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June 7, 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

Kingscliff insurance

Recently, many Kingscliff locals have been hit by massive increases in their home insurance. Some properties are located in...

Potholes 

As a relatively regular visitor to this area I was astounded, on trips to Byron Bay, at the number...

Flood-impacted homeowners get an extension on assistance

Flood-impacted homeowners across the Northern Rivers and Central West will have more time to make decisions to raise or retrofit homes, says the NSW government, with an  extension to the Resilient Homes Program timelines announced.

Mur’bah woman arrested over alleged bomb threats

A 23-old woman accused of making multiple bomb threats to public places across the state was arrested in Murwillumbah on Friday.

Greens from The Farm are flourshing

At the heart of a thriving market garden is timing, soil health, and a deep connection to the seasons...

Financial woes

Byron Shire’s financial woes are not the result of a lack of money, but rather the waste of it....

February 15, 2023

Byron Shire Echo issue 37.36 – February 15, 2023

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

In this Issue:

Bundjalung voice at heart of Regeneration festival

An Indigenous panel of Bundjalung voices will be at the heart of the Regeneration festival, held on Saturday March 4 at the Mullumbimby Community Garden.

Flood-prone ‘affordable housing’ development in Mullum pushed by Byron Council

Buckle in Mullum, councillors bulldozed ahead at last Thursday’s meeting to ‘note’ a concept plan to develop the disused, and very valuable, rail corridor. 

International Women’s Day lunch to focus on equity

The SHIFT Project’s annual International Women’s Day lunch is the major fundraiser for the women’s support service.

Activism saves

It’s been an inspiring week for activists on the north coast. Bob Brown was in Lennox Head to provide an update on the critical situation in Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest. Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek is about to determine whether a...

Camphor clearing

In a recent article about Craig Huff he spoke about commercialising the harvest of camphor laurel trees using commercial operators to remove the trees, creating economic activity etc.  However, if camphor was to be eradicated in Burringbar there would be...

The North Coast Regional Plan 2041 – a blueprint for developers

The NSW government has just recently released its 124 page North Coast Regional Plan 2041. The government describes it as a ‘strategic plan that sets the framework, vision and direction for land-use planning on the North Coast...

Highway or floodway

Let’s not pretend that abnormal flooding of Feb–Mar 2022 would have been less severe had the Tintenbar/Woodburn M1 highway and its inadequate viaduct system, that dammed the flow all the way north to the Tintenbar village, not existed. No longer...

Capitalism rape

Our current financial crisis of rising interest rates and overall cost of living increase demonstrates the way capitalism is out of control. Many statistics are revealing the rich are getting richer (and the super-rich are ruling the world) and...

Why vote for the Voice

Warren Mundine, representing Advance Australia, and the ‘No’ case, recently proposed that instead of having a First Nations peoples’ body constitutionally established, there should be a change to the preamble to the Constitution to symbolically acknowledge both First Nations...

90-day cap 

Victims of Holiday Letting (VOHL) have read all submissions that have been posted for the inquiry by the Independent Planning Commission into Byron Shire’s proposal to institute a 90-day cap for short-term rental accommodation (STRA). One submission is less than...

Gambling reform

Recent media coverage has ensured gambling reform is an election issue in NSW. One concern is around gambling on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) or ‘pokies’, and whether to introduce a cashless gaming card. EGMs enable money gained via illegal means...

Last hurrah for STRA

STRA (Sydney-based organisation) and Airbnb say that the majority of people in Byron Shire object to the Council’s proposal to reduce the number of days for holiday letting. They also say: ‘the town should be grateful that they are...

NSW Labor to stop floodplain development if elected  

With the NSW Liberal-Nationals government still allowing developments on floodplains, NSW Labor candidate Andrew Broadley told The Echo ‘Labor would not allow new housing for anyone to be developed in the floodplain’.

Editorial: It’s a deflatable political wrecking ball challenge!

The mayor and his compliant and unquestioning councillors were desperate to limit debate on what flooding effects would occur from developing the Mullum rail corridor.

Affordable housing proposed in Myocum

Philanthropists Christopher and Linda Dean, with help from architect David Brown, have lodged a DA for 1247 Myocum Road, for what they say is an attempt to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing.

The chilling effect of anti-climate action laws

The last 12 months have been marked by a new tactic taken towards nonviolent direct actions carried out in the defence of climate and the environment, which has seen jurisdictions, such as NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, dramatically escalate the punishments that apply to such protests.

Byron Council’s involvement in large soil dump next to creek ‘noted’

A senior Council staff member told councillors at last Thursday’s meeting that his employees didn’t follow the proper process when organising the removal of a large amount of soil for infrastructure works, which ended up later being dumped along Marshalls Creek in The Pocket.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

Firstly, I would like to say I will be voting ‘Yes’ in the Voice referendum, this is why: I am 53 years old and was around at the time of Eddie Mabo in his struggle to pursue native title, or...

Fix our roads

Phil (Holloway) you’re still saying that Council has a $180M bill to fix our roads, and you must organise funding first. If Council is only at the point of putting funding applications together, what on Earth has it been...

NSW Labor to stop floodplain development if elected 

With the NSW Liberal-Nationals government still allowing developments on floodplains, NSW Labor candidate Andrew Broadley told The Echo ‘Labor would not allow new housing for anyone to be developed in the floodplain’.

Commission hands down damning Feros report

Residents at the Feros Village aged care facility in Byron Bay were subjected to substandard care across every aspect of the service, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has found.

Richard Moloney

I read with sadness your recent tribute to Richard Moloney and I am writing to pay my respects and to add to his long list of contributions to the local community. Richard was chair of The Buttery Board of Management...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Speaking to children about death

Today I happened upon an episode of This American Life, which interviewed kids who attended a program called The Sharing Place, a kind of peer support for kids who have lost a close family member like a parent or a sibling. It was 5.30am and I was driving to the beach for my walk. I went to change it to something less intense, but then that voice in my head said, ‘Listen’. 

Cartoon of the week – 15 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.

Cinema: Magic Mike does it again!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBIGdw-BRxw   Reprising his role for the third time, a buffed-up Channing Tatum returns to the screen in Magic Mike’s Last Dance. The original ‘Magic Mike’ episode was a 2012 film directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer,...

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.