Echonetdaily is your independent source of local news on the NSW north coast. The Echo covers the northern rivers including the Tweed Shire, Byron Shire, Lismore City and Ballina Shire. Our experienced team of reporters have a wealth of local knowledge and are passionate about protecting and promoting our community and unique way of life. With good old-fashioned journalism and in-depth articles on important issues, Echonetdaily is the best place to keep up with local current affairs. Coverage includes regular council reports and stories about the environment, development, coal seam gas mining, national parks and wildlife, threatened species, alternative energy and lifestyles, tourism, farming and local food production and much more. From Byron Bay to Murwillumbah, Nimbin to Lennox Head, Kingscliff to Mullumbimby, Tweed Heads to Bangalow, Ballina to Coolangatta, Lismore and beyond, Echonetdaily has you covered!
Byron Echo
Natives planted along Bruns River to improve fish habitat
A fishing conservation charity says it has recently planted 360 native trees on the Brunswick River.
Local News
Why Pat Morton?
David Lowe - 1
Ballina's Cr Jeff Johnson is raising a motion to re-name culturally significant local sites at today's council meeting.
Local News
Learner charged after Bruns roundabout crash
A 16-year-old learner driver has been charged with a string of offences after a crash in Brunswick Heads on Tuesday night.
Local News
When the endless summer turns sour
Paul Bibby - 5
Ben Mallinson was paddling for a routine right-breaking wave at The Pass when the dark-haired surfer suddenly cut across in front of him from the outside.
Local News
Byron Shire award winners
Paul Bibby - 1
Natural Death Care Centre founder and V-Day event co-organiser, Zenith Virago, is the 2021 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year.
Local News
The light within emerges from the ashes
Paul Bibby - 0
Massimiliano Guerrisi will never forget the sight of his Bega Valley home being devoured during the Black Summer bushfires.
Local News
Suffolk Park gardeners angry over Council’s double standard
Gardeners at the Suffolk Park Community Garden say they’ve been trapped in a procedural Catch-22 by Byron Shire Council, after it gave the green light to an expanded pump track (BMX track).
Local News
Ballina Shire Australia Day award winners
The Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards were announced at the official celebrations held on this morning at the Lennox Head Cultural Centre.
Local News
Lismore marks Invasion/Survival Day
Hundreds of First Nations people and supporters gathered at Lismore Environment Centre this morning to mark Invasion/Survival Day.
Local News
‘Angwirri’ greets the dawn upon Sydney icon
Eve Jeffery - 6
‘Angwirri’, meaning 'begin to talk', is the name of a sensational piece of Indigenous art that greeted the dawn on the sails of the Sydney Opera House this morning.
Byron Echo
Kerry O’Brien reverses decision to accept AO
‘With regret, I have decided to reverse my decision to accept my appointment as an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia’.
Local News
Byron Shire’s community awards – January 25
Zenith Virago was named the 2021 Byron Shire Citizen of the Year at an awards ceremony held in Byron Bay last night.
Local News
Australia Day Warning from your local SLSC
Surf Life Saving New South Wales has issued a warning to beachgoers to heed safety advice after a huge weekend on beaches, with heatwave conditions and large swells forecast for today.
Local News
Queensland Health issues public health alert
Queensland Health is asking anyone who has arrived from New Zealand since 14 January, including on green corridor flights, to get tested and quarantine until they receive a negative test result.
Local News
GetUp! wants to know what you think about losing your papers
Many parts of Australia, in particular, some rural and remote areas were stunned by the closure of their local print newspaper last winter.
Local News
Cr Darlene Cook: more to Lismore City Council than roads, rates and rubbish
David Lowe - 2
In the first of a series about those who are putting their hats in the ring to be the next mayor of Lismore, Cr Darlene Cook talks about the issues close to her heart, for the city at the heart of the Northern Rivers.
Local News
New look and feel for Echonetdaily readers
Eve Jeffery - 5
Every old Echonetdaily is renewed again – the face of our online presence has had a lift as we step into 2021. With over...
Local News
Two charged with assault in separate incidents
A man and a woman have been charged with assault after separate violent incidents last week, one in Byron Bay and one in Mullumbimby.
Local News
Lismore police pursuit ends in charges
Police say a man has been charged over alleged pursuits and a crash overnight.
Local News
Drowning risk warning for Australia Day weekend
Royal Life Saving is urging the public to take care around water this Australia Day weekend, with their research showing that the risk of drowning doubles on public holidays.
Local News
Wollumbin track closure may be permanent
Paul Bibby - 32
Paul Bibby The debate over whether it’s appropriate to climb Wollumbin – also known as Mt Warning – could ultimately be decided by concerns over...
Local News
Teddy Sheean VC remembered in Ballina
David Lowe - 1
Member for Richmond Justine Elliot spoke to a group who gathered at the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum this week to remember Victoria Cross winner, Teddy Sheean, who was awarded the highest award for bravery in 2020.
Local News
Call to extend Job Keeper for live music industry
Blues Festival organiser Peter Noble has joined calls for the government to step forward and Save our Stages and support musicians and workers in the live music industry as they struggle to make ends meet.
Local News
Baby forcibly removed from parents in Byron Shire
Aslan Shand - 0
Significant community concern has been raised over the forcible removal of an infant under one from its parents in Byron Shire in the last few weeks.
Local News
Water in short supply for Alstonville on 27 January
Around 185 properties in Alstonville will be without water on 27 January wile the Ballina Shire Council installs a new water main. The outage will be from 9am to 3pm.
Local News
It’s legal to grow and distribute – but only by the anointed
Aslan Shand - 2
Byron based medicinal cannabis producer is sending cannabis to Germany in a breakthrough $92m deal yet the humble plant remains illegal for locals and continues to put people behind bars.
Byron Echo
Rail trail debate
Geoff Meers, Suffolk Park
It was good to read David Lisle’s comprehensive and reasoned discussion of the history of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail corridor....
Byron Echo
No respect
Chibo Mertineit, Lillian Rock
Once again it’s that time of the year where we are meant to celebrate Australia day on 26 January. The day...
Byron Echo
A window of trust
Baden Offord, Ocean Shores
Wholeheartedly agree with Dave Rastovich’s spot-on letter regarding the value and benefit of The Echo, that it is a ‘trusted window’ (Letters,...