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Byron Shire
June 6, 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

NBN News reduces local content, sparks MP concerns

Local federal MP Justine Elliot (Labor) has voiced concerns after NBN News announced a reduction in local TV news quality and service.

Loss of amenity with new pool owners?

Byron Shire councillors recently decided – by a close margin – to hand over our two public swimming baths...

Local family-owned Byron businesses asking for your support

Long-term, local Byron businesses are calling on the community for support as they struggle to remain afloat as the drainage works in Byron Bay continue.

Tweed Shire fisher faces court

A Tweed Shire commercial fisher pleaded guilty last week to six offences in relation to illegal fishing activity.

Byron Bay’s sub-culture of sexual violence investigated

An ABC investigation has found a sub-culture of sexual violence including child abuse existed in Byron Bay in the early two thousands, with at least fifteen survivor victims having spoken out. 

Protest march

Byron Shire’s infrastructure has become beyond repair. Reports of new overflow of sewage. Reports of decades of no maintenance...

June 21, 2023

Byron Shire Echo issue 38.02 – June 21, 2023

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

In this Issue:

That ridiculous ‘flood map’! Yes, I know I live in a...

This may not mean much to anyone apart from those living in Lismore who received yesterday’s ridiculous ‘flood map’. But I need to vent.

How low can you go? How invigorating to hear from Mr MacDonald once again. Have you been licking your wounds and recuperating from the hidings the Labor Party and just about everyone else have been dishing out to your pathetic...

Get your dogs and cats desexed: AWF

National Desexing Month starts next week and runs to the end of July. Each year this event aims to encourage desexing of dogs and cats before the spring breeding season.  

The Voice referendum could be a major step towards constitutional and...

The referendum proposal became law on 19 June when it was passed in the Senate: 52 for, 19 against.

Tax cuts again

I was pleased to be reminded in Richard Jones’ observation in last week’s political column that Phillip Lowe is a Morrison appointee. Since the Great Depression, economic theory has oscillated between Keynesian economic theories and ‘market force’ ideas (market...

Cormac McCarthy 

An obituary for Cormac McCarthy in the style of Cormac McCarthy: He was a New Mexican despite hailing from New England and coming to age in Tennessee. He never drank, and he never owned a computer, and read Proust and...

It’s an EMERGENCY

Thanks to The Echo for the Sustainability Feature recently. While many feel that there is a sad and terrible slowness in our responding to the climate emergency, the good news is we don’t have to wait for the government...

Face up and adjust to the ecological crisis

An organisation committed to empowering local young people with the skills and knowledge to face climate events, like the 2022 flood, say they know how to provide support. 

Editorial: Let us talk of rainbows and unicorns

An unusual thing happened last week – it was almost like unicorns exist!  

Old Byron hospital refurb moves ahead, at a cost

The plan to turn the old Byron District Hospital site into a community hub is set to take a significant step forward this week, with councillors to debate and vote on the multi-million-dollar refurbishment of the site on Thursday.

Giving hope through native restoration

Many readers will already know the joy of planting trees to help regenerate the region’s lost forests. Few will know that more and more local school students are being offered a chance to connect directly with this most positive of narratives. 

Reconstruction Corp needs to be held accountable

In the wake of ‘maps’ released last week by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation, which illustrate a priority list where homes are likely to be bought, raised or retrofitted, flood-affected residents contacted The Echo to express their disappointment and personal experiences dealing with the government-run corporation.

Byron Council staff put squeeze on buskers with new policy

A draft busking policy is up for debate at this week’s Byron Council meeting, with staff recommending in the agenda that the policy should require street performers to prove they have a $20M public liability insurance policy.

Free press 

Umm Catherine, there is an important omission in your excellent article on the importance of a free press (Echo, 7 June). Julian Assange is now entering his fifth year in a UK prison at the behest of that bastion of...

Welcoming refugees into our community

Seven-year-old Kurdish refugee, Rahaf, moved to the area just over a year ago with her parents and younger brother. They are refugees from Syria and are supported by the Ocean Shores 4 Refugees group. 

A farewell to The Echo’s chess column

Our chess column, which has run for more than two decades, has come to an unfortunate end. It was reprinted from the Canberra Times, and is the victim of cost-cutting at that paper. Grandmaster Ian Rogers here writes his last column.

Byron Council may offer freehold title of busy public car park...

Byron Shire Council could offer full ownership of a public car park in central Mullumbimby to local community housing providers in return for an agreement that affordable housing will be built on the site.

Premier coy over second tranche of flood-funding

Pressure is being applied to the NSW Premier and the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation by local political leaders around the $750M Resilient Homes program. 

Compliance

I would like to let other ratepayers know about the treatment I have received from the Byron Shire Council (BSC) compliance department. A house was built beside my house in Orana Road, Ocean Shores. The roofing put on the house...

Bangalow paths

I am writing to give my opinion on the proposed new shared pathway for Raftons Road and Leslie Street in Bangalow. This pathway is urgently needed.  Raftons Road and Leslie Street are a frequently used important connection to Bangalow town...

Cartoon of the week – 21 June 2023

Send to Letters Editor Aslan Shand, email: [email protected], fax: 6684 1719 or mail to The Letters Editor, The Echo, 6 Village Way, Mullumbimby, 2482, NSW, Australia.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Yes

I cannot comprehend waking up in a country that has said ‘No’ to the Voice. A country of over 96 per cent non-Indigenous people who have told this country’s original people that they do not recognise them as First...

Class action

Australians who believe they were injured by covid jabs in April filed the first ever class action lawsuit against those who promised ‘safe and effective’ vaccines. For those interested, see www.covidvaxclassaction.com.au. Respondents in the matter will be Commonwealth of Australia;...

Views, brews, cocktails, beats and eats in Lennox Head

Located in the breathtaking coastal town of Lennox Head, New South Wales, Lennox Pizza has established itself as a culinary hotspot, offering not only delicious pizzas, ribs, wings, pastas and nibbles, but also stunning views, a funky interior, and...

The Organic Avocado

Victoria Cosford Kate Thompson’s Avocado Salsa is, she tells me, one of her signature dishes. She makes it on a regular basis, serving it up simply as a dip or alongside Ballina prawns (‘it’s fantastic!’, she enthuses.) Spring onions, lime...

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.