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Editorial
Byron Echo
Editorial – Giving it a tick and flick
The rezoning of high-value agricultural land for future housing – some on floodplains – is likely to be rushed through at Thursday’s Council meeting with last-minute tinkering – see page 1.
Byron Echo
Editorial – Emergency volunteerism
Two years ago this week, it’s fair to say the entire north coast was in shock and struggling to comprehend the extent of what just happened.
Byron Echo
Editorial – Grab the popcorn and bean bags
Both Mayor Michael Lyon and fellow councillor, Mark Swivel, offered an apology to the followers of the Save Wallum Facebook page last week.
Byron Echo
Once known as the rainbow region
The most poignant moment from Thursday’s boisterous and unruly Council meeting was listening to elderly Mullum resident, Peter McGill.
Editorial
Editorial – Untethering from developers
There’s no doubt that social and affordable housing in NSW is in need of life support. Thankfully, the NSW government put out a media release last week to say the entire system will be rebuilt. But how?
Byron Echo
Editorial – Young people listen up!
Hello, impressionable young person. ICYMI, the world as we inhabit it isn’t in great shape.
Byron Echo
Editorial – We’ve had complaints
The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) sure did stir up a lot of complaints to The Echo, given their inflammatory and inaccurate statements in their page 5 advertisement last week.
Byron Echo
Editorial – Council as a developer
There’s a few Council-led housing projects burbling away under the surface, one of which has popped up again with the statutory requirement to engage with the public.
Editorial
Editorial – If you haven’t got anything to hide…
It’s an odd Byron Shire Council that Mayor Michael Lyon, and acting General Manager (GM), Shannon Burt, lead.
Editorial
Editorial – Northern rivers are sick
A recently released scientific paper on the health of the Richmond River has found a mix of pesticides (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides) at dangerous levels.
Byron Echo
Editorial – Narcissist awareness week!
With a myriad of ‘weeks’ dedicated to raising awareness for many different causes, here’s a pitch for one focussed on one of the most destructive human traits known – narcissism.
Byron Echo
Editorial – Make Mullum Great Again!
Have you been watching the gradual decline of Mullum over the years? Less attention to curbs and gutters? Virtually no improvements to drainage after a catastrophic flood?
Byron Echo
Editorial – Don’t know, don’t care
The victorious ‘No’ camp is oddly reluctant to examine the roots of its cruel snub to our First Nations peoples.
Byron Echo
Editorial – The best democracy money can buy
Last week, The Juice Media published a YouTube video, Honest Government Ad | How to rig elections.
Editorial
Editorial– Byron Council’s $250k deficit
Among the many pressing issues on the agenda are budget adjustments, which are proposed by James Brickley, Council’s Manager Finance.
Byron Echo
Editorial – Young people fight for a future
Young people are fighting for their future. They are asking governments to stop approving fossil-fuel operations and to put the money, focus and opportunity towards technology and options that will make a difference.
Byron Echo
Putting planning in balance
Aslan Shand - 3
From the protests over the development of Bayside’s Wallum Estate at Brunswick Heads to local housing forums and demands for housing for all, the challenge facing us is difficult.
Byron Echo
Editorial: Time for drug law reform
Aslan Shand - 5
The ACT is leading the way and it is time for NSW to step up and address the adverse impact of current drug laws.
Byron Echo
Editorial: The biggest burps, ever
Preppers, or those preparing for an apocalypse, may already know, but in 1859, the sun belched trillions of tonnes of plasma at our small pale blue dot, causing major disruptions to primitive telegraph poles.
Editorial
Editorial: Submission on Council’s Housing Option Paper
Byron Shire Council is asking residents to comment on its Housing Options Paper, which is currently on exhibition at www.byron.nsw.gov.au until November 6.
Byron Echo
Editorial: The have yachts
Australia’s image of ‘a fair go’ has waned over the past two decades, with the gap ‘blowing out’ between those who have lots, and those without much.
Byron Echo
Editorial: It’s a done deal!
Congratulations to Council staff and Mayor Michael Lyon on convincing the NSW Labor government that Byron Shire is a unique place, and as such, it will now have a tailored holiday letting policy.
Byron Echo
Editorial: Be more like Gavin Newsom
The US state of California is suing five major fossil fuel companies over their contribution to the climate crisis.
Byron Echo
Editorial: It’s a social housing party!
After six months of bickering, federal political parties of similar stripes – Labor and Greens – came together and said ‘Yes’ to a $10b social/affordable housing package.
Editorial
Editorial – The answer is ‘Yes’
Yes, we have printed the Uluru Statement from the Heart on the front page of The Echo newspaper this week. They are the words of simplicity, dignity and truth that stirred the government into presenting us with a referendum.
Byron Echo
Editorial: Upscaling urban development
Let’s take a short dip into how Mayor Michael Lyon intends to ramp up urban development in the Byron Shire.
Editorial
Editorial: Just say know
Let’s briefly unpack the ‘No’ campaign rhetoric for the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum!
Editorial
Editorial: All hail, Supreme Unelected Planning Overlord
I CYMI, Marcus Ray, Deputy Secretary NSW Planning, has been bestowed enormous powers by an ineffectual and weak NSW Labor planning minister.
Editorial
Editorial: If only Assange was a Kiwi
As an Australian, I’ve always felt somewhat inspired by New Zealand’s rugged independence and forward thinking.
Byron Echo
Editorial: Ban that smut!
The banning of books is not all that uncommon – it’s done for political, legal, religious or ‘moral’ censorship reasons.
Byron Echo
Editorial: Tackling autobesity
About ten years ago, the four-wheel drive car, useful in rural areas with poor roads, began to lose ground to the larger sports utility vehicle.
Editorial
Editorial: Excuse me while I scream into this pillow
Self-reflection isn’t a common attribute for politicians, especially the corporatised ‘in the tent’ types.
Editorial
Editorial: Do you trust ‘affordable housing’?
With a recent media release by Council claiming Byron is now the hotspot for homelessness, Mayor Michael Lyon used the opportunity to pivot to his obsession: ‘Council is doing everything it can to generate more affordable housing’.
Editorial
Editorial: Will the nation find its Voice?
Later this year we will be asked if we agree to establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Opinion polls show that opposition to the Voice proposal is growing.
Editorial
Editorial: Let us talk of rainbows and unicorns
An unusual thing happened last week – it was almost like unicorns exist!
Byron Echo
Editorial: Flood goal post moved
Late breaking news! On Tuesday, The Echo discovered that the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) is even worse than they were last week.
Byron Echo
Pam’s chemical-free farming passion
Third-generation farmer Pam Morrow has been growing her own organic food for over 20 years. Her passion for farming without the use of chemicals...
National News
Many rental homes barely habitable due to heat
Rental homes had an average indoor temperature of 25°C and experienced two hours a day over 30°C according to a new report, 'Cruel Summers', from tenant advocacy organisation Better Renting.
Byron Echo
Stone and Wood’s new NRB beer
Stone and Wood have launched a new beer: Northern Rivers Beer (NRB). At a warm, and pretty laidback, night at the Billinudgel Hotel earlier...
Byron Echo
The Drongo: even more of them around these days
The team at Spangled Drongo Brewing officially fired up their brewhouse in June last year, but you may have heard their name prior to...