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June 6, 2026

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Cartoon of the week – 3 June, 2026

The Echo loves your letters and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, send us your epistles.

Other News

Israel’s rehabilitation

Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians has not ended and it will not end before Israel officially renounces its intention...

Local family-owned Byron businesses asking for your support

Long-term, local Byron businesses are calling on the community for support as they struggle to remain afloat as the drainage works in Byron Bay continue.

Lennox headland tree planting day this Friday

Ballina Shire Council, GeoLINK and Rous Council are inviting the community to roll up their sleeves and help restore the iconic Lennox Headland, at the 21st Lennox Head Community Tree Planting Day on Friday 5 June.

Author Tristan Bancks follows up with Two Wolves sequel

Local author Tristan Bancks launched his new book for readers 10+, Raised By Wolves, at Byron Book Room last night (Thursday 4 June).

NBN News reduces local content, sparks MP concerns

Local federal MP Justine Elliot (Labor) has voiced concerns after NBN News announced a reduction in local TV news quality and service.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Saying Goodbye to a Very Handsome Man

Last week an old friend of mine died. His name was Gary Cook. We met here in Byron Bay, when I was 23. He would have been in his early 30s. He was handsome. And funny. And weird. And self-involved. He used to come to Ringos, where I worked as a waitress. He’d sing to himself, bludge cigarettes, and shine up the serviette holder. He loved looking at himself. He’d laugh and say, ‘God, I’m a handsome man,’ and then he’d laugh this really infectious laugh

June 30, 2021

Byron Shire Echo issue 36.03 – June 30, 2021

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Byron Writers Festival | The Good Life | Good Taste | School Holidays | Soapbox | Stars | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Echo Property | Opinion Extra | Service Directory | Classifieds | Community at Work | Sport | Backlash

In this Issue:

Byron Council staff lukewarm with homelessness solutions

Two ideas put forward by Byron Council to help locals at risk of homelessness have hit a fatal speed bump in the form of a Council staff report, suggesting they are unfeasible.

When enough is enough

Alan Veacock, Cumbalum With the possibility of an early Federal election the voters of the Northern Rivers, before deciding, need to seriously consider the appalling record of Ministerial accountability, allegations of rorting, corruption, sexual misconduct and self-indulgence displayed by this Lib/Nat...

Housing solution?

David Temple, East Lismore Australia’s crisis of housing affordability and availability is probably at its most extreme in the Byron Shire. Efforts to provide new or affordable housing in the Shire are invariably met with opposition from local residents determined to protect...

Maquette sculptures on show

A new addition to the Mullum Sculpture Walk will be chosen this weekend at the Ingenuity Maquette Exhibition.

Biodiversity offsetting subject of inquiry

The NSW Legislative Council’s Environment and Planning Committee have announced an inquiry into the government’s biodiversity offsetting scheme.

3.9 million dead

John Donnellan, Ocean Shores Dean Jeffery’s blase and simplistic explanation of Covid transmission is worrying. At last count 3.9 million of our fellow human beings have died of this horribly contagious disease. This was growing exponentially until the creation of a handful...

Byron Shire Action Group announce ticket

There’s a new group of locals putting themselves forward for the upcoming Council elections, to be held September 4.

Back to the past

Keith Duncan, Pimilco Surprise surprise, the hopelessly divided Nationals are once again tearing themselves apart, bugger the country, over-inflated egos and grandiose illusions seem more important. Intellectual ability and common sense have never been among the Nationals strengths. Their ‘strength’ comes...

Alidenes Road, Wilsons Creek CT

Nirala Jacobi, Lower Wilsons Creek As a resident of Alidenes Road, I strongly object to the rezoning of the Wilsons Creek and Alidenes Rd area. Though I understand housing shortage is critical in the Shire, do we really want to start carving...

Heroes

Andrew Hall, Ocean Shores Wow, life does sneak up on you. Here I am strongly disapproving of Adani (rebranded as Bravus) and NSW coal mining and I am missing out on a chance to support one of my heroes. Which hero? Bob...

Council elections

Gwyn Hooper, Uki Can anyone tell me what benefit we get from federal party members standing in local Council elections? Personally the only reason for people standing in Council election under a federal party is to try and capture the entrenched vote...

