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Latest News
Police out in force over the ANZAC Day weekend with double demerit points
Anzac Day memorials and events are being held around the country and many people have decided to couple this with a long weekend.
Other News
Having fun in the Playground
Playground is a well-established event that will go off at Coorabell Hall on Saturday. For over two years, three long-term local DJ’s – Pob, Curly Si and Halo – have been curating this rhythmic happening. Their pedigree is assured and they guarantee the best underground electronic music and a loyal crew that bring a big-hearted vibe. On Saturday they’ll be bringing the dance to the hills.
Rebuilding communities from Lennox and Evans Head to Coraki and Woodburn
In February and March 2022, our region was subject to a series of weather events that causeed one of the nation’s worst recorded flood disasters. The economic impact of a natural disaster can be felt far beyond the damage to housing and infrastructure.
Ignite your creativity at Mullum Laneways Festival
This year’s Mullum Laneways Festival, to be held on May 4 and 5, promises to be a feast for the senses, set to captivate visitors of all ages. On Sunday, May 5 everyone is encouraged to immerse themselves in the heart of the Festival, as Burringbar Street is transformed into a vibrant tapestry of music, dance, art, and more.This is a free event, funded by local sponsorship and a gala fundraising event on Saturday, May 4.
Foodie road-trip paradise: Harvest Food Trail
Calling all food and farm enthusiasts, the iconic Harvest Food Trail is happening soon, over four days from May...
Coffs Harbour man charged for alleged online grooming of young girl
Sex Crimes Squad detectives have charged a Coffs Harbour man for alleged online grooming offences under Strike Force Trawler.
It’s MardiGrass!
This year is Nimbins 32nd annual MardiGrass and you’d reckon by now ‘weed’ be left alone.
The same helicopter raids, the disgusting, and completely unfair, saliva testing of drivers, and we’re still not allowed to grow our own plants. We can all access legal buds via a doctor, most of it imported from Canada, but we can’t grow our own. There’s something very wrong there.
Stories about "Byron Bay holiday letting":
Incoming holiday letting rules discriminatory, say residents
Byron Bay resident, Catherine Henniker, told The Echo she lives in one of the parts of the town that has been deemed ‘365 nights for short-term holiday lets’, under new state government rules to be introduced in September.
STRA campaigners gaslighting locals
The latest action from the short-term rental accommodation (STRA) campaigners is an alarmist email exhorting recipients to ‘Join the fight to protect your right to stay in a holiday home in Byron Bay’.
Byron Council’s ‘significant concerns’ over holiday letting laws
Staff are recommending councillors write again to the planning minister seeking an urgent meeting to request deferral of the Shire from new planning rules that are set to come into affect in January 2019.
Byron Council set to fine holiday-let owners
With nearly 20 per cent of all homes in Byron Shire now being holiday let, Council has announced it will start fining unauthorised owners. It will place a particular focus on people renting out secondary dwellings on their proprerty.
Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: SAVE BYRON
Next time you blow a tyre on a pothole in our Shire, don’t curse Council, curse your neighbours who live in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane and rent their house out on Airbnb or Booking.com. It’s their greed that put it there.
Byron Council won’t take legal action over holiday-let complaints
‘Council is not commencing any new legal actions with respect to short-term holiday letting until the NSW government finalises its reforms in this area,’ staff said.
Holiday letting legislation passes NSW parliament
A new law passed in NSW parliament last week that aims to regulate the holiday letting industry. Yet it comes incomplete, with major elements such as proposed changes to the SEPP and a code of conduct still to be finalised.
Govt ignores Airbnb levy as part of letting reforms
The state government's holiday letting bill is expected to pass parliament this week, yet critics say it is unworkable and vague. And those operators who have DA approvals say it will decimate their industry and leave Council with less revenue.
Byron B&B providers meet to oppose holiday-letting laws
Angered by the state's proposed new holiday-letting laws, a large group of Byron Shire’s approved accommodation operators are set to meet Ballina MP Tamara Smith (Greens) this Thursday to discuss stopping them in their tracks.
Byron seeks exemption from govt holiday-let policy
Byron Shire Council is seeking an exemption from the state government’s new short-term holiday-letting laws in a last ditch bid to preserve its policy of restricting short-term letting in residential areas.
Local News
Child protection workers walk off the job in Lismore
Lismore and Ballina child protection caseworkers stopped work to protest outside the defunct Community Services Centre in Lismore yesterday after two years of working without an office. They have been joined by Ballina child protection caseworkers who had their office shut in January.
Political Comment
Youth crime is increasing – what to do?
There is something strange going on with youth crime in rural and regional Australia. Normally, I treat hysterical rising delinquency claims with a pinch of salt – explicable by an increase in police numbers, or a headline-chasing tabloid, or a right-wing politician.
Local News
Coffs Harbour man charged for alleged online grooming of young girl
Sex Crimes Squad detectives have charged a Coffs Harbour man for alleged online grooming offences under Strike Force Trawler.
Local News
Anzac Day memorials 2024
From the early hours of this morning people gathered to acknowledge the sacrifice of lives, families and communities have made in the name of war and keeping peace. Across the Northern Rivers events will continue today as we acknowledge the cost of war.
