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Byron Shire
July 16, 2025
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Heading for the snow? Be prepared!

With bumper snowfalls and school holiday crowds flooding the Snowy Mountains, the NSW government is urging drivers to be prepared before heading to the alpine region, warning that too many are arriving under-equipped for dangerous winter road conditions.

Evidence of police brutality against Hannah Thomas

Having reviewed police body-worn camera evidence of a pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney, Hannah Thomas's lawyer Peter O'Brien says it's clear that police punched Ms Thomas in the face, causing grievous bodily harm.

World Heritage Committee questions management of Great Barrier Reef

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has ordered a full review of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef management in 2026, following the sixth mass bleaching event in nine years and severe coastal flooding.

Crescent Head murders remembered, 30 years on

NSW Police Force Acting Commissioner, Peter Thurtell APM, has reflected on one of the darkest days in the history of the NSW Police Force – the shooting murders of two officers at Crescent Head on the Mid North Coast, 30 years ago.

More EV chargers hitting NSW streets

Electric vehicle drivers in NSW will soon have access to another 549 new kerbside chargers across 130 suburbs, as the result of a $2.8 million investment by the NSW government.

Foilboard crossing from Bali to G-Land

In a milestone for the foiling world, Australian waterman and Amos Shapes team rider Joshua Ku has become the first person to complete a stand-up paddle (SUP) hydrofoil crossing from Uluwatu, Bali to G-Land, Java.

EPA report outlines declining ecosystems

The latest snapshot around the health of the biodiversity and ecology in NSW has been released, with figures showing more decline of threatened species and the ecosystems that support them.

Woman charged over alleged spiritual blessing scam targeting Asian people

A woman has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into spiritual blessing scams targeting people of Asian background.

MyGov does not send links in texts or emails – it’s a SCAM

If you have recently received texts or emails from myGov that contain links DO NOT CLICK on them – it is a scam.

Drug Summit consensus was clear – we need the NSW government to implement its recommendations

Today, six leading social services organisations issued a Joint Statement calling on the NSW government to urgently implement the recommendations of the Drug Summit Report.

MLC Sue Higginson blames Minns’ anti-protest laws for police violence

NSW MLC Sue Higginson says the continued actions by Premier Chris Minns to clamp down on political expression and peaceful protest are empowering state violence against the community of NSW, with the recent assault and arrests by police at a peaceful community protest revealing the impact of Minns’ rhetoric and law-making in empowering state violence by police against the community.

Average speed cameras switch to enforcement mode

From tomorrow (1 July) both light and heavy vehicles will receive penalties for speeding at two trial sites in regional NSW, as part of a trial that extends the use of average speed cameras to light vehicles for the first time.

SES warns of risks from possible East Coast Low

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is preparing for the impacts of a possible East Coast Low with heavy rain, damaging winds and large surf, and is urging the community to get ready.

Decriminalisation a first step in regulating marijuana in NSW?

As the NSW Upper House released its final report into the regulation of cannabis in NSW it is clear there is a significant and ongoing shift in community views on cannabis use with the latest Roy Morgan poll demonstrating that 48 per cent of Australians now support legalising marijuana.

‘Support. Don’t Punish’ as calls for evidence-based drug reform go out to NSW government

Advocates for evidence-based drug reform are urging the NSW government to act on recommendations from last year’s NSW Drug Summit to save lives.

Minns leaves koalas out in the cold as logging in Great Koala National Park continues

The Forest Alliance NSW has strongly criticised the Minns’ government budget for failing to allocate the money needed to deliver its promised Great Koala National Park and future forest industry reform.

Nationals outraged by Telstra phone outage

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is calling for Universal Service Obligation (USO) reform, as a mobile phone outage in the Western Downs of Queensland continues to 'cause havoc'.

NSW government foregoes $1 billion

The state budget handed down yesterday is proof that the Minns government cares more about the interests of the gambling industry than it does the people of NSW, according to Greens MP and gambling harm reduction spokesperson, MLC Cate Faehrmann.

Another logging protest in Tasmania, as state election approaches

The morning after Western Australia legislated to ban logging, in Tasmania the logging of ancient forests was halted by another daily protest calling on political leaders to save this ancient forest and forests across the state from further destruction.

Northern Rivers continues to support refugees on World Refugee Day

The Northern Rivers has been active in settling refugees here and since August 2022 has seen 42 refugees from Syria and Venezuela settled across the region.

Jewish Council of Australia condemns attacks on starving Gazans

The Jewish Council of Australia, which was formed in February 2024, has condemned Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gazan Palestinians trying to access food. 

Protesters again halt Australia’s worst logging

Bob Brown Foundation says Australia's worst native forest logging is currently underway in Tasmania's Central Highlands. The Foundation has recently carried out multiple forest protests in this area to highlight the critical need to end native forest logging. So far, four people have been arrested defending this forest.

Farmers leading the renewable charge

With droughts, floods and other extreme weather impacting farm profitability across the country, cutting input costs is becoming even more critical to building a resilient future for Australian agriculture. On-farm renewable energy is proving to be a powerful tool to help farmers get there.

