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Byron Shire
June 29, 2026

Latest News

Casino Suspension Bridge opens

Minister For Small Business, Recovery and North Coast Janelle Saffin joined Mayor Robert Mustow and Member for Page Kevin Hogan to officially opening the Casino Suspension Bridge today (Saturday).

Other News

Sustainable infrastructure

I attended the last Byron Council meeting – thanks to the community members who were able to come. The frustration...

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...

Tweed Water Alliance and the future of the region’s water

Community concern about large-scale water extraction in a quiet rural area, the use of heavy vehicle trucking on narrow, winding, country roads and unsustainable one-use bottling led to the formation of Tweed Water Alliance.

Lismore students pitch sustainability projects

Young people will take centre stage in Lismore this Friday when the HalveIt Festival brings student sustainability pitches to decision-makers in what organisers are calling 'part innovation expo, part community festival.'

Mullum Scout Hall fire overnight

At 1.45am this morning the NSW Fire and Rescue Mullumbimby Station 388 Sans and Brunswick Station 240 were called to a fire at the Mullumbimby Scout Hall.

Charge dismissed for activist hindering coal exports

An activist who came to national attention after being punched by a police officer while protesting, has had an anti-protest charge dismissed in court today.

October 22, 2025

Byron Shire Echo issue 40.20 – October 22, 2025

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Local News | Comment | Letters | BBFF 2025 | Articles | Sport | Making Spaces | Good Taste | The Good Life | Byron Arts & Industry + Habitat | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Classifieds | Community at Work | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

Dementia advanced care directive

The statistics are overwhelming – dementia is now the leading cause of death for Australians, and there are almost half-a-million living with this condition. About two million people are involved in the care of someone living with the syndrome.

Online and lonely

As the Australian government seeks to limit access to social media for under 16s, we might be pushing them further into isolation. 

Questions remain over bungled Mullum affordable housing project

Byron Shire Council staff are refusing to answer questions around the cost to ratepayers around plans to develop, along with government-run developer Landcom, the 57 Station Street carpark into ‘affordable housing’ units.

Deep contemplation and whimsical, rash joy

The inaugural retrospective solo exhibition of Bradley Pike, long-time local resident, award-winning jeweller, and artist, took place in early October at the The Garage Gallery in Mullumbimby.

Byron’s Sunseeker Motel $2.3 million DA

Byron’s Sunseeker Motel is set for a $2.3 million development, including the construction of a new two-storey accommodation block that will provide holiday accommodation for up to 40 additional people.

Youth Council for Byron Shire back on the table

Byron Shire Council will consider paying young people to take part in its new-and-improved Youth Council as a way of encouraging participants to show up and have their say on local issues.

Phelps family reunion celebrates a Byron Bay legacy

Pansy and Keith Phelps spent their lives in Byron Bay, residing for many years at 123 Jonson Street.

Editorial – World hits first tipping point

As politicians in Australia, and around the world, continue to push back against climate change action we have reached our first climate change tipping point.

Artists’ auction supports Federal

The 25th anniversary of the Federal Park Party, on Saturday, 1 November from 12 noon, will feature a special art auction showcasing local artists, with profits reinvested into art and culture in Federal.

Questions remain over Byron’s Special Entertainment Precinct as vote nears

Byron Shire Council (BSC) vote on whether or not to go ahead with the trial Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) in Byron’s town centre is expected to take place at one of the November Council meetings, yet there are still significant unanswered questions over funding, alcohol licensing, and safety.

Train service debate lacks accurate info

The lack of accurate information regarding train services on the Casino to Murwillumbah line is not helping the community which has for so long been calling for, and promised, publicly funded government rail services on the line, and the...

Universal human rights

This petition is currently being addressed by Amnesty International (and Greens Newtown MP Jenny Leong). From Amnesty: ‘Our basic Human Rights are universal, they belong to each of us, every person in the world. Inalienable – they can’t be taken...

