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Byron Shire
June 13, 2026

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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

Struggling Byron businesses

I appreciate the difficulties facing Byron businesses regarding the drainage works, but with all due respect to those affected,...

Ayusa Tea: clarity, energy, calm focus

Allie Godfrey At the New Brighton Farmers Market, it’s not just coffee drawing a crowd – there’s also growing interest...

Flood-free land and houses hit the market for Lismore buyback residents

In what the government has described as a step forward for the region’s housing recovery, flood-affected homeowners will get the first opportunity to buy into Goonellabah’s Mount Pleasant estate.

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. 

Race cards

They’re doing it again. The conservative Coalition are playing the race and immigrant card. Here is an Opposition that lost...

Cartoon of the week – 10 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.

July 31, 2024

Byron Shire Echo issue 39.08 – July 31, 2024

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Local News | North coast News | Comment | Letters | Byron Writers festival | Articles | Sport | Soapbox | Stars | Crossword | Good Taste | The Good Life | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Classifieds | Community at Work | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

Kieren’s big run for cancer prevention

Actor and executive producer, Kieren Devisser, is running 2,000km across Australia to help raise awareness and raise funds for pancreatic cancer prevention.

Spot the difference on this Byron proposal

The owners behind a large mixed-use development project at the southern end of the Byron CBD are seeking to make substantial changes to both the design and size of the project.

Students take part in Youth Parliament

Mullumbimby High School year 12 students Henrietta Barry, Estar Constable, and vice-captain Rotem Hadad attended NSW Parliament and Government House this July to debate their bills created as part of the NSW Youth Parliament program.

Milestone for Bay Centre Medical

Bay Centre Medical celebrated its 50th anniversary last Sunday, with a gathering at the Fig Tree restaurant in Ewingsdale.

Labor’s supports no new holding pond

As reported, the latest advice from Council’s Water Committee is that Mullumbimby’s Lavertys Gap water supply infrastructure has a shelf life of maybe two years. A decision needs to be made: a new holding pond and water treatment plant...

The cost of water

The Hydrosphere report to Byron Shire Council predicts that it is cheaper for Mullumbimby to buy all its water from Rous than to reconfigure the town’s existing local water supply. Reconfiguration would entail the addition of an off-stream storage...

Reflections on conflict

I’ve always been reluctant to comment on Palestinian-Israeli matters because of the intractable nature of the problem as evidenced by modern-day conflicts, especially from the six-day war (1967) to the present. But the egregious toll of the October 7, 2023...

A load of &%^*#@

In response to Phoebe Havyatt (Letters, July 17): it’s very unfortunate that people like yourself have so little confidence in themselves and the Greens party in general that they have to ‘crap’ on highly professional and hardworking Labor MPs...

What are the plans for Mullum’s fire-damaged train station?

It has been over three months since the historic Mullumbimby Fire was gutted by fire, and the site remains largely untouched, except for a ring of fencing emblazoned with signs warning of asbestos contamination.

Hot Brazilian grills and thrills

An event filled with delicious food, vibrant music, and fun activities for all ages is planned at The Paddock Project on August 17. 

So that’s it – Moonlight Close!

How dull, how shabby, how tatty – some might say ‘how Byron Shire!’ What on earth happened to the botanical name theme for the street names around here? One can bet one’s life that the guilty clown in Council’s offices who...

Opinions

Freedom of speech it may be! However D Heilpern’s latest article has crossed the line! You may lean hard left or hard right but this is no less than ‘hate speech’. Laws against that in this country... those comments...

Newrybar lights up on Saturday

Newrybar Public School is set to light up the night sky once again on Saturday with its annual bonfire and fireworks spectacular. 

Kids seek your views on homelessness

We are a group of ten-to-twelve-year-olds at Byron Bay Public School, who are seriously worried about the housing crisis. 

How a walk in nature works 

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to do the Yuraygir Walk – close to 70 kilometres of stunning national park from Angourie to Red Rock, it’s the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the state. 

Selective perception

Ah, you have to love selective perception. Apparently God has a vision for America with Donald at the helm, but wasn’t too bothered when the chosen people sent their rockets and missiles into hospitals and schools. Rod Murray, Ocean Shores

DV and law-and-order policies

Many thanks to community members who are addressing the dire issues of domestic violence and the manipulations of male behaviour in the manifestations of coercive control contributing to the deaths of women. The Saturday Paper journal, July 20-26, 2024 reveals...

Truth at last!

The petrochemical companies have hit squads to kill anyone who threatens their business including all inventors who find free energy sources. Of course they also kill other people who threaten their business, like climate activists. Their bodies are scattered...

Young peeps to get a voice for their future

It is a bizarre paradox of contemporary life that those with the biggest stake in the future of our planet are the most likely to be left out of public conversations about it.

Norm weaves his magic

For the last nine months, the Soundshell amphitheatre, located at The Terrace in Brunswick Heads, has housed a community piano.

A closer peek at flood planning, post 2022 

Given the hottest temperatures keep being recorded year after year, and the uncertainty ahead with extreme weather events, how is Byron Shire Council planning to alleviate the effects from the next large flood event?

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Nursing our Nurses Back to Health

In the mid 1800s, Florence Nightingale revolutionised nursing. She pioneered a kind of patient advocacy that sits at the heart of modern nursing. No longer just handmaids to doctors, nurses provided personal care, emotional support and comfort with work grounded in facts and evidence. Nurses don’t sit on the sideline. Nurses speak up.

The Ceremony of Song

The Murwillumbah Philharmonic Society Choir is delighted to present ‘Ceremony of Song’ in Lismore on the weekend.

Do we have a choice?

In last week’s Echo (page 5), the three current candidates for mayor were given the chance to present their CV. Dear reader, would you hire them? One appeared to dance to the puppet master in Sussex Street. Another offered to keep...

Happy crash cash!

Businesses and services around the world are still recovering from a massive IT outage last week after a cybersecurity firm issued a faulty software update which affected Microsoft Windows. They reckon it will be ‘some time’ before all systems...

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.