13.2 C
Byron Shire
August 29, 2026

Sweetnam Park shines after major upgrade

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

Local Land Services

Are people aware that NSW is the only state to tax farmers for Local Land Services? Other states must...

One Night Only

What if one messy night turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to you? Will Gluck, the filmmaker of Anyone but You and Easy’, celebrates modern romantic comedy on the big screen with a fresh, witty, swoony, original film about searching for love on the least romantic night of the year in One Night Only.

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.

Rail trail future

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) represents one of the most exciting opportunities our region has seen in decades....

Peek behind the scenes of ‘Love for One Night’

Directed and devised by Julian Louis, NORPA's acclaimed production 'Love for One Night' returns to the Eltham Hotel this Thursday, running until 12 September.

Disastrous levels of sexism and misogyny in Australian schools

Monash University has conducted the largest Australian survey of teachers to examine their experiences of sexism, misogyny and sexual harassment in schools.

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.

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.