Latest News
60 farmers blockaded Santos trucks and oppose CSG
More than 60 farmers blockaded Santos trucks on Saturday and police were called to a state forest near Gunnedah amid disputes over potential water extraction and fracking.
Other News
Bundjalung host Byron Shire Survival Day
Main Beach Park in Cavanbah – Byron Bay, was the place where both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people gathered yesterday to celebrate the longest-living culture in the world – people who are now living on unceded land.
Local MP mute over PM diary secrecy
Local federal Labor MP, Justine Elliot, has declined to comment on why her government are refusing to provide the diary of Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, as a public document.
Duck Creek Mountain Bike Park reopens
Just off the road between Alstonville and Ballina, the spectacular Duck Creek Mountain Bike Park has re-opened, bigger and better, after an injection of funding and lots of hard work from dedicated volunteers.
Letters – 1 February 2023
The Echo loves your letters and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, send us your epistles.
Nudging into a Smarter Summer
Nudge Nudge Wink Wink! 2023’s summer continues with a lineup that’s guaranteed to have you deliciously dancing from the moment you arrive.
Appeal for flag stolen from Bruns
The two Aboriginal flags that fly high over the Brunswick River Bridge on Invasion Day have become a potent symbol of survival and solidarity for many in the Shire.
Stories about "Draft Koala Plan of Management":
‘Lack of trust’ an issue for outgoing Byron Council
Byron Shire Council’s last official meeting before going into ‘caretaker mode’ for elections is this Thursday and just one of the many topics to be tabled will be the lack of public trust in council’s process regarding a major planning policy.
Koalas’ native homes the best sanctuaries
Yvette Steinhauer, Byron Bay. Cr Alan Hunter told the Byron Residents’ Group that the West Byron development is not the ‘relevant’ issue to the survival of koalas in our region. Instead he put forward a motion to investigate establishing a koala/wildlife sanctuary.
Have input on local koalas’ future
Dailan Pugh, Byron Bay. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure must go back to the drawing board with their extravagant West Byron development.
Biggest loser
Byron Shire councillor Basil Cameron. There once was a time in Byron Shire where the tale of an irate developer cussing at a councillor standing up for koalas in a council meeting would make the front page of any independent thinking newspaper.
Cur is not a four-letter word
Peter Noble, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm. The word 'cur' is not classified as a swear word. The dictionary defines it as a mongrel dog - especially a worthless or inferior breed, a base person, a person who is not well liked.
Bluesfest blamed for ‘stalling’ koala plan
Byron Shire Council has delayed exhibition of its draft coastal koala management plan and a prominent koala rescue group is blaming Bluesfest.
Entertainment News
Only nine weeks to Bluesfest and 18 new artists announced
Easter is on its way and that means Bluesfest is only nine weeks away.
Local News
Controversial development that would dwarf Uki under appeal in L&EC – Tweed Nightcap Village MO
Aslan Shand - 0
The contentious Nightcap Village $39M multiple occupancy development near Uki, promoted by Pete Evans, will have its appeal to the Land & Environment Court (L&EC) against the NRPP's refusal will be heard from 9 Feruary.
Political Comment
Food prices are up, and so is…
I was shocked to see the cost of local bread I buy in Mullumbimby had risen 40 per cent. That particular loaf is becoming a luxury item.
Byron Echo
Abouchar honoured with Order of Australia
Paul Bibby - 0
The new head of the Byron Community College (BCC), Chantal Abouchar, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her contributions to business and the media.