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Byron Shire
June 7, 2026

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Cartoon of the week – 3 June, 2026

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Other News

Crofton Rd to be fixed more than 4 years after damage

Another infrastructure repair project in response to damage caused by the Northern Rivers floods and landslides disasters more than four years ago has been announced.

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.

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.

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. 

Police chase e-bike thieves in Byron Bay

Two men faced court on last Thursday following an alleged pursuit near Byron Bay on Wednesday morning.

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.

February 14, 2024

Byron Shire Echo issue 38.36 – February 14, 2024

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Good Taste | The Good Life | The Scoop | Love Byron Bay | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Classifieds | Community at Work | Sport | Backlash

In this Issue:

Wallum vote

Lyon, Swivel, Pugh and Hunter voted on Thursday to let the bulldozers in and destroy Wallum. The Byron electorate trashed the real Green Council at the last election and voted for pro-developers Lyon, Swivel and Pugh. What did the...

River to the sea

Here we go again. Another example of the antisemitic slur ‘from the river to the sea’ from Mary McMorrow (Letters, 7 February). If the hopes of the opponents of the Israeli government’s policies are antisemitic then so must be...

Mary McMorrow

Thank you Mary for your letter in last week’s Echo supporting Israel in its efforts to remove Hamas and other radical Islamist groups from power in Gaza. This will benefit Israeli and Palestinian civilians and will contribute to the...

Dear Justine

Would you kindly advise what your government is doing to signal its respect for the International Court of Justice’s legally binding decision to do everything in your government’s power to uphold the obligation to prevent genocide in Gaza? Has Australia...

Stolen flag

I was a strong supporter of the ‘Yes’ campaign in the referendum last year and each Australia Day I am heartened to see the tree on the roundabout at the entrance to Mullumbimby’s town centre decorated with the Aboriginal...

Former Byron Mayor Simon Richardson

Former Greens mayor approved Wallum DA

Former Greens mayor, Simon Richardson, is yet to reply to Echo questions around why he voted in favour of the Wallum DA. 

With the bonds

How is it possible for the Australian government to be controlled by organisations that the Australian people did not vote for (NATO, WHO, WEF, etc)? With the bonds that have been placed on every Australian. With the language structural formation,...

Justine and Feros

Well Tony that was quite a vitriolic spray, (Letters, 7 February) you certainly don’t miss an opportunity to slag off at the Labor Party, or in fact have a good old whinge about everything, is there anything you don’t...

Have we already exceeded 1.5°C of warming?

A study published in Nature Climate Change has suggested we have seriously underestimated global warming, with the Earth already well over 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.

Frogs, fertility, toads and drugs 

My mother inculcated me with a love of science, which somehow survived a run of sadistic chemistry teachers who staggeringly discouraged creative experiments in the lab. Like making LSD, and smallish explosive devices. 

‘Mandatory’ pesticide spraying deferred at Bruns pod village

Flood-affected residents have had a last-minute reprieve by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, who had planned to spray controversial pesticides at the Bruns pod village.

Enough is enough?

A new year has turned over to 2024 and we are back with a letter about Julian Assange. We appreciate the concern and alarm by the Australian government in response to the suspended death sentence handed down by Chinese courts...

Silver screen lights up in Bangalow

Bangalow will be the cultural hotspot of the Northern Rivers during March, with the Bangalow Film Festival running from March 7 to 16. 

Prepared to save Wallum

Dozens of locals are preparing to take non-violent direct action (NVDA) to save the Wallum heathland in Brunswick Heads from development, after Byron Council signed off on subdivision works to begin at the fragile site last week.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: My Motherhood Statement

I don’t mind having my ideas shredded. But criticism rarely stays there. It becomes personal. I usually don’t engage. I just let people fight it out with themselves. But I came across this one comment, on a thoughtful post I’d written, that enraged me. The writer accused me of making ‘motherhood statements’. That statement was like acid. I couldn’t let it go.

Valentine’s Day feast

Victoria Cosford If cooking for someone is an act of love, then what better time to do so than Valentine’s Day? More so if you extend that love to the provenance of your ingredients, to the farmers and producers at...

Interview with Tim Finn

Regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation, New Zealand native Tim Finn continues to embrace the true definition of a renaissance man while fuelling an all-inclusive, creative fire that constantly drives him onwards and upwards. Having established himself in the early 1970s as a founding member of art-pop-rock pioneers Split Enz and later as a member of the internationally successful band Crowded House (alongside brother Neil), Finn has penned some of the most treasured songs in contemporary music.

Byron’s Legendary Pizza continues

Legend Pizza has been offering up delicious pizza, crafted using locally-sourced ingredients, for well over 30 years in Byron Bay. Now fully licensed, they have a fantastic dine-in experience to add to their takeaway and delivery options. Sitting out in...

The warm sounds of Ino

Originally from NZ, Ino Pio has been proud to call the Northern Rivers home for the last decade or so. When visiting Byron Bay you will be sure to see him playing at venues in the Shire. Ino warms the sounds of acoustic excellence, with his one-man-band show, looping up all your favourites, from top-40 to new renditions or old, Ino will get you grooving for any occasion.

Soothing vocals

Animal Ventura is the brainchild of Brazilian-born, Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter Fernando Aragones. His last release ‘All The Love We Knew’ is a soulful blend of coastal-folk, with a pulsing drumbeat and simple yet elegant guitar riffs – all topped by Fernando’s signature soothing vocals and meaningful lyrics.

The Secret Fantasies Tour

The Sydney Hotshots will be performing at the Ballina RSL on Friday, February 23 and they want to see you! The lads are back to sizzle for one night only with a two-hour sizzle fest of dance, acrobatics and way...

Hayley Grace, something special

Hayley Grace is a multi-talented, Australian singer/songwriter with that something special. Her soulful, unmistakable sound and her energetic live shows with looping guitar, vocals, beat boxing and percussion are an explosion of funk, reggae, soul, RnB and trip-hop. Hayley had a very colourful and musical childhood growing up on the east coast of Australia, and started performing live by age 15.

It’s Faaaaaaaaaaaaat Albert

Fat Albert is essentially a cover band who have branched out into original music that feels right to play, coming straight from the balls and soul of Rock’n’Roll! In the past few years, notching up over 1,000 live shows, the boys have done supports, played alongside, and shared the stage with many local and international acts, such as: Coolio, Wolfmother, The Beautiful Girls, Amity Affliction, (The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin), The Screaming Jets, Choirboys, The Radiators, The Feelers, Gasoline Inc, Marshall and the Fro, Dallas Frasca, and Oh Mercy.

Rainbow Dragons claim medals at the ‘Battle of the Paddles’ on...

A team of 38 Rainbow Dragons (Lennox Head-Ballina) dragon boaters headed north for the formidable Broadwater’s ‘Battle of the Paddle’ on the Gold Coast, and brought home trophies.

‘Boneless Brigade’ ready for another big year

The Northern Rivers Skateboard Club (NRSC), aka the Boneless Brigade, is rolling into 2024 with its first club round to be held at Byron Bay Skate Park on 24 February at 9am.

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.