Latest News
Lennox roundabout pledged by federal Labor MP
Federal funding to build a new two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Byron Bay Road and Byron Street, Lennox Head has been pledged by local MP Justine Elliot (Labor).
Other News
Stop the three word slogans
Parliament in Canberra is in the midst of another interminable break, but it's been a big week in politics, with the departures from public life of Dan Andrews and Mike Pezzullo, Warren Mundine and Noel Pearson crossing swords at the National Press Club, and the tabling of the epic Disability Royal Commission Report.
The ‘No’ vote
Giving Indigenous people a ‘Voice’ while simultaneously silencing Australians with the ‘Combating Misinformation and Disinformation’ Bill isn’t progression; it’s...
Pearces Creek Bridge to be replaced – road closure
The replacement of Pearces Creek Bridge has led to the temporary closure of Eltham Road, at Pearces Creek Bridge for one month from Monday, 23 October.
Ballina Shire Council to consider relinquishing conservation zone powers
The future of conservation zones in the Ballina Shire could be left to private landowners in a council vote expected this week.
Royal Life Saving NSW summer-ready checklist
Royal Life Saving NSW says that as another scorching summer approaches, the service is preparing communities to avoid the alarming spike in drowning incidents witnessed last year.
Cartoon of the week – 27 September 2023
The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor.
Stories about "NORTEC":
Prime community asset up for sale in Ballina
NORTEC is selling off the last of its Ballina community assets, the former BETC (Ballina Employment and Training Centre) head office at 10 Endeavour Close, in the Southern Cross Industrial Estate.
Govt washes hands over NORTEC sell-off
Craig Laundy, the federal minister responsible for business-incubator programs, has absolved himself from any responsibility regarding NORTEC's decision to sell off incubator sites and axe its programs.
Moving on from NORTEC: new business incubation for Mullum
The new business incubation site in Mullumbimby will be run by Sourdough. They have an information session coming up on Wednesday, 21 February at the Mullumbimby Innovation Hub.
Small businesses continue to suffer under NORTEC
Small businesses in Mullumbimby who were recently evicted by the government-funded ‘solutions provider’ NORTEC three weeks before Christmas are asking why CLIC, who will be taking over the site from NORTEC, can’t let them stay on.
NORTEC losses may explain sell-offs
It has come to light that NORTEC has recoded significant business losses during the last few years shedding more light on the motivations behind their recent withdrawal from programs they have been funded to provide both in the Byron, Lismore and Ballina shires.
MP Justine Elliot questions sale of small incubator sites by NORTEC
Justine Elliot, Labor’s federal member for Richmond has made urgent representation to the minister for jobs and innovation over NORTECs termination of leases for the small businesses at their three small business incubator sites and the sale of the Goonellabah and Byron Bay sites.
NORTEC now dumps training those most in need
Employment and training provider NORTEC have recently withdrawn the government funded outreach program aimed at providing language, literacy and numeracy training to help people access employment and training opportunities.
NORTEC incubators hit the market as original investor ‘shocked at tactics’
NORTEC has now listed the Byron Bay small-business incubator site for sale through a local real estate as a ‘very rare opportunity to purchase a substantial holding in an area of low vacancy and high demand.’
NORTEC won’t properly compensate businesses
NORTEC is refusing to extend time for small business to find new locations over Christmas, yet it continues to itself as small a business supporter.
NORTEC pulls the rug from under local startup businesses
NORTEC claims to be ‘creating opportunity and inspiring the future’ and that they are able to provide ‘small-business solutions’ but they have demonstrated that supporting and inspiring is not at the top of their list of priorities – at least not for the small businesses they were supposed to be supporting in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Goonellabah.
Byron Echo
Disaster management needs different approach
Paul Bibby - 1
Disaster funding must favour social capital and community building, rather than just ‘mopping up’, the head of the philanthropic organisation, Northern Rivers Community Foundation, says.
Byron Echo
DV awareness run on October 15
I Run For Her is an annual community event held by Got Your Back Sista, which aims to spark critical conversations around domestic violence on a national scale, and for the first time will host events across Australia on October 15.
Local News
Royal Life Saving NSW summer-ready checklist
Royal Life Saving NSW says that as another scorching summer approaches, the service is preparing communities to avoid the alarming spike in drowning incidents witnessed last year.
National News
Two dead and 70 charged at Sydney music festivals
After two deaths – both confirmed to have been at the Knockout festival – NSW police say that there were more than 70 people charged with drug offences at two Sydney music events held on Saturday.
