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Byron Shire
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

A double dingo film screening

Following a sold-out screening at the Brunswick Picture House, Defend the Wild and Dingo Culture are proud to host a double screening event on Saturday, 13 June in Evans Head, on Minyumai Country, whose rangers feature in the film.

Sandhills Wetlands

I am fortunate to live near the new Sandhills Wetlands, and really appreciate going for walks in a protected...

Gathering in the beauty of community

Community garden committees and volunteers from across the Northern Rivers and into South East Queensland gathered at Shara Community...

Was the NACC designed to fail?

The sudden resignation of controversy-plagued National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton has served to further highlight the failings of an organisation which began with such high hopes, having been one of the key demands of the first teal representatives and a core promise of the incoming Albanese Labor government.

Return Mullum hospital to Bundjalung

‘Public land should serve the public vision,’ Greens councillor Elia Hauge is quoted as saying in The Echo (May...

Interview with Pacific Avenue

South Coast rockers, Pacific Avenue, have left an indelible mark on the music industry, their debut studio album Flowers secured a spot as a number one Australian album earning two ARIA nominations. Now, their recently released second studio album, Lovesick Sentimental, looks to be heading in the same direction.

February 1, 2023

Byron Shire Echo issue 37.34 – February 1, 2023

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In this Issue:

Temporary pods

The very long wait for temporary pods to house those affected by the unprecedented floods has finally been all but completed.  A very controversial decision was made to not use the Mullumbimby hospital site, said to be contaminated by… well,...

Protecting biodiversity will take more than just the ‘30×30’ target

A 2019 UN report Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating’ found that ‘nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history’.

Corporate governance breaches

I totally agree with Warren’s comments on our system of free-market capitalism in Australia, (28 January). This is despite our corporate governance regulations and our watchdog, ASIC. We have seen a shift from ethical corporate behaviour and healthy competition...

Natural history

While I have not the informed authority to confirm John Bradley’s musings on the birds that seem to be competing for living space in the reserve behind his Byron Bay home (Letters, 25 January), I can confirm from my...

Community advocacy

I am a small business owner of Byron Central Apartments. Tamara Smith MP has recently supported us on two separate occasions advocating effectively with positive outcomes.  The first was in changing legislation surrounding licensing for on-site property managers, which would...

Swivel by name, drivel by nature

The lack of authenticity of Byron Councillor, Mark Swivel, does not come as a surprise from this side of the fence. A well-to-do lawyer from Sydney, spruiking himself as some sort of counterculture legal eagle; different, enlightened, barefoot, affluent…...

Land values rise

Your cover story on 25 January claims that land valuation rises could herald increases in Council rates. This is potentially misleading. A council’s total rate revenue is capped by the state government. The rates paid by an individual property...

What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Art imitates life in What’s Love Got to Do with It? a 2022 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by Shekhar Kapur, from a screenplay by Jemima Khan.  The precis reads: ‘Set between London and Lahore, a filmmaker documents her childhood friend and neighbour’s arranged marriage to a bride from Pakistan.’

A smorgasbord of flicks

This year’s smorgasbord of over 40 incredible short films are handpicked from a record 3,200 entries received for Flickerfest’s Academy® and BAFTA Qualifying short-film festival screened recently in Bondi, and Northern Rivers audiences are the first in Australia to experience the best of Flickerfest on tour. Highlights enjoying their Northern Rivers premiere include recent Academy® nominees and much-loved festival award winners alongside exciting, fresh, local talent.

A play that puzzles and delights

The multi-award-winning play is a puzzle of scenes that are slowly put together by the audience to tell the tumultuous history of the Law and York families over four generations. The Mullum production uses a complex and beautiful lighting and...

Connecting youth at the Quad

Connect Northern Rivers will be hosting a youth-focused event at the Lismore Quad on Wednesday, 8 February from 3.30 to 6.30pm. This unique event will provide young people aged 15–19 years with the opportunity to engage with service providers who...

Iconic Mondays

The iconic Reggae Monday is coming back to the Beach Hotel after a long break, and just in time to celebrate the birthday of the king of reggae music, Bob Marley. This is going to be a very exciting event...

Tributes for songstress Sara Tindley

Hundreds gathered at a small rural property at Lindendale last week to say their final farewells to Sara Tindley, a very much loved personality from the Northern Rivers. 

Swivel flop-flop

Not sure what Cr Swivel is doing. But while he appears to be providing support for both sides of the community/business coin, his support for either of just those options does constrain the process to a limited coin toss...

Capitalism

Warren Kennedy wrote an excellent letter last week (28 January) pointing out the deficiencies of capitalism as it exists today in the US and Australia, as well as elsewhere.  He correctly points out that shareholders are benefitting to the exclusion...

Appeal for flag stolen from Bruns

The two Aboriginal flags that fly high over the Brunswick River Bridge on Invasion Day have become a potent symbol of survival and solidarity for many in the Shire. 

TELSTRA – The end of the line?

I live in a valley that was ravaged by flood last year. Telegraph poles were swept out of the ground by landslides and many poles close to the creek were left leaning precariously and sprouting lichens, looking like a...

Dear Byron Shire Council

Why, oh why, did you not add a traffic calming device when you recently sealed Clay Rd, Mullumbimby? This was a beautiful, quiet lane, that many people, including children, enjoyed walking and riding their bikes on. It will now be...

V-Day returns to Byron Bay, February 14

A mass global action, One Billion Rising, which aims to end violence against women and children, is planned for V-Day on February 14, Main Beach, Byron Bay from 7am.

Calls to extend temporary accommodation for flood insured

The one-year limit on temporary accommodation provided by some insurance companies to people whose homes went under in the flood must be extended.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Have your Perfect Say

We live in a community where there is nowhere to live and the whole world is watching what we do next, wondering if we will do what their superstar tourist destinations did and regulate the housing market

The Voice

I’ve been ruminating and researching on how best to support a ‘Yes’ response on the Voice referendum. I always come back to principles… devoid of details. To me the overarching principles are: What do Indigenous folk need to give them hope...

Letters – 1 February 2023

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.

Nudging into a Smarter Summer

Nudge Nudge Wink Wink! 2023’s summer continues with a lineup that’s guaranteed to have you deliciously dancing from the moment you arrive. 

They are Hotshots

The two-hour production is a visual feast, choreographed and developed by Australia’s leading professionals and a hand-picked selection of dreamy guys who will have the ladies up from their chairs, screaming for more, night after night. With a totally interactive production, The Secret Fantasies Tour is the perfect night out with the girls.

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.