As the weather warms up, so too are community volunteers. In mid August regional volunteers gathered at Clunes for the quarterly Interhall Committee meeting.

With International Overdose Awareness Day approaching on 31 August, NSW now has the evidence, the tools and record overdose deaths but lacks the will on permanent, community based pill testing.

Lawyers from Tyndall & Co say they will provide free legal advice covering most areas of law including domestic violence, elder abuse and visa issues at their upcoming Pro Bono Cafe in Byron.

Urgent questions are being raised about Byron Bay’s future as the NSW government increasingly uses fast-tracked planning pathways that can allow major developments to bypass or vary local planning controls, including height limits, raising concerns about how Byron’s unique character, built environment, and community expectations will be protected.

The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and Community with First National Real Estate have stepped up and provided $1,000 of equipment for the new 20-bed Care Awaiting Placement (CAP) ward at Byron Central Hospital that opened in June.