13.2 C
Byron Shire
July 11, 2026

Rainbows and unicorns! Bruns clubhouse set for upgrades

Latest News

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?

Other News

$30,419 for Byron’s Fletcher Street Cottage

The Festival of Stone sold out in June with over 2,000 people enjoying good music, great food, and the festival’s namesake Stone Brew Beer.

Clarence, Richmond, Kyogle get essential worker boost

A program called The Welcome Experience, which aims to ensure essential workers who move to the Northern Rivers establish meaningful connections and navigate their new communities has been boosted with a new 'Local Connector' position.

Lots happening around Ballina for NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week 2026 is now underway, with lots happening throughout the Northern Rivers. It's a great opportunity for everyone...

NSW confirms first case of H5 avian influenza

A giant petrel found near Hawks Nest, north of Newcastle, was confirmed positive on the weekend for H5 high pathogenicity (H5 bird flu) avian influenza in laboratory tests by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.

Music comes to Mullum this weekend!

Wild Rocket blast into Mullum as Mullum Roots Festival lights up the town this coming weekend. Three venues around Mullum will host music, while songwriting workshops will happen at the Drill Hall Theatre on Sunday.

Making the S.H.I.F.T. in women’s lives

Older women are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis and financial insecurity. They are the fastest-growing group of people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

The 50-year-old clubhouse near the Bruns Bowlo may soon be refurbished.
Photo Kuhnell Architecture

The old clubhouse at the Brunswick Heads sporting fields is finally set to get a much-needed amenities upgrade.

Byron Shire councillors will this week vote to select a builder to undertake the first stage of works on the 50-year-old clubhouse.

New amenities

This will see the clubhouse’s badly dilapidated public toilets demolished and replaced with new amenities.

The new facilities will include two ambulant toilets, and new accessible pathways linking the toilets to the parking area and the playground.

There will also be much-needed refurbishments to the storage areas used by local sports clubs and the building’s external facade.

The works are expected to take approximately 18 months, during which time a temporary public toilet, plumbed into the existing sewer, will be provided.

Architecture for the project was provided by local firm Kuhnell Architecture.

Renovation works to add a second floor to the building and an extension to the kitchen were carried out in 1996 and 1997.

The further addition of an accessible toilet facility on the ground floor was completed in 2007–2008.

However, Council documents shows that the current public amenities have significant structural defects throughout, with refurbishment needed to achieve compliance with the current National Construction Code and accessibility standards.

The works are just the first part of a larger refurbishment project for the clubhouse.

Stage 2 without funding

However, it is understood that Council does not currently have funding for any of the following stages of the project. It is understood that a grant application for funding/co-contributions was submitted to the Growing Regions Program Round 2, but was unsuccessful.



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 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.  

Ballina king tide alert for 13–16 July

Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads.