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Byron Shire
June 13, 2026

Latest News

Up to 550 homes pegged for Byron Shire’s newest suburb

Community feedback is now sought on three planning documents that will shape the future of Gulgan Village, a new residential suburb proposed on the elevated slopes of Saddle Road. 

Other News

High-speed rail

I was extremely disappointed to hear that the federal government had decided to scrap the section of the high-speed...

Emily Lubitz added to Lismore Lantern Parade lineup

Fresh from reaching number one on the ARIA Country Charts, Emily Lubitz will headline the  Heartbeat Festival Stage on Saturday 20 June, as part of the Lantern Parade.

Pool tender

Why! Why! Why! Can someone – in particular one of our councillors – tell me, us, the community, why...

Cudgen Lifesaver among King’s Birthday honourees

Far North Coast Director of Lifesaving, David Rope, was awarded an Emergency Services Medal as part of the King's Birthday honourees this week – acknowledging his significant and sustained service to the movement.

Catalano’s twin Wategos mansion DA wins court approval

A controversial dual-mansion development at Wategos Beach has been approved by the NSW Land & Environment Court, ending an 18-month battle between media entrepreneur Antony Catalano's company and Byron Shire Council.

Kyogle adopts $64.6m budget, promises big investment for the future

Kyogle Council has adopted its 2026/2027 budget, with Mayor Danielle Mulholland saying it delivers a clear commitment to strengthening essential services, supporting emerging needs, and positioning the community for the future.

August 30, 2023

Byron Shire Echo issue 38.12 – August 30, 2023

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Father's Day | Good Taste | The Good Life | Sample Food Festival | Seven Entertainment | Cinema | Gig Guide | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Classifieds | Community at Work | Sport | Backlash

In this Issue:

Sharing the rail corridor

I feel compelled to write again regarding the use of the train tracks in our shire for public transport. I disagree that the rail tracks should be just for the use of cyclists and walking enthusiasts only. The history, culture, and...

Coastal residents unite to fight inappropriate DAs

A new alliance of dozens of community groups campaigning to defend small coastal towns and pockets of sensitive and endangered coastal bushland from inappropriate developments launched at the NSW Parliament recently.

What?

Hans Lovejoy’s article on the Lavertys Gap Water Filtration plant gives cause for some serious questions. Dominika Tomanek, Executive Assistant Infrastructure Services, seems to have made a recommendation to the elected Council to ignore the Water & Sewer Committee’s recommendation...

A lost sock in the laundromat of life?

It could not be more simple. To recognise the original Australians in our Constitution and give them a representative Voice in matters directly affecting their wellbeing, like health, housing, education and criminal justice. What is there not to understand?...

Scrivener’s Ukraine

Johnn Scrivener would do well to purge the produce of the Wagner troll farm from his diet. Defending Ukraine from unprovoked Russian aggression is exactly what the allies are doing, they are not acting under an ‘implausible pretext’. Putin...

Community and civil society

ciety must applaud the aged ‘Feros Warriors’ and their families and supporters in demanding their human rights. The decision to sack the current management (which has been acting with unconscionable and incalculable cruelty) has breached the Human Rights Act,...

To The Prime Minister

Dear Albos – ‘What practical difference will this referendum make to the Indigenous people of Australia?’ If you can answer this in plain English, with no blah,blah,blah, no weasel words and no Happy Horse Shit! Then I will vote, ‘Yes’. David...

Insurrection 

When in 1924 Adolf Hitler went to jail for violent insurrection he came back with vengeance swinging Mein Kampf.  Beware jailing Trump, in 2024 he will come back with vengeance – black lawyer prosecutors will be facing genocide! Peter Hanna, Byron...

The Adventures of Edward Herring – Part two

Shimon Salahm, manager of the Mullcogan Times, whereof our hero has mysteriously become the editor, has already set up an interview for him with Sean Pebble, head of the region’s flood relief agency. After a detailed briefing Edward obediently heads off to Shelley Cove to meet this personage.

Disaster preparedness fun day!

