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Byron Shire
November 7, 2026

Latest News

Third person dies after Suffolk Park crash

A 70-year-old woman has died in hospital after a three-vehicle crash at Suffolk Park last weekend, bringing the death toll to three.

Other News

Role of the Greens

Recent articles and letters in The Echo have provided different perspectives about Australian politics today and the Australian Greens. There...

Northern NSW hospitals fall short on emergency and mental-health targets

Fewer than half of Northern NSW emergency patients needing admission or transfer met a six-hour hospital access target in 2025–26, according to a health district review released yesterday.

Conservation zoning proposed for disputed Hastings Point site

Environmental protections and tighter housing controls are proposed for a disputed Hastings Point development site, following a court decision allowing its subdivision.

Legend Groove Terminator at the Nudge

Nudge Nudge Wink Wink returns to the Billinudgel Hotel on Saturday with Australian dance music icon Groove Terminator headlining fresh local talent and our beloved residents – all ready to deliver a serious dose of dance delight, all while supporting youth mental health organisation Human Nature Adventure Therapy.

Riverbank recovery project receives industry award

A major effort to rehabilitate almost 30 kilometres of flood-affected riverbanks across NSW has received international recognition, with Local Land Services and the Soil Conservation Service winning this year’s International Erosion Control Association Australasia (IECA Australasia) Environmental Excellence Award.

Councils call for stronger powers to curb tobacco shops

NSW councils have today called for stronger planning powers to control where tobacconists can open and prevent clusters of outlets near schools and community facilities.
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August 27, 2025

Byron Shire Echo issue 40.12 – August 27, 2025

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Local News | Comment | Letters | Articles | Sport | Good Taste | The Good Life | Byron Arts & Industry Estate | Fathers Day | Making Spaces | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Cinema | Classifieds | Community at Work | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

Get on board and support the Rail Trail

Momentum is building, with over 9,000 people having signed up to the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Supporters campaign, but they still need more signatures.

Inspiring young people through storytelling and film

The Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF), supported by Byron Shire Council, has brought together a powerful set of films to engage the imaginations of young people

Explore Shearwater’s Spring Fair

From arts and crafts to farm products there are no shortage of delights that will be available at this year’s Shearwater Steiner School’s Spring Fair this Saturday, September 6, from 10am to 3pm.

Three shiny storeys

The reason given by Council (and the state government) for the proposal to create a vibrant Special Entertainment Precinct in central Byron is to ‘revitalise the day and night economy after the slow-downs caused by Covid, natural disasters, and other...

Oh Mandy

I voted for you in the last election and the one before that; I will vote for you in the next election if you have the stamina to stand again. May I suggest that you stand as an independent? The...

1, 2 and 3

I read with admiration and dismay the large number of articles and letters published in The Echo. Increasingly local residents are writing about Byron Shire Council. They express disgust, dismay, frustration, and even fury that Council has not engaged...

Bangalow’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic

The second annual Teddy Bears’ ‘Picnic is on this Saturday, 30 August from 11am to 2pm at the Bangalow Museum garden.

Celebrating the life of Neil Johnson today at Billinudgel

Neil was a bit of an enigma, he did lots of different things with his time – he was really proud of his life and happy that there were no stones left unturned.

True that

Meanings of the word sovereign: independent of outside authority –  a sovereign state (from vulgar Latin superanus ‘unattested’, this can mean, lacking supporting evidence in the form of assurance from authority.) Authority can’t give life; unattested – to attest...

It’s me!

After reading Margot Hays’ letter in last week’s Echo, I feel compelled to admit to a terrible secret I’ve been keeping for a while now. It’s ME! There – I’ve said it. I’m the mysterious cloud seeder. On my hourly reading...

It’s who we voted for

I would like to ask everyone who voted Labor, or one of the other minority parties that carried Labor over the line on their shoulders with only 36 per cent giving Labor their first vote, how is it going...

