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Byron Shire
June 21, 2026

Latest News

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

This Sunday marks 19 years since the then Howard Government announced the Northern Territory Intervention laws – ‘The Intervention’ began with a media release by Mal Brough, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, on June 21, 2007.

Other News

Police chase stolen vehicle in Tweed, man charged

Police say a man will face court today charged after an alleged pursuit in a stolen vehicle at Tweed Heads yesterday morning.

Leviathans circling

Beyond the froth and bubble of the daily political soap opera, there are some major threats confronting Australia and its government.

Byron High brings you SAAM – full of humour and chaos

In the vein of a speculative sci-fi, this comedy misadventure is simultaneously relatable, playful, hilarious, and unnerving. SAAM will be performed for three nights by Byron Bay High’s Year 11 Drama troupe on 23, 25 and 26 June from 6.30pm.

AI roll-out

My dad bought a quarter-acre block overlooking Sydney’s Northern Beaches for 400 pounds. That was about eight week’s salary. Mum...

Lismore rallies to save homes from demolition

Around hundred residents met at the Lismore Quad on Saturday to demand the demolitions of heritage homes cease, the flood recovery promised is delivered, and that every person be housed.

Byron Shire Rebels gutsy efforts

A day of contrasting rugby fortunes for the Rebels at Ballina, with the Men’s XV putting in a gutsy...

October 13, 2021

Byron Shire Echo issue 36.18 – October 13, 2021

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | The Scoop | The Arts | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Soapbox | Cinema | Magic Murwillumbah | Good Taste | The Good Life | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Crossword | Classifieds | Stars | Community at Work | Backlash

In this Issue:

Love Island takes over Federal – time to test the law?

The NSW government legislation has provided a permit for screen filming on private land in NSW without any Council oversight or accountability. This has led to Federal Village currently being overrun by the ITV film company.

Speeding traffic

In Suffolk Park there are a number of problems including getting out of Clifford Street onto Broken Head Road heading north, but the biggest problem is speed. This is impacting on all sorts of people, including wildlife, and the...

A prisoner of hope – healing possible as Country returned

In a recent conversation, with a dear friend, Gumilaroi educator Professor Bob Morgan, my spirit was lifted when he told me that after 50+ years of struggling for justice and equity for First Nations’ people in Australia and overseas that he remains ‘a prisoner of hope’ despite the glacial speed of progress and change.

Truth

The truth doesn’t mind being questioned. A lie does. Margot Hays, Bangalow

French hypocrisy

The French are understandably upset about being stabbed in the back by Australia’s sinking of the submarine contract. They pontificate about the need for trust in international affairs and now claim countries trading with Australia must beware of being...

Perrottet & Opus Dei

Bugga! Just when we don’t need to expect the Spanish Inquisition, out pops its wolf-in-sheep’s clothing remake: Opus Dei. New Premier, Dominic Perrottet is closely affiliated with this extreme, conservative, secretive and politically influential, Catholic organisation.  Perrottet’s early statement that...

Raucous AUKUS

Over the last 20 years or more, Australia has benefited greatly from its economic relationship with China. You may have noticed that most of the goods in our shops are made in China. We have willingly and cheerfully profited...

Let’s get real

AFL Aussie Rules Grand Final in Western Australia... Rugby League Grand Final in Queensland... Melbourne Cup in Tasmania?    Margaret Keating, Ocean Shores

End the cult

A military conflict between China and the USA would very likely result in global nuclear war, a major setback to human civilisation and possibly extinction for our species. Who could possibly want to risk that? Fundamentalist Christians look forward eagerly...

Editorial: Clear as a muddled government

Good news! Local police will not be actively enforcing the government’s Public Health (COVID-19 General) Order 2021 when it comes to business activity – see NSW govt’s Health Order lacks clarity.

ICAC and the premier

For Liberal Party luminaries it’s obviously been a heart-wrenching experience watching Gladys Berejiklian bite the dust and they are stupidly blaming the ICAC, for doing exactly the job it was established to do.  The ICAC did not force her to...

Oops!

