Latest News
Seapeace: the late Tony Maxwell’s wetland legacy
Many curious minds have pondered the purpose of the rice paddy-like waterbodies that scallop the contour lines out into the Ewingsdale coastal plain that can be viewed from St Helena Road.
Other News
Taxpayers paying through the nose for the destruction of Casino to Murwillumbah train line
Louise Doran, Ocean Shores
On 14 January, 2015 The Echo comment ‘Railroaded’ quoted Don Page’s (Nationals then MP for Ballina) 2004...
Lifting the lid on plans to build a retirement village in Ewingsdale
The letter sent to the residents of Ewingsdale last year by holiday park owner Ingenia seemed fairly innocuous at first glance...
Lennox Rise development clears another hurdle
The massive new residential development planned west of Epiq in Lennox Head continued its progress towards becoming reality at the last Ballina Shire Council meeting.
Soli becalmed in NSW Pro surf series
Local surfer Soli Bailey has finished in second place at the Mad Mex Maroubra Pro World Surf League Qualifying Series event held at Sydney’s Maroubra beach last weekend.
PM forced
Narelle Rendalls, Ballina
With reference to the recent serious sexual assault allegations in Canberra, our Prime Minister has a lot to...
Interview with Janet Swain
Janet Swain is 14. She’s in love with the tragic and brilliant cellist Jacquleine DuPré. But one day her mother arrives home with a bassoon.
Stories about "Ballina shark attacks":
Ballina beaches closed after shark attack
A 43-year-old man from East Ballina had suffered a 20cm gash to his leg after being bitten at Shelly Beach. But fought off the shark with his surfboard and managed to paddle himself back into shore.
Shark mitigation hearings to continue in Canberra and Qld
Several locals including Ian Cohen and Dean Jefferys were at the hearing presenting their position on shark deterrents at the senate enquiry into shark mitigation and deterrents that took place last Tuesday 2 May in Byron Bay.
Ballina: where dolphins are killed so people can go surfing
Dr Daniel Bucher, senior lecturer: marine biology and fisheries, Southern Cross University, Lismore
If, like me, you feel strongly about the proposed trial of beach...
Surfers, swimmers join rally against shark nets
Byron Bay surfer and former Greens MP Ian Cohen says that personal responsibility is the key to avoiding shark attack. Mr Cohen was among hundreds of people who rallied against the proposed netting of Ballina's beaches at Lighthouse Beach yesterday.
Shark nets the best option for protecting people
Nicholas Crouch, Lennox Head
Can the Ballina Shark attack issue be reduced to this equation: One Great White or one person?
The numbers are roughly the...
Backlash against Baird’s Ballina shark-net backflip
Greens Ballina MP Tamara Smith, Sea Shepherd and Australian Seabird Rescue have all voiced their opposition to the state government’s plans, announced yesterday, to install traditional shark nets at Ballina beaches for a six-month trial period.
Has the government ignored the best shark mitigation strategy?
The peak body that trains beach inspector lifeguards has told The Echo that the state government is ignoring best practice shark-mitigation strategies that are in line with an independent report and recommendations by a NSW Legislative Assembly committee.
Govt plan to roll out shark nets a ‘knee-jerk response’
NSW Greens marine and fisheries spokesperson Justin Field has condemned an apparent decision by premier Mike Baird and fisheries minister, Niall Blair, to consider expanding the state's shark netting program, including potentially on the north coast.
Qld offer to extend shark nets to NSW slammed
Sea Shepherd Australia has slammed the Queensland premier’s offer to extend its drum lines and shark nets into NSW north coast beaches in the wake of Monday’s attack on a surfer at Lighthouse Beach.
Minister open to potential shark cull
The federal environment minister says he is open to proposals for drum lines and a cull of great white sharks, including on the NSW north coast.
Local News
Caravan park to pay $2.3mil plus to consumers
The NSW Court of Appeal has upheld the Supreme Court’s decision arising from the sale of the movable dwellings located on waterfront sites along the Tweed River.
National News
Government modelling fails to reflect women’s interrupted careers
New research to be released this week analyses two decades of Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey to estimate the actual labour force experience of women over their life and accounts for working when super is not paid.
Local News
Ballina cleans up!
David Lowe - 0
Clean Up Australia Day was a great success in Ballina, with the beach clean up event organised by Ballina Coastcare yesterday attracting twenty volunteers.
Local News
Lismore future councillor information sessions
With the delayed Local Government elections being held in September, several councils, including Lismore City Council, are holding information sessions for community members who are thinking about running for Council.
