What are the meat corporations so desperate to hide? The NSW High Court has just rejected a challenge by animal rights activists against ‘ag gag’ laws in NSW. The Court’s finding that these laws protected ‘privacy’ is absurd – will...
Israel’s recent three-day killing spree in Gaza, in which the most lethal missiles were unleashed against the civilian population, is a sure-fire way to drum up votes for Yair Lapid, Israel’s current Prime Minister. The blitzkrieg demonstrated that he is...
It is a sad reflection on the concept ‘affordable’ when the real outcome is actually unaffordable housing. This concept of an affordable housing SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy) was to relieve our state government of the responsibility of building social...
Michael Balson (Letters 3 August) writing about the Commons, has tried to place his interpretation on matters of major significance. His mischaracterisation and somewhat misanthropic views don’t stack up with history and political economy. Central to this is the...
As first peoples we have an inherited birthright and a deep responsibility to try, as much as possible, to tread lightly on Country and read Country.
Brunswick Heads will get its first underground car park, after an attempt to overturn the approval of a mixed-use development in the town was voted down by a majority of Byron councillors.
In light of Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian’s inflammatory comments the other day at the National Press Club in Canberra, one has to wonder why on Earth we are allowing members of the Chinese Communist Party to use...
Olivia Newton-John was active in many environmental issues in the Northern Rivers region. One in particular was the 12-year battle to save ‘Fern Gully’ in Coorabell from being dammed.
After an uphill battle against COVID the Chinny Charge is going to run again on Saturday, September 17 at 2pm.
The Select Committee on the response to Major Flooding across NSW in 2022, headed by chair Walt Secord (Labor) painted a picture of unprepared agencies, such as Resilience NSW, and documented a lack of planning.
Belongil Creek is blocked and backing up. I understand all the explanations for leaving it as is, but given the trauma people have been through, and the identified failures of… well, just about everybody, surely minimising risk is the...
Fletcher Street Cottage has welcomed the arrival of three new community support workers to help the growing number of locals facing the challenges of homelessness.
Byron Shire Council Mayor Michael Lyon has defended Council’s handling of the ongoing Mullum pod accommodation debacle, telling The Echo that councillors requested, through a Council resolution, that Resilience NSW conduct consultation with neighbouring residents regarding the rail corridor works on Prince Street.
In this region we are all, except for a few, living on floodplains or areas prone to further landslips. And as far as I can remember, this community motto has been ‘act locally think globally’. Then it stands to...
After the loss of our public road during the February 28 deluge, some isolated residents have had to rely on the kindness of vehicle drivers who offer lifts into town. It is these people I wish to sincerely thank. They...
My heroes are people like climate change activist Mali Cooper, the 22-year-old Lismore woman who was among 12 people charged for blocking the entry to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. Mali and her friends brought Sydney to a standstill and they did it knowing the consequences under the new NSW protest laws. It’s no longer a $400 fine. Protesters now face up to two years jailtime and/or a fine of $22k.
Surfers, beach lovers, water people – owing to COVID- related complications, the 2022 Byron Bay Surf Festival has moved to a September timeslot this year. Held in Australia’s much-loved and internationally famous beach town, Byron Bay, the Festival will provide...
Bangalow Fine Art are boutique art dealers and valuers who hold quarterly online exhibitions of interesting and important pieces of Australian and international art. The Spring 2022 Exhibition features an early and important view of the Old Jetty in Byron...
Victoria Cosford There’s a steady stream of customers at Jodie’s stall. Regulars by the looks of it, most unclipping their plastic containers – 100 per cent recycled and recyclable – upon approach, to then fill with eggs. Two thousand hens do...
Simon Haslam A stylish boutique beachfront hotel with bespoke rooms, its own day spa, a beautiful pool and a laidback but upmarket restaurant, with an awarded wine-list, run by top-notch chefs. Honestly, why would anyone want to stay there? We...
Having lived in so-called ‘Australia’ for a decade, Irish born singer-songwriter, Áine Tyrrell, rewrites what is imaginable every step of the way. She has carved a unique musical path, melding her own Irish roots from the ancient limestone rocks of Country...
The Byron Writers Festival has partnered with Blak & Bright curator Jane Harrison to present The Bogong, a Blak version of The Moth. The Bogong, Hosted by Danny Teece-Johnson, is a celebration of the lived experience in crafted spoken word form. Featuring six First Nations storytellers, it’a feast for the ears.
Not sure which sessions to see? We’ve saved the best ’til last and highlighted some of the must-see panels and conversations from the 2022 program to help you decide. Hurry, Day Passes are selling fast!
One of the highlight panels at the festival this year will bring together best-selling authors Trent Dalton and Steve Toltz with actor Bryan Brown and acclaimed author and podcast creator Matthew Condon to discuss how they bring the lives of criminals to life in their writing.
In a weekend of tight rugby, Bangalow beat Wollongbar-Alstonville 30–27 while Ballina and Lennox Head had a 35–35 draw. Playing at home Bangalow overcame a half time deficit of 15–13 to claw their way to the triumph. Teale Pyne, Otty...
