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Byron Shire
June 18, 2026

No consultation with new planning body

Latest News

Vale William ‘Bill’ Ewen

The funeral service for Marine Rescue Ballina volunteer William ‘Bill’ Ewen was held on Monday at Ballina RSL Club.

Other News

Morrison Avenue a ‘disgrace’

Local Mullumbimby residents are saying Byron Shire Council (BSC) needs to step up and fix Morrison Avenue properly.

Pool tenders

A final word on the Mullum and Byron pool tenders. The five councillors who voted for Belgravia obviously care deeply...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Plastic Is Forever

Our family has been trying to give up plastic. And I’m not just talking single-use straws or takeaway cups or bottled water. Like most people we did that years ago. I’m talking about all the other plastic that we ingest either directly or through chemical leaching. In the period of time since I was a child, to a child born now, the fossil fuel industry has become implicated in nearly every part of our daily routine.

Past and present collide at Byron Theatre

A classic Australian novel is getting a contemporary makeover at the Byron Theatre this week, with Tirra Lirra by the River brought to the stage using cutting-edge audio-visual effects.

Local boxing legend visits Byron Boxing

Kyogle heavyweight, Athol McQueen, who represented Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and famously floored a then-unknown Joe Frazier,...

Damning police culture review puts pressure on NSW govt for reform

An independent review into NSW Police Force culture has found systemic sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination against female officers, prompting calls for the Minns Labor government to immediately expand the powers of the state's police watchdog.

NSW Reconstruction Authority’s key powers.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority has released a draft document, Protocols – exercise of powers and functions under the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022, outlining its powers to act in relation to promoting ‘community resilience to the impact of disasters in NSW’. 

The Authority has absorbed both the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) and Infrastructure NSW’s Hawkesbury–Nepean Valley Flood Risk Management Directorate (HNV).

The ‘NRRC retains its Northern Rivers identity and continues to focus on rebuilding communities in the Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed local government areas. This includes delivering the Resilient Homes Program,’ states the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

While the draft document outlines that it seeks ‘transparency and engagement’ with stakeholders, the ‘Overview of NSW Reconstruction Authority’s key powers’ clearly identifies that no consultation is required by the authority with councils, landowners (and therefore individuals) etc for them to act. However, notice is required in most circumstances when the authority is seeking to implement any activities or development. 

Feedback on the draft Protocols document is open until Friday July 14, 2023 and can be found at www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-agencies/nsw-reconstruction-authority.

You can provide your feedback by emailing: [email protected].



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Empowering women and girls

Applications are now open for Northern Rivers Community Foundation's (NRCF) 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant, offering local not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to secure funding for projects that empower women and girls across the Northern Rivers.

Big things are happening at The Paddock — and one of them has a flush

There are two milestones worth celebrating at The Paddock this season as they push ahead with their innovative project.

Byron Writers Festival reveals 30th anniversary program

As August draws near and authors gear up for a big weekend in Byron Bay, Byron Writers Festival has revealed its complete program for its 30th anniversary edition

Are retirement villages what Byron Bay needs?

Developer DD Resort Living is seeking community feedback until June 18 on its proposed retirement living development in Byron Bay.