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Byron Shire
June 7, 2026

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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

National minimum wage increases to $26.44p/h

With the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase the national minimum wage by 4.75%, Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is calling for further action to support people doing it tough, as well as the frontline community services helping them. “People are under severe pressure from interest rate rises, rent increases, higher fuel costs, and growing economic uncertainty due to the conflict in the Middle East,” said ACOSS Acting CEO Edwina MacDonald.

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".

Bay FM’s Karena Wynn-Moylan wins at Aus Audio Awards

Australia’s top radio and podcast talent were crowned at the inaugural Australian Audio Awards last Thursday night at Carriageworks in Sydney. Entries were judged on their technical expertise, audio quality, content and impact.

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

Tweed Shire Council recognised at Local Government Excellence Awards

Tweed Shire Council has been recognised for its innovative approach to tackling incivility, winning the People, Workplace and Wellbeing Award at the 2026 Local Government Excellence Awards last night.

Potholes 

As a relatively regular visitor to this area I was astounded, on trips to Byron Bay, at the number...

September 6, 2023

Byron Shire Echo issue 38.13 – September 6, 2023

Download PDF (22MB)
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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | News Extra | Good Taste | The Good Life | The Arts | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Magic Murwillumbah | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Classifieds | Community at Work | Sport | Backlash
In this issue: Echo Property Magazine #2
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In this Issue:

The Voice

In response to David Witney’s letter (30 August). Every year the government releases their budget projections for the coming year. Each year funding is allocated to Aboriginal communities to address welfare, health, and housing. The decisions on how this...

Second wave of dispossession

Australian Aboriginal peoples are experiencing a second wave of dispossession, and given the bloody carnage required to drive them from paradise into this civilised machine, they are now point-blank faced with the likelihood of becoming perpetrators in the cycle...

Hey David Witney

Hey David Witney (Letters, 30 August), the Constitution was written by colonisers for colonisers. Us white people. Settlers. It doesn’t mention our First Nations people anywhere! Over 80 per cent of mob want recognition in the Constitution. The Voice...

TAFE Byron opens

A new TAFE NSW Connected Learning Centre facility has opened, and is the first permanent TAFE NSW presence in Byron Bay.

Is there a conflict of interest in consultant reports to Byron...

Byron Council is overly-reliant on analysis and advice from external consultancies, some of which have conflicts of interest which inhibit their ability to provide frank and fearless advice, Greens Councillor Duncan Dey says.

Theory of conspiracy 

Plans being made to benefit Australian people. What happens when there are complaints? Does every living person conspire with their own mind (the physical and mental interaction) so they can function on earth?  The act and actions conspiring to live...

Immigrants

Homelessness has nothing to do with the environment and everything to do with the 500,000 immigrants that landed here in the last year. Likely more per capita than the massive flood of immigrants into the USA and with another...

Rail trail: senseless destruction

After numerous protest rallies and over 30,000 names on petitions collected locally calling for Trains On Our Tracks, six Byron Shire councillors think it’s a good idea to spend almost $900,000 per kilometre of taxpayers’ money to needlessly destroy...

ALP conference

David Lowe is correct in his comments (The Echo online, 21 August) regarding the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) protesting at the ALP conference last week in Brisbane. As the union official responsible we were predominantly arguing against a...

CASP funding for four Northern Rivers projects supporting the arts

From supporting emerging youth artists to mentoring emerging writers Arts Northern Rivers Country Arts Support Program 2023 is supporting a diverse range of projects.

Rail trail: illogical gap

I refer to the recent petition begging the Byron Shire Council (BSC) to cooperate with the community to expedite the completion of the rail trail in Byron Shire’s jurisdiction. The arrogance, dishonesty and disingenuous behaviour of those councillors who voted...

Richard Jones

Just wanting to say how much I enjoy Richard Jones’s column, and especially the one about the ‘Greens in government’ fantasy... Marvellous. It’s great to dream.  Thanks Richard! Virginia White, Goonellabah 

Medicali$ation of a nation

The Almighty Sometimes is a new Australian play about mental health, autonomy, and the medication of children. Without judgement, the play features the story of a teenage girl curious to explore life without her pills.

Rally to ‘fix the housing crisis’ this Sat

A rally to ‘demand reform’ and ‘tackle the current housing crisis’ will be held Saturday September 9, from 3pm at Main Beach, Byron Bay.

Disabled war veteran’s tiny home faces Council demolition order 

A disabled Afghanistan war veteran, with diagnosed PTSD, faces the loss of his off-grid, tiny home in Wilsons Creek because it is deemed an ‘unauthorised development’.

Rail trail: really?

In relation to the Byron Shire Council’s uninformed decision to vote for a rail trail – it is for everyone, just so ridiculous, as of course not everyone can ride a bike or walk the rail trail. Another ridiculous statement...

Slow speed car chase

To the old guy driving with P-plates thinking he can intimidate a young woman. Thank you so much for the fun game we played on Friday afternoon around Bruns and Mullum – I’ve always wanted to have a car...

Feds announce new coastal light pollution plan

Local federal MP, Justine Elliot (Labor) announced last week that Byron Shire Council will receive $49,500 in funding ‘to reduce light pollution and help protect the coastal habitat of Australia’s threatened species

Editorial – The answer is ‘Yes’

Yes, we have printed the Uluru Statement from the Heart on the front page of The Echo newspaper this week. They are the words of simplicity, dignity and truth that stirred the government into presenting us with a referendum. 

Rail trail: praise

To all the Byron Shire councillors who voted for proceeding with the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) in two sections, between Mullumbimby to Crabbes Creek, joining the existing Tweed Rail Trail, and between Byron Bay township and Booyong, via...

Land trust lodges its first affordable housing DA

Australia’s first community land trust has been launched in the Byron Shire, and has applied to build its first project: a group home for single mothers and kids facing homelessness.

Mandy Nolans Soapbox: National Child Protection Week – Break the Silence

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study found that almost 1 in 4 Australians experienced one or more types of contact child sexual abuse while almost 1 in 5 experienced non-contact child sexual abuse. Almost 1 in 10 Australians experienced forced sex in childhood. How do we continue to fail to protect our children? What is broken that we need to fix? What is systemic that we need to smash?

Dumbbells ringing

I once knew a bloke who owned a gym with a swimming pool in the basement. He was a crazy bloke. He used to muck around with strobe lights in his gym and he would dance around juggling spinning...

Cartoon of the week – 6 September 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.

Forrests do Brussels sprouts

Victoria Cosford It’s the first year the Forrests have had a go at growing Brussels sprouts. ‘We’re coming into the season of abundance,’ Sue tells me at their stall, where there’s every sign of it: great bunches of green onions...

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.