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Byron Shire
June 17, 2026

Latest News

Vale William ‘Bill’ Ewen

The funeral service for Marine Rescue Ballina volunteer William ‘Bill’ Ewen was held on Monday at Ballina RSL Club.

Other News

Lismore’s Blakebrook quarry proposal meets resistance

A recent gathering of locals concerned about a proposed ‘mega dump’ landfill at Blakebrook quarry has been supported by Lismore Greens councillors. Lismore Council say they are still considering the proposal.

Echo Love Awards

Last Saturday night, Yuti and I had the privilege of attending the 40th anniversary celebration of The Echo. The trip...

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.

Local boxing legend visits Byron Boxing

Kyogle heavyweight, Athol McQueen, who represented Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and famously floored a then-unknown Joe Frazier,...

Flood buyback homes, pods to be offered as social, transitional, crisis homes

Buyback homes in the Northern Rivers are set to get a new lease of life as part of a housing reuse initiative by NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) and Homes NSW.

Raising funds for BYS

Byron Youth Service (BYS) supports young people across the Byron Shire through a diverse range of creative, educational, and wellbeing initiatives, while continuing significant improvements to The YAC (Youth Activity Centre).

May 7, 2025

Byron Shire Echo issue 39.48 – May 7, 2025

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

In this Issue:

The Red Cross needs you, vollie!

Australian Red Cross are looking for Byron emergency services volunteers, with full training and ongoing support available to equip you for this rewarding role.

Landsharing, affordable housing event, May 24

A free event called ‘Landsharing, Affordable Housing and Community’ will be held at the Nimbin Hall on Saturday, May 24 from 10am to 5pm – all are welcome.

Beacon’s first year celebrated

Beacon Laundry, a commercial laundry operating in Bangalow, has celebrated its first  year of operation.

Bangalow Billycart Derby returns, May 18

Bangalow’s daredevil kids and crazy adults are getting ready.

AI

Very disappointed to see a (whilst very funny) AI rendered image in the Backlash section this week. Using AI is not only a slap in the face to many local talented artists that could of been commissioned for this...

Generate this! Let’s talk AI at M-Arts

This article has not been generated by AI. But how do we know? Is there a way of telling?

Editorial – They work for them

Residents around Chinbible Avenue near the Mullumbimby Showground are right to feel disappointed by Council.

Mother’s Day tree planting postponed

Owing to recent heavy rainfall, and with a fair bit more predicted this weekend, Brunswick Valley Landcare has postponed the upcoming Mother’s Day tree planting for Sunday, May 11.

Place Plan or Tourist Plan?

Ocean Shores Place Plan reads like a ‘Destination Byron’, pre-determined agenda. It guarantees our town only a few footpaths linking Byron Shire Council’s (BSC) designated ‘tourist hotspots’ dispersing tourists through our residential streets. Our neglected residents have been unfairly...

A brilliant question

Just before the elections, Peter Dutton was asked if he minded a nuclear reactor in his own electorate. He did not mind. His voters did. What a brilliant question to unmask the people’s ‘down-dumber’! Burkhard Schulze Waltrup, Crabbes Creek

Giving Trumpism the middle finger salute

When I was on the bench I made some ‘brave’ decisions. And shock jocks, tabloid rags, the police association and politicians would pile on with their critical views.

Mullumbimby Road works update

Further to last week’s story around The Saddle Road upgrades upsetting residents, The Echo asked Council staff for more details around the project.

Division – Bangalow Garden Club

This long-established, successful, welcoming community, a most successful garden club, has recently seen a rather sad division. A member requested via the committee that a ‘Welcome to Country’ be included in the introduction at each monthly meeting as she felt...

Anglican Op Shop

The Anglican Op Shop in Mullumbimby is a charitable organisation run by a group of volunteers, financially supporting other charities in our community. We are forever thankful for donations dropped off at our shop by the wider community. On the Tuesday...

Flood-prone housing development a step closer following court settlement

A controversial development on flood-prone land near the Mullumbimby Showground is a step closer, after Byron Council and the developer reached a court settlement in relation to one of two development applications for the site.

No DA needed

Good news for Ballina Shire residents! A development application (DA) is no longer required before you build! Step 1: Build whatever you want, wherever you like on your land. Step 2: Ignore any Council directives. Step 3: Have a...

Sleeping locals

My family and I own 30 Middleton Street, Byron Bay, which backs on to Keesing Lane. We, along with our neighbours, are shocked and scared, by the proposal for the sites 111 to 115 Jonson Street. Merivale purchased Cheeky Monkeys, then...

A Minecraft Movie

Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival.

The German Film Festival

Palace Cinemas, in collaboration with German Films, is delighted to unveil the 2025 program of the HSBC German Film Festival which will take place from May 8 to 28 at Palace Byron Bay and Ballina Fair Cinemas.

Cartoon of the week – May 7, 2025

Letters to the editor 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...

The Toad, the Whale, and the Sun

Embark on a mystical journey with filmmaker Dean Jefferys, as he explores the secrets of the universe through the use of the most powerful psychedelic known to man, 5-MeO-DMT from the Sonoran desert toad in Mexico.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: The Fall

I have been trying to keep this column non-political. But today I can only write one thing. I can only write about how I woke up today. Because in over 22 years of writing the Soapbox I have a contract with my readers. I always write from my authenticity. I tell you the truth. I write what is front of mind. And today when I sit at the desk, I’m in tears. Tears of gratitude for the beautiful people who have turned up, who have carried me through, and tears of sorrow for this terrible feeling that I have let my community down. That I gave people hope for something I now couldn’t deliver.

It’s a wrap

The 5th annual Bangalow Film Festival finished with a burst of colour, as fashionistas gathered at the A&I Hall to celebrate Milano, the Inside Story of Italian Fashion, on Sunday night. 

Eclectic selection: What’s on this week (May 7–May 13, 2025)

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. (May 7-13, 2025)

How we voted around the Richmond electorate

Three strong contenders and a mish-mash of minor candidates once again made for an interesting race and a complicated preferences count that will take days to be finalised. The Echo went on a deepdive into the polling data to see how we voted around the electorate, revealing the picture of Byron Shire being a Greens stronghold, and Labor edging ahead of The Nationals in both the Tweed and Ballina shires.

Empowering women and girls

Applications are now open for Northern Rivers Community Foundation's (NRCF) 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant, offering local not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to secure funding for projects that empower women and girls across the Northern Rivers.

Big things are happening at The Paddock — and one of them has a flush

There are two milestones worth celebrating at The Paddock this season as they push ahead with their innovative project.

Byron Writers Festival reveals 30th anniversary program

As August draws near and authors gear up for a big weekend in Byron Bay, Byron Writers Festival has revealed its complete program for its 30th anniversary edition

Are retirement villages what Byron Bay needs?

Developer DD Resort Living is seeking community feedback until June 18 on its proposed retirement living development in Byron Bay.