Make Music Day returns to Australia on Saturday

The global celebration of music making is back, with Make Music Day taking place on Saturday 21 June around Australia and the world.

NSWALC announces Aboriginal Ranger Gathering sponsorship 

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) is proud to announce a three-year sponsorship of the inaugural Aboriginal Ranger Gathering, hosted by Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) and the Walaaybaa Rangers from 16–20 June 2025 at Trelawney Station near Tamworth.

Illegal logging by Forestry NSW called out by Nature Conservation Council

Recent on-ground community checks in the Styx State Forest in Northern NSW reveal that the area has already been logged by Forestry Corporation of NSW prior to legally required surveys being conducted.

Two Northern Rivers locals arrested in Tasmania

Northern Rivers filmmaker Juliet Lamont and local Hamish Paterson have been arrested after locking onto logging machinery to protect the endangered Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle.

BBF supports ban on industrial fishing in Antarctica

In the 21st century we have come to realise just how important the health of our oceans and seas are, and the Bob Brown Foundation has backed an international call for a ban on industrial fishing in Antarctica.

ATO scam alert – Don’t respond to ATO messages or texts until you know they are real

Do you know anyone who has been caught out by a tax scam phone call or email? I certainly do and it can be devastating for people who lose their food and rent money and savings

Fear of mining turning drinking water toxic in Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions

Around 100,000 people in the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions could be impacted by mining for minerals on the Dorrigo Plateau and in the Wild Cattle Creek area, both within vital water catchments for these residents.

Research shows why teachers are leaving their jobs

New research using population-wide administrative tax data by e61 Institute researchers Dr Silvia Griselda and Jack Buckley, provides the clearest picture to date of who is leaving teaching, why, and what happens next.

Governance of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in NSW

The  New South Wales Auditor-General's Report, a performance audit, was released today – a timely reminder of the Agreement on Closing the Gap, during Reconciliation Week.

When will federal government reveal the flood risks ahead?

Following record-breaking floods on NSW’s Mid North Coast that have left almost 800 homes uninhabitable, 38 former emergency service commissioners and chief officers from every state and territory are calling on the federal government to immediately release its completed National Climate Risk Assessment, so communities and emergency services can better prepare for more frequent and destructive disasters, supercharged by climate change.

UNESCO says Australia must do more to protect Great Barrier Reef

The Australian and the Queensland government have a lot of work to do to keep the Great Barrier Reef off the World Heritage 'In Danger' list, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) said after UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre released its draft decision yesterday.

Share the Dignity calls on local councils to end period poverty

To mark Menstrual Hygiene Day (today, May 28), national charity Share the Dignity has written to every local councillor and mayor in Australia, urging them to take action on period poverty by joining the Council Cares program, a grassroots initiative that equips councils with practical tools to promote menstrual equity.

Labor trades science for gun lobby politics in feral animal bounty backflip

NSW MLC Sue Higginson says the state government’s decision to enter into a deal with the Shooters Party to reintroduce private bounties for shooting invasive species will undermine environment management in NSW back decades, and flies in the face of the scientific knowledge on managing invasive species.

Victims Register reforms pass NSW parliament

Significant reforms to the state’s victims registers passed the NSW parliament last night, ensuring victim-survivors of serious crimes receive a mandatory notification about their right to sign up as a registered victim, in order to receive critical information about an offender.

Boots on the ground as recovery efforts continue

Clean-up efforts are in full swing following the devastating floods across the Mid North Coast as the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), emergency services personnel from across the country, the Australian Defence Force and community volunteers provide assistance.

Three dead; one missing in Mid North Coast floods

Police urge motorists to drive safely after three people died and a man remains missing in floodwaters as severe weather continues to impact the Mid North Coast.

Body of man found in home impacted by floods – Mid North Coast

The body of a man has been located during floods on the state’s Mid North Coast yesterday afternoon.

NSW prison population reaches five-year high

New data released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) reveals that the NSW adult prison population rose to 13,103 in March 2025. This marks the highest number of inmates since the COVID pandemic began in March 2020.

MLC Sue Higginson calls out ‘shameful betrayal of country and culture’

The Native Title Tribunal has handed down a decision that extinguishes the land rights of the Gomeroi People in order to allow multinational gas giant Santos to proceed with its coal seam gas project in the Pilliga Forest.

Parkway Drive to head new music fest

The music from Mullum’s inaugural Roots Festival may still be lingering in locals’ ears but the rebirth of Byron’s festival scene continues, this time honouring a distinctly louder sound: heavy metal.

New Lennox Head roundabout finished

Work on a new roundabout at the intersection of Byron Bay Road and Byron Street at Lennox Head has finished.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: The tall story

When do you paint over a ‘tall wall’? You know that wall where you measure your kids? Where you use a pencil or pen to do the unthinkable: write on the wall! But this is permissible, because it’s not graffiti, it’s data. It’s how you mark your child has grown over time. Sometimes you measure yourself there for fun, and to watch your child gain centimetres as gravity and age take yours. Tall walls are messy. They are part of the story of your home.

Due process: a matter of public interest

I am at a loss to understand how the development applicaiton (DA) for McAuleys Lane could have been legally approved. Following is my personal...