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Byron Shire
July 12, 2026

A vote to destroy forests?

Latest News

Deadly weaving at Lismore gallery

Eighteen months ago, a group of First Nations artists from the Northern Rivers came together at the Lismore Regional Gallery as part of the Gathering Space project.

Other News

Cudgen Connection approved by NRPP

A contentious $300 million proposal on State Significant Farmland (SSF) next to the Tweed Hospital has been recommended for approval by The Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP). The Cudgen Connection decision came in late yesterday, after years of deliberations, opposition and political commitments to protect the SSF. It is located at 741 Cudgen Road.

Sign up for Mullum’s Chinny Charge race

Ready to race up the mountain? That’s right, the Chinny Charge is open for registration for runners and walkers who want to take the once a year chance to race and stroll up the mountain.

Lismore’s Norco Eat the Street returns Aug 22

Lismore’s signature food, arts and culture festival, Norco Eat the Street, is making its highly anticipated return to the CBD on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

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.  

Three Blue Ducks

On Sunday 26 July, from 11:30am for both lunch and dinner, Three Blue Ducks will celebrate Christmas in July...

For your wellbeing

On Saturday, in Byron, they are holding a Psychic Health and Wellbeing Expo, at the Cavanbah Centre, Ewingsdale Road – this is a community-based event and all are welcome.

Protest in destroyed Tasmanian Devil habitat. Bob Brown Foundation.

The Bob Brown Foundation says that a federal Liberal government, if elected, would deliver more forest killing-fields, global heating and climate pollution.

Across the country, the Foundation is delivering a federal election campaign to call for an urgent end to native forest logging nationwide. The campaign will include pre-poll booth volunteers handing out how-to-vote for forests scorecards, billboards across Tasmania and an online advertising campaign.

‘If Dutton becomes Prime Minister and rolls out “permanent timber production zones” across the nation, Australia’s native forests, wildlife and all citizens in rural, regional and city communities will suffer from ongoing global heating, more severe bushfires and wildlife extinctions,’ said Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaigns Manager.

‘These very real impacts of ongoing forest destruction are paid for by the Australian taxpayer.’

Opposition leader Peter Dutton speaks in video address. Screenshot

Subsidised destruction

‘Dutton has promised more public subsidies to the mendicant logging industry,’ said Ms Weber. ‘Tasmania’s permanent logging zones, that Dutton has committed to rolling out nationwide, are killing fields. Greater gliders, swift parrots, koalas and masked owls are on the brink of extinction due to logging.

‘All native forest logging industry supporters are delusional that our future liveability on this planet is secured while there is destruction of native forests,’ she said.

Bob Brown added: ‘Dutton’s promise to “deliver country of origin labelling” means Australian plantation timber will remain hostage to imports and that native forests and wildlife habitat in Asia and elsewhere will continue to be needlessly destroyed to serve a ruthless Australian market.

‘Such imports should be banned for the sake of both global biodiversity and the impact on climate change of native forest destruction,’ he said.

 



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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?

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.