17.1 C
Byron Shire
June 11, 2026

Latest News

Protests against closure of life-saving facility in Murwillumbah

The announcement that Murwillumbah's Safe Haven would be closed this week due to the end of funding arrangements has been greeted with shock by locals who have come to rely on the mental health support services the facility provided.

Other News

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.

Catalano’s twin Wategos mansion DA wins court approval

A controversial dual-mansion development at Wategos Beach has been approved by the NSW Land & Environment Court, ending an 18-month battle between media entrepreneur Antony Catalano's company and Byron Shire Council.

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.

‘Open slather’ if rural housing expands under Tweed policy, says councillor

A Tweed councillor is warning that protections for agricultural/environmental land could be diminished if a strategy to expand housing on rural land is adopted by Council. 

Murwillumbah biz networking breakfast cancelled

Join the Murwillumbah business community for their June Business Murwillumbah Networking Breakfast, to be held at at Crystal Creek Estate.

Kingscliff insurance

Recently, many Kingscliff locals have been hit by massive increases in their home insurance. Some properties are located in...

January 22, 2025

Byron Shire Echo issue 39.33 – January 22, 2025

Download PDF (15MB)
Jump to:
Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Soapbox | Good Taste | The Good Life | Byron Arts & Industry Estate | Making Spaces | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Classifieds | Community at Work | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

Mental health services expand – Ballina

Much-needed mental health services for local young people have received a boost with the official opening of the expanded Headspace service at Ballina.

Mandy’s Soap Box

Mandy has a problem with huge black utes, naming the ‘Ram’ as an example, and yes I too, and I am sure many motorists would also be aware how intimidating they can be when they come up behind you...

Are you satisfied? Byron Council survey outlines residents’ opinions 

Byron Shire Council’s Satisfaction Survey Report is available on its website, having been quietly published in November last year.

Vale Audrey Kingsley

Audrey Gladys Kingsley, our mother and grandmother, took her final bow last Saturday morning.

Wategos DA seeks deeper excavations

Should the owners behind a Wategos mega-mansion project be allowed to significantly increase the size of their underground garage to make the property more suitable for those of advanced years?

Stairway to heaven

I have noticed a new Sydney residential development application (DA) on a filled-in floodway (riverbank) which includes two new planning terms: ‘Vertical Evacuation’ and ‘Shelter in Place’ (SIP) –stay in the flooded building? Our local Ballina Shire Council has a...

No need to ban rodeo

The Northern Rivers wouldn’t be the same without rodeos. This isn’t Bondi or St Kilda, we’re a rural district where the primary industries are agricultural. Rodeos are part of the fabric of this area. The annual Murwillumbah rodeo attracts people...

Psychosausage

One wonders about Philip Byrt’s (Letters, January 15) revelation of bonobos’ bloody removal of the sexual sausage. His wish to serve love is even beyond the capacity of bonobos. Perhaps if bonobos could talk they would rise to Coral...

Excess letters

Why do you print letters (usually whinging) far in excess of your limit. January 8 Letters section is such an example. Personally I ignore them depending on the heading. If subscribers cannot make their point within close to 200...

Questions

How much money has been spent per annum transferring the landfill from the Myocum tip to somewhere outside of Byron Shire? Considering there is a perfectly suitable site just meters away from the existing transfer site that being the old...

Global climate action in local Byron Shire

Do you remember the ‘think global act local’ campaign? When this thinking spills over to a group of passionate volunteers who pit their actions toward making changes you can really feel you are effecting critical change beyond your own neighbourhood.

Richmond candidates launch themselves at unsuspecting public

While the federal election is yet to be called, it mustn’t be far off, with Labor MP Justine Elliot launching her campaign last Saturday at the Ocean Shores Country Club.

Toads with that?

In a tawdry attempt to latch onto a phantom audience that supposedly wants to eat cats and toads, ABC TV has lurched onto the rickety bandwagon of B-listers killing and eating animals in the bush. Attempting to persuade viewers to...

Nature of nudism

Byron Bay has lost its iconic clothing-optional beach, a space once celebrated for its inclusivity and connection to nature. This closure is a loss for locals and visitors who value body positivity and the naturist lifestyle. A growing global movement,...

Ocean Shores Mulleteers are go!

The World Championship Mullet Throwing competition is set to be played out this weekend in Ocean Shores, with competitors flexing their fish arms in the hopes of taking home a championship win.

Land sharing future

Thank you David Heilpern for your eloquent, brilliant and inspired article. Land sharing, in fact sharing, is a concept whose time has come. I chose land sharing as my final project in 1974 at Louisiana State University and I see...

Acknowledgement and acceptance

There has been quite some controversy in mainstream media recently surrounding the ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies that have been held around Australia for the last half century. The ceremony has been reputed to have started in 1973, when it...

Concerns raised over Main Arm CT expansion

The Main Arm Rural Residents Association has raised concerns over the changes to the development application being sought by the approved multiple occupancy development at 84 Blindmouth Road, Main Arm. 

Calls for audit into govt’s local crime response

Holding the NSW government to account over its promised strategies to address youth-related crime has become a key focus of the growing local campaign in relation to the issue.

Mainstream media fails to mention positive Labor policies

The new year in Australian politics, an all-important election year, began on a high with a host of Albanese government policy initiatives taking effect from January 1, 2025. 

With new Bruns SLS Clubhouse underway, funds are needed for completion

After years of planning and months of waiting, the demolition of the Surf Life Saving Club at Brunswick Heads is finally underway.

Free vet care for homeless comes to Byron

Fifteen vets, vet nurses and staff, and community volunteers, gave up their time on Sunday for the inaugural Pets In The Park (PITP), event in Byron Bay, and several beloved fur companions enjoyed the attention.

Youth crime

It was refreshing to read Mayor Sharon Cadwallader’s comments (Echo, January 15 and 25) addressing the route cause of youth crime. Too much space is given over to the deeply flawed mantra of ‘adult crime, adult time’. Ironically this...

Joy to Byron Bay

While reading The Echo letter ‘Boring Bay’ (January 8) I reflected on how our community in Byron Bay has been overlooked when it comes to creating meaningful celebrations. From the needs of our aged (letter ‘Hydrotherapy Pool Rejected’), and...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: The Power of Brow

I’ve always loved raising eyebrows. In surprise, or shock, or outrage. Or in hysterics. I always thought eyebrows were how our faces spoke to the world. They just sit there, above your eyes, enjoying the vastness of your forehead, speaking...

Community to rally against ‘relentless’ RA house demolitions

Northern Rivers locals and flood-impacted residents will gather in Lismore this Saturday to demand the NSW Reconstruction Authority stop demolishing heritage homes and deliver on broken promises, as community anger at the failed flood recovery reaches a new peak.

Myall Creek walk starts conversations and opens eyes to difficult history

The Walk 4 Stolen Children, Land & Lives has successfully concluded in Myall Creek, having completed 474km on foot from Ballina and visited a number of massacre sites along the way.

Emergency departments buckling under pressure

Nurses working at emergency departments (ED) across the state are continuing to feel the effects of increased presentations and very unwell people coming through their doors, with the latest health snapshot painting a worrying picture of NSW public hospitals.

New exhibitions opening at Lismore Regional Gallery

All are welcome to the official opening of four new exhibitions at Lismore Regional gallery this Friday evening, with live music and a talk from Melbourne artist Sarah Ujmaia.