This Sunday, September 3, a Community Spring Festival will be held from 3 till 5 pm at the New Brighton Oval.

Going the ‘Full Donald’

If, as the polls report, there are more than 80 per cent of Indigenous Australians in favour of the Voice, who do Warren Mundine and Jacinta Price actually represent? The recent Conservative Political Action Conference (19 August) had all the...

Alcoholism and hope

Twenty years ago I migrated to the Byron Shire from the UK on a working visa as a skilled migrant. I came here for a better life, and what a life I was given. Within months of arriving in...

Book now for Chinny Charge

Organisers of the Chinny Charge were working on the route up Mt Chincogan last weekend, in preparation for this year’s run and walk. 

Byron Shire planning – limits to growth

Currently we find ourselves in housing and cost of living crises, set against the backdrop of climate and biodiversity extinction crises. We need more homes for those displaced by the floods and for essential workers and volunteers.

Rail trail slated for some of Byron Shire

Significant steps have been taken by Byron Shire Council toward creating a bike and pedestrian pathway along parts of the old rail line in the Shire, moving away from its previous position of supporting a return of trains to the tracks.

Apollo aged care interested in Feros takeover 

The Mullumbimby District Neighbourhood Centre and Apollo Care Alliance will apply to take over the day-to-day running of the Feros Village aged care facility in Byron Bay, should a proposed expression of interest process for the home take place.

Feros Village Byron Bay

Congratulations to Byron Shire Council for making inroads to save our aged care facility from closure. Cr Swivel and Mayor Lyon in particular. A facility this community paid for over 30 years ago which included, back then, large donations...

Hooray Herring

It was an absolute pleasure to see journalist Edward Herring back in action in the pages of last week’s Echo, albeit by an interdimensional sleight of hand involving the Mullcogan Times. Edward’s journal was a much-welcomed staple of The...

Racists voting in the Voice referendum

I refer to Janet Walker’s letter (23 August). She believes that racists will vote ‘No’ in the upcoming referendum on the Voice. Ms Walker is obviously far too decent to know any racists, if any even live in Goonengerry.  Racists believe...

Premier admits ‘more needs to be done’ on flood funding

NSW Labor Premier, Chris Minns, has hinted that those deemed ineligible for government flood programs (retrofit, home raising and buybacks), may be offered what they were originally promised by the former NSW Coalition government.

Why Delta is voting ‘Yes’

Local Aboriginal woman, Delta Kay is very clear when it comes to the subject of the Voice to Parliament referendum.

Referendum

Mr Kent (Letters, 23 August), asks, if the Voice doesn’t have legislative authority and all parliament does anyway is ‘make mountains out of molehills’, why bother? ‘There are far too many questions,’ says Mr Kent before conjuring a few...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: The Luis Kiss

Don’t grab women by the head and kiss them. It seems obvious. But the patriarch had to stake his claim. Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation just broke Christmas. And I’m pissed.

West Papua

Thank you for the article and book review reminding us of the grave injustices occurring at our next-door neighbour. It seems that usually Australia’s concern for justice is greater the further away it is from our shores. But there are...

Endless cliches

Like me and doubtless many other Echo readers you are probably heartily sick of the cliche – besotted dullards on television news bulletins who endlessly report ‘journeys’ that ‘unfold’ on a ‘rollercoaster ride’ that is ‘just the tip of...

Load limit increased for Byron Creek Bridge

The load limit for Byron Creek Bridge has been increased to 24 tonnes, say Byron Shire Council, following structural analysis of the bridge.

Festival and event grants on offer

Community organisations are encouraged to apply for NSW government grants to bring cultural festivals and events to life across the state over the coming year.

Dr Bronwyn Bancroft wins prestigious Ochre Award

Bundjalung woman and artist Dr Bronwyn Bancroft AM has received the Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence.

The Pocket Winter Festival bringing you music, food and fun

The Pocket Winter Festival is set to return on Sunday, 21 June, from 10am to 2pm, bringing together the community for a day of music, food, entertainment and family fun at The Pocket Public School.