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Science Goes Viral
‘We have never seen a year like this’
Antarctica’s sea ice has reached its annual maximum – a record low – and has started to recede as temperatures warm during spring.
Local News
Pressure on NSW planning dep’t over Ballina Shire Council’s ‘opt-in’ Conservation Zones
Greens state member for Ballina Tamara Smith says she has written to planning minister Paul Scully seeking advice and counsel over controversial opt-in conservation zones in the Ballina Shire.
Byron Echo
Tribute to Peter Pedals, founder of Rainbow Power Company
It is with great sadness that the Rainbow Power family shares the news of the passing of our founder, Peter ‘Pedals’ van der Wyk.
Pete...
Byron Echo
Lennox roundabout pledged by federal Labor MP
Federal funding to build a new two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Byron Bay Road and Byron Street, Lennox Head has been pledged by local MP Justine Elliot (Labor).
Byron Echo
Disaster management needs different approach
Paul Bibby - 3
Disaster funding must favour social capital and community building, rather than just ‘mopping up’, the head of the philanthropic organisation, Northern Rivers Community Foundation, says.
Byron Echo
DV awareness run on October 15
I Run For Her is an annual community event held by Got Your Back Sista, which aims to spark critical conversations around domestic violence on a national scale, and for the first time will host events across Australia on October 15.
Local News
Royal Life Saving NSW summer-ready checklist
Royal Life Saving NSW says that as another scorching summer approaches, the service is preparing communities to avoid the alarming spike in drowning incidents witnessed last year.
National News
Two dead and 70 charged at Sydney music festivals
After two deaths – both confirmed to have been at the Knockout festival – NSW police say that there were more than 70 people charged with drug offences at two Sydney music events held on Saturday.
Political Comment
Stop the three word slogans
David Lowe - 8
Parliament in Canberra is in the midst of another interminable break, but it's been a big week in politics, with the departures from public life of Dan Andrews and Mike Pezzullo, Warren Mundine and Noel Pearson crossing swords at the National Press Club, and the tabling of the epic Disability Royal Commission Report.
Local News
Feros responds to Expression of Interest announcement
Eve Jeffery - 2
The announcement earlier today that the Minister for Crown Lands, Steve Kamper, started the Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for Feros Village Byron Bay has drawn a response from the Feros Care board that still sees the facility in terms of a 'closure'.
Byron Echo
Another wallaby death on beach prompts calls on dog owners
A Byron local says a dead wallaby found on Belongil beach last Saturday had all the hallmarks of a dog attack, and is calling on the public to be more vigilant and for authorities to step up to help protect native wildlife.
Local News
A win for Feros Village Byron Bay residents
Eve Jeffery - 6
A whole community can expel a sigh of relief at the breaking news that months of distress and sadness can now become part of history – this morning the Minister for Crown Lands, Steve Kamper, has announced that services providers for aged care are advised that Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for Feros Village Byron Bay.
National News
How do you rate the media rating system?
Parents are being asked to have a say on whether Australia’s media classification system is effective in informing decisions around age-appropriate films and video games for children.
Local News
It’s time! Tweed capsules of memories on view
Fifty-years ago Tweed Shire residents gathered at the site of the Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre and library and buried two time capsules before construction began and it's almost time to open them up.
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.
Local News
Families consider class action against Intrapac over cancelled Banyan Hill house and land contracts
Nearly fifty local Intrapac house and land buyers on the Northern Rivers may need to take Supreme Court action to avoid being short-changed and priced out of the region.
National News
Former NSW Premier Bob Carr backs end to land clearing in NSW
Recognising the impacts of logging and clearing native forests former NSW Premier Bob Carr has backed ongoing calls to halt land clearing in NSW.
Byron Echo
Byron homeless hub forced to cut vital services
Byron’s only homeless hub says it has to reduce services owing to an increase in demand and a lack of government funding.
Byron Echo
Don ya boxes, it’s a Shand memorial cricket match!
The strange urge to play cricket has a rich history in our local area.
Byron Echo
Feros slaps ban on media visits
Eve Jeffery - 0
On Saturday, on the way to visit Feros Byron Bay residents, The Echo was told via text and email from a Feros Care media spokesperson that, ‘Unfortunately we have a policy of no media on site.
Byron Echo
The politics of the 2023 Voice referendum non-existent in 1967
Australians voted in the 1967 referendum on May 27, 1967. Harold Holt was the prime minister at the time, a Liberal MP who led a Coalition with the Country Party.
Local News
Start saving water now say Tweed Council – water restrictions may be weeks away
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has declared an El Nino weather pattern, with less-than-average rainfall forecast for the Northern Rivers this year. Tweed Council is reminding residents and visitors that it is important to save water.
