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Byron Shire
June 19, 2026

Latest News

In loving memory of Dr Tony Parkes AO PhD (1929 – 2026)

Dr Tony Parkes AO PhD, one of Australia’s most visionary conservation leaders and a pioneering force in ecological restoration, passed away last Thursday at the age of 96. He spent his final months at Honey Bee Homes in Ewingsdale.

Other News

Will council support community participation in MHS development?

This Thursday (today), Byron Shire Council (BSC) will be discussing the establishment of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Byron Shire Council and Homes NSW (HNSW) as well as the potential for a Community Assessment Panel for the old Mullumbimby Hospital site.

Empowering women and girls

Applications are now open for Northern Rivers Community Foundation's (NRCF) 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant, offering local not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to secure funding for projects that empower women and girls across the Northern Rivers.

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.

Appeal to locate wanted man Adam Richards

Police are appealing for assistance to locate a man wanted on outstanding warrants in the Casino area.

Long serving drudges

One category overlooked for an award at The Echo’s 40th birthday party was for the long-serving drudges. Jenny Dalimore, Steve...

Call for nominations for NSW Australian of the Year 2027

Nominations are now open for the NSW Australian of the Year 2027.

March 30, 2022

Byron Shire Echo issue 36.42 – March 30, 2022

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

In this Issue:

‘Affordable’ units proposed above Mullum car park

Byron Council and State Government-owned housing developer, Landcom, are proposing to build a block of affordable units above a car park in central Mullumbimby as part of the attempt to address the Shire’s housing crisis.

How dare they?

Jo Faith, Newtown It is well known by local farmers and ‘oldies’ in Byron that West Byron is recognised as ‘the Lungs of Byron’. How has it come to reality that this development has been approved? Let’s start with the...

Look in the mirror

Margrette Young, Dorroughby PM Morrison this week called someone ‘gutless’ on public television. I’ll tell you who’s gutless Mr Morrison. Look in the mirror. Look in the mirror at the man who turned up in Lismore after the devastating floods...

Bruns north wall and flooding

Dale Rhodes, Mullumbimby Standing on the south wall of the Brunswick River at Brunswick Heads it is immediately obvious what a massive bottleneck the north and south walls create. Every bit of water flooding out of the Brunswick River is...

In tough times

Hannah Grace, Ocean Shores These last years have been tough. Drought, and then terrible fires and the coronavirus and this disgusting homicidal mental case in Russia invading Ukraine because his playground isn’t big enough and he needs more oligarchical power...

Buyers beware of developments on a ‘1 in 100 year’ flood...

Flooding and damage to homes and businesses in New South Wales are as big an issue as they are in Queensland where I now live.

Wedding at Belmarsh!

Roy Drew, Mullumbimby On Wednesday 23 March 2022, Julian Assange and Stella Moris were married within the grim walls of Her Majesty’s Maximum Security Prison, Belmarsh, UK. Apparently just four guests were allowed to attend, along with two witnesses and two...

Deforestation and flooding

Gary Opit, Brunswick Heads I blame the NSW State Forestry Corporation operations for the devastating floods that have all but destroyed our community and our economy. Many editions of The Echo contain articles on the logging and clear-felling of the...

Noise pollution

Warren Kirchner, Banora Point It is timely, with the recent ramp up of people movements, to highlight one major adverse impact and a curse of the modern way of life – noise pollution. Living close to the current Gold Coast airport...

Building ‘the new’

Deborah Preston, Byron Bay I appreciate many people are currently homeless and still processing the trauma of extreme loss from the floods. I am finding the community support we have for each other in this time profoundly moving to experience....

Editorial – Council’s Leunig moment

With residents still mopping up and renovating from floods, councillors assembled in a room last Thursday to thrash out agendas, motions, staff recommendations and reports. Yes, the wheels of progress grind onwards, while running roughshod over the Shire’s ever-increasing potholes.

Where are flood-damaged items going? 

As garbage trucks circled the streets of the Shire collecting masses of flood waste over the past few weeks, more than a few locals were heard to ask, ‘where is all this stuff going?’.

Oh Vlad!

Peter Olson, Goonengerry One of President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies has warned the United States that the world could spiral towards a nuclear dystopia if Washington presses on with what the Kremlin casts as a long-term plot to destroy Russia. To...

Risk to unborn baby

Dr Marc Heyning, Brunswick Heads On Friday, 18 March I was on-call for the midwifery unit at the Byron Central Hospital. A midwife became concerned that an unborn baby had become distressed during labour. The midwife tried to telephone me,...

Cartoon of the week – 30 March, 2022

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.

Homeless service reopens in Byron

Fletcher Street cottage has risen again. It’s hard to believe that the light-filled building that was reopened last week is the same drab, run-down structure that sat gathering dust in the centre of Byron Bay for five years.

InGrained Foundation grants on offer

The InGrained Foundation, started by Stone & Wood, has donated over $1m through fundraisers, and in particular over the last three years, the Large Grants program has donated $290,000.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Shoes off or shoes on?

There are two types of people.  Those who, on coming home, take their shoes off, and those who leave them on. I’m a shoes-on person.

Entertainment in the Byron Shire for the week Beginning 30 March,...

The Scenic Rim’s Long Sunset The Long Sunset has dropped the full line-up for their April event and it’s pretty damned spesh. Joining the already announced Angus & Julia Stone, Ball Park Music and Babe Rainbow are Jack Gray, Nice Biscuit,...

Interview with Linda Bull

Linda Bull has been to Bluesfest so many times she’s lost count. Linda and her sister Vika are pretty much one of Australia’s most iconic singing duos and certainly  the most well known sister act.

Oliver’s twist on farming

At the ripe old age of 20, Oliver Bora has already been farming for three years. What started as a school project – running some chooks on the grounds of his school farm – has turned into a fully-fledged...

Jumping Red Ant

Regulars at local farmers’ markets would have noticed the bright red stall Jumping Red Ant, bursting with beautiful blooms and seasonal fruit and vegetables. If you’re wondering about the name of the stall, Duranbah (where the family farm is...

Caring for community

The Rotary Club of Mullumbimby presented a cheque for $10,000 to the Brunswick Surf Life Saving Club (BSLSC) in support of its ongoing operations.

Lismore shops enchanted for Lantern Parade

Winners of Lismore’s Enchanted Windows comp have been announced, with The Two Ravens taking top spot. The comp is part of the city's Lantern Parade, to be held this Saturday, 20 June.

AI: Artificial Intelligence, or Artificial Inflation?

It feels as if AI is everywhere – whether it’s those intrusive bots on every website or every headline about how it’s either going to be a boon for humanity, or end us.

Flood gauges installed in Ballina and Wardell 

Residents in Ballina and Wardell will have more more localised flood warnings, giving them time to prepare before floodwaters arrives, thanks to new flood forecast services along the Richmond River.