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June 5, 2026

Latest News

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

Other News

Crofton Rd to be fixed more than 4 years after damage

Another infrastructure repair project in response to damage caused by the Northern Rivers floods and landslides disasters more than four years ago has been announced.

Earth to stars

Is the world we live in, more than what we understand? Theories challenge the known facts, so does any...

Conversations in the Pub starts with Janelle Saffin

Conversations in the Pub – Lismore’s new civic meet-up – kicks off on Friday 19 June with its inaugural special guest, the NSW Minister for Small Business, Minister for Recovery, Minister for the North Coast and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP.

Lismore leaders meet in parliament for industry briefing

More than 50 business, investment and community leaders gathered at NSW Parliament House this week for the "Lismore 60,000 Industry Briefing", which was described as an "important conversation about the city's future growth, investment opportunities and long-term prosperity".

Free disability workshops 3 and 4 June

On June 3 and 4, the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is partnering with the locally based Disability Advocacy NSW (DA) to deliver two days of free, engaging events in the Northern Rivers. 

Tweed Council urgently meet over Code of Meeting Practice reform

Tweed Shire Council staff say they will hold an Extraordinary Meeting today, Tuesday 2 June at 3.30 pm to 'address an urgent governance matter relating to its Code of Meeting Practice'.

May 24, 2023

Byron Shire Echo issue 37.50 – May 24, 2023

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Good Taste | The Good Life | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Making Spaces | Byron Arts & Industry Estate | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Classifieds | Sport | Backlash

In this Issue:

Fake gov

For those interested in a reality check, particularly those deluded apologists for the fake corporate puppets and weapons manufacturers known as the Labor Party, one may like to check out the recent very coherent speech of Greens Senator Max...

Greens for survival

At the recent Nimbin Town Hall where Sue Higginson, among others, was active in an affirmative action workshop where they talked about the new world of political order that the Greens are a part of in NSW.   I then...

Koalas

Don’t rely on any regime to save anything that’s endangered because their mates the miners and developers pay them too much money to look the other way.  Remember the Rum Corps in the good old days when we were a...

Posturing politicians

While Greens in the Senate endure the irony of being pilloried by the government for speaking passionately about social justice and housing, Patricia Warren’s letter (Echo 10 May) on the role of the banking lobby in this debacle, was...

Thank you from the top of our heads to the bottom...

Saturday's annual Bell & Ford vintage clothes garage sale fundraiser for the SHIFT Project was an incredible success with $36,500 being raised at the Byron Surf Club – this year’s effort was up about $7,500 on the last event.

Building waste

Surely Byron Council can do something about the lack of recycling at building sites in Byron Shire? In the recent house builds near our house I’ve seen over ten skips leave one property. On several occasions the tradesmen were...

What about the young peeps?

The Byron Shire is a popular place to live, and a sought after tourist destination, however it lacks infrastructure to accommodate young people. 

Questioning the ten commandments

On the ten commandments, briefly: If you are not indigenous to land, you would have had to (‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’) kill to stake your claim of private property; (‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’), steal and then lie covering it...

One year in, and federal Labor lacks the ticker for big...

The budget didn’t cause a ripple of anxiety among well-heeled Australians, big business or Murdoch shock jocks, and that was the precise intention of Treasurer Jim Chalmers. It was basically business as usual

Labor MP spruiks 2023–24 budget 

Cost of living relief, investment towards net-zero and economic responsibility is how local federal Labor MP, Justine Elliot, has framed her party’s first budget this term.

20 years on – how community and Council saved Byron’s precious...

With bright yellow petals, the Byron Orchid is only as big as the tip of your small fingernail, longtime local, Veda Turner, says. 

Parliamentary Inquiry called into NSW Police  

Upper House NSW Greens MP and Lismore resident, Sue Higginson, says she tabled a notice of motion in NSW Parliament on Tuesday calling for a Parliamentary Inquiry into NSW Police, following the tasering of 95-year-old dementia patient, Clare Nowland last week.

Voice. Let’s get real

Let’s get real. If we are to rewrite history to make right, there is some mighty righting to do, and it will call upon all citizens worldwide to pack up and get walking, because all of us are trespassing...

Community voice

Further to Annie Radermacher’s ‘Valuation shock’ letter published (Echo 28 April) I am writing to suggest that the community considers objecting also at a local level because of the following reasons: 1. Potential increases in weekly rents as property owners...

Israel’s 75th 

Gareth Smith is right about one thing, yes, we along with Australian diplomats and politicians are celebrating the amazing country that is Israel. Allow me to give you some very, very basic facts about the region that was known...

Large Bangalow DA extended, concerns raised over bulk and scale

Bangalow Community Association member, Sue Taylor, told The Echo that if the DA is approved it would ‘result in a massive impact on the town’.

Coastal ecosystems key GHG sinks

The ability of coastal ecosystems to absorb and release greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) as part of the world’s GHG budget has demonstrated that the majority are a net greenhouse gas sink.

Garden waste guru speaks tomorrow

The inventor of the globally renowned in-ground residential composting system, Subpod, has returned home to Byron Bay for a short stay before he embarks on a collaboration with a global company to take his latest project, WastePlant, around the world. 

Byron Shire flood repair bill at $200M

Byron Shire Council staff have issued an update on Byron Shire’s flood-damaged infrastructure from the 2022 floods, and say they are applying for around $200 million in funding

Simply the best

Take a bow Jim Chalmers and the Albanese Labor government, what an outstanding effort in delivering such a great budget under very difficult conditions.  Hamstrung by a one trillion dollar debt and a staggering interest bill of $2.5 million an...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: When your home is a prison

When a 95-year-old woman is tasered in her nursing home, it’s clear our aged care system is broken. It’s clear also that our policing methods aren’t far behind. Clare Nowland was on a walking frame, she has dementia, and she was clearly frail. Somehow the police ascertained she was a violent threat and tasered her.

Rail trail?

Byron Shire Council has sanctioned another report on the feasibility of reinstating a rail service between Bangalow and Yelgun, or part thereof (Echo, 10 May). Perhaps it could also investigate extending the rail trail from Eltham to Bangalow, given...

Referendum Yarn Up

Was disappointed when I heard the Prime Minister’s Garma speech on the Voice referendum.  I was concerned that the Voice committee facilitation will be embedded with the elected parliament, rather than constitutionally enshrined under the Voice committee’s management. But considering...

Everyone reads The Echo! – 24 May 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: Fast X

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32RAq6JzY-w   There is a certain type of movie fan who will get a bit excited when you say the names ‘Vin Diesel’ and ‘Jason Momoa’ in the same sentence. In Fast X the pair bookend an ensemble cast including: Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris...

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.

Byron Council’s Sandhills Wetlands project takes first place at LG awards

The Sandhills Wetland restoration project in Byron Bay has won another major award, with Byron Shire Council taking first place at the Local Government Professionals 2026 NSW Excellence Awards.