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Byron Shire
July 10, 2026

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Where to from here for a healthy future?

Sometimes it is hard not to lose hope, with the depth and breadth of the challenges that have faced the Northern Rivers. From the droughts, fires, Covid, and the 2022 floods it’s sometimes hard to see a way forward.

Other News

Lismore households throwing away $670,000

Lismore City Council says Lismore households recently threw away an estimated $670,000 by placing eligible drink containers in their kerbside bins instead of claiming their refund, while almost half the contents of red-lid general waste bins could have been recycled or composted.

Beyond Blue charity rugby day returns to Bruns this weekend

Brunswick Heads rugby team the Mullumbimby Moonshiners will gather at Alby Lofts Oval on Saturday, July 11, for their annual Beyond Blue Charity Day, with the club’s senior women’s team reforming after a 30-year playing hiatus to run onto the field.   

Where to from here for a healthy future?

Sometimes it is hard not to lose hope, with the depth and breadth of the challenges that have faced the Northern Rivers. From the droughts, fires, Covid, and the 2022 floods it’s sometimes hard to see a way forward.

Response to the Special Rate Variation

Why spend $120,000 on a community engagement plan to find out if residents will be happy to see their...

Byron Bay High are Mock Trial champions

Byron Bay High School’s Mock Trial team achieved a rare trifecta as their debut as a formidable legal team in the Southern Cross University (SCU) Mock Trial competition. 

Cartoons of the week – 8 July, 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.

Two exciting developments will lower household electricity bills, strengthen the local grid, and help power-up our renewable energy.

First, from 1 July 2026, households can access free electricity from 11am to 2pm through the Solar Sharer Offer. You don’t need rooftop solar and you don’t have to own your home. Renters are eligible too.

There’s one important thing: You need to contact your electricity retailer to opt in and you need a smart meter which your retailer can install. Because electricity costs a little more outside the free period, the offer delivers the greatest savings when you shift energy-hungry tasks to the middle of the day; like clothes washing, clothes drying, dishwashing, air conditioning, water heating, EV charging or running the pool pump.

Second, from 17 June 2026, you can save energy in your home.

The NSW government’s Home Energy Saver program offers interest-free loans to eligible households of up to $15,000, repayable over as long as 10 years.

The loans can help fund rooftop solar, home batteries, insulation, air conditioning, switchboard upgrades, ceiling fans and draught-proofing. Later this year, eligible concession card holders will be able to access rebates of up to $4,000.

Together, these initiatives are a powerful combination.

Anne StuartZero Emissions Byron

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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.

Mammalian meat allergy and my heart valve replacement

Increasingly, people living in bush areas of the Shire are becoming aware of Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA). Also known as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), the disease is caused when a tick bites you and transfers a sugar called alpha-gal into your bloodstream.

Where to from here for a healthy future?

Sometimes it is hard not to lose hope, with the depth and breadth of the challenges that have faced the Northern Rivers. From the droughts, fires, Covid, and the 2022 floods it’s sometimes hard to see a way forward.

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.