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Byron Shire
June 7, 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

Return of Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifier at Teven Golf Club

Teven Golf Club will again host the opening event of the 2026 Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series, with...

Nazi ideology crack down sees fines of up to $11,000

Reforms that crack down on conduct which indicates support for Nazi ideology has passed NSW parliament.

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.

Conversations in the Pub starts with Janelle Saffin

Conversations in the Pub – Lismore’s new civic meet-up – kicks off on Friday 19 June with its inaugural special guest, the NSW Minister for Small Business, Minister for Recovery, Minister for the North Coast and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP.

Was the NACC designed to fail?

The sudden resignation of controversy-plagued National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton has served to further highlight the failings of an organisation which began with such high hopes, having been one of the key demands of the first teal representatives and a core promise of the incoming Albanese Labor government.

Northern Rivers philanthropic org reveals 2025 achievements

Not-for-profit philanthropic organisation,  Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF), have released their annual report for 2025, revealing $2.4m was raised, and 121 projects funded across the region.

April 17, 2024

Byron Shire Echo issue 38.45 – April 17, 2024

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Good Taste | The Good Life | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | School Holidays | Health & Healing | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Service Directory | Classifieds | Community at Work | Sport | Backlash

In this Issue:

Byron’s Sydney-centric policies

Very interesting comments slipped out of the mouth of Premier Chris Minns during the recent Sydney/regional floods: ‘There shall be no more developments on foodplains’ (and in one interview a muttered reference to ‘the Sydney region’).  Whilst a jumbled comment,...

Increased Byron Council fees on the cards as fossil fuel investments...

Byron Council’s financial ship is beginning to list concerningly, taking from its reserves and other funds in order to bail out its bottom line.

Waterlily Park weed control underway 

The reintroduction of weevils that have previously kept weeds at bay at Waterlily Park in Ocean Shores is now underway while the weather is favourable, say Council staff.

Flood insurance inquiry’s North Coast hearings 

A public hearing into insurers’ responses to the 2022 flood was held in Lismore last Thursday, with one local insurance brokerage business owner describing the compact that exists between insurers and society as ‘broken’. 

Blaming Queensland again

I was astounded to read Mandy Nolan’s article ‘Why The Nude Beach Is A Wicked Problem’, in which she implied that it may largely be Queenslanders coming to the nude beach for predatory purposes. Really Mandy? I know you...

Cockroach climate

The cockroaches in the Byron Council offices are experiencing bright daylight at night. They are trying to determine whether this is an unexpected side effect of renewable energy or a brilliant ploy by a switched-on fossil fuel executive. Sapoty Brook,...

A grim commemoration

US President Jo Biden, responding to a question, made the comment that the US is considering the dropping of the prosecution of Julian Assange. How seriously we take what appeared to be an off-the-cuff remark remains to be seen. In 2012...

Infrastructure for east end of Mullum

Mullumbimby was founded 135 years ago. In the 1960s sewerage was introduced, as was I suppose drainage infrastructure. Are we living in the 1920s or the 2020s? It is time for modern infrastructure to be introduced at the east...

Not enough letters like this about Gaza in The Echo?

The Echo’s studied indifference to the plight of the Palestinians and its reluctance to publish letters on the subject reveals the moral fibre of its editorial team. Clearly there is an intention to ignore the local concern about the...

D-day for Bruns pod village pesticide treatment

After two delays, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) will be treating Bruns emergency pods with a pesticide treatment, despite some strong opposition from flood-affected residents.

Reclaiming childhood in the ‘device age’

A century and a half ago, the visionary Henry David Thoreau declared people had become ‘the tool of their tools.’  In this device-driven age of smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence, few observations could be seen as more prescient. 

Editorial – What are the people doing in your neighbourhood?

If you are stuck for something to do this Thursday, why not take part in local democracy?

Bruns Holistic Dental Centre closed

Longterm employee and senior dentist, Dr Roy Gamma, has described the closure of Brunswick Holistic Dental Centre (BHDC) as devastating.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Shopping Centres Scare Me

I feel trapped. There isn’t a single time I attend where I don’t check my proximity to the exits, or imagine what I’d do if there was a fire, or worse, a shooter. The sense of being enclosed is unnatural, I can’t tell what time of day it is, I lose my sense of direction. It’s designed to be disorienting. It feels otherworldly. And never in a good way. They are designed to make you stay longer. They are by design, disorienting.

Cartoon of the week – 17 April, 2024

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.

School holidays at the market

Victoria Cosford School holidays shouldn’t only be holidays for children. Parents too are entitled to a break in routine, the load lightened – and a farmers’ market experience can provide that in so many ways. Apart from it being such...

New chef at Crystalbrook Byron

Joachim Borenius has been appointed as the new executive chef at Crystalbrook Byron resort’s signature restaurant, Forest. Joachim Borenius brings a wealth of experience, gathered over an almost 20-year culinary journey, spanning several international and Sydney-based restaurants including the three-Michelin-starred...

Jungle Juice – squeezing the most out of life!

Four years ago, Guido and Natalia Annoni decided to swap the rat race for the jungle – heading north from Sydney with their kids in tow, seeking a better life in the Northern Rivers. Their dream was to run a...

Local grom takes national tube-riding prize

Local grom takes national tube-riding prize. Broken Head surfer Leihani Zoric has taken out first place in the U/14 girls and best barrel (girl) categories of the Australian Junior Online Surf Championships.

Northern Rivers rugby league underway for 2024

Senior rugby league got off to a good start for the 2024 season with Byron Bay, Ballina and Mullumbimby teams picking up competition points.

Byron U/18 girls basketballers undefeated in regional competition

The Byron Bay Beez girls U/18 squad are undefeated and sit on top of the North Eastern Junior League (NEJL) after two of four rounds.

All those macas and the Festival of Love

This season’s organic nuts have not been harvested so it is a harvest festival where festivalgoers can pick five kilos free as part of their festival entrance fee which is payable in the new paper money being launched at the Off-Grid Macadamia Festival of Love, to be held at Macas Camping Ground where The Elders of Gaia will be discussing how to get back the many freedoms recently lost and get sanity into local, national and global management.

A festival in laneways

Mullumbimby, a town known for its abundance of artists and creatives with a passion for what drives them, is set to host the much-anticipated Laneways Festival 2024 on May 4 and 5.

Metal is back at The Northern

Beast Machine are coming home from a successful spell in the United States and the thrash/metal two-piece with their massive sound layered with riff-driven guitars and thundering drums are coming to lift the roof off of the Backroom. Check out their new music video currently out for their latest single ‘Pretend’, which is featured in HEAVY magazine.

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.