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Byron Shire
June 10, 2026

Elements of Byron celebrates first decade with live music

Latest News

Myall Creek walk starts conversations and opens eyes to difficult history

The Walk 4 Stolen Children, Land & Lives has successfully concluded in Myall Creek, having completed 474km on foot from Ballina and visited a number of massacre sites along the way.

Other News

Wardell Knit n’ Knat Group – 22 years of knitting and giving

Since 2011, 15 years, Dawn and Robert Sword have been entrusted by the Wardell Knit n’ Knat Group with the privilege of distributing the beautiful handcrafted rugs, scarves, beanies and other knitted and crocheted items they have made to people in need throughout the Ballina Shire.

What lies beneath – AUKUS grows murkier

Senate Estimates descended into 'Yes Minister' territory last week when the vexed subject of AUKUS came up, following the revelation from deputy PM and defence minister Richard Marles that Australia's best case scenario was now that we would receive three second-hand submarines from the USA during the transition stage of this very expensive project, possibly between 2032 and 2038.

Cinema: The Christophers

From acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh, The Christophers is a sharp, darkly comic exploration of art, legacy and deception, led by Golden Globe winner Ian McKellen and Emmy winner Michaela Coel.

Cartoon of the week – 10 June, 2026

The Echo loves your letters 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, send us your epistles.

Drugs: a health problem needing law reform

The 2024 Penington Institute’s Annual Overdose Report stated that, ‘in 2022 there were 2,356 drug-induced deaths in Australia, equating to approximately six lives needlessly lost each day’.

Update on Mullumbimby house fire which destroyed locals’ home

Long-term residents of Mullumbimby, Jeff and Alma Jackson lost their home to fire last week.

Peggy Flannery says Elements of Byron’s buildings cover just 3.8% of the resorts 20.2 hectares – most of the rest is dedicated to conservation zonings. Photos supplied

Byron Bay’s beachfront resort Elements of Byron continues its tenth birthday celebrations with live music and woodfired pizza overlooking the lagoon infinity pool at Fire Pit Fridays. End the working week in style, with free parking and walk-ins welcome. From 5:00pm to 7:30pm weekly.

2016 saw Elements of Byron opened to the public with a festive pool party. Tommy Franklin was MC and the energy was electric. At that time the resort had only one bar and now there are three, including a swim up bar in the adults-only pool.

Resort owners Peggy and Brian Flannery commenced the journey with this property and with the community much earlier however, in 2010. Many years later, following the completion of all construction, the final building footprint covers just 3.8% of the resort’s 20.2 hectares.

The land operates as a habitat sanctuary and tourism product simultaneously. ‘In a way the cocktails fund the conservation,’ outlined Peggy. ‘People come to Byron for nature and healing. So we have dedicated most of the overall property to conservation zonings and we still have a business model that works’. Recent works include feral animal and weed control and further revegetation of degraded areas surrounding the critically endangered coastal rainforest, salt marsh and other wetland environments.

Elements of Byron has collected 35 national and international awards and has hosted more than 335,000 overnight guests with an average stay of three nights. With over 200 staff they are one of the largest non-government employers in Northern NSW.

Peggy and Brian are also behind the not-for-profit Byron Solar Train, the world’s first full-sized fully solar powered train. And in addition to their in-kind contributions, through the Flannery Foundation they have donated in excess of $5.5 million to charities in the Byron region.

‘Brian and I are immensely grateful to our team,’ said Peggy. ‘To all our wonderful staff and our local suppliers who enable us to operate every single day’.



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Emergency departments buckling under pressure

Nurses working at emergency departments (ED) across the state are continuing to feel the effects of increased presentations and very unwell people coming through their doors, with the latest health snapshot painting a worrying picture of NSW public hospitals.

New exhibitions opening at Lismore Regional Gallery

All are welcome to the official opening of four new exhibitions at Lismore Regional gallery this Friday evening, with live music and a talk from Melbourne artist Sarah Ujmaia.

Missing man

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a 35-year-old man missing from Tugun on the southern Gold Coast since 9 June.

North Coast Safe Haven closure

Safe Haven North Coast has provided effective mental health supports for people across the region since it was established in 2022, but is now running out of funding.