Local News

This morning Ballina Shire Council will hear a motion from Cr Steve McCarthy to remove the native macaranga tree from the list of approved species for planting by Ballina Council and local community groups.

The long-awaited state government analysis of the 2022 flood in the shire’s north is now available on the SES website.

In February and March 2022, our region was subject to a series of weather events that causeed one of the nation’s worst recorded flood disasters. The economic impact of a natural disaster can be felt far beyond the damage to housing and infrastructure.

A stunning new exhibition has opened to celebrate the Tweed Regional Museum's 20th anniversary – Omnia: all and everything.

A man has died in hospital following an E bike crash in Byron Bay earlier this month.

The youth of Kyogle were asked what their number one priority was and they said it was ‘is looking after the health of the river and they want to be involved in healing it’.

Byron Council’s financial ship is beginning to list concerningly, taking from its reserves and other funds in order to bail out its bottom line.

The reintroduction of weevils that have previously kept weeds at bay at Waterlily Park in Ocean Shores is now underway while the weather is favourable, say Council staff.

At around midnight last night, a fire started which engulfed the old Mullumbimby railway station. It's been twenty years since the last train came through, but the building has been an important community hub, providing office space for a number of organisations, including COREM, Mullum Music Festival and Social Futures.

A public hearing into insurers’ responses to the 2022 flood was held in Lismore last Thursday, with one local insurance brokerage business owner describing the compact that exists between insurers and society as ‘broken’. 

This year’s official NSW Bush Fire Danger Period closed on March 21. Essential Energy says its thoughts are now turned toward to the 2024-25 season, and it has begun surveying its powerlines in and around the North Coast region.

Residents keen to stay up to date on the status of the temporary track at Tyalgum Road – particularly during significant rain events – are urged to sign up to a new SMS alert system launched by Tweed Shire Council.

Ballina Shire Council has started preliminary investigation works at Fishery Creek Bridge, on River Street, and Canal Bridge, on Tamarind Drive, as part of their plan to duplicate both bridges.

Tweed Council is looking for feedback from residents about future plans for sport and recreation in the area.

It’s been a long wait, but two years on from the 2022 flood REDinc in Lismore have announced the official opening of a new Performing Arts Centre.

After two delays, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) will be treating Bruns emergency pods with a pesticide treatment, despite some strong opposition from flood-affected residents.

Byron Bay Football Club may finally get the funds to complete its new clubhouse, with Byron councillors to consider loaning the club $200,000 at this week’s meeting.

Though no machinery arrived at Wallum this morning, contractors and police were on the development site at Brunswick Heads as well as dozens of Save Wallum protesters. 

WATER Northern Rivers Alliance says despite decades of objection, Rous County Council have just commissioned yet another heritage and biodiversity study in the Rocky Creek valley, between Dunoon and The Channon, in the heart of the Northern Rivers.

As the drama unfolded between police and protesters at the Wallum Development in Brunswick Heads yesterday, people were drawn to the site by the red alerts sent out by the Save Wallum organisers.