This year’s Byron Writers Festival is a first-look destination, with several of Australia’s most anticipated new books arriving at the festival before the ink has barely dried.
The Byron Writers Festival talks to author Siang Lu about his book, Ghost Cities, which won the Miles Franklin Award in 2025.
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.
Byron Shire Council has voted to spend $100,000 on coordinating Easter activities next year, despite unresolved questions about where the money will come from and growing concern over Council’s financial position.
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.
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.
Each year Mullumbimby CWA supports the Cancer Council with a Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. This year they decided to change things up a bit and have a soup lunch and raffles.
The Ballina Concert Band will perform a fun-packed set of jazz, blues and New Orleans favourites at a free gig at the Cherry Street Sports Club in Ballina, this Sunday, 28 June, from 2pm to 3pm.
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.
A proposal to build a 26-room seniors hostel in Mullumbimby is back on the table, after being rejected by Byron Shire Council in December 2025.
I had the opportunity to speak to the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSW RA) last month. One of the matters I brought up was the proposed 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby development. It was clear that the only ‘community feedback’ they would be listening to supported housing development on that site.
I attended the last Byron Council meeting – thanks to the community members who were able to come. The frustration is apparent. Legislation protects the communities affected by poor governance. Unfortunately, we continue to have lack of functioning infrastructure with community...
When Israel and the US launched their illegal, unprovoked aggression against Iran at the end of February, they unintentionally handed the Islamic Republic an unprecedented opportunity of extraordinary proportions. Nowhere in the annals of history has an asymmetric conflict...
The development application (DA 10.2025.212.1) for the carpark at 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby is now back on exhibition for eight weeks from 22 June.
The Gimelli family ran a small Italian restaurant on Jonson Street from about 1995 into the early 2000s. It was a classy joint, ahead of Byron’s culinary curve, serving dishes from every corner of Italy.
The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with 12 students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.
The Uniting Church Op Shop and Church Hall in Mullumbimby have been broken into three times in the last few months with the television being repeatedly stolen, donated stock stolen, and general damage to the shop.
What is it with billionaires and islands? Donald Trump wants to resurrect the notorious prison island of Alcatraz to house ‘America’s most ruthless and violent offenders’. Perhaps subconsciously he is preparing his future island residence. The sordid Epstein network is divided into those who did and did not travel to Epstein Island where, undoubtedly, heinous crimes occurred.
During the Gyuto Monks’ stay they will conduct daily programs from 10.30am to 4.30pm which include meditation, multiphonic chanting, Buddhist talks, tantric art classes, and empowerment ceremonies, all included in the general admission price to Crystal Castle precinct.
They’re playing with our lives when they’re making wars in the Middle East. After Trump’s so-called peace announcement, there was no immediate resumption in oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On the contrary, it will take months to...
The Echo article on 17 June regarding the Oasis ‘retirement lifestyle’ development – with sites on Butler St and Bay St – raises the issue of the abuse of the Housing SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy). The SEPP provides important...
The ongoing discussion surrounding the Booyong Abattoir is about more than a single DA application. It raises broader questions about how regional communities balance industry, infrastructure, animal welfare, and residents’ quality of life. Thousands of pigs are transported to the...
We strongly believe that the disturbing Booyong Abattoir is a blight on Byron Shire. The health and wellbeing of the local Booyong community should be paramount. The abattoir is clearly not sustainable: not environmentally, culturally nor ethically. The vibrant Booyong community with many...
The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with twelve students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.
Byron Shire Council is pursuing an unfunded on-formation bike trail, risking significant ratepayer liability for ongoing maintenance, while disregarding advanced plans for a commuter rail service. The mayor has repeatedly stated they have explored all options related to the Multi-Use...
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