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Byron Shire
June 6, 2026

Latest News

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

Byron Spaces Gallery hosts Ocean Magic exhibition

Ocean Magic, a new winter exhibition by local artist Yvonne Fenech, will open at Byron Spaces Gallery on Friday 5 June.

Wardell Knit n’ Knat Group – 22 years of knitting and giving

Since 2011, 15 years, Dawn and Robert Sword have been entrusted by the Wardell Knit n’ Knat Group with the privilege of distributing the beautiful handcrafted rugs, scarves, beanies and other knitted and crocheted items they have made to people in need throughout the Ballina Shire.

The Greens’ 3-way comp: Ballina Councillor vs Byron candidates for state preselection

Byron Greens members could expect to be asked to take the future of the Richmond River further south into account when choosing a candidate for next year’s state election.

Sandhills Wetlands

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

Update on Mullumbimby house fire which destroyed locals’ home

Long-term residents of Mullumbimby, Jeff and Alma Jackson lost their home to fire last week.

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.

July 26, 2023

Byron Shire Echo issue 38.07 – July 26, 2023

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Jump to:
Local News | Housing News | North Coast News | Comment | Letters | Byron Writers Festival | Articles | Splendour in the Grass photos | Making Spaces | Byron Arts & Industry Estate | Good Taste | The Good Life | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Crossword | Soapbox | Stars | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Classifieds | Sport | Backlash

In this Issue:

Calling out the Rose

What a foolish letter by J Rose (19 July). It is surprising and alarming that J Rose thinks it’s okay to have a suburban street called effectively Boong Street or Nigger Street, as long as there’s a plant with the...

Cumbalum Greens

The Greens’ propaganda pamphlet recently distributed in the Cumbalum area shows once again they are the party of populism, an ideology that pits sections of society against each other. By purporting to not stop fighting for renters and home...

It’s a board decision

Backlash’s dig at Reserve Bank (RB) Governor Phillip Lowe is by no means the first in the media but it’s really blaming the messenger. Far be it from me to defend Lowe but I do think many people forget...

Bellingen has eco-village pilot project in its sights  

Bellingen Council has been developing an eco-village pilot project over the past few years.

Deadly fire ants just north of NSW border

A new outbreak of the highly invasive and potentially deadly fire ants has been discovered 5.5km from the NSW border at a pony club in Tallebudgera, says the Invasive Species Council (ISC).

The Voice

Imagine trust being the guiding intent – instead of fear and ‘power-over’ – when the tall ships arrived on Australia’s shores. Imagine if the arrivals had listened to the example from the First Nations people who received them with...

AI, robots, capitalism, and slavery

Much has been made in the press about the imminent rise of artificial intelligence (AI). But let’s not forget that there has never been so many humans on this planet. Our species population currently stands at eight billion. While it’s...

Hijacked: residents’ car park Mullum

I note his reference to the loss of the residents’ car park just left of the roundabout from the railway crossing. Residents are aghast at Byron Council’s secret decision to sell that car park for a really large...

Editorial: Ban that smut!

The banning of books is not all that uncommon – it’s done for political, legal, religious or ‘moral’ censorship reasons.

Govt management? Try anger management 

With so many failures of government to be angry at this month, it is hard to know where to start. An anger management course? 

Retrofit now for looming heat waves

With the warmest week being recorded globally, RMIT’s Dr Trivess Moore is encouraging home owners to prepare.

Housing crisis ‘brutal’ says social housing advocate

More than four in five renters are in housing stress, with homelessness the leading impact of the housing crisis, a report by national housing campaign Everybody’s Home has revealed. 

Holiday letting

Last week’s Echo contained statements on holiday letting (HL) by NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully, which reveal his failure to understand the recent Independent Planning Panels (IPP) report. The state government previously attempted to shoehorn HL into the housing...

Pants on fire?

Justine Elliot calls the Greens liars three times in last week’s Echo article on social housing, and further warns on the opposite one-page ad that she authorised, that the Greens ‘put people’s lives at risk.’ Poor Justine. Here’s Labor who...

2022 flood level data still not public

There is still no timeframe for when the February/March 2022 flood data levels will be made public by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

Bruns van dwellers move… around the corner

Byron Shire Council has carried out its promise to close a public carpark in Brunswick Heads, where a group of van dwellers were reportedly engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Voice: waste of our money

Perry Cornish’s letter (5 July) was about the wording of the proposed alteration of our Commonwealth of Australia Constitution. The Voice proposal says the new body to be set up ‘may make representations to Parliament’, however, all Australian people...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: The Real Conspiracy

Black helicopters will arrive and bring the US under the control of the United Nations. Water condensation trails contain biological and chemical agents sprayed on the population to lower fertility, give them cancer and make them compliant. International elites control governments, industry and media. These include Jewish people, and NGOs such as The World Economic Forum.

Soapbox: love it

Sorry Louise Andrews (Letters, 12 July), but Mandy has been on her soapbox for a long time. Please leave her alone. Her forum is no more or less political, thought-provoking, self-aggrandising, or self- deprecating, offensive, or funny than it...

Valuable or nuisance?

I read with dismay about experienced architect David Brown, who has resigned from Council’s Affordable Housing Committee in frustration because his advice is being ignored. Sadly, this is a story I am hearing over and over again from valuable members...

Cartoon of the week – 26 July 2023

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor.

The best Byron cane juice

I’d often come across ‘jaggery’ – lovely word – in Indian recipes and was aware it was a sweetener. Except, after talking to Aner Yeffet, I now know it’s evaporated cane juice.

100-year celebration at Byron Bay Bowling Club

Bowling clubs are one of Australia’s great historic institutions, and Byron Bay Bowling and Recreation Club (also known as Club Byron since 2017) was established in 1923.

Cinema: Oppenheimer 

Oppenheimer is the story of American scientist J Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

Mini beer festival

Stone & Wood announce their mini beer festival, Murbah Open Day, is back for another year at their Murwillumbah Brewery on Saturday 5 August.

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.