Wilsons Creek rezoning proposal

Obi McDonald-Saint, Wilsons Creek I write to you in response to your article (Echo 23 June) about Council staff backing the Wilsons Creek rezoning proposal. This is a complete absurdity. 15–30 dwellings on less than 13 hectares is a ridiculous proposal and...

Bring on the clowns

Matthew Lambourne, Mullumbimby Barnaby is back, and the Government’s laughable ‘climate policy’ could, believe it or not, get even worse. Meanwhile, in the real world, a study published a couple of weeks ago Satellite and Ocean Data Reveal Marked Increase in Earth’s Heating...

Byron’s ‘real’ drama

Steve Rollison, Lennox Head I have just had a flick through this week’s Echo. I was distracted by Paul Bibby’s ‘local news’ article about an idea hatched by a local bar owner regarding the creation of a ‘show’ done by ‘locals’. This person is...

Paid parking please

Rod Murray, Ocean Shores Well, it looks like another rate rise is in the wind for Byron Shire ratepayers with no sign of paid parking in Brunswick Heads or Mullumbimby on the horizon. You have to wonder what it will take for...

Cartoon of the week – 30 June, 2021

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.

Must-see sessions at Byron Writers Festival

Byron Writers Festival is a three-day feast for the brain and soul. With more than 150 speakers appearing in 115 sessions over three days (6–8 August).

Don’t Give Up Your Day Job: Scott Owen, The Living End

Legendary band member of The Living End, one of Australia’s foremost musical exports, Scott Owen can usually be seen climbing the heights of his double bass on stage during high octane live sets

Surfing great hones coaching skills ahead of Olympics

Ross Kendall Former surf champion and Kingscliff local, Chelsea Hedges, was a successful recipient of Sport Australia’s 2021 Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) Program. Chelsea is among 160 participants who went through the six-week course that aims to support and empower...

Rainbow Region Dragon Boat members win state awards

Ross Kendall Angela Smith of Byron Bay and Carmen Watson of Lennox Head have received Dragon Boat New South Wales 2021 Recognition Awards for their achievements and contributions to their dragon boat community. Angela is 80 and was deemed the Senior...

Northern Rivers croquet clubs ready to host state titles

Ross Kendall Four local clubs are preparing to host the NSW 2021 Golf Croquet, division three, doubles and singles championships from Wednesday 14 till Sunday, 18 July. The contests are being co-hosted by Ballina Cherry Street Croquet, Ballina Croquet, Byron Bay...

Mumbai Masala brings authentic Indian flavours to Ballina

Radhika and Rahul Thacker are passionate about high quality, authentic food. Their family-owned restaurant has been bringing diverse Indian flavours from Gujurat and beyond to the heart of Ballina since 2019. Since opening, they have had to deal with natural...

Be part of the solution to plastic pollution

The easiest place to shop during Plastic Free July is your local farmers’ market, where plastic-free shopping is no big deal. Regular shoppers have been practising Plastic Free July every month for years, before KeepCups were even a thing....

Harvest lunches all week

Harvest is now open for lunch, seven days a week, and are open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday. The team is excited to be able to finally offer lunch all week long. Although the restaurant is open for dinners...

A Supernatural Byron wine experience

Byron’s first and only organic natural wine bar has new owners at the helm. The cosy little enclave in Bay Lane is being reinvigorated with fresh energy from local music producer and entrepreneur, Grant Weatherburn, and his photographer partner,...

Marooned yacht on rocks near Ballina

A local photographer has shot a marooned yacht at Flat Rock, in Ballina Shire. It's the second boat to be washed ashore in recent months

Echo celebrates 40 with awards night tomorrow

Tickets are selling fast! Come join a fun-filled night of community celebration – This Saturday (tomorrow) The Echo is set to mark its 40th year in style with a ’30s swing-era style party and community awards night featuring the dynamic sounds of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

Author Tristan Bancks follows up with Two Wolves sequel

Local author Tristan Bancks launched his new book for readers 10+, Raised By Wolves, at Byron Book Room last night (Thursday 4 June).

Lismore City Council recognised for environmental leadership at LG awards

Lismore City Council has been recognised for outstanding achievement in environmental leadership, resilience and community infrastructure at the 2026 LG Professionals NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.