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June 29, 2026

Latest News

Ballina Council finds savings in chairs

At its last meeting, as part of a long discussion about amendments to Ballina Council's delivery program and operational plan, there was a debate about whether Ballina Richmond Rotary Club should still be paid $8,000 to set up chairs for the RSL Lighthouse Day Club.

Other News

Floodland

Local filmmaker Darius Devas is bringing Floodland – winner of the Sustainable Futures Award at the Sydney Film Festival – to Mullumbimby, for one night only.

Oil supplies

They’re playing with our lives when they’re making wars in the Middle East. After Trump’s so-called peace announcement, there was...

Discursion on ‘reserve’

Reserve is a word with many meanings. What is the Reserve Bank of Australia? Does it have a ‘reserve’? Reserve...

Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Byron Council signs MoU with Homes NSW

Byron Council has formally partnered with Homes NSW in a bid to accelerate social and affordable housing projects across the Shire, with the former Mullumbimby Hospital site identified as a key priority.

Economics of rail trail

Byron Shire and the North Coast is one of the fastest-growing regions on NSW’s east coast with millions of...

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:

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...

Thank you Bayla

Thank you Bayla Nerden for your letter in a recent Echo regarding the Israel Hamas war. Yours has been one of the only balanced items in the paper for some time now. The obsession with blaming only Israel by...

Man in court today after alleged pursuit near Kingscliff

A man will face court today after an alleged pursuit in December last year.

It’s investors who are causing the housing shortage

For years, people have been talking about how high house prices are, how you can’t get into the housing market without the bank of mum and dad. How it is virtually impossible to rent, save a mortgage, and then actually buy a property without placing yourself in housing stress.

Youth internship program inspiring new volunteers

Students gaining practical emergency response skills while helping build the next generation of volunteers has been the focus of the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Youth Internship Programs across the state during this school term.

NRAS July adoption day to go ahead

Northern Rivers Animal Services Inc are hoping the sun will be out for their monthly adoption day on Saturday 4 July at the NRAS Rescue Shelter in Ballina.