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Byron Shire
August 29, 2026

Caring for the creatures that care about you

Latest News

How can we keep paying for incompetence

The only way forward is going backwards. That’s how I explain the current situation of Byron Shire Council. The...

Other News

Climate science meets art at Lismore Gallery

Climate change conversations filled with graphs, reports and grim headlines can be enough to make even the hardiest soul want to hide under the doona. This Sunday, Lismore Regional Gallery is trying a different approach to discussing the issue.

Need a little free legal advice?

Lawyers from Tyndall & Co say they will provide free legal advice covering most areas of law including domestic violence, elder abuse and visa issues at their upcoming Pro Bono Cafe in Byron.

New police recruits welcomed

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin today welcomed 22 new probationary constables deployed to regional police districts, including two in the Northern Rivers.

Wollumbin Art Award winners to be revealed this Saturday

The winners of one of the Northern Rivers’ major regional art awards will be revealed at Tweed Regional Gallery this Saturday, as the 2026 Wollumbin Art Award exhibition opens in Murwillumbah.

Can you help our rainbow community find a home?

For four years Queer Family Inc has lived the perilous life of a homeless community organisation – bouncing from one temporary venue to the next, sometimes without anywhere to stay at all.

Editorial – Drug-checking saves lives

No-one would tolerate killing six teenagers with methanol-laced alcohol in Australia, as occurred recently in Laos. But in Australia, you can’t check your drugs to see if they’re safe.

Vet nurse Florencia Sampognaro and dog masseuse Kate Parisi, massaging Trouble who is checking out two tiny, as yet unnamed, kittens. Photo Jeff Dawson.

Pets in the Park, who help homeless people care for their pets, celebrated their first anniversary on Sunday at the Byron Community Cabin, checking and providing free veterinary care for homeless people’s pets.

The Northern Rivers clinic runs the third Sunday of every month at Byron Community Cabin on Carlyle Street starting at 11am with the last pet check in at 2pm.

For their first anniversary clinic they had a busy day of people bringing in their pets for check-ups. They usually see between ten and 20 pets at each clinic they run.

‘I have worked at every one as a vet and we are busy for the three hours that we are there,’ said local specialist vet Elizabeth Settles.

‘We also work with some local vets in Byron, Bangalow, Mullumbimby and now Lismore to provide spays, neuters, dentals, etc. We also work with local pet stores in Mullum and Byron that provide donated foods, treats, and beds for our clients attending the clinics.’

New Lismore clinic

Following the success of the Byron clinic they are currently looking to start a new clinic in Lismore this year.

‘We’re hoping that will also run as a monthly clinic but that will depend on getting out the word for volunteers and a place we can work,’ Elizabeth told The Echo.

For more information or to contact Pets in the Park got to: www.petsinthepark.org.au/nsw/northern-rivers.



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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.

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.