To get a sense of what happened in the past 12 months, I trawled through The Echo’s 2024 editions.
There were a few themes that emerged. For example, the delicate balance of preserving the unique environment of the area, while examining how development occurs remains an important topic that The Echo covers.
It has been a constant focus of this newspaper since its inception as an independent voice in 1986.
Another is seeking transparency and honesty from our elected leaders. And best practice when it comes to process and outcomes.
Local politics
It was a remarkable year in local politics, not so much because of the September election, but because former mayor Michael Lyon continued to govern in a style that appeared very unlike what Byron Shire represents.
There appeared a lack respect for transparency and good process, while putting the protection of bureaucrats above the public interest. Moreover, he continued to push inappropriate developments until he was booted from office under a cloud of domestic violence claims.
Those DV claims will be tested in court in March.
A new mayor
Greens candidate Sarah Ndiaye was elected mayor, who ran a close race with Labor’s Asren Pugh.
There were many political stoushes that impacted the community throughout 2024. Notably Wallum, which is a fight to preserve rare and endangered habitat at the proposed Wallum housing estate in Brunswick Heads.
Moving on, acting as a developer, Council proposed several projects last year. They include rezoning the former Mullum hospital site for up to 130 dwellings.
At the time, the proposal contained no social housing component, yet includes 20 per cent for affordable housing. Will it be sold off in 2025 to recoup remediation costs?
There is also a questionable proposal to build 32 units over a busy Mullum carpark.
Residential Strategy
Council’s Residential Strategy 2024 was adopted by the NSW government in late July. It aims for nearly 7,000 new homes over 20 years.
Residents’ groups claimed at the time there were a myriad of issues, primarily proposing flood-prone lands, a lack of transparency and a poor process which surrounded it.
Upon taking office in September, Mayor Ndiaye was successful in having Mullum’s future water supply deferred while other options are considered.
Also last year, Bangalow Chamber Music Festival organisers moved their event from Bangalow to Qld, after ‘increased costs and lower than average ticket sales’. Later in August, Bluesfest organisers also said it will be their last in 2025. Splendour in The Grass / Falls Fest organisers have abandoned their festival in Yelgun for the time being.
Small Business
The Echo ran a few reports on the struggling local business sector throughout the year. In the run up to the local Council elections in September, a number of small businesses in Byron’s CBD were placed under enormous financial pressure after Council’s staff announced major road/drainage works over the busy summer trading period.
In some good news, the former Byron Hospital was relaunched in late October to provide office spaces and communal areas for community service providers, businesses, educators, health providers and the arts sector.
The Echo wishes you all a safe, happy, healthy and prosperous 2025.
Hans Lovejoy, editor
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
