13.2 C
Byron Shire
August 29, 2026

Nationals announce $300,000 for Murwillumbah pool to be heated over winter

Latest News

Greens urged to back pathway to end native forest logging

Some of NSW’s most respected and long-standing forest campaigners and scientists have today urged the Greens not to support the Nationals' attempt to disallow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method.

Other News

Byron’s Philo Café

Byron’s long-running discussion group – Byron Philo Café – is inviting members of the general public to join them on Friday, 4 September, at Marvell Hall, to welcome one of Australia’s most respected journalists.

A hole in one!

Mullumbimby Golf Club’s Cody Watego get a hole in one.

Science in the Pub digs into hydrodynamic modelling

With half the Northern Rivers suddenly an expert on how water moves across the landscape, there will be a chance to hear from some real experts at the next Science in the Pub, to be held on Thursday 3 September at the Federal Hotel in Alstonville.

Artist attempts the impossible at Lismore gallery

How do you grab hold of a horizon? Artist Lottie Consalvo has decided to have a crack.

Brisbane band awake in Byron

Don’t let the name fool you – Vancouver Sleep Clinic (VSC), who are returning for their first Australian show in half a decade, are not Canadian!

Greens urged to back pathway to end native forest logging

Some of NSW’s most respected and long-standing forest campaigners and scientists have today urged the Greens not to support the Nationals' attempt to disallow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method.

Presumptive Nationals candidate, Kimberly Hone

Nationals candidate has announced that the Liberal Nationals Coalition government will commit $300,000 to install a new heating system for the 50m outdoor pool at the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre (TRAC) in Murwillumbah. 

The Nationals candidate for Richmond, Kimberly Hone, who’s ‘past Twitter posts include articles that describe transgender surgery as “mutilation”; articles questioning the parenting abilities of lesbian couples; articles that question human-made global heating; and claims in 2014 that “integration has failed”.’, as reported in The Guardian during the last election (April 21, 2022), announced the project. 

‘The 50-metre pool is Murwillumbah’s summer star, hosting lap swimmers, school carnivals, and families but winter makes it too cold to enjoy,’ Ms Hone said.

‘Heating up this eight-lane lap pool means year-round access for everyone, from kids learning to swim to seniors who want to keep fit but find other sports hard on their body.

‘Closure during winter limits access, but a new heating system will allow year-round use for hydrotherapy classes, learn-to-swim programs, squad training, and community events,’ she said.

‘Adding a heated 50-metre pool cements TRAC as the region’s premier aquatic centre, will welcome swimmers, families, and those with disabilities or injuries all year round.’

This funding commitment is part of the LNP plan to keep NSW regional communities active, healthy and thriving.

The sitting member for Richmond is Labor Party member Justine Elliot. Photo supplied

However, Richmond MP Justine Elliot responded to the announcement telling The Echo, Locals don’t believe any of the false promises being made by Peter Dutton and his Nationals candidate. This is clearly to distract from Peter Dutton’s plan to permanently raise income taxes for every taxpayer and to cut Medicare to pay for his $600 billion nuclear reactors.



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.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Ballina Council makes decision on Ross Lane

With the absence of all four of its progressive councillors for various reasons, Ballina Council pushed ahead with its agenda at yesterday's monthly meeting, including a decision which is likely to close Ross Lane for months while the road is upgraded.

Mullumbimby puts new governance models first, and now wants to build it

Imagine Northern Rivers says Mullumbimby is the only community across the region to rank new models of governance and decision-making as the number one element of its preferred future, and last week locals gathered to work out how to make it real.

Appeal to locate man missing from Broadwater

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a local missing man.

Katie Milne responds to Tweed’s draft housing and employment strategy

The former mayor of Tweed Shire Council, Kate Milne, has shared her submission to Tweed's Draft Growth Management Housing & Employment Strategy.