Local News
BES rejects Ramsey’s proposal to leave conservation zones to private landholders
Aslan Shand - 3
Ballina Environment Society (BES) has come out strongly against conservative independent Ballina Councillor Eva Ramsey’s proposal to have private property owners ‘opt in’ to conservation zones.
Byron Echo
Review on remote Indigenous Australians sheds light on the Voice to Parliament
As a white man living on Bundjalung Country, I acknowledge that it is not easy to make the cross-cultural shift from a Western paradigm lens to comprehend and appreciate the rich diversity and complexity of 65,000 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ sociocultural and spiritual history.
Byron Echo
Private property issue deflates bike path plan
Paul Bibby - 16
The long-discussed plan for a cycleway between Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads has hit a pothole, with an independent report finding a raft of issues with the preferred route.
Byron Echo
Urban increase blueprint unveiled for Byron Shire
meeting that, if eventually adopted, could see upscaled urban development across the Shire via ‘infill, new release, existing zoned vacant land and living differently’.
Byron Echo
Cartoon of the week – 27 September 2023
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.
Byron Echo
Mandy Nolans Soapbox: Unbranded
Mandy Nolan - 6
I’ll admit it. I was a Russell Brand fan. I thought he was funny. I thought the sexually rampaging lothario image was just a clever comedic persona. I thought he satirised the privilege and legacy of rock stars.
Local News
Disaster management needs different approach, says NRCF
Paul Bibby - 1
Disaster funding must favour social capital and community building, rather than just ‘mopping up’, the head of the philanthropic organisation, Northern Rivers Community Foundation, says.
Science Goes Viral
Pre-Incan mummies found in Peru by gas workers
The mummified bodies of eight individuals have been found by city workers who were digging a natural gas line in the Carabayllo district on the outskirts of Lima, capital of Peru.
Local News
State government pledges $5m for Lismore’s Two Rooms project
Paul Bibby - 2
More than 350 flood affected homes in the Northern Rivers region can now be repaired, getting vulnerable people back on their feet and into safe housing thanks to Resilient Lismore’s Two Rooms Project, backed by $5 million in funding from the NSW Government.
Local News
State government approves 60-day cap on short-term holiday letting in Byron
The state government has approved a new 60-day cap on non-hosted short term rental accommodation (STRA) for large parts of the Byron Shire. Most of NSW has no cap.
Local News
Ballina Shire Council to consider relinquishing conservation zone powers
The future of conservation zones in the Ballina Shire could be left to private landowners in a council vote expected this week.
Local News
Running the NY Marathon for type-1 diabetes research
Southern Cross University student Georgie Collis has type-1 diabetes but this won't stop her running in the New York Marathon in November to raise funds for research.
Local News
What do you think of the Wade Park masterplan?
So many of the Lismore LGA assets were damaged in last year’s flood and the process of rebuilding is creating an opportunity to do things differently.
Local News
Wollumbin Street bridge reduced to one lane
As part of the sewerage upgrade in Murwillumbah, Tweed Shire Council is urging motorists to plan ahead and seek alternative routes between the CBD and South Murwillumbah for up to four weeks from today.
Local News
They’re he-ere: SLSC surf patrols are on!
Eve Jeffery - 0
Surf Life Saving NSW says that more than 20,000 active volunteer lifesavers began patrols on beaches across the state on Saturday.
Entertainment News
Cinema: The Creator
The Creator – against the backdrop of a war between humans and robots with artificial intelligence, a former soldier finds the secret weapon, a robot in the form of a young child.
Byron Echo
Lucky, Lucky, Friday the 13th encore!
Experience the enchantment once again – The Magic of the Mundane returns to the Byron Theatre for an encore performance that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. Written by the brilliant Mikey Bryant of Mt Warning and brought to life by the captivating Elodie Crowe, with the mesmerising accompaniment of Tara Lee Byrne on the cello, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Byron Echo
Bluesfest 2024 – here we go!
Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM, says it’s Bluesfest Byron Bay’s 35th birthday next Easter, and as usual they’ll be rolling out multiple artist announcements over the coming months – here’s a couple of names you might know…
Entertainment News
The Almighty Sometimes
The Drill Hall was built in 1916 as home to the Mullumbimby Platoon of the 41st Battalion. It was later converted into a theatre in the 1970s. Over the years the interior was modified with the addition of a stage and raked seating installed in 2016. Thanks to a grant from Regional Development Australia and support from North Coast Events, AAE Industries and JC Coastal Construction, it has now been converted into a modern Black Box Theatre.
