13.2 C
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

A heartfelt night of fundraising

We can’t solve the lack of social housing investment, or magically make emergency accommodation appear, but we can help alleviate suffering and bring warmth and comfort to people coping in truly awful situations.

Booyong Abattoir II

The ongoing discussion surrounding the Booyong Abattoir is about more than a single DA application. It raises broader questions...

Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 24 June 2026

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.

Wollumbin Art Award finalists announced

The finalists for the biennial Wollumbin Art Award, held by Tweed Regional Gallery, have been announced. They are Tweed based artist Kane Corowa, Gold Coast based artist Beth Andrews, and Byron based artists Kirsten Chambers and Monica Buscarino.   

Iran: honest, sincere

When Israel and the US launched their illegal, unprovoked aggression against Iran at the end of February, they unintentionally...

Sustainable infrastructure

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

November 19, 2025

Byron Shire Echo issue 40.24 – November 19, 2025

Download PDF (19MB)
Jump to:
Local News | Comment | Letters | Soapbox | Crossword | Stars | Sport | Good Taste | The Good Life | Health & Healing | Articles | Seven Entertainment | Gig Guide | Classifieds | Service Directory | Echo Property | Property Business Directory | Backlash

In this Issue:

The art of connection at Ocean Shores Preschool

Art and intergenerational connection were on show at the recent Ocean Shores Community Preschool annual Children’s Art Exhibition.

Should we stand as the mayor enters, and are we losing...

Standing for the mayor as they enter the chamber is just one proposal from the NSW state government on how ‘a dignified and orderly’ council meeting that is ‘befitting to a chamber of democracy’ should be conducted.

Drop bear etiquette made simple

I remember a teacher once describing how you eat peas with manners – I’m afraid to say it wasn’t a lesson I took too seriously and to this day I could not tell you the correct etiquette for eating a pea or two politely.

Mullum High trivia night supports wellbeing hub

Mullumbimby High School’s Hall was buzzing on Friday night as around 90 community members gathered for a trivia night fundraiser hosted by the Mullumbimby High School P&C. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd eager to enjoy a fun night out to raise money for the school’s wellbeing hub, Garhim.

Counting pros and cons

I was confused by letter claiming a disproportionate number of pro-Israel and, in your odd summation, Islamophobic letters in The Echo. A short check of the archives shows the opposite. Since last March alone, there have been 38 anti-Israel...

Labor’s ‘propaganda’ vs ‘facts’

When will people stop believing the BS propaganda of Labor? For those not paying attention, a few facts: Penny Wong in the Senate: ‘the US relationship is more important that the environment’. Former Labor premier Mike Wran has said that ‘Australia...

Republic of Gough

Fifty years ago Australia’s (Labor) prime minister, Gough Whitlam, was sacked by Australia’s governor-general, John Kerr.  It still defies belief that Mr Whitlam’s government (or any Australian government) elected by the Australian people could be dismissed by Royal Prerogative of...

Respectful dialogue

Mayor Sarah Ndiaye is correct when she writes ‘respectful dialogue allows us to listen, learn and find common ground even when we disagree’. It’s a vital skill needed by our political leaders when dealing with critical issues to our community....

SGB Helen Street footbridge

It’s with great sadness that I have watched the Helen Street footbridge literally decay before my eyes in recent years. It was a project inspired, and (partly) paid for, by the community that Byron Council seems to have all but...

Final service for Brunswick Heads Uniting Church

Friday, 21 November at 9.30am will be the final service held at the Brunswick Heads Uniting Church. Pastor Tay Lee said everyone is welcome to attend.

MO to CT doubles development potential in Federal

A rural site in the rolling hills between Federal and Eureka will become home to up to 30 new houses, after Byron Shire Council approved another Community Title  (CT) development last week.

Insidious creeper

There’s a new kind of greenwashing taking hold, as insidious as Madeira vine. It’s the creeping misuse of the words ‘circular economy’. The true circular economy is a rigorous model designed to keep materials and resources in use for as...

Bah! Humbug!

Wow, everything is more expensive now. How can the average person cope with rising prices? Especially rents are unaffordable now in Byron Shire, unless you’re a well-heeled visitor or highly-paid worker. So where does that leave our musos, artists, and...

Homeless suggestion

A suggestion to help homeless people for the NSW premier to consider. Meriton apartments (Harry Triguboff) build more than they sell or rent, why does the government negotiate to purchase possibly 1,000 at a special price? Surely this would be quicker,...

Change Council

Hi to all the ratepayers of Byron Shire. How can we achieve change because it is obvious that change is needed in the management of Byron Council. I believe the general manager’s contract has been renewed, but does anyone...

No ‘backroom deals’

In response to Cr Elia Hauge’s letter (5 November 2025) regarding alleged ‘backroom deals’ among non-Greens councillors, I wish to clarify the situation and provide some context. There were no secret deals or underhanded negotiations. The decision in question was...

NSW Labor govt strips councillors of DA approval powers

Recent amendments to the state’s main planning law just adopted by NSW Labor will result in councillors losing their powers to approve development applications (DAs).

Uncle Tom’s pie drive

The closure of Mullumbimby Road to outbound traffic for several months has impacted many local businesses with a downturn in trade at a crucial time of year. It has also led to the closure of the famous Uncle Tom’s Pies on the corner of Gulgan Road and Mullumbimby Road.

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Why We Need Men

We can end violence against women and girls. I have always believed that. Some think I’m unrealistic, but I’m not ready to surrender hope. 

Dog wisdom

My dog has taught me that every encounter on the street can spark a small moment of kindness. A wagging tail and a friendly sniff open conversations with strangers, turning a casual walk into a shared smile and a...

Yellow signs

I have driven the Tweed Valley Way to Murwillumbah several times. The speed signs had the usual 65, 75, 45 or whatever notification on each bend. I drove the whole way at the speed limit and never once felt...

Vale Alfred

Driving took on a different dimension for me when Alfred first started his meanderings around Mullumbimby. Not sure which year that would have been, I remember pulling over asking him if he needed a lift, he hissed at me,...

Clown town

Are we living in clown town? The Council is now building a carpark a long walk from the Mullumbimby shops in the block behind Woolies. This is an eminently suitable location for a high-rise housing development but Council are...

On the boardwalk

Thank goodness Byron Shire Council has upheld the protection of the Marshalls Creek Nature Reserve – a place of rare beauty and ecological importance. I engaged a number of scientific experts, who all strongly oppose the proposed Marshalls Creek...

Council is frustrating

I’m writing to express frustration at Council’s handling of the one-way detour for the Mullumbimby Road Upgrade. While the newly announced completion date of 24 November is welcome news, it highlights significant flaws in how the project was planned, communicated,...

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".