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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

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.

High-speed rail

I was extremely disappointed to hear that the federal government had decided to scrap the section of the high-speed...

Wanted: citizen scientists to check on our creeks

The Richmond River upper catchment is currently sitting on a C- in the Richmond River Ecological Health Report Card. It's not a number we can accept without doing something about it.

Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 10 June 2026

Eclectic Selection: What’s on this week is a taste of some of the events that can be found in the Byron Shire and beyond this coming week.

Interview with Peter O’Doherty

Australia’s legendary band Mental As Anything made an historic comeback in 2026 – the first in 25 years – as original founding members Peter O’Doherty and brother Reg Mombassa reunited, leading an exciting new lineup to perform once again under the iconic banner Mental As Anything.

Greens silence ‘lacks integrity’

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

December 18, 2024

Byron Shire Echo issue 39.28 – December 18, 2024

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Local News | North Coast News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Good Taste | The Good Life | Mullum Shop Local | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Mullum on the Map | Festive Season | Health & Healing | New Year's Eve | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Classifieds | Community at Work | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

A prayer for children this Christmas

Our contemporary Christmas has evolved from northern hemisphere seasonal celebrations, including the pagan harvest festivals and winter solstice celebrations encrusted with Christianity.

How coffee saved the world

There’s a worldwide coffee shortage.

Marine Rescue anticipates busy holiday season

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state say they were busy during November, with the service expecting demand to increase over the holiday season.

Early Christmas gift for Mayoral Fund recipients

Recipients of the 2024-2025 Mayoral Fund have been announced, valued at $18,142. Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said she was ‘overwhelmed by the response to a call-out for applications for this year’s fund’.

Local councils back return of SCU arts degrees

The recent cuts to Southern Cross University (SCU)’s undergraduate programs in art and design, contemporary music, and digital media, from 2025 have prompted north coast councils to call on the university to reconsider, given the importance of the sector to the Northern Rivers.

Bike helmets ignored

Wear your bicycle helmet! It is the law and it is for your safety. I notice that the lax enforcement of the NSW road rules,  dominant in Byron, has now spread to Ballina. If you are caught riding without a helmet...

The role of our thoughts

Reading your article about the recent fundraising lunch for men’s mental health (Echo, November 13), one statement stood out to me: ‘By the time it’s physical, it’s very hard to treat’. It’s a sobering thought, but I’d like to...

Invisible ageing

My talk to Byron Shire Council last week about the invisible ageing people in our shire was introducing a proposal which I called ‘The Ministry of Ageing’, a community-led initiative to provide our old people with a platform to...

‘No’ to traffic lights

Say ‘no’ to traffic lights on Broken Head Road at Suffolk Park. I can’t believe that the Byron Shire Council (BSC) seriously thinks that installing traffic lights on Broken Head Road at Suffolk Park is a good idea and that...

Advisory committees slashed from previous year

A new cohort of community members who advise Council around planning and policy matters were appointed to Council’s advisory committees at last week’s meeting.

Harvest restaurant and deli closes its doors

Newrybar-based restaurant and deli Harvest has closed its doors, with owners saying it was owing to rising operational costs, compliance pressures and an uncertain tenure.

Editorial – Advance Australia’s next big hit

Look out, you latte-sipping do-goody Greens, there is a movement preparing war against your party for the upcoming federal election.

Trying to find Pam Fowler

We have lost contact with Pam Fowler, a friend we made back in 1982. The last known address we had for her was 643 Booyong Road, Booyong, 2480. Our last letter to her was returned to us in Guernsey,...

Cape Byron Lighthouse

Having just seen a previous copy of The Echo we were very interested in Paul Jones’ letter criticising the new concrete path up to the lighthouse from Wategos. We’re sure he’s right –though we haven’t seen the path yet,...

Ecologically sensitive land makes way for new industry estate

A $4.3 million industrial development will be built on a sensitive greenfield site next to the Harvest housing estate in West Byron after receiving approval from Byron Shire councillors. 

Those influential billionaires 

It’s that time of the year again. Friday Hut Road from The Buttery has been renamed Santa Claus Lane and dozens of colourful Santas, gnomes and sleighs – one pulled by six white kangaroos – have appeared by the roadside. 

Before adopting, here’s a few questions

This Christmas, are you thinking about getting someone you love a friend they can love? 

Backlash Dec 11

I don’t know if Backlash coined the nickname P Duddy (Echo, December 11) for the leader of the opposition – another appropriate name for him – but gee I like it! Rose Fox, Byron Bay

Byron’s dangerous zebra crossing

Further to the recently published letter in The Echo regarding the virtually invisible and highly perilous lip at the end of the zebra crossing between Fundies and the Commonwealth Bank: today I witnessed the aftermath of a shocking accident...

Rare ecology on show December 19 

A photographic exhibition presenting the stunning, unique beauty of the ‘Wallum’ landscape will be held at the Brunswick Picture House on Thursday December 19.

Large Wategos DA knocked back

The sprawling 4,078 square metre site at 2 Brownell Drive, Wategos Beach, is arguably the most beautiful vacant coastal lot in the Byron Shire.

Biodiversity officer could return to Byron Council

The position of a senior biodiversity officer is likely to return to Byron Shire Council, after councillors unanimously voted at their Thursday meeting to hold a confidential ‘workshop’ meeting with executive staff to explore options.

Support new parents

I’m writing to raise awareness about changes to Byron Hospital’s weekly new parent group – a service that has been a lifeline for so many in our community. Run by the wonderful Brooke and Helen, this group offers more...

Mullum carpark highrise

The elephant in the room for the 57 Station St development application (DA), site suitability, is censored from public feedback on the DA by the applicant company, Landcom. All such comments are not published on their online site, and...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Making Magic Happen

It’s nine days to Xmas. I don’t know why, but that makes me feel immediately anxious. It’s exactly the same feeling as having an assignment due but you haven’t even started yet. I only put the Xmas tree up yesterday. I think you’re supposed to get that sorted by the first of December. You don’t have to have a tree, but I’m so conditioned I can’t not erect some sort of tacky tinsel and flashing lights installation.

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...