13.8 C
Byron Shire
June 24, 2026

Sweetnam Park shines after major upgrade

Latest News

NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it's handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

Other News

BSC moves closer to special rate rise

Byron Shire Council has moved a step closer to seeking a special rate rise, unanimously endorsing a community engagement program that will form a key part of any future application to increase rates above the state-imposed cap.

Wyuna 1 freed from Belongil Beach

There's been a happy ending to the saga of Jeff Sutton's yacht Wyuna 1, which has been beached near Elements at North Belongil since early May, after being damaged in heavy weather.

Momentum hosts free skate workshop for girls and women

Whether you are stepping on a skateboard for the first time, sharpening your skills or getting ready to compete, a free school holiday workshop is being offered to all female skaters up to 25 years.

Local farming legend retires after 23 years

Thursday, 25 June marks the end of an era for local farmer Kenrick Riley who is retiring from Byron...

Floodland

Local filmmaker Darius Devas is bringing Floodland – winner of the Sustainable Futures Award at the Sydney Film Festival – to Mullumbimby, for one night only.

Bird flu reaches Western Australia

H5 avian flu has officially arrived in Western Australia, first discovered days ago in a dead migratory seabird near Esperance (700 km south-east of Perth), and since found in numerous other birds.

Play facilities at the new and improved Sweetnam Park. Tweed Shire Council

Sweetnam Park in Uki has been rebuilt with new facilities and is now flood‑resilient, welcoming and accessible, after being badly damaged in the February 2022 flood.

The upgrade was funded through a $15.5 million package from the Australian and NSW governments to restore and improve community assets damaged by storms and floods.

New additions include: play equipment for children aged 2 to 13, natural play areas, including a cubby and climbing net, a half basketball court, seating and a drinking fountain, picnic table and shelter, connecting pathways, landscaping and tree planting.

Tweed Council’s Manager Parks and Active Communities Murray Smith gave thanks for the funding and said the project has delivered a park that better meets the needs of the whole community. ‘By upgrading parks and recreation areas to a higher standard, we’re making sure they can handle more frequent and severe weather.

‘Inclusive playgrounds are vital because they give children and people of all ages and abilities a safe, accessible space to come together.’

Sweetnam Park is now open and ready for families to enjoy.

 



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.

Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Citizen science last line of defence for threatened species

Native forest logging is again in the spotlight in NSW, following Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into Forestry Corporation NSW’s failure to protect nationally endangered species.

Site confirmed for future high school at Pottsville

The NSW government says it has secured a site for a future high school in Pottsville, delivering on its commitment to future-proof public education for the growing Tweed community in the Northern Rivers.

Eleven winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with twelve students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.