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←Volume 35
![]( "Lessons on resilience, regeneration from Iran")
![]( "Rainbow Region Dragon boat racers pick up third place in return to racing")
![]( "Lennox Head thrash Ballina at cricket")
![]( "The value of kindness taught at Wilsons Creek school")
![]( "Editorial – A personal take on politics and media")
![]( "Byron Councillor’s DA approved, despite staff recommendation")
![]( "Trains, rails and questions of multi-use trails")
![]( "Community engagement issues over Mullum Greenspine project")
![]( "Cartoon of the week – 17 February, 2021")
![]( "Entertainment in the Byron Shire for the Week Beginning 17 February, 2021")
![]( "Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Skimpy Excuses for Men’s Behaviour")
February 17, 2021
In this Issue:
Jaimini hut
Margot Hays, Bangalow I would like to voice my opinion regarding the hut structure at Belongil where Jaimini sits and meditates, along with others. This space on the beach is not hurting anyone. In fact Jaimini talks with many people...
Gold Coast of Byron
Matt Hartley, Byron Bay I think it’s all about canals, West Byron, and a pile of money. Since The Echo published a letter from me on 28 October, 2020 about Gold Coast canal development in Belongil, I’ve encountered surprisingly intense...
Wonderful Council
Raphael Lee Cass, Byron Bay I went for a swim at Belongil Beach the other day and was shocked to see someone using a beach tent. I walked a little further and there was a beach umbrella with a man...
A name by any other
Rod Murray, Ocean Shores An extract from Turning the Tide, the latest Australian Marine Conservation supporter newsletter: ‘Last year the Adani Group renamed the Abbot Point coal terminal to “North Queensland Export Terminal” and also rebranded themselves as “Bravus”. But their new...
Right to die
James Regan, Myocum Jeff Dawson’s article ‘Celebrating a life and dignified death’ (10 February) highlights the systemic bias that exists against older people. Mr Dawson’s photo captures a gleeful Cathy Henkel proudly embracing her equally cheery daughter, Lara, following the premiere...
Don’t worry, be greedy
Desmond Bellamy, PETA Australia The deputy prime minister has said that the government will consider excluding agriculture from future long-term climate change targets. That makes about as much sense as smoking during cancer treatment. As the government struggles to reach our...
Lessons on resilience, regeneration from Iran
Zara Noruzi is one of the special guest speakers at the Byron Shire Resilience and Regeneration Roadshow, hosted by Renew Fest and Resilient Byron.
Rainbow Region Dragon boat racers pick up third place in return...
The Lennox Head-based Rainbow Region Dragon boat team had a promising start to 2021, when they picked up a third place at the Broadwater Regatta.
Lennox Head thrash Ballina at cricket
A century by Jacob Fulwood helped Lennox Head second grade cricket team to a strong win over the Ballina Bears in the Coastal League last Saturday.
The value of kindness taught at Wilsons Creek school
Wilsons Creek Public School has joined the Kindness On Purpose movement, which aims to teach children and teenagers how to be kind to themselves and kind to others.
Skennars Head
Joshua Scicluna, Skennars Head I am a resident of Skennars Head, and I am absolutely appalled to see my favourite plot of Ballina Council land (the headland just off Sharpes Beach) – be defaced by a man-made bike path. As a...
Editorial – A personal take on politics and media
Since its inception in 1986 by a bunch of ratbag hippy locals, The Echo has championed the voice of the afflicted, not the comfortable. That should be the aim of every media organisation.
Mullum’s green spine
M Green, Myocum Regarding Council’s concept ideas for the Stuart Street ‘Green Spine Project’, I am strongly opposed to any change in the traffic arrangement in Stuart Street that might reduce access to the town or that reduces parking ability...
Mt Warning ban
Marc Hendrickx, Berowra Heights Indigenous readers please note the following letter contains the name of a deceased local elder. For years now NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have been actively seeking to reduce visitors to the Mt Warning National...
Byron Councillor’s DA approved, despite staff recommendation
An interesting question: should Byron’s councillors be assessing DAs that have been lodged by their Council colleagues?
Trains, rails and questions of multi-use trails
The question of what to do with the disused rail corridor remains a hot debate 15 years after the last train ran. Rail trail, rail only, rail with trail; it seems the only thing people can agree on is that the corridor is being squandered while it sits unused.
Suffolk Park bike track
Kerry Wright, Suffolk Park Thank you Echo (10 February) for your support in publishing an informative article about the Council-approved Pump Track Stage 2 development at Suffolk Park. To clarify, I am not a homeowner there, and I never call...
Weed policy
Helen Hawkes, Ballina Can Byron Shire Council explain why they are still using a glyphosate formulation, Weedmaster Duo, in Bangalow parks when organic herbicides are available even from Bunnings? While children and pets played in the park off Deacon Street on...
Old tricks?
Fast Buck$, Coorabell After I wrote last week’s letter questioning Council’s performance in a court case it lost I was handed a copy of the Commissioner’s written judgement in that matter. I nearly fell over when I saw that Council...
The great reset
Lucas Wright, Billinudgel Like many of the highly speculative ideas that swirl around on the internet, there is a kernel of truth to the notion that the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) latest annual theme, The Great Reset, is worrying –...
Community engagement issues over Mullum Greenspine project
The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and a group of local businesses and landowners have raised a range of issues over the implementation and management of the Mullumbimby Greenspine project by Byron Shire Council.
Koala clearing
Maggy Todd, Rosebank After reading the article by Aslan Shand (3 February), I drove up Rifle Range Rd to check out the situation for myself. What confronted me was an act of what I consider to be environmental vandalism...
Cartoon of the week – 17 February, 2021
Letters to the editor We love to receive letters, but not every letter will be published; the publication of letters is at the discretion of the online and print letters editors. The deadline for the Byron Echo newspaper is noon Friday and letters longer...
Entertainment in the Byron Shire for the Week Beginning 17 February,...
Entertainment in the Byron Shire for the Week Beginning 17 February, 2021
Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Skimpy Excuses for Men’s Behaviour
My shirt is not an invitation to rape me. My dress is not an invitation to follow me home. My strappy singlet is not the reason you lost your job. My body is not responsible for your behaviour.