Corruption, neither noble, nor unavoidable, nor the fault of the ICAC – the NSW premier messed up! Our premier has resigned because of the need to establish her involvement in high-level corruption involving millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money, and...

Gladys’ resignation

The entrenched corruption that tied senior politicians and police to notorious underworld figures in NSW for decades from the 1950s until recently shows the need for an ICAC with strong inquisitorial powers. Yet, quite recently, the secret deal was still...

COVID-19 hospital horror – opening up and the dangers ahead

A hospital is not a health farm. For a start, the food has a terrible reputation. Seriously though, when life is on the brink, a hospital is the destination.

Creative definition of affordable housing before Byron Council 

A development application is (again) coming before this week’s planning meeting, which attempts to use ‘farm stay’ accommodation to provide affordable housing for students enrolled in agriculture-related courses.

Police call for busking ban, backed by Byron mayor

Have you noticed that the streets of Byron Bay have been a less tuneful and colourful place in the past week or so?

Poor Mandy

Poor Mandy indeed (Letters, 29 September). Glenn, it sounds to me like you’re trying to put Mandy IN her Soapbox instead of allowing her to stand (or sit) on it! Why does Mandy have to only be funny? Why...

Fence sitter

Fence sitters, when given a tickle, will generally tumble off on the side of self-interest. So it’s interesting to read that The Echo’s ‘Fence Sitting’ teacher (30 September) has decided to abandon their career and income rather than make...

Thanks David

Thank you David Heilpern for elucidating so eloquently a raft of issues that succinctly cover the current political climate… particularly in respect to the lack of clear forward-thinking leadership. I hope to see further opinion pieces of this ilk. Gaida Macs, Kingscliff

Taking care of shit

The proposal is to close Ocean Shores Sewage Treatment Plant (OS STP) and transfer its load to Brunswick Valley STP (BV STP), a centralised facility built 15 years ago to replace Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads STPs built in the...

Koalas and dogs

I want to thank Byron Council for including the flyer in The Echo about koalas and dogs. There is so much ignorance when it comes to protecting our wildlife. I know a man who traps and kills cats on...

Byron cycling

Somewhere there is a book of rules for cycling in Byron, but I haven’t had any luck getting hold of a copy. To help other confused cyclists here is some guidance based on my observations: Handlebars: Misleadingly named because your...

Thanks Frank Mills

We had lost our highway protest, but during those colourful marches we had the beginnings of a stronger sense of community and cohesion in Ocean Shores. So began the Ocean Shores Art and History Expo in 2004. I got...

Final Tallowood stage up before Byron Council

The world may be in a state of immense turmoil and uncertainty, but at least we can rely on the inexorable forward march of the Tallowood housing development in Mullumbimby.

Wildlife Hospital sets sights on Wollongbar location

A proposal for a wildlife hospital on a 2.39 hectare parcel of Crown land in Lindendale Road at Wollongbar, is before Ballina Council and on public exhibition. Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital chair, Ninian Gemmell, welcomed consent for the use of Crown land for the proposed hospital.

Hemp industry given boost with development plan

A Hemp Industry Development Plan has been announced by the NSW government, which promises 'to unlock new opportunities for NSW businesses and add value to the state's low-THC hemp industry, which is forecast to become a $100 million Australian industry by 2032'.

Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

Faith-based, not-for-profit organisation providing community services in NSW, Wesley Mission, has welcomed Tweed Shire Council’s decision to publicly recognise the impact of gambling harm and advocate for stronger harm-minimisation measures.

Winter Warmer fundraiser for homelessness

The annual Winter Warmer Homelessness Relief campaign, hosted by Dharma Care, will return for 2026 with cabaret at Salt, Kingscliff, on Thursday 2 July, headlined by comedian Mandy Nolan, interactive performance artist The Space Cowboy and the Kinship Doobai Dancers, with a Welcome to Country from Aunty Jackie.

Tweed Shire Council presents flood resilience series – part one

Over the coming weeks, Tweed Shire Council will present a flood resilience series, which looks at how 'Tweed's story is different from the standard flood recovery narrative and what happened next'.