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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

Ballina Council wrap

With local government meeting practice across the state returning to confusion following the NSW Legislative Council's recent decision, Ballina Shire Council's last meeting included a lot of unanimous decisions and an argument about the remnants of the Big Scrub, in which Mayor Cadwallader used her casting vote to squash Cr Simon Chate's motion.

Advocates and civil society organisations call to drop the charges against Herzog protestors

In an open letter to the NSW Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Police, and Commissioner of Police, advocates and civil society organisations have called for the charges to be dropped against people protesting against the visit of the President of Israel on 9 February 2026.

Byron Shire mens Rebels suffer first defeat at the hands of Wollongbar

Hywel David It was a mixed day out at Pioneer Park in Wollongbar-Alstonville on a sunny Saturday, with the Rebels...

Animals on country roads safety campaign launches

Motorists are being urged to slow down and stay alert for wildlife as Transport for NSW launches its annual ‘Animals on Country Roads’ safety campaign.

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'.

Australia’s first greenhouse gas monitoring network launches

With World Environment Day being today, June 5, NSW government scientists say they have launched Australia’s first dedicated regional greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring network, "which will help inform emissions reduction as we head towards net zero".

August 2, 2023

Byron Shire Echo issue 38.08 – August 2, 2023

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Local News | North Coast News | Local and Federal News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Byron Writers Festival | Crossword | Stars | Soapbox | Good Taste | The Good Life | The Arts | Seven Entertainment | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Classifieds | Sport | Backlash
In  this issue: Echo Property Magazine #1

In this Issue:

Voice useful?

Dudley Leggett’s letter in last week’s Echo raises a common question: what will be the usefulness of the referendum’s proposed Voice Committee? We have the exact examples of ‘successful’ results from existing ‘voices’ to parliament, in the form of business’s...

Homeless reflections

I read with interest in Paul Bibby’s article re Bruns van dwellers, (Echo, 26 July), that Reflections Holiday Parks are all owned by NSW state government. Giving the appalling homeless crisis that shows no sign of easing, surely one...

IQ Inc board challenged – again

With the influx of surfers and like-minded people in the 1970s, Byron Bay became a bastion of 'free thinking', the creative arts, alternative living and community minds.

Brunswick Surf Lifesaving Club needs you!

We can always hope that history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often does, and if last summer is anything to go by, we are going to need all the lifesavers we can get on the beaches this year.

Dangerously Poetic celebrates 21 years of publishing local poets

It began as a joke. A group of eight poets gathered to brainstorm how to start a poetry press.

Quilters

It was lovely to see quilts made by Bangalow Quilters featured in the photo of local View Club members. Just the week before Bangalow Quilters celebrated its 35th anniversary with 60 quilters from other Northern Rivers quilting groups from Murwillumbah...

Home care packages

One would think that after the Royal Commission into Aged Care exposed the deplorable standard of care and a system characterised by neglect and elder abuse that it should have been a wakeup call for government. But here we are...

Tackling autobesity

What happened to people making choices to suit their own circumstances? Why not criticise caravans, delivery vans, motor homes for restricting vision while driving? Just because you don’t agree with another person’s choice, you wish to criticise a person’s penis? What about...

Thick and thin

Are we prepared for a shocking fire season? Is everybody ready to spot the first wisp of smoke in the trees? The undergrowth is thick and our defences are thin. Who do we ring – 000, the local fire station,...

Girl Guides: empowering women for over 100 years

Brunswick Heads Girl Guides leader Deanna Bowen-Sudmals says Guides is an empowering place for women of the future and the group is looking for two extra leaders to help with the girls on their journey. 

‘F’ in Lennox

After months of roadworks in the Lennox village – which are still happening – Ballina Council has added yet another traffic impediment. This ‘temporary’ roundabout at the northern turnoff to Lennox has caused considerable hold-ups and frustrations.  A big ‘F’...

Can AI solve the plastic problem?

Can you imagine a world without plastic waste? It could be coming sooner than we think, thanks to AI.

Landcare Week is coming up, August 7–13

With Landcare Week coming up from August 7 to 13, Byron Shire and the Northern Rivers have several strong landcare groups to get involved with. 

Concerns raised over federal Labor’s disinformation bill

A legal advocacy group has raised concerns over a proposed bill by federal Labor, that if it were to become law, would arm a government department with ‘extraordinary coercive powers’ to monitor and enforce an ‘industry standard’ of misinformation and disinformation on digital platforms.

Byron homelessness service faces funding shortfall

A vital homelessness service in the heart of Byron Bay could be forced to cut services without additional donations from the community.

Writers at the Rails

Sad to report that Byron’s iconic poetry event, Writers at the Rails, will not be part of this year’s Byron Writers Festival.  After 30 years the Rails management has decided not to continue with the event which started as a...

Ewingsdale proposal uses West Byron precedent  

As the developers of the West Byron housing estates fuel up their concrete trucks, a smaller residential developer has quietly concocted plans for prime real estate on Ewingsdale Road.

Where’s the accountability with flood funding?

Can the public have confidence that federal flood recovery and resilience programs will actually deliver, given the state government’s botched roll-out of flood assistance via the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation.

Cartoon of the week – 2 August 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: To Bank or Not To Bank…

I remember going to the bank as a kid. It was an austere place – because money was serious. Banks designed themselves a bit like confessionals. The teller was your private priest of poverty or prosperity. Everyone spoke in hushed tones, so when you withdrew $2.50 from your passbook your fiscal sins were private.

Quick fix

Hey Byron Shire Council (BSC), I see people are still complaining about some roads with potholes in the Shire, so why don’t you just close those roads like you did with South Beach Road at Brunswick? Because that will...

Cinema: Barbie is just everything!

‘While there were some really fun moments, there were some very poignant and thought-provoking scenes. Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and all the Barbies were fantastic. Go Barbie! And go Ruth Handler for creating a doll that has created so many memories for children big and small.’

The kings are back!

Following their sold-out national tour in 2022, Australia’s new ‘Kings of Variety Television’ are back in 2023 with a brand new show. The Robertson Brothers are thrilled to be returning with their new heart-warming and uplifting 1960s Variety TV Show!

Ensemble Q

Proudly presented by the Northern Rivers Conservatorium in association with Musica Viva Australia, in the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Concert Room. Paul Dean on clarinet, Natsuko Yoshimoto on violin, Trish Dean on cello and Daniel de Borah on piano directed by coartistic directors, cellist Trish Dean and clarinetist Paul Dean. Ensemble Q was born in 2017 out of a desire to create an ensemble with the finesse of the greatest ensembles in the world and the excitement of a festival collaboration. 

Where does love live?

The Where Loves Lives August event will be an unforgettable night of love, inclusion, and diversity with Lovemore Lismore NSW! 

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.