Whale stress

I am deeply concerned about the increasing disturbance to whales caused by tourism boats operating off the coast of Byron Bay. These vessels are frequently getting far too close to the whales, driving at high speeds through their migration...

Tennis model

In August 2025, Byron Shire Council announced on its website (see the Council’s Tennis page) that it had begun transitioning to the Tennis NSW model for coaching and venue management, with all local tennis facilities expected to operate under...

Main Arm festival shines light on female artists

One of Byron Shire’s most loved annual grassroots music festivals, Music In the Valley, is this year paying homage to mesmerising female artists from the Main Arm hinterland.

2022 flood recovery needs full funding restored

Byron Shire Council (BSC) has submitted a motion to state government expressing disappointment at the lack of consultation regarding its $100 million reduction in funding for house ‘raises’ and/or ‘retrofits’ under the NSW Resilient Homes Program (RHP) as part of the funding originally promised following the 2022 floods.

Born to ‘stir the possum’

Graeme Dunstan and Sunny his canine companion both live as peace activist gypsies in the Peace Bus, their mobile home and bearer of poles, flags, banners, tools, and gear for occupying public places with protest.

Suffolk Park roundabout

Thanks Lynne Richardson for the thoughtful analysis, rather than catchy slogans, of the 30-year farce that is the ideologically-driven crusade of successive councils for a solution to the Suffolk Park black spot. There is no ideal solution but it...

Pokies kill

Inviting 20 poker machines to beautiful Bangalow is just disappointing. My 29-year-old cousin committed suicide because of an addiction to poker machines. All his money from a full-time job went to these machines. His guilt and shame ended his short...

Septuagenarians

I take great insult with the writer of your article on the ‘rise of the right’, putting us ‘over-70s’ in with the Tories. Maybe a more careful use of language and research, which often Richard seems to lack, would...

Mullum Road upgrade

Last week, I encountered the pothole-truck driver on Coolamon Scenic Drive. I have the greatest admiration for his efforts. My only question is why wasn’t he contracted months ago seeing as councillors knew well in advance of impending traffic redirection?...

NPWS say ‘no’ to Ocean Shores boardwalk

The long-discussed plan to build a boardwalk connecting Ocean Shores directly to the beach looks set to be put back in Council’s bottom drawer, after NSW National Parks reiterated its firm opposition to the idea.

Byron School’s P&C raises concerns over Merivale DA

The Byron Bay Public School P&C have expressed concern over the proposal to serve liquor to up to 545 customers, with 40 staff, from 10am until 2am as part of a development application by Merivale, at 111–115 Jonson Street, Byron Bay.

Local leadership vacuum

It seems that this elected Council thinks little of the community and the best interests of business. We had the renewal of the stormwater system in Lawson Street Byron Bay, no real thought given to those businesses or the adverse...

Compliance of 57 Station St, Mullum

Is it common practice with building specifications for the Accessibility Report to be only 20 per cent compliant before a project is shovel-ready? After years of preparations, the 80-page report deems the building with ‘generally a high level of compliance’,...

Byron’s Winter Whales raise $43,000

The Byron Bay Winter Whales (BBWW) took to the ocean for the 39th time this year on the first Sunday of May and raised $43,000 for local organisations and charities.

When it comes to real estate, everyone can use an advocate

With 45 years combined experience across both sales and property management, husband and wife team Mark and Michelle Errichiello have recently moved to the Northern Rivers and teamed up with Byron Property Search to provide advocacy services for people looking to buy or sell across the region.

Savour The Tweed returns, 22 October

Food and drink event, Savour The Tweed, returns to excite tastebuds this spring, from Wednesday 22 October to Sunday 26 October.

Conservationists welcome carbon credit scheme to protect forests

Today’s release of the government’s proposed Improved Native Forest Method, which allows governments to claim carbon credits in return for stopping logging has been welcomed by the North East Forest Alliance and North Coast Environment Council as "providing a way to end native forest logging on public land".