to meetings, rallies, and signing petitions calling for a sustainable, traffic busting and carbon reducing train service to provide public transport for locals and millions of tourists. If just twenty-two kilometres of line is built, local towns, and the region, will be connected to the Queensland rail system and the Gold Coast airport.

The National Party has treated locals with contempt and lied about the cost of returning train services to the C-M line.

In one of the fastest growing regions in the country with over six million tourists, Morrison and the National Party can spend millions of taxpayer funds on the criminal destruction of the line, worth billions, to replace it with an expensive bike track for a few fit cyclists. This bike track is costing as much as repairs to the train line in Byron for a train. This is an outrage when there’s plenty of room along the rail corridor for trains and bike track. 

Locals despair that the Labor Party is happy to support this destruction and wicked waste of taxpayers’ money, while claiming they will stop the rorts and are serious about reducing carbon emissions. Should Labor be elected, the waste of taxpayers’ money destroying this train line should be one of the first things to be referred to their Federal Integrity Commission.

Some say ‘green’ electric vehicles will provide transport. Turns out the critical minerals needed to build these ‘green’ vehicles is likely to start another mining boom, including mining pristine wilderness people have fought to protect. How green is that?

Much greener to use the train line we already have, which stayed high and dry in the flood. No need for more mines and environmental destruction.

If you care about this beautiful region we are fortunate to live in, our children’s futures and the survival of the planet, be careful what you vote for on the 21 May.

Louise Doran, Ocean Shores


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A fond farewell to Mungo’s crosswords

This week we sadly publish the last of Mungo MacCallum’s puzzles. Before he died in 2020 Mungo compiled a large archive of crosswords for The Echo.

Tugun tunnel work at Tweed Heads – road diversion

Motorists are advised of changed overnight traffic conditions from Sunday on the Pacific Motorway, Tweed Heads.

Driver charged following Coffs Harbour fatal crash

A driver has been charged following a fatal crash in the Coffs Harbour area yesterday.

Geologist warns groundwater resource is ‘shrinking’

A new book about Australian groundwater, soil and water has been published by geologist Philip John Brown.