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Byron Shire
June 6, 2026

Latest News

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

Other News

Minimum requirements were never meant to be aspirations

The Echo’s recent report (2 May) on Cr Elia Hauge’s proposal for a community assessment panel for the old Mullumbimby Hospital site contained a sentence that deserves more than a passing read.

Stout Blackout Blowout at Earth Beer

Nestled among the rolling green hills of Cudgen, just minutes from Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast, Earth Beer Company...

Tyagarah Road, Myocum, closes Thursday

Essential Energy say contractors will carry out vegetation management around the electricity network in parts of Myocum on Thursday, 4 June.

Kyogle Council encourages making contact before starting development

"Planning a development? Contact Council before you start" – that's the message from Kyogle Council around building and construction.

Love Lennox Festival returns June 13

The all day Love Lennox Festival returns Saturday, 13 June, with organisers saying they expect more than 10,000 attendees to gather across town for one of the region’s most loved community events.

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.

October 2, 2024

Byron Shire Echo issue 39.17 – October 2, 2024

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Sport | Good Taste | The Good Life | Byron Bay Film Festival | National Circus Festival Program | School Holidays | The Arts | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Classifieds | Community at Work | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

Marine Rescue NSW deployed

There appears to be moves to bring Marine Rescue NSW into the Public Safety Network radio communications network.

Medicinal cannabis company finalist in export awards

Locally-based medicinal cannabis company, ANTG, has been selected as a finalist in the Regional Exporter category for the 2024 Premier’s NSW Export Awards.  

Australia’s coal future, climate change and the Hunter Valley operations

How time flies. On February 9, 2017, the then federal treasurer, Scott Morrison, rose from his parliamentary front-bench seat and delivered one of the more colourful, albeit disturbing, stunts in modern Australian political history.

Newly elected Byron councillor rejects preference claims

Newly elected councillor, David Warth, has told The Echo he wants to set the record straight about his preferences in the recent council election. 

Music festival law reform a failure: Greens MP

With music festivals struggling to survive in NSW, a new law was passed in NSW parliament this week by Labor: Music Festivals Amendment Act 2024.

Delving into the Big Scrub

The Bangalow Historical Society is staging its latest exhibition, called Uncovering Our Past.

Byron’s unhosted property data to be consolidated

With the new cap on unhosted short-term rental accommodation (STRA) of 60 days a year now in place for Byron Shire, Council staff say they ‘will now spend the next several months focusing on consolidating data on unhosted properties’. 

Israel, Gaza and Lebanon

Unfortunately I am yet again not surprised by the biased, anti-Israel letters in last week’s Echo. It is almost exactly one year since this terrible war started, anyone with basic knowledge can pick apart every single point, but the...

Mullum, Maidan, Minsk

Re Simon Alderton’s letter in last week’s Echo (25 Sept). Can we all agree that The Echo is a valued local paper and as such doesn’t need to provide space for letters covering international affairs? There’s enough going on...

Negative gearing

After insisting since 2019 that it would not revisit changes to negative gearing for multiple investment properties, the Albanese government has reopened the door. Such reform has been consistently pushed by the Greens as part of a solution to...

Max Chandler-Mather

Have the federal Greens of late completely lost the plot? Has the election of certain new members to the House of Reps (with Labor preferences), caused an epiphany of sorts, like the manifestation of a deity in the form...

Vale Philip Shine

Born in Sydney in 1952 to Ronald and Judith, Philip Shine was an Air Force brat.

Koala empathy

For many residents in Byron Bay it is with great relief that we learn that the younger generation of Greens are on Council. Go women, with mother Earth’s balanced blessing! I share a Green proposal that will bring huge pleasure...

Buy and rent

Labor’s current bills (Help to Buy and Build to Rent)  are being blocked by the Greens, some independents, and the Coalition because they are seen as an inadequate response to Australia’s housing crisis. The Greens are fighting for a dramatic...

Bruns public school gets involved with Nature Sculpture Walk

Brunswick Heads Public School rounded up end of term with a collaboration with Brunswick Nature Sculpture Walk, working with artists to connect with the exhibition.

What the world needs now is… more poets

How are you feeling? This might seem an odd way to start a column, but I didn’t want to jump into heady analysis and commentary about the daily shitshow without acknowledging that many of us are feeling totally overwhelmed right now.

Starlink deployed for the next emergency

Communities throughout Byron Shire are now more resilient to disasters, with portable Starlink dishes being rolled out across the area.

Chinny Charge

In response to Bruce Robinson‘s letter regarding the Chincogan Charge. As everyone is aware we had the Chinny Charge last week which was a combined effort bought to you by the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and the community who...

Closure of Billinudgel Rd

I, by chance, found out a few months ago that Billinudgel Road had been closed to through traffic. The sign was located three kilometres from the corner of Billinudgel and The Pocket roads. Again, by chance, I found out...

Byron’s new councillor lineup – who are they?

Greens Cr Sarah Ndiaye is Byron Shire’s new mayor, with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirming the final mayoral count on Monday. With Mayor Ndiaye’s election to the role, her party’s ticket effectively receives another councillor position.  The final tally...

Editorial – Who’s new in Byron’s local gov’t zoo?

Congratulations to the newly elected Byron Council for 2024–28!

Tackling homelessness – an update by Social Futures

A pilot program in Tweed Shire aimed at helping homeless people find long-term accommodation has seen more than 160 people housed, says local not-for-profit organisation, Social Futures.

Bruns gets its fishing gear on

A local fishing group has an aim that includes more than just dropping a hook and line in the water – it hopes to encourage young people to put their screens aside and get out into nature.

Cross Words

As long-term Echo cruciverbalists (in this case afficionados and not setters), we suggest you recycle Mungo’s crosswords because we find the current crosswords beyond our capabilities. Sonia Borenstein, Carole Gamble, Chris Abrahams, Di Hughes, Kadri Nelmes Ed note: Several other readers...

Farewell Philip Shine

On Wednesday night much-loved father, partner and community member, Philip Shine, left this mortal coil after a long battle with cancer. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to my dear friend and fellow councillor of eight years,...

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.

Byron Council’s Sandhills Wetlands project takes first place at LG awards

The Sandhills Wetland restoration project in Byron Bay has won another major award, with Byron Shire Council taking first place at the Local Government Professionals 2026 NSW Excellence Awards.