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.
Imagine Northern Rivers (INR) has been finding a positive way to look at the future and since May 2025 they have hosted 26 workshops across the seven local government areas including Byron Shire.
In 2025 INR meetings were held in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores,and Brunswick Heads. Representatives from the civic, business, not-for-profit, government, university and cultural sectors, as well as general residents all participated. They looked at what regenerative, safe and adaptive futures could be like within the lifetime of a child born today, and what we need to do, and stop doing, to get there.
Key ideas included: culture of connection, mutual aid and contribution; actively regenerating the environment; localised, circular and nature-base economies; affordable and sustainable housing; flourishing arts and creative centres; valued education systems; food security; universal access to healthcare; governance models strengthen local voices; and renewable energy.
‘The intent is to inform and strengthen community-led responses to the mess we find ourselves in,’ said INR designer Carmen Stewart .
‘I think we can all agree that our business-as-usual approach is no longer benefitting people or planet. We need to move towards regenerative futures across our region (and world). And the starting place is to develop a shared understanding of what’s possible and the things we need to do (and stop doing) together, to guide us in a life-giving direction.’
You can review the Byron Shire workshops here and find out more about Imagine Northern Rivers at: https://ittakesatown.org.au/insightsbyron.
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