Local activists join international Gaza flotilla

Myocum local Captain Hamish Paterson will be joined by other local activists Juliet Lamont and her two daughters Isla, 24 and Luca, 26 as part of the eight-strong Australian and New Zealand delegation that will join the global flotilla sailing to Gaza

Editorial – The right tools for change

There is no doubt that there are challenges ahead in order for Australia and the world to meet net zero emissions and keep the world to a 1.5 degree rise in the average global temperature compared to pre-indistrial levels.

Safety of Mullum’s water supply raised

The failure of the Mullumbimby Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to consistently provide the town with water of compliant quality represents a ‘risk to public health’ and immediate intervention is required, a report commissioned by Byron Shire Council has found.

More stormwater

What is the future of stormwater leaving Byron Bay? Is it all going to the Belongil or will the three current stormwater outlets still be used and remain in place? People of Byron should be aware that the water and...

Stormwater

The latest edition of The Echo literally blew me away. The power of civil society really spoke – CONGRATS! Consumed as I am by the South Australian tragedy of the algal bloom spreading up St Vincents Gulf and Spencer Gulf...

Rain, robots and tourists

I thank The Echo for printing the diverse and sometimes quasi-paranoid views from our local residents. Last week one letter inferred Council is responsible for ‘four months of rain,’ and another that a ‘Unitree A2 robot dog’ is out...

Hang up the phone

There are two groups of people who think there is an invisible omniscient mind that acts as the policeman and judge of the entire universe of a trillion, trillion, billion stars. Each group has their own personal spiritual telephone...

Nationalise home insurance

With global warming happening and fire and flood levels rising, some of the saddest images on the nightly news are people standing in the ashes of their home, their melted car beside them saying they ‘lost everything, but the...

Submissions to close on Mullum carpark DA

Byron Shire concillors are acknowledging the significant issues with the proposed affordable housing development at 57 Station Street, Mulumbimby

Action on Bangalow’s blackspot

The tragic hit-and-run death of Bangalow resident Paul Campton could be the catalyst for a major road safety upgrade at the spot where he was killed.

What is the key to Byron’s future success?

The challenging economic times, road and drainage works, and the increasing number of chain stores in Byron are calling into question what the future of the town of Byron Bay will be, according to local businesses.

Mandy Nolans Soapbox: Anti-Anti-Immigration: The Gentle Art of Talking to Strangers

Every time we plug our ears with headphones and look at our screens we are missing out on genuine connection. It seems ironic to think that people are plugged into devices scrolling for love and likes from people they may never meet, often while standing in a room full of actual people. Look up. Ask a question. Listen. Learn. It’s how we become better

Wrong proposal – time to reflect

The 57 Station St proposal is disturbing in the lack of transparent community engagement for public land development, its negative impacts on the town, and lack of clarity about the objective and outcomes. The recent focus on homelessness raises key...

An apology

I would like to apologise to members of the audience at the Mullumbimby Residents Association (MRA) meeting earlier this year for getting it wrong on the height of the proposed building at 57 Station St, as reported in The...

NSW commits $3 million for Saddle Road sewer link

The NSW Government will spend $3 million on a sewer link for the Saddle Road housing precinct near Brunswick Heads, a connection it says could service up to 600 residential lots.

Blacks Drain crossing fully reopens after $2.56 million rebuild

The Blacks Drain crossing on Tweed Valley Way at South Murwillumbah has fully reopened after a $2.56 million rebuild designed to reduce the risk of another washout.

From Spinifex Country to Lismore for a $23,000 art prize

In Michelle Anderson’s Kanpala, circles of red, orange and yellow bring a place in Western Australia’s Spinifex Country into view. It’s a place she returns to often in paint: Kanpa, the Country where her grandmother was born.

Work starts on eight-lane athletics track in Lismore

Construction has begun on an eight-lane athletics track at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus, giving Northern Rivers schools and clubs a competition-standard venue closer to home when it opens in mid-2027.