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June 5, 2026

Latest News

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

Other News

World Environment Day celebrated in M’bah, 7 June

A free family-friendly community celebration for World Environment Day will be held on Sunday, 7 June, at the Murwillumbah Showgrounds from 10am till 3pm.

Byron Council’s Sandhills Wetlands project takes first place at LG awards

The Sandhills Wetland restoration project in Byron Bay has won another major award, with Byron Shire Council taking first place at the Local Government Professionals 2026 NSW Excellence Awards.

Roadworks an upgrade?

I hope that Council kept their receipt for the Mullumbimby Road upgrade. Not even a year old and falling...

Ballina Shire Council’s special rate variation approved

Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved Ballina Shire Council's application to increase its general income through a permanent special variation (SV) of 26.25% [in rates] over four years, from 2026-27 to 2029-30.

The Greens’ 3-way comp: Ballina Councillor vs Byron candidates for state preselection

Byron Greens members could expect to be asked to take the future of the Richmond River further south into account when choosing a candidate for next year’s state election.

National minimum wage increases to $26.44p/h

With the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase the national minimum wage by 4.75%, Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is calling for further action to support people doing it tough, as well as the frontline community services helping them. “People are under severe pressure from interest rate rises, rent increases, higher fuel costs, and growing economic uncertainty due to the conflict in the Middle East,” said ACOSS Acting CEO Edwina MacDonald.

September 22, 2021

Byron Shire Echo issue 36.15 – September 22, 2021

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | #supportlocal | Good Taste | The Good Life | School Holidays | Byron Arts & Industry Estate | Making Spaces | Seven Entertainment | Soapbox | Gig Guide | Cinema | Stars | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Crossword | Classifieds | Community at Work | Backlash

In this Issue:

Community gardeners get busy in Suffolk

Suffolk Park Community Gardens was breifly out of lockdown last week, and the gardeners couldn’t wait to get back in the garden.

Old Byron Hospital advisory group seeks members

Eight members for an advisory group are being sought to help shape a new ‘social impact-focused community hub’ at the Old Byron Hospital site.

Large Wilsons Creek Community Title given green light

Plans for a 15-lot housing development in Wilsons Creek will proceed to the next stage of the planning process, without further amendment, despite the community expressing concerns around flooding and traffic safety.

Pre-Accelerator program on offer

Those seeking to start a business, or with an early-stage business are encouraged to apply for one of four subsidised program places through the Sourdough Business Pathways Pre-Accelerator Program.

A matter of choice

I have chosen to receive a vaccination. Others have chosen not to. Unless we are living in some totalitarian state, that should be the end of the matter. Both sides of politics are doing everything but holding a gun to our head...

Equitable allocation

In properly-scrutinised vaccination rollouts it is to be expected that vaccines are used as a device to protect the most vulnerable and otherwise to provide the most effective shield against spread of disease. In our federation the starting point...

Water resilience

A number of groups in the Byron Shire have been working our way each month through topics set for us as part of OzGreen and Resilient Byron’s ‘Resilient Byron Communities program’, funded by NRCF. Last month we discussed water...

Greed

I write to express my concern with greedy landlords who seem to go by the sandpit mantra ‘they did it, so I can too’. Let’s be clear, borrowing costs are at an all-time low, and other assistance is available to...

Bioenergy facility

Council continued to downplay the noise from trucks associated with the proposed bioenergy plant in last week’s Echo. This is problematic because noise is a pollutant that damages physical and mental health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), noise...

Cartoon of the week – 22 September, 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.

Byron Shire Councillors vote to raise CBD height

The developers of 33 Lawson Street, Byron Bay, came to last week’s Council meeting asking for permission to breach the building height limit in Central Byron by 38 per cent.

Biggest corporate greenwashers revealed by Greenpeace

According to a new analysis by Greenpeace, most of Australia’s highest-emitting companies that have implemented net-zero emission commitments do not have any will to meet their target.

Vale Aunty Dulcie Nicholls 21.10.29 – 19.09.21

There is deep sadness in the community at the passing of Arakwal elder and matriarch, Dulcie Joan Nicholls, nee Kay, who was a proud Bundjalung woman born on Country at Tallow Creek, Byron Bay, October 21, 1929.

Editorial: What’s in your pill?

While publishing political tit for tats is tedious at the best of times, herewith is an attempt to try and understand some of the decision making that is behind the current pandemic strategies.   

Byron Shire Councillors get behind vaccination push

Public buildings such as the Mullumbimby Civic Hall could become mass COVID-19 vaccination centres, under a proposal put forward by Byron Council last week.

Nuclear-powered subs? Dr Caldicott speaks

‘America has 18 Trident submarines, powered by highly enriched Uranium 235, which can be used as fuel for nuclear weapons. Each sub carries 24 missiles, each one is armed with eight hydrogen bombs – 30 times the killing power of one Hiroshima bomb. That’s enough subs to produce nuclear winter and end life on Earth.’

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: We are not for sale

It seems content creators are running out of ideas to make cheap TV. It’s amazing what you can come up with when you lose your ethics! Here’s a few quick pitches: How about a show about chubby rich women trying to drop weight by living in Ethiopia with a malnourished family for six weeks? No?

Tweed River House

S Haslam I took a couple of pics at my pre-opening meal last week at Tweed River House, due to open this week. Expect beautiful, stylish interiors, a view from the deck over the Tweed River to Mt Warning, relaxed...

Byron Bay Hempire

S Haslam Inside the gut are about 100 trillion live microorganisms that vitally contribute to a strong immune system. These microbes are essential for fighting off threats, including the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as contributing to good digestion,...

Pizzaholic love

Over the past 18 years at Earth ‘n’ Sea Pizza, Denise and David have always appreciated the support from locals far and wide, and it has never been more valued than during these COVID times. As their way of saying...

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.

Byron Council’s Sandhills Wetlands project takes first place at LG awards

The Sandhills Wetland restoration project in Byron Bay has won another major award, with Byron Shire Council taking first place at the Local Government Professionals 2026 NSW Excellence Awards.