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Byron Shire
June 11, 2026

Latest News

School is the beating heart of Bruns

From floods to festivals, Brunswick Heads Public School has long the been the anchor of village life.

Other News

Byron local Stephan Schnierer receives the Order Australia

Stephan Schnierer, a Byron local, has been awarded an Order Australia (OA) from the Kings Birthday honours list.

Tropical soda apple eradication project spans 130km of the Richmond River

A major regional effort to manage a highly invasive weed has been completed across the Far North Coast, says Rous County Council (Rous), "marking an important step forward in protecting local agriculture and the environment".  

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).

Voters are not ‘always right’

The mantra ‘voters always get it right’ is repeated after every election by winners and losers. The decision of voters must be respected, blah, blah.

Byron Youth Service continues to invest in young people and community spaces

Byron Youth Service is celebrating another year of supporting young people across the Byron Shire through a diverse range of creative, educational, and wellbeing initiatives, while continuing significant improvements to The YAC.

Greens silence ‘lacks integrity’

In response to Ian Clements’ letter last week, we wish to clarify a few things. Firstly, on the pools debate,...

November 20, 2024

Byron Shire Echo issue 39.24 – November 20, 2024

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Sport | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Mullum Shop Local this Christmas | Good Taste | The Good Life | Health & Healing | Mullum on the Map | Seven Entertainment | Gig Giude | Cinema | Classifieds | Community at Work | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

Versace Boys drop Get Rich or Cry Trying 

Byron Shire-based misfit duo, Versace Boys, dropped their latest debut album last weekend.

Rail assets in Council’s sights

Could the plan for Byron Council to take over the old stationmaster’s cottage and the train station building in Mullumbimby be cruelled by contamination issues on both sites?

The Trojan horse of misinformation

The Misinformation Bill before the Australian Senate, introduced by Labor with the Greens’ support, threatens free speech.

24 units approved on Byron’s Bangalow Road

Plans for a 24-unit residential development on Bangalow Road, Byron Bay, have been unanimously approved by Byron Shire councillors.

Community protectors needed

The RFS are always looking for more dedicated and passionate recruits to join – particularly the Billinudgel, Main Arm, and Burringbar brigades.   

Lighthouse track has ‘zero charm’

I finally took the new path to the lighthouse from Wategos and sorry, after all that expenditure of money, workmanship and time I was left underwhelmed and concerned that the outcome was the best we could manage on this...

Petrol prices

I am writing to express my concern over the persistently high petrol prices in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Despite a significant drop in crude oil prices by over 20 per cent and refining margins by over 50...

Broken Hill planning

In correction to the letter by Dr Anne Stuart (November 6): the situation around the long-lasting power failure in Broken Hill was, in my opinion, solely down to incompetence of the grid-regulating authorities! Contrary to D. Stuart’s claim, Broken...

Sunny daze

The average annual wind speed at the beach in Byron Bay is about 10km/h and one out of five days it rains. David Vargo’s vision of zero parking at the beach removes those cosy moments overlooking the windblown ocean...

‘Adopt a family’ Christmas hamper appeal launched

The Byron Community Centre says it is excited about launching its annual ‘adopt a family’ Christmas hamper appeal as the holidays approach.

NSW foster carers urgently needed

More foster carers are urgently needed in NSW, the government says.

The night after the US election – a 15-year-old’s view

Tonight, each new thought brings a tear to my eye. Each thought comes with the image of broken hearts, shattered hopes, and dead dreams. I think of the young woman, a victim of sexual abuse; it has just been proven...

Trump victory

Surely, there have been several sentiments expressed in the political victory of Donald Trump that Byron Shire residents could relate to? For example, stop telling me what to do, stop telling me what to think, stop telling me what...

Learn Bundjalung culture, Nov 23

Coorabell Hall is hosting a special Indigenous cultural event on Saturday, November 23.

Big funds promised, but is it enough for roads?

Disaster recovery funding of $52.5 million has been announced by the NSW Labor government, to help cash-strapped Byron Shire Council restore damaged rural road infrastructure. But will it build back better?

Can Albo avoid losing the election?

Make no mistake, Peter Dutton and the far right will use the Trump coup as a template for this upcoming federal election. 

Why Trump gets away with it

In response to Sarah Seaward’s letter (November 6) entitled ‘What if’, here’s my ‘What if,’  before I take a stiff drink. Richard Jones commented that Trump could barely string two words together. That I would boldly claim is a...

Upper Main Arm

The state of the roads in Upper Main Arm is an ongoing disgrace three years after the flood. I appreciate that Byron Council has done its best to restore its road network since the catastrophe, a mighty undertaking at...

Finding Queer Family Inc a home

For five years local community service organisation Queer Family Inc has been providing vital support for local members of the LGTBQIA+ community in and around the Byron Shire.

Upgrades planned for Bruns Boat Harbour

There is finally some movement on improvements to the Brunswick Heads Boat Harbour, with Transport for NSW Maritime announcing on its website it will fund electrical upgrades to the existing boating facilities.

Byron Bay

I've very much enjoy visiting Byron Bay; it’s a beautiful area, the town is lively and full of interesting restaurants and cafes, and the local residents are relaxed, friendly and kind. However, there are a few things that would make...

Foreshore masterplan

David Vago’s vision for the foreshore published in The Echo, and all the Byron Shire Council options recently exhibited for public consultation, are all missing a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The masterplan must include a new beach access at the western end...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: When Silence is Violence

We need to talk about child sexual abuse. And most importantly we need to listen. And then we need to act. There’s a kind of social paralysis that exists around this subject. It’s uncomfortable. It’s upsetting. It’s triggering. But the silence – from the system through to the family, continues to hurt people long after the assault has finished.

Cartoon of the week – November 20

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.

Getting more organic – one apple at a time

The benefits of eating organic foods are now quite well known. Eating organic food supports gut health and can provide a higher level of nutrition including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. Eating organic...

Israel’s assault on Global Sumud Flotilla – a first-hand account

It hit me like a lightning strike. It was the latex gloves that did it. Those pale blue five fingered clinical sheaths made me want to vomit. Last Tuesday, having just been repatriated from my time on the Global Sumud Flotilla, I was at Tweed Valley Hospital getting a forensic medical examination for my sexual assault at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces.

Voters are not ‘always right’

The mantra ‘voters always get it right’ is repeated after every election by winners and losers. The decision of voters must be respected, blah, blah.

Lismore councillor pay rise divides chamber at June meeting

The sharpest debate from Lismore City Council's 9 June ordinary meeting saw a majority vote to increase councillor and mayoral fees, following a 3.7 per cent rise determined by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal (LGRT) – a figure tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12 months to February 2026.

Here’s to the Flotilla

The Global Sumud Flotilla is about brave people doing exceptional things with skill, compassion, colour, spirit and gruff chutzpah. Would I leave my